There’s A Monster At The End of This Post
POSTED IN: Authenticity, Church, Makes You Think
One of my favorite Little Golden Books as a kid was The Monster at the End of this Book. It was a great moment when we received this book as a gift and I was able to read it to my kids.
I got hours of enjoyment sitting down with Emily and pleading with her in my best Grover voice,
PLEASE DON’T TURN THE PAGE!!
She would of course. With each new page turned poor Grover would beg and plead to stop turning pages for fear of finding the monster at the end of the book.
Until we turned the last page and found that the monster at the end of the book? Yup, turns out it was lovable, furry old Grover the whole time.
Anger & Disappointment
This past week the church world was rocked with another disappointment. I don’t need to add any additional commentary to what has already been said by other bloggers I respect. I want to talk instead about how we as Christians are supposed to react to this kind of news. Because if the scandals of the last 24 months serve as an indication of future failures, we have many more of these stories yet to be uncovered.
I’ll be honest with you. My first reaction to these kind of stories is a mix of disappointment and anger. Disappointment, because yet another person I admired let me down. And anger, because I know that once again, the name of Christ will get drug through the mud because of another person who thought they could live a double-life and get away with it.
Looking For Monsters
Why do we find it so easy to point our fingers at the “monsters” we see in the church today? Sure we’re upset about it but can we so arrogantly cast blame when it could have just as easily been you or me?
Far too often I’m so busy trying to remove the splinter from my neighbor’s eye that I’m tripping over the plank in my own.
Don’t get me wrong – I am in no way excusing deceit and hypocrisy in the church. What Michael did was wrong. Nor am I condoning sweeping stories like this under the rug. However, let’s remember that we’re really not that different.
The moment that we begin to think of ourselves as immune to these kind of shortcomings it the moment we’re most in danger of falling. As Paul warned, If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you, too, may fall into the same sin. (1 Corinthians 10:12)
Like Grover, we may find that if we keep turning the pages, WE are in fact the monster at the end of the story. We’re all capable of lust, greed, hypocrisy and deception in the worst way.
There, but for the grace of God, go I.
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August 22, 2008
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What a great way to make these statements! The book fits perfectly, an you are so right about not judging others!
Juli Jarviss last blog post..Drug and Alcohol Abuse — A Wordle with a Solution
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August 22, 2008
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Because the church is horribly broken, and needs to be fixed. There’s no problem with pointing to what’s wrong, the problem is not listening to it and making changes. This is the perfect example. Do we just say “yeah that was a terrible thing, but an anomaly” or do we say “this whole christian music thing is way out of control and as Christians we need to put a stop to it”?
There’s never anything wrong with a prophetic voice. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah… there’s a long history. Unfortunately there’s also a long history of ignoring them.
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August 22, 2008
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What a great analogy to use for this situation. But honestly when I sat this morning in my quiet time.. I got to thinking that I have done the same exact thing. But only a few very close people saw my monster, and not across the media/blog world.
It definitely gave me a reality check that NO one is immune from Satan. That our walk each day takes work. We can’t sit on the sidelines and just coast on through. We need to daily put on our Armor and face each day with Him by ourside.
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August 22, 2008
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[...] Brad [...]
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August 22, 2008
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Nicely written Brad. I completely agree that as we find ourselves pointing fingers, we can often fall into the same traps.
Good reminders to stay with the truth and to measure anything we see hear or participate in, against it.
brent(inWorship)s last blog post..“Healer”, I think I’ll Say Something
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August 22, 2008
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great stuff here!!! there was a time in my life when i would say, “i will never do…” not such a good idea!!! i found out the hard way!!!
jon marks last blog post..can’t even think straight!!!
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August 22, 2008
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You’re right Brent, we should just put on blinders and kick back sipping our mocha-chino…
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August 22, 2008
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first of all, for Brad’s and others sake, Buddy and I are friends.
Buddy, quit picking on my avatar.
And…ummm…no.
brent(inworship)s last blog post..“Healer”, I think I’ll Say Something
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August 22, 2008
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Friends don’t tell friends they’re going to hell… [sniff, sniff] pinky-boy…
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August 22, 2008
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Found you from over there at betterthanblank, new reader signed up, great blog you have here.
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August 22, 2008
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buddy, who said we were friends? Oh wait I did
brent(inworship)s last blog post..“Healer”, I think I’ll Say Something
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August 22, 2008
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Very nice! Super great! I really have to watch myself, it’s easy to get in to that trap of judging other people in situations like this. Thanks for the reminder.
Emily Rowes last blog post..The things kids say!
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August 22, 2008
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@Buddy – I’m just wondering…where were the prophetic voices (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah…) in the New Testament?
I think the prophetic voices were replaced with the life of Christ living within each believer through the Holy Spirit. Too often we want to play the Holy Spirits part of convicting the sinner, but that’s not our job.
I am sure Michael will have people (pastors, etc.) who can be blunt with him and help him overcome his sin and problems. However, it is not our responsibility as a community of believers to rise up against him and banish him. There is nothing wrong with saying that we disagree with what has happened and I think Brad has made that clear, but too often Christians are the worst at kicking people when they are down and Jesus did not teach that or demonstrate that.
Nicks last blog post..Guest Blogging @ Shanepadgett.com
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August 22, 2008
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I loved/hated that book growing up. Made me want to do more of what I was scared to do…turn pages!
My heart broke when I read the news. Our worship pastor and I came together the next day and prayed for him and his family. I’m singing the song on Sunday as a worship leader and I truly look forward to it’s powerful words… no matter who wrote them…or how…
Brook Sarver
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August 22, 2008
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@nick
Hmmm… How about John’s Revelation? Or is that one of those books we should throw out because we don’t like what it says?
The prophet of the OT prophesied real time. Their prophecy was only documented for posterity. Paul talks about people post Christ being prophetic. There is real time prophesy spoken today, things haven’t changed though , it’s still being ignored.
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August 22, 2008
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So Buddy, who determines what is prophetic or not?
Isn’t that why we have the Spirit…post Christ?
And how are we to determine that people are not listening? Seems like a statement that we cannot truly make.
brent(inWorship)s last blog post..“Healer”, I think I’ll Say Something
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August 22, 2008
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Brad,
You know I had to chime in, but as I sit here thinking of something clever to say, nothing is coming. I think my anger is being eclipsed by something less bitter, which leaves me speechless (or in this case commentless), but I thought such an awesome article deserved all the comments it could get.
Well written and insanely creative. Thanks for this.
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August 22, 2008
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I think instead of anger and resentmant,now is a time when we can really show the world how christians can love. Yes, Micheal made bad choices,and yes it affected hundreds of thousands of pepole,but at the root of everything,we have 2 callings. Love God with all you have, and love pepole.
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August 22, 2008
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Brad,
Awesome piece.
I get so FRUSTRATED with these people. Especially in a day and time where the media exposes and then stomps on this type of stuff.
The sad part is that this guy really could have had a positive impact on many.
I hope you do not mind but I am going to link this on my site. Needs to be read by many.
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August 22, 2008
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[...] After reading this piece I want your feedback. Theres A Monster At The End Of This Post [...]
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August 22, 2008
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gud stuff…I’m thankful that God sees the beauty within the beast (monster).
Shane P.s last blog post..Give Me Your Eyes: Guest Blogger Nick Carnes
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August 22, 2008
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WOW. I hadn’t heard this story. You make a good point. But what I have a hard time with is that what this guy did (story above), what Joseph Edward Duncan III (referred to by CNN as the “devil child killer”) did to that poor 9 year old boy from Idaho, and me lying to someone at work are all the same in God’s eyes. SIN.
YIKES!!
(PS..I would have put a nifty little link to the story on CNN i referenced, but wasn’t sure how.)
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August 22, 2008
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@Brent
We all do. The Ninevites did, the Israelites did.
They keep doing the same things…
Look at many of the responses here. There is no call to learn lessons from this mistake. No call to recognize flaws in the system that allowed this to take place. Just lots of “but for the grace of God there go I”, and “let’s just love this guy and get past this”. I’m not saying this guy needs to be condemned, he’s yet another victim of a broken system along with all the folks he duped.
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August 23, 2008
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[...] the rest of Brent’s awesome perspective on this story here ….Or Brad’s thoughts here… ………….or Tyler’s thoughts [...]
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August 23, 2008
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I think my first reaction was just huge disappointment. But, the more I think about it, I think that our response should be one of prayer, and support. The reality is, this guy is a broken man like the rest of us. He’s got vices that just got out of control (and unfortunately affected thousands of thousands of people). But I know that you, me, and the rest of the Christian community fall into sin, deception and corruption on a regular basis (whether it be inward or outward).
He’s going to get plenty of repercussions and condemnation coming his way from those around him. I say we don’t contribute to it, but acknowledge his (and our) brokenness…and continue in love and forgiveness.
John 13:35 – By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
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August 23, 2008
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I couldn’t agree with your sentiments more. Few things scare me more than when I hear someone say, “Oh, I would never do that.”
My comment?
“Gear up, because the Enemy is coming after you.”
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August 23, 2008
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Perfectly spoken. You are so right. Thus why we must always keep our eyes on God and not on man. Because man will always fail and let us down.
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August 23, 2008
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Awesome blog! I’ve had two things to say about this whole story.
1. If we would just understand the grace by which we stand ourselves, it becomes much easier to hold back in our judgment.
2. Don’t put your faith in men. They will always fail you, but God will never fail.
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August 23, 2008
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Great post. I love that book. Who knew there was such deep meaning there.
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August 24, 2008
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We all are screw ups and I guess a good thing that comes from a sad thing like this is that just because you are a Christian celebrity or Pastor does not mean he has arrived and is perfect and it helps us ‘normal’ people realise that God still loves him and loves us even after screwing up.
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August 24, 2008
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August 25, 2008
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@ Buddy – John’s Revelation is not the same as the Prophets you mentioned from the OT. Of course I do not believe it should be done away with.
My point is the same. The Holy Spirit was sent to convict of sin from the preaching of the gospel. You do not see the use of the prophet in the NT as it was used in the OT.
In this case that Brad posted about, it is not our place just because we are Christians to put this guy in his place. Those who have influence on him need to be straight forward and tough with him and through God’s Word the Holy Spirit will convict him of his sins and his failures. I think He is big enough to do so.
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August 25, 2008
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[...] his life that did not match up with the character of the Lord he sang about. Brad had a great post HERE concerning the story, and this post is not to cast criticism on Michael because we all have sin in [...]
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December 11, 2008
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I love that book! I can’t wait till you get back from Atlanta daddy.
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December 11, 2008
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I love that book! I can’t wait till you get back from Atlanta daddy.
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March 16, 2009
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Love this post…and that book!
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