Better Chaplain Series - Speak with Authority

How many times have you heard someone share something merely because they were supposed to? They had no investment, no conviction, and probably didn’t even believe the message they were sharing?

I had a brand-new commander deliver a rebuke to their squadron a couple years ago; it was clear that the new commander didn’t know the context, the details, or the ramifications of what happened, only that they were directed to deliver the message. It was vapid, empty, and probably changed not a single mind that day, even though it was a necessary message.

Have you ever heard a someone offer a message or invocation that had no meaning or backbone? I have, more times than I can count. So did the followers of Jesus,

When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. ~ Matthew 7:28-29

Chaplain, you have the words of eternal life, they aren’t yours, but you’d better believe them, share them, preach them, pray them, and exhort them. When you pray, if the prayer isn’t interesting to you, it certainly isn’t interesting to your audience. Paul said the reason he prayed out loud was so that he could build up his hearers (1 Cor 14:16-17); Jesus said something similar (John 11:42). When you speak, make sure it’s to build up others.

When you pray, make sure it’s a heartfelt and real prayer. When you speak, make sure it’s helpful and has the whole of heaven’s authority standing behind it. Paul exhorted Titus,

Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no-one disregard you” ~ Titus 2:15

More:

1. Paul says that the Christian is an ambassador of Christ. What is the measurement of a good ambassador? Isn’t it that the king is pleased with the spirit and substance in which he shares the message?

2. Is your job to reap converts or faithfully share the message? What happens if they don’t listen? Is it your fault, or theirs? Read 1 Thessalonians 4:8 and chew on it.

3. Referees in sports are paid to make definitive decisions and make authoritative judgement calls. Have you ever seen a timid umpire who makes unclear calls? What are some ways that referees can make a crowd mad? What are some ways a referee can get fired? Who gives that referee the authority to make game-changing calls?

4. Resources:

Ash, Christopher. The Priority of Preaching. Fearn, Ross-shire: Christian Focus, 2009.

Mohler, R. Albert. He is Not Silent: Preaching in a Postmodern World. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2008.

Better Chaplain Series - Have an Agenda

If you spend any time in worldly conversation, you’ll notice that the vast majority of dialogue doesn’t matter. Maybe they’re about sports, or the weather, or hobbies, but they have no real value in any lasting sense. Yet, there continues to be an appetite for “organic” counseling and conversation, where the hope is we’ll land on something valuable on accident, or as the relationship progresses.

I was in the Middle East some years ago (pre-GPS) and we got lost near dark, the driver panicked and started taking random turns. We finally got him to pull over and we tried to figure out where we were. We couldn’t backtrack because of the randomness and roundabouts, and as the sun set we lost all sense of direction. Fortunately we found one landmark that allowed us to figure out where we were, and that allowed us to use our maps to get to our destination.

How many conversations have you had that just followed the random twists and turns? Have you ever been in a conversation and asked, “How in the world did we get here?” A chaplain should always be steering the conversation and have a destination in mind; otherwise how are you ever going to get somewhere good? I love how Hershael York puts it,

I really don’t want anybody to be around me 15 minutes without knowing the two loves of my life—the Lord Jesus and [my wife].

The real goal is making it feel like an organic conversation that lands on eternal truths; taking some scenic turns and byways, always knowing where you’re trying to end-up with a plan on how to get there. I love hiking with the kids and popping out at the parking lot when they thought they still had miles to go. What a coincidence? Or was it dad with a GPS and a trail map?

Take control of the conversation, and remember what Heath Lambert says,

Counseling is either discipleship or evangelism.

How are you going to get to Jesus? What questions will make the person you’re talking to think about eternity? I ended a conversation (outside of chaplaincy) with someone recently and they said, “You really made me mad!” It wasn’t my goal to make them mad, and I would have preferred instant joy in them, but I rejoice that now the Holy Spirit has a seed planted in their heart which he can grow.

In a future article we’ll talk about making sure we share the truth in love, not with the end goal of making people mad.

More:

1. What did Paul mean when he said, “I endeavored to know nothing among you except for Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)? Can you say the same?

2. If faith comes by hearing, and hearing the word of Christ, who have you told?

3. Think back to a time when someone got right to the point with you: did that annoy you, or do you appreciate that person?

4. Further Resources:

Mohler, R. Albert. The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters. Bloomington: Bethany House, 2012.

York, Hershael. Pastor Well. Podcast. Louisville, KY: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Better Chaplain Series - Calling or Career

Does God call the equipped or equip the called? Before becoming a chaplain I used to say, “Chaplains are the most overpaid ministers in the world.” I don’t say that as often as I used to, but I do still say it. Chaplaincy generally comes with better budgets, more stable futures, and better retirements than church ministry.

The Book of Judges reminds us over and over, “There was no king in Israel in those days, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” While the whole of Israel was in uproar and full-blown sin, Judges 17-21 give us vignettes of some of the common and heinous sins that were occurring. We’re introduced in chapter 17 to a man named Micah who is seeking to buy favor with God, and he sets up his own little church in his house and places one of his sons as priest. But he, you, and I know that his son is an illegitimate priest: he’s not from the tribe of Levi, his ordination is fraudulent, his training is non-existent, and I suspect, he's not doing a very good job.

Then a Levite wanders into the camp, at least someone from the right tribe, looking for someone to hire him as priest.

Micah gives him six things:

1. A Place to Live (Stay)

2. A Place to Serve (with me)

3. A Title (be a father and a priest)

4. A Reasonable Paycheck (I will give you 10 shekels a year)

5. Clerical Clothing to Wear (a suit of clothes)

6. Steady Meals (and your victuals)

Unfortunately, this Levite is content to serve under the idolatrous Micah. The priest does not rebuke Micah for his idolatry, he does not encourage repentance, later he stands by as his master is ransacked and maligned, and when the opportunity presents itself, he runs off to bigger and better ministry, though his overlooking the sins of so many leads to war and exponential destruction.

So, chaplain, why do you serve (do you see the parallel)? Is it because you have a Masters of Divinity and you need a place to minister? One that will give you the title of chaplain and officer, impressive base pay, Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), Basic Allowance for Sustenance (BAS), a clothing allowance, and something the Levite never dreamed of, paternity leave and a solid retirement? Or is it because God has called you to a dark and dying people that desperately needs your call to repentance and moral uprightness to point them to the King who is able to serve as priest forever? Do you want the benefits, or do you want to serve Christ?

All he aimed at was to get bread, not to do good. ~ Matthew Henry

More:

1. Was it wrong for a priest in the time of the Judges to be paid for his work? Is it wrong for a minister today to be paid for his work? If not, how do you ensure that your comfort and love of money is not consuming your soul and reeking havoc on your usefulness? Can you say like Paul, "I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel." (Acts 20:33)?

2. The temptation is to set-up a Sacerdotal religion, one where the priesthood outranks the populace. How can you faithfully say that you came to serve, not to be served, and to ensure that you aren't puffed up by your knowledge and experience?

3. Do you know the story of Balaam son of Beor? He was hired by an enemy king to invoke curses upon Israel. The amount he received is veiled from us, but it was certainly not a small amount (Cf Numbers 22:7, 18). Could it be said that he gained the world and lost his soul?

4. Further Resources:

Reidhead, Paris. Ten Shekels and a Shirt. Sermon. Preached 1964.

Lawson, Steven J. Famine in the Land: A Passionate Call for Expository Preaching. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2003.

Better Chaplain Series - A Present Help in Trouble

When the Son of God stepped into human flesh two millennia ago, he was called "Immanuel" which being translated means "God With Us". He did many things in his incarnation, but one of the most important is in his name, he brought God near to us, and he brought us near to God. The broken relationship between God and men was healed so that we can with confidence believe Psalm 46:1.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

This verse was illuminated to me by Pastor Tyler Hicks who stated that one of his favorite things to hear from his kids is "Dad, help!" because he knows that they are reaching out for their near help, a present help in times of trouble. In many cases he is able to help because he is near.

Pastors have known for millennia that they are often called upon in the most importune times. Chaplains have a compounded accessibility with duty rosters and duty phones, and they often minister among people who have no-where else to turn to for help. Ask any chaplain and you'll hear of very inconvenient conversations. Years ago I took a late night phone call to have the caller ask career advice for promotion. He assured me it was an emergency. After speaking for a few minutes I said bluntly, "Help me to understand how this is an emergency." He got his thoughts together and it became clear that he was in the first year of a six year contract, hated his job, and saw no way to improve his situation without a drastic promotion. All of the sudden I knew why it was an emergency: he was at his wits end and his hope was failing. I thank God that I didn't do what my flesh wanted to do, which was to end the conversation curtly; would I have ever had the chance to talk to him again?

Chaplain, you are a present help in times of trouble. Some of the worst chaplains I know regularly schedule appointments out by weeks. Sometimes there is a place for that, but it should not be your normal ministry. Jesus missed a healing by stopping to help someone, and that healing had to be turned into a resurrection (Mark 5:21-43). If you want to be Christlike, make yourself available to inconvenient opportunities.

But, never forget that there is a very present help, a better helper, a better saviour, than you, but that you are his ambassador, you are operating vicariously in his place, you are the only Bible most people will ever read. My chaplain endorser, Liberty Baptist Fellowship, declares that our call is to "Bear the message and presence of Christ around the globe." That's not just for LBF chaplains, it's the call of all pastors, chaplains, and saints.

More:

1. The company Amazon traces much of its success to "frictionless experiences"; what sort of things get in your way of being available to those who need you? How can you be more frictionless and easier to interact with?

2. The temptation is to say, "There are too many people who need me." Maybe that's true...but most likely it's not. How can you better schedule your day, prioritize your ministry, and love people?

3. Further Resources:

Jones, Timothy Paul and Michael Wilder. The God Who Goes Before You. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2015.

Casting Crowns. If We Are the Body. 2003. Sparrow Records.