This response from John W. Brooks came in from yesterday's questions regarding the Tulsa International Soul Winning Workshop.
I haven't attended the Tulsa Workshop for years now. The reason: the last time I attended, the "main" speakers were so sarcastic and contemptuous toward our "less" progressive brethren that it broke my heart to see and hear such behavior.
Thank you, John, for making a stark and stinging point. It needs to be addressed. I had yet realized BlogWorld could, once again, prove itself beneficial.
John is on target. I have grieved over what he so clearly and accurately points out. The workshop, now 32 years old, went through it's childish and teen/early twenties years with brashness and disrespect breaking out like acne. We didn't do a very good job at communicating in depth the love of God.
There are those (many) who would tell you, I wouldn't walk across the street to hear Rush preach. I would respond, I don't blame them. I wouldn't walk across the street to hear me preach either if it was some of the stuff in the past. Would anyone recall my Snorting Pulpits and Snoring Pews sermon?
John, you've told us the truth and I apologize. We were wrong. Period. We had visions of Jeremiah, but came across as Rosie O'Donnell. Our hearts wanted better things for our people; but our resentment, in the name of boldness, proved to be immaturity with a Bible verse poorly tacked on.
The good news is, things have changed for the much better. John's later comment, it must be made clear that we will not give up on those brethren who disagree with us. How will we ever win the world if we can't "win" our own people? Or at least remain in fellowship with them, is is a strong call. Fortunately, such is the way it has been over the past few years. Garnett's unity effort last year was filled with this precise message. This year enhanced this needed call.
You are right John W. Brooks. We have been sadly wrong. The good news is we now see your faithful points much clearer and hope all who have rejected the workshop in the past will not continue to refer of it from its childish moments, but from its growing in Jesus formation of its latter years.
One word of caution for all. Should the Lord give us another ten years to do the workshop, we will look back on the workshop's strength of today and call it weak. Why? Because we assume He will grow us to an even newer level by 2017! We must admit our mistakes, stand corrected by the compass of the Christ, and ever look upward to what we can be rather than what we were.
8 comments:
Thanks, friend!
Terry,
I see it from a little different perspective. I have been coming to the workshop for 17 years straight and have heard just about every speaker either live or on tape. I never once got the feeling anyone was being "brash and disrespectful" or as John said, "sarcastic and contemptuous". "Envelope pushing" things were said that were meant to move us along this wonderful path of following Christ, many times out of our own stubborness and complacency. It feels offensive to be told we need to move higher, to a greater and deeper love than the love we've known, to a better understanding of God's grace and compassion, out of our comfort zones and into a world of faith in Christ. Anyone who stands up in that way and calls us to a higher and holier standard gets all kinds of accusations leveled at them, as you well know. But I owe a great deal of gratitude to these men who have led us to greener pastures. Even though they might not phrase some things the way we like, I have to fall back on the tremendous love these guys have for our Lord and His kingdom, their commitment to the Word of God, and the fact they are earnestly seeking what's best for the people of God. At that time it was the very best they had to offer, in a very difficult and significant time for Churches of Christ. The result of their courage and faith is still being felt today as we experience the wonders of kingdom living we may not have known were it not for them. I can say that is true for me. My discomfort always came from my own unwillingness to move and grow and not from any attitude toward the one trying to get me to do those things.
Thanks, Terry, for spurring us on to bigger and better things.
Terry,
I am humbled by your response to my comments. Please accept my apology for judging the present workshop(s) by the past.
I would look forward to meeting you, again, at next year's workshop.
John W. Brooks
Having listened to Tulsa Workshop tapes for the past 15 or so years, and attending last years Workshop.....I tend to agree with Brad. Addressing taboo topics is ALWAYS going to be perceived as brash....and most of the time disrespectful. Was there some sarcasm used? Of course there was.....just as Jesus did. But I ALWAYS heard it being communicated in love.
That's just one person's take.
I wouldn't have changed a thing, but to watch your Christ like spirit in response to this is inspiring and humbling.
In HIM,
DU
Terry,
Your response was outstanding and inspiring. You saw truth in criticism and did not become defensive. I have rarely seen such humility, but you have set a great example for me to follow. If nothing else, you have led the way in acting with maturity. Thanks for demonstrating the Spirit of Christ in your life!
Terry Laudett
I don't have the workshop track record of most - I suppose I've been about 6 or 7 times... not enough to notice trends or anything. But I think it's way important to acknowledge the perspective of others, even if it's not your own personal experience. No doubt there are more John Brooks out there, so bless him for speaking on their behalf...
And bless you, Rush, for responding with respect and the love of Christ! It's really VITAL to Kingdom living among ourselves.
Terry,
You have once again showed us how to respond to criticism with the grace and the love of Jesus that God intended. Thank you for your Christlike example.
Terry,
I think I might remember Mr. Brooks. He may be the one who came to me after my talk and said, "Please don't speak evil of the bride." I kind of blew this comment off (I think it was him--if not someone said it). I also found that those attending the same talk felt that we need to address some of our weaknesses and that it is healthy to air these things out.
I guess I think about the things being said about the church by those in our communities and I have to agree. We have become so focused inward that we are not open to criticism, other opinions, and the fact that we are bringing shame to Jesus in our worlds. In my class my comments were directed to our failure to address domestic violence, child abuse, and pornography in our churches and communities.
I guess we will always have those who plug their ears and scream, "Na, Na, Na, I'm not listening." I hope that others will listen to what God is saying to us through this world's prophets and be open to discussion.
Thanks for the workshop. We need to air out these things and talk about them. Those outside the church already are.
In Christ,
Ron Clark
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