“Some have complained that Luther was too severe. I will not deny this. But I will answer in the language of Erasmus: Because the sickness was so great, God gave this age a rough doctor … If Luther was severe, it was because of his earnestness for the truth, not because he loved strife or harshness.”
Luther’s Funeral Oration
“The pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both.”
John Calvin
Recently, I was having a conversation with a Pastor I had met for the first time. Before meeting we had corresponded somewhat so we were not complete strangers. Within 10 minutes of our initial conversation he casually commented;
“I knew you wouldn’t bite my head off.”
To which I responded; “Who ever said I would?”
His response was not that surprising I suppose. He informed me that he had “Reformed” clergy friends who had witnessed that we were corresponding and those “Reformed” clergy friends upon seeing our corresponding had said things like, “Ah, now we see where you are trending.” My conversational partner made it clear that I had been marked out as one to be avoided by other Reformed clergy. To his credit, this Pastor defended me in his conversation.
A few months prior to this a little known Reformed clergy member in a phone booth sized Reformed denomination wrote in a public post that “Bret McAtee is the Godfather of Kinism,” and continued to warn people against me. Now, to be honest, I could wear the mantle of “The Godfather of Kinism” as a badge of honor were it true, but alas I am merely the lesser son of Greater Reformed Ministers and Doctors of the Church who came before me and from whom I have learned my Kinism.
There have been sundry other incidents. One time when a couple was considering attending the Church I minister at, the Pastor at the church they were leaving pulled the husband aside and in dark tones warned about attending a “racist” church. Said “Pastor” couldn’t wait to pull that card. Yet, nothing I have said on the subject of race was not said by countless other church Fathers as testified to in the Anthology; “Who Is My Neighbor.”
These attacks on my character and reputation are nothing new to me. Years ago newspapers, radio, and TV outlets across the state blackened my name with typical Lugenpresse lies and half-truths about the beliefs I hold that were the beliefs that I learned from my Christian Fathers. They picked this up from a muscular hate organization (SPLC) who also blackened my reputation and name. Not to be outdone, a major denomination in America went out of their way attempting to destroy my good name — again by allowing the enemies of the Gospel create the narrative without any input from me.
Now combine all this vitriolic slander and libel with the fact that like Luther before me I have been a rough doctor because of the sickness of this age. Indeed, we (the church and the culture) are more sick than we can even begin to plumb. Like Luther, I have been severe because of my love for the truth and because of my love for the Lord Christ. I have been severe, at times, in rebuking idiots because I ardently believe that “bad theology hurts people and hurts them badly.” Like Calvin my voice has, perhaps, slightly been used as much to drive off the wolves and thieves than it has been used to gather the flock. For these realities, I do not apologize. Not in the least. Indeed, it is my daily prayer that God would raise up more shepherds who have the ability to see the danger that exists as coming from those reputed to be pillars in the church.
However, all should be aware that I have paid a price for standing athwart the times while cursing the enveloping and settling darkness. It is the kind of price that St. Paul talks about in the Scripture when he talks about being made a spectacle to the world in I Corinthians 4. It as all been the fulfillment of Christ’s words;
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.”
And I have to tell you I do believe that even though a great amount of this hate is coming from “the church” it is really the case that it is coming from the world as in the Church. I believe this because I have said nothing, or believe nothing, that can’t be found in all the greats throughout history whom I have spent my life reading. None of it is new or original to me. It was all there and I found it in my wall to wall reading habits.
My problem, if a problem it is, is that the tight worldview I have does not allow me to see problems in other people’s thinking without at the same time seeing where even the comparatively smallest of errors in that thinking may well lead. If I have erred it has been to err by not just walking away from discussions without pointing out the implications of conversation partners thinking X, Y, or Z. Even at this age I continue to work at not picking at the tiny scabs in other people’s worldviews.
Still, I have lived through the rise of the heresy Federal Vision and have had to fight that. I have lived through the rise of Radical Two Kingdom theology and have to fight that. I have had to fight the dismal New Perspective On Paul theology. Then there have been the old enemies of dispensationalism, Arminianism, and Free Will Theism, not to mention, the whole abomination that was the “Church Growth Movement,” as well as the monster called “The Emergent Church Movement” — which was really just cultural Marxism and Liberation theology coming dressed up in Evangelical Evening clothes. Then there is, of course, the constant infusion of egalitarianism into the church at every turn — more cultural Marxism.
All of these are heresies. All of them deserve the harshest treatment possible. If the Church’s immune system were not shattered each would have been snuffed out in their crib.
So, my crime, if there is a crime, is that I have strongly insisted on the truth of what the Fathers have said. I have used the “drive off the wolves and thieves” voice to scatter God’s enemies. With God as my witness I have tried to be patient through the years. However, in the face of rank and death dealing doctrine I have protested often… and loudly. And so, I find myself enveloped in a reputation given to me by people who may be well intended but are largely dumb and it seems they have succeeded in making me a pariah in many quarters.
Well, my Lord Christ told me that
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him”
So, I have this comfort. It is the comfort that Machen must have comforted himself with when he was defrocked. It is the comfort that Edwards must have known when he was tossed from his congregation. It is the comfort that the Reformers were familiar with when cast out by the Whore of a Church in Rome. Each and all, as well as countless others through the ages, have suffered far far worse than anything I have suffered. Along with everything else, my reputation belongs to Christ and I am secure in the fact that I have pleased Him by standing for His cause — even if I have hurt the feelings of todays “conservative” “Reformed” clergy.
I don’t suppose, at my age, the pitch and intensity of my voice is going to change much. I am not likely to get much softer when confronted with the utter skubala that is so often characteristic of the visible Church today. Counter-Revolutions are not led by the soft-spoken and retiring.
Folks can be comforted by one thing though… they can be comforted that if they are friends of the Christ who walks through Scripture they will be my friends. They can be comforted in knowing that if they are seeking truth I will be their most patient and best friend in that endeavor.
If they are not… well, then it is the rough doctor for you. But if the Rough Doctor comes out try to understand that he is present out of love of God and love for your soul’s well being.
Please pray for my ongoing need for sanctification. It is never easy to determine when it is time for the thief voice or time for the gather the sheep voice and I admittedly often fail in striking just the right tone. Also pray for the visible church and today’s “conservative” “Reformed” clergy corps that God might be pleased to give Reformation in head and members.
You and I vehemently disagree sometimes, but so did Luther and some of his closest associates.
The doctrines of unconditional love and equality have infected even some in my own family, who at times think I’m a bit extreme. I look forward to sharing this article with them.
What man calling himself a Reformed pastor would believe anything coming from the SPLC?!
Hello Dave,
Good to see you here. It’s been awhile.
The answer to your question is … “Stupid Reformed Pastors”