Digital Social Hour Podcast by Sean Kelly - From 24 to CEO: How I Built a Thriving Church & Career | Pastor Lucas Miles DSH #1046
The conversation highlights how wokeism has subtly infiltrated churches, with its roots tracing back to early Christian socialists in the 1700s. This ideology, initially progressive thought, has evolved over time, with universities like Harvard and Yale, originally theological centers, now being seen as beacons of progressive thought. The speaker emphasizes the need to educate Christians on biblical teachings to help them recognize false gospels. He shares his personal journey of collaboration with Charlie Kirk and Turning Point USA to address these issues, including his role in leading TPUSA Faith. The speaker also discusses the challenges pastors face in addressing social issues and the fear of losing congregants or financial support. He advocates for pastors to be bold in preaching the truth, even at the cost of losing members, and highlights the importance of discipleship, especially for influential figures like celebrities. The conversation also touches on the skepticism towards religion among younger generations and the need for churches to engage in meaningful dialogues with skeptics and atheists.
Key Points:
- Wokeism has infiltrated churches, starting as early as the 1700s with Christian socialists.
- Educating Christians on biblical teachings is crucial to recognizing false gospels.
- Pastors should be bold in addressing social issues, despite potential backlash.
- Discipleship is important, especially for influential figures like celebrities.
- Engaging in dialogues with skeptics and atheists can help address religious skepticism.
Details:
1. 🌟 Introduction to Key Discussions
- Wokeism has infiltrated the church, with the earliest instances of Christian socialists dating back to the 1700s, indicating a long-standing historical presence.
- There are concerns about dark money being directed towards Christian organizations, suggesting possible external influences and manipulation.
- Educating churchgoers on Biblical teachings is proposed as a strategy to enable them to identify and reject false gospels and ideologies.
- Examples of wokeism in the church's history illustrate the enduring challenge of maintaining doctrinal purity.
- Current challenges include the need for discernment and strategic response to external ideological influences.
2. 🌍 Exploring Wokeism in the Church
- Pastor Miles met Charlie Kirk about three years ago, which marked the beginning of a collaboration that significantly impacted his ministry.
- Initially connecting through a podcast during the COVID pandemic, this relationship was solidified when Charlie Kirk and his team supported Pastor Miles at a TPSA Faith-organized pastors' conference.
- For the past year and a half, Pastor Miles has actively collaborated with Charlie Kirk, co-hosting a Freedom Night event in Phoenix attended by approximately 1,500 people, showcasing the influence and reach of their joint efforts.
- Pastor Miles was appointed as the senior director at TPSA Faith, a position that involves leading a team of around 30 individuals, indicating his strategic importance in the organization.
- Despite taking on this national role, Pastor Miles continues to fulfill his responsibilities as a pastor in Indiana, demonstrating his ability to manage dual roles effectively.
3. 🤝 Building Bridges with Charlie Kirk
- Wokeism has subtly infiltrated the church, with its origins traceable to the 1700s, evolving from early Christian socialists.
- Institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton transitioned from clergy education centers to progressive thought hubs.
- There is strategic funding, termed as dark money, aimed at promoting woke ideologies within Christian organizations.
- Efforts to counter these influences include the publication of books and conducting over 750 interviews to educate Christians.
- Educating Christians on biblical teachings is crucial for discerning against false gospels and ideologies.
- The prevalence of negative PR, including scandals involving church leaders, exacerbates skepticism towards Christianity.
- Individual pastor failings should not be conflated with Christianity's teachings; focus should remain on Jesus.
- The speaker's church exemplifies a bold stance against prevailing cultural norms, serving as a beacon in a predominantly blue county.
- Modern implications include the necessity for churches to distinguish authentic doctrines from progressive influences.
- Strategies to combat wokeism involve reinforcing traditional biblical teachings and creating awareness about ideological infiltrations.
4. 🗳️ Politics in the Pulpit: A Delicate Balance
- Discussing controversial topics such as socialism vs. capitalism and marriage from a biblical perspective in sermons can lead to significant short-term losses, as evidenced by a congregation losing half its members and donors within 8 weeks.
- Despite initial losses, churches can recover and even thrive financially by maintaining boldness in their preaching, as one church experienced growth beyond its previous size and achieved its best financial position.
- Pastors face substantial financial pressures, such as a $47,000 monthly lease, which may deter them from addressing potentially divisive topics.
- There is a notable disconnect between social media engagement and actual church attendance; while Bible sales are high, only 24% of churchgoing Christians view the Bible as the authoritative word of God.
- Pastors can be categorized as true, traitorous, or trembling, with many hesitating to speak truth due to fears of backlash or financial repercussions.
5. 🎭 Navigating Celebrity Influence in Faith
- Pastors face unique challenges in discipling celebrities, often fearing the loss of these high-profile congregants if they provide direct guidance. Non-celebrity congregants typically receive more straightforward counsel.
- Building rapport with celebrities is crucial to effective discipleship, allowing pastors to address difficult truths without alienating them.
- Many pastors mistakenly believe they will face legal repercussions, such as losing tax-exempt status, for speaking on controversial issues. Notably, no church has lost its 501c3 status due to political speech, dispelling this common fear.
- The reluctance of pastors to address social issues often leads to misinformation and missed opportunities for educating congregants.
- The American Pastor Project is designed to encourage pastors to adhere to historical biblical Christianity and reject progressive influences from the pulpit.
- By 2025, a map of churches committed to these values will be available, aiding congregants in locating like-minded religious communities.
6. 🙏 The Journey and Commitment of a Pastor
- A genuine call to ministry is driven by divine purpose rather than personal gain, highlighting the necessity for a strong spiritual foundation.
- The speaker's testimony includes a pivotal moment of divine intervention at age 15, marking the beginning of their ministry journey.
- Commitment to preaching began at age 17, rooted in a deep sense of purpose, highlighting the importance of dedication despite financial challenges.
- Personal sacrifices are part of ministry life, such as exceeding biblical requirements, like abstaining from alcohol, to uphold integrity and avoid misinterpretation.
- The ministry involves navigating scrutiny and living in a way that may limit personal freedoms to maintain a clear, honest representation of one's intentions.
7. 🌿 Perspectives on Cannabis and Christian Living
- Christians are advised to avoid cannabis if it impairs mental clarity, regardless of its legality, emphasizing that Christian values should prioritize mental sobriety.
- While medical cannabis is recognized for its benefits, the speaker stresses that these can be accessed without the intoxicating effects of THC, aligning with Christian principles of preserving mental clarity.
- The speaker, who has abstained from cannabis use despite peer usage, shares insights based on a personal journey of ministry, having founded a church at 24 and accumulated over 20 years of experience.
- The subsection could further explore broader Christian community perspectives on cannabis, enhancing the understanding of its implications within Christian living.
8. 🗣️ Engaging with Skepticism and Religious Dialogue
- Engagement with skeptics, including atheists and other religious beliefs, should prioritize dialogue over confrontation, promoting understanding and mutual respect.
- The speaker utilizes a background in philosophy and religious studies to advocate for the study of various religious texts, including the Bhagavad Gita, to foster informed discussions.
- Christianity's perseverance over 2,000 years is cited as an indication of its ongoing relevance, prompting the church to engage more actively in interfaith conversations.
- A noted resurgence in paganism underscores the need for open and respectful dialogues about differing beliefs.
- Conversations should emphasize treating individuals with dignity and love while being honest about differing beliefs and perspectives.
- Real engagement involves exploring the reasons behind individuals' departure from faith and comprehending their belief systems.
- The decline in critical questioning about faith within the Christian world is highlighted as an area for improvement.
- Success in conservative political circles is partly attributed to their willingness to engage in debates and dialogues, contrasting with their opponents' avoidance of such interactions.
- Calm, inquisitive approaches, exemplified by figures like Charlie, are deemed effective in fostering engagement, even in the face of hostility.
9. 🔍 Generational Shifts in Religious Perception
9.1. Growing Skepticism and Societal Challenges
9.2. Role of the Church and Potential Engagement
10. 👥 Empowering the Younger Generation
- Younger generations' ideas are often dismissed, which can stifle innovation. Engaging constructively with them can lead to new insights and innovation.
- Greta Thunberg’s generation is concerned about environmental issues. Engaging them in dialogue can merge their passion with broader perspectives on stewardship, such as a Biblical worldview.
- Recognizing the potential of young individuals is crucial; they are capable of significant achievements, as seen in examples like young entrepreneurs and podcasters.
- Providing opportunities for young people to build platforms early is increasing. However, fostering humility is essential to ensure they grow effectively and avoid echo chambers.
- Focusing on truth and core values is crucial for young individuals building platforms, as it helps guide followers effectively and build meaningful engagement.
11. 🧘 Cultivating Humility and Staying Grounded
- The speaker emphasizes the importance of attributing success and positive feedback to a higher power, such as God, rather than oneself, as a strategy to stay humble.
- The narrative references a biblical example where Moses is described as the most humble man, despite having written that about himself, illustrating the complexity of true humility.
- A hypothetical scenario is presented where identifying oneself as humble requires genuine humility, suggesting that self-awareness and acceptance of one's identity as defined by a higher power are key to true humility.
12. 👋 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
- Connect with Pastor Lucas Miles on social media at @MrLucasMiles.
- Visit TPUSAA.com for more information.
- For speaking engagements, visit LucasMiles.org.