2 Samuel 16:9,11 - "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head...let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him."

Matthew 7:15 - “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Matthew 24:11 - “…and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Inspiring Story About Matt Chandler

Below is a link to a very inspiring article appearing last week in the Dallas Morning News about Matt Chandler's year-long battle with brain cancer. Matt is the pastor at the Village Church in the Dallas area. FBC Jax had him speak at the 2009 Pastor's Conference.


I have written several articles about Matt Chandler on this blog, including one in November 2009 before he suffered his seizure and the cancer diagnosis - about an incredible sermon he preached to future pastors at Southern Seminary (click here to watch that sermon at the SBTS website). His sermon was almost prophetic when he was warning these young students to not be like so many preachers in our day who get into the ministry to promote themselves to achieve Western success - selling books and tapes and making much of themselves. Then about 2 weeks later he suffered his severe seizure and the discovery of the mass in his brain.

But in that SBTS sermon, Chandler pointed students to Hebrews 11:32-33 where it does say some Christians will achieve great success such as "shutting the mouths of lions" and raising the dead...but Chandler pointed out that so many preachers today ignore verses 35-37 where the writer says that some will be tortured and sawn in two and living in caves for their faith. Chandler expressed his concern that today's seminary students are watching the big shots, the famous preachers who sell books and are on TV and live the glamorous life, and yearn to be like them, and think they WILL be like them if they can sit at their feet and learn their techniques - after all, who gets invited to preach at chapel to these students? Not the lowly suffering pastors, but the popular, glamorous ones. But Chandler says no, some will be ridiculed and sawn in two so-to-speak, and live extremely difficult lives - and they should be willing to accept that possible fate as ministers or they should get out of the ministry lickity split.

Prophetic words, because just several weeks later Chandler's life moved into that realm of verses 35-37, and God gave him the opportunity to live it himself. He no doubt had been achieving great things for the Lord. By many accounts I've read he is a humble man of modest means and does not draw a large salary or accept money from books or speaking engagements and never sought out to be a big time preacher - in fact his story is that he reluctantly took over as pastor of a dwindling congregation of about 200 people that has grown to over 8000. But in the middle of all of this "success", he suddenly had to begin a walk through surgery and chemo and radiation treatments and uncertainty - that has lasted more than a year now.

But Chandler has used it to teach Christians how to deal with tragedy by trusting in God, that no matter what happens, God will get the glory for it even though we might not see how. He has been very transparent using social media tools to allow people to follow him in his journey.

Chandler doesn't use his pulpit to talk about poor Matt Chandler and all of his trials and tribulations and attacks - like some Baptist preachers do - instead through the last year he has been able to glorify God through the madness, giving thanks that God counted him worthy to suffer for His name's sake to make much of God's name, and little of Matt Chandler.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

God I wish he were our Pastor!

Anonymous said...

No you don't

Katie said...

Anon 3:30 pm,

I believe you. No one who shows your negativity towards a man of great faith, could want such a man to lead them spiritually.

Great article WD. I've been following this for awhile. Thanks for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

Just curious...why does MC being an unapologetic calvinist have anything to do with this story?

FBC Jax Watchdog said...

You're right. Stupid. I took it out.

Anonymous said...

I hope he's not a tither or you'll have to start telling him he's teaching false doctrine.

FBC Jax Watchdog said...

No problem if he himself is a tither.

But if he stands in his pulpit and announces that Christians are obligated to give 10% undesignated to his church, else they are in sin, are unmanly, and are bringing calamity upon themselves or their families, then yes....that would be teaching false doctrine.

Anonymous said...

As an old pastor nearing the end of my journey, I worry that our young ministers will be caught up im the Ed Young syndrome of celebrity and riches, Bro. Chandler gives me hope that God does have those who have not bowed to baal. Bojac




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Douglas said...

"No problem if he himself is a tither." eh?

Is he trying to be justified by the keeping of the law too?

Where does he get all the sheep and goats and deer and wheat, and corn and mint and cumin and parsley and celery and garlic and onions, all those things they tithed on in those days, from? Does he own cattle upon a thousand hills? Just curious.

Christians don't tithe. If Mr Chandler is a tither he is misleading folks by default. Still, no excuse, is there?

Btw, why does a Christian go to a homeopathic doctor? I thought homeopathy had its roots in the occult? Demonic deception? Twitter That has me a tad mystified. Why not rely more on God and really professional doctors? Homeopathy sounds like quackery to me. Here drink this, it is arsenic, but it is so, so, so diluted, it won’t harm a fly. It just may kill you and the cancer both at the same time.

What is Homeopathy?
by Dr. John Ankerberg, Dr. John Weldon

there are seven more articles on Homeopathy to be found here

FBC Jax Watchdog said...

Douglas - you know what I mean. I meant that if he gives 10% of his income as led by the Spirit, then who would argue with that?

Frank The Tank said...

What about Matt Chandler's "alleged" open acceptance of believers indulging in the beverage alcohol, including himself?

Or..

JD Grear's (sp?) documented acceptance of moderation with the beverage alcohol and, like Chandler, being invited to speak at FBC Jax's Pastors' Conference with an open stance of drinking intoxicating drinks?

The times, they are a changin'...

Douglas said...

"I meant that if he gives 10% of his income as led by the Spirit, then who would argue with that?"

Watchdog,
are we led by the Spirit in how much we are to give or do we decide in our OWN hearts? What does the Bible teach about that? For many, giving may not be money but time and/or talents instead? For some, they have no money to give and that is a fact. They should NOT have even a hint of a of a “guilt trip” laid upon them by another, Christian or otherwise.

2 Corithians 9:6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (ESV)

2 Corithians 9:6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; (NASB)

Anonymous said...

wow someone legalistic to say drinking is a sin, frank. Show me in the bible where it is sin to smoke or drink? i am ot talking about alchohalism but just smoking or drinking