The "Pirate" Video is Still Making Waves

Thank you to Christianity Today for picking up the conversation! Check it out here.

Comments

[Sue]

Amen! Amen! Amen!

Again, you speak the very heartbeat of God; an "in your face" approach but it is exactly what needs to be shared. Wake-up church, these are real issues we must address if the Bride of Christ - The Church is to rise up and take her rightful place before the return of Christ.

Betrayl is something very real in the church & it needs to be brought to the light. The enemy thrives in darkness.

Thanks for your obedience as you continue to walk in the Spirit. Though radical and "controversial" - wasn't Jesus as well?

We stand with you as we seek to be "mover's and shakers" for the Kingdom of God.

God Bless!

[Kristin]

I stumbled across your blog about church pirates in Christianity Today. It smacked me right in the heart.

I don't pretend to be an authority on churches-or even ministry for that matter. After all, I'm a single mom who got knocked up out of wedlock. I've had my fair share of life-altering screwups.

But what I do know is that we love to hate our leaders. We are born rebels. I know I am. If we're not rebelling against mom and dad, it's our teachers, our pastors, or our bosses. The only difference is our bosses-they can fire us. Pastors can't.

Ed Young mentioned something about putting his heart out there as a leader-and people-we should be ashamed of ourselves for attacking our leaders. Blaming them for our personal dissatifaction with life, or for our own bad choices. I say "we" because we are one body, one church, we are the same and we need each other.

This is precisely why pirating from churches is wrong. It doesn't take alot of explaining to understand why unity doesn't mean the entire Christian population meets Sunday morning under one roof-at least not in this lifetime anyway. But where have we gone wrong? Why would people want to steal sheep-essentially ripping out body parts from another church leaving that church gasping for air? And why do some of us not even see how brutally wrong it is?

I really don't know the answer.

But I know that its wrong. And all those hateful comments, they only reveal the hearts of the mud slingers. I hope that you guys who are so quick to judge this man, don't do this in your own churches-but sadly, it is pretty telling that you probably already do.

To be honest, I don't even know Ed Young. But I'm so glad he spoke up. God has given this man an enormous platform (literally), and he is brave enough to speak up even if it means taking the hits for it. Great change is great risk. He is no dummy.

He is a leader. And I believe it would be safe to assume a man of God. And successful. So naturally, and humanly, we hate on him. Please brothers and sisters in Christ wake up! God has appointed us models of leadership to follow from birth. If we can't submit to these, how in the world can we ever submit to God? Our leaders are like our own spiritual training wheels. And we think we can skip them and go straight for the Harley?

Those comments that picked apart his words like lint off a sweater missed the whole point. But I don't think he wrote it for them. I think he wrote it for the ones of us who have experienced the pain of church piracy first-hand. They say divorce is more painful than death-and that's kind of what church piracy is, only messier.

And even worse its done in the "name of God". I grew up a pastors daughter watching my father go through this many times, and worse. For lack of a better word it sucked. It hurt. But it hurt more than our family-it hurt our church and most of all, our ministry. It was like spiritual sabatoge with a kiss. I saw brand new believers being confused and disgusted and turned off. The love I thought we had for each other was in reality, shallow, and utterly selfish. And I also watched, as my father humbly and diligently kept putting his heart out there for them. Sound familiar?

I've heard every cheap shot in the book, but yet as much as I'm sure it stung, my father kept doing the work set out before him. At first in the ignorance of my youth, I was angry at him for it all. It was the easy thing. It made me feel better.

But to be honest, he's only guilty of being a leader. And so is Ed Young. And so is our President. If you are fooling yourself and really think Ed Young is the problem-well, I'm sad to say its probably you. It's not about Ed Young. It never was. It's not about his church either. (And of course it is ultimatey God's church-that goes without saying)

It's about ethics. Something we as Christians should be the ones teaching the corporate world-not the other way around. But they've created a framework to protect themselves from bad ethics-and the church believes in grace. But a graceful response to sin, doesn't mean the sin was ok, even guised in the form of "ministry". If you really think about it, in this regard church leaders who so often are victimized in this manner are in a no-win situation.

My dad always says when your the tallest man in the tree-all people can see is your rear end. He even would always quote whoever said it originally to give them the credit.

So please, go do the same and give credit where credit is due. Don't bite the hand that fed you spiritually. And quick grumbling and get out there and change the world...like Ed Young is actually doing. And to you, Ed Young, thank you for using your huge platform to speak for the ones who can't.

[Craig]

Hello Pastor Ed,

Your video was like a no brainer for me. Yet I've stummbled across some who seem to have trouble with your comments, which has been very shocking for me. Not that some disagree but how they seem to miss it.

Like doesn't God want more churches? or
How can it be wrong to start a church? etc.
Thanks for putting it out there.

[Chelsie Jackson]

Ed, speaking of church planting, sending out an SOS... Fellowship Church New Orleans area!

[AP]

I don't question your integrity and it just bothers me that those who do have never walked a mile in your shoes.

I admire you for taking your stance and being strong.

You have my support

[Dan]

Great post Ed! Pastors are commanded to "shepherd the flock which is among you." (1 Pet. 5:2) Some blogs have harped on that it isn't about ownership. It isn't??? What Bible are you reading? Are you reading the one that tells us how much judgement a shepherd will receive based on how he LEADS his flock? He better take some ownership. Obviously Christ is the Head but pastors are COMMANDED to Shepherd also. Part of shepherding is protecting. You have to warn people about wolves...Pirates.

As a pastor I am very passionate about this issue because of how divided our churches have become. Jesus prayed that we would be one but the world doesn't see us that way because we are not. I urge my church all the time to NEVER be a part of a church split. How dare another "pastor" divide God's church? It weakens HIS church and taints the worlds' view of it.

[Marc]

Ed, you're right about the topic. It is something churches (pastors in particular)need to talk about. I appreciate your candor. But I don't think you can draw out generalizations from an immensely complex issue. As a pastor I have experienced the kind of "piracy" you describe and I have friends that have gone through similar situations. Each situation is unique. Unfortunately there are usually wrongs committed on both sides. I agree that the issue of loyalty to a community of faith (a church) is key, but that loyalty should always be reciprocal (Eph 5:21 - from pastor to church member and vice-versa). No doubt, there are those who seek to create their own kingdom at the expense of their own church community. It's shameful and wounding, but there are also pastors and church leaders who create "pirate-type" people by the wounds they inflict on individuals and entire congregations. I think that part of the solution we as pastors can offer is helping "pirates" (and other 'victims')heal.

Thanks again for your honesty and for creating a dialog that was long overdue.

[Jason]

Keep it up.

Luke 8:18

Blessings

[Pastor Brad]

Hi Ed,
I was directed by a colleague of mine to check out your video on church planting and pirating and to give my thoughts to him after reviewing it. In addition, I took a moment to read the reviews by those at CT.

I have been involved in a church planting movement for the past nine years and I'm wondering if some of the negative feedback from your video simply comes from the lack of describing what you see as a good church planting model. I know that this was not the intent of this video. But from my take, and not knowing much about FC, I think this gave the critics some great amo. In other words, does FC select a church planter from your congregation and do (or would) you allow the planter open access to those from FC to go with him if or when he is called - regardless of the distance or miles from FC? You alluded in your video that you are in favor of church planting. It may have been important to take just a few minutes to describe a model that you do support. Unfortunately, the critics love to see only one side of what you shared (pirating) and attack you as a person who only cares about your own church or empire. This is so unfair. So - with all of your free time (LOL) I would love to see you give your take on (the sequel), what you would describe as, an effective model of church planting. Perhaps you have shared this before. If so, I apologize. Just a thought!

[Trey Kelly]

Ed, I agree 100% with your video. It seems to me that most people that are having problems with your video really aren't paying attention to your point and are hearing what they want to hear. There is nothing more destructive than the body of Christ being divided, which is exactly what you were are speaking against.

Honestly, I think some people get upset because you are stepping on some toes my friend. As you say, the "God Card" gets played all the time . . . but I just don't ever think its God's will for his church to be split. It seems Paul talks a great deal about unity in the church. "Pirates" cause nothing but disunity.

Thanks for speaking out on this issue. Keep using this megaphone to brings these issues to light!

[Daren Carstens]

Most of those who are responding to the CT blog are missing the whole point of what Ed is saying. What you are missing is the big “L” word the priority of all thing is “LOVE” Love God, Love people!!
Ethics is born out of LOVE. If God has called us to walk a life style of love, and He has. Ed’s take of this type of unethical behavior is; I believe what God’s heart is concerning the topic as well.
When a Pastor (Shepard) cares and loves the sheep that God has entrusted to his care is scattered and separated because of this type of unloving, self-seeking, unethical behavior it breaks a pastor (Shepard’s) heart if a pastor is worth his salt, he will be protective and loving when it comes to protecting those under his care. When an unethical, un-loyal staff member act out of “LOVE” hurting the very church that he or she once served in by cause harm to that local church it is an embarrassment to the phrase “you will know them by their love”.
Going across town or starting a church within reasonable driving distance of a church that you where in a leadership position in is an act of unethical and immoral behavior because of what it does to the families involved who for the most part become collateral damage in the process. This type of behavior is NOT acting in the highest and greatest commandment which is to act and live a life of ‘LOVE.
Ed Young is a pastors, pastor and speaks with great wisdom when it comes to the local church. I know of no one who has more passion and zeal for the local church and it advancement against the kingdom of darkness than Ed Young. Ed thanks for addressing Ethics in the church world. We all should take our cue from you.

[Jack Smith]

Ed,
It appears that you took a beating in the comments left behind in the CT article.
I am a church planter who is starting a church in the same town as my sponsoring church. I have not and will not seek members from my mother church for one reason. They are believers. I am seeking to lead lost people to the Lord. The thought of moving fish from one bowl to another sickens me.

Bottom Line: I support your thoughts shared on the Pirates Video.

[Charlie Wallace]

Great subject. I must admit I have never even heard of people speaking of pirating but it is done all the time...