Making the List

Regardless of his age, Timothy was charged to set a godly example. The apostle Paul shared this, as recorded in 1st Timothy 4:
12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

In this case, Paul was telling Timothy that what might be perceived as a shortcoming should not hinder the godly example that he had the potential to set.  Age may or may not be a barrier for you, but there may be an area that you feel would lessen your capacity to influence someone else - it could be your social status, your ability to express yourself, even the thought that your past somehow disqualifies you from being a strong example for Christ.  If you are called by His name, forgiven by His blood, and raised to new life, you can testify to His presence in you.

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Jesus taught a valuable lesson about leadership and influence in Matthew chapter 20:
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.
26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave--
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

The Facebook post read, "They have GOT to be kidding with this. No, really, they MUST be kidding."  And, the writer had just made the list from Newsmax of what it regards as the "Top 100 Christian Leaders in America."   That would be Eric Metaxas, who placed number 41 on the list.

You have to keep in mind that this is not a list of the top 100 "evangelicals."  A number of faith traditions are represented in the list, and in many cases, the publication, which has print, online, and video components, got it right.  I would not consider some to hold mainstream Christian beliefs or to be even be part of Christianity at all.  But, the #1 name, I think, is dead on: Franklin Graham.  

The website, BillyGraham.org, says this:

As president of two global ministries, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse, Franklin Graham reaches millions of people with the hope of Jesus Christ, as he obeys biblical commands to take care of the world’s orphans, widows and the poorest of the poor.

The authors of the Newsmax list mentioned the new challenges—and opportunities—Christian leaders face in a digital world, writing that, “accepting Christ and committing sin against Him are both done sitting at a computer screen today.”

In his role as head of BGEA, Franklin Graham has ushered his father’s 65-year-old ministry into the digital age. Through BillyGraham.org, social media and web streaming, God is using BGEA to reach places Billy Graham could never visit personally, including many parts of the Middle East.

And, recently, through the Internet ministry, Search for Jesus, the Association reached its 6 millionth decision for Christ, from the nation of Jordan.

In its opening comments to the introduction of the list, Newsmax says:

Entertainment and sports stars are not usually considered religious leaders, but today their influence often exceeds that of pastors and televangelists. Reality TV producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey have resurrected the Christian entertainment industry with their hit series "The Bible" and "A.D. The Bible Continues."

That's a pretty broad statement, but no doubt, the Burnetts have made an impact and have carried the Christian message into prime time with the "A.D." series - they are #3 on the list.

Not surprisingly, Billy Graham is in the top 10, at #5.  Rick Warren follows at 6.  Voices you hear regularly on Faith Radio in the top 100 include Tony Perkins and Charles Stanley, both in the top 50. John MacArthur and Chuck Swindoll were also on the list.

There's another list that I have become aware of - that's the list of those who have signed a pledge to defend the institution of marriage, found at DefendMarriage.org.   Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel was one of the co-drafters of the "Pledge in Solidarity to Defend Marriage."  I talked to him following the oral arguments on marriage at the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Todd Starnes, in reporting on the document for FoxNews.com, stated:

“We respectfully warn the Supreme Court not to cross that line,” read a document titled, Pledge in Solidarity to Defend Marriage. “We stand united together in defense of marriage. Make no mistake about our resolve.”

“While there are many things we can endure, redefining marriage is so fundamental to the natural order and the common good that this is the line we must draw and one we cannot and will not cross,” the pledge states.

Franklin Graham has made this list, too - the list of notable signers of the Pledge.  So do Dr. James Dobson and James Robison.  NRB President Jerry Johnson is there.  So is Bishop Harry Jackson and Samuel Rodriguez.  Pastors Jim Garlow, Robert Jeffress, and Ed Young are there, too.

I am sure other pastors and Christian leaders stand in spirit with those who are published on the website.  Rick Scarborough of Vision America Action is quoted on the website:

"I am speaking as a minister to the moral and biblical ramifications of this expected ruling. This would be a decision as incorrect and as tragic as Dred Scott. Because of the trends and cultural shifts that we have witnessed in culture over the past 40 years, we have all known that this day would likely come and Christians would be put at odds with the culture and the courts.

“I believe we are there. We are approaching a Bonhoeffer moment in America.

“Outrageous penalties are now being assessed against people of faith and conviction who haven’t changed their position on marriage. Rather it’s the courts that have changed the definitions, the rules and laws that now govern us. They are ruling against Nature’s Law and Nature’s God. Christians are being declared the lawbreakers when we are simply living by what we have always believed, and by a set of laws that the culture historically has agreed to."

Even Supreme Court justices appeared to have reservations about making sweeping changes about the institution of marriage.  In oral arguments yesterday, you had quotes like this, according to the Christian Examiner website:

To an attorney supporting gay marriage, Chief Justice Roberts said, "You are not seeking to join the institution. You are seeking to change the institution." He added that changing the definition of marriage would leave the definition of the institution of marriage inoperable.

Justice Kennedy is quoted as saying: "This definition has been with us for millennia, and it is very difficult for the court to say, 'Oh well, we know better.'"

And, then you have Justice Breyer, who, as the Examiner points out, normally sides with the liberal half of the court. He said the current case proposes that the court reconsider what has been "the law everywhere for thousands of years." Breyer said the plaintiffs want "nine people outside of the ballot box" to require states to change their laws.

But the report said that Breyer seemed sympathetic to the plaintiffs' case, as did Justices Sonya Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Christian leaders are gearing up and continuing to state strong, unwavering support for the institution of marriage, which was ordained and defined by God.  In essence, it cannot be redefined by a court, even the highest court in the land.  This list of leaders is instructive and inspiring.

In thinking about these two lists, I want to point out three things:

Recognition is nice, but reliance on God and resolve to do His will are the important things, regardless of who sees it.  We do not live for the praise of men, but to offer our lives in praise to Almighty God.  So, whether or not what we do is seen by anyone else, we know that God does see.

We can also be reminded that we do want to be people of conviction.  The Newsmax list is someone's or a group of someones' opinion, and open for debate, not necessarily to be taken that seriously.  The pledge to defend marriage, well, it's deadly serious and can have enormous implications for how we approach that issue.  I want to be known as someone who stands for what he believes.

And, we can also think about what it means to be a leader or to be influential.  Obviously, people on those lists, including those who are on both lists, have a voice and a life - it's important that we recognize that we are communicating to others about the God whom we serve in the way that we live. You may not serve in an "official" leadership position, but that doesn't mean you're not a leader - you can lead in your family, in your church, in your workplace, etc. simply by how you conduct yourself.