It’s been almost 11 years since Paul Swedlund died; but it seems like only a few hours ago.
Maybe that’s because his last words to me make more sense now than then.
Before he fell off a Colorado mountain on 17 August 1994, his 48 years were tempered by surviving the Vietnam War as a riverboat captain, abandoning financial gain as a marketable executive for Mobil when called by Jesus to pastoral ministry, enduring friendship with another Paul and me, and switching from the UCC to PC(USA) at my urging.
Actually, he grew up in our franchise and only left because he didn’t feel required to learn Hebrew for urban ministry; and he returned after Kansas City’s Northminster Church took my advice and called him, presbytery’s gatekeepers aka COM forgave the ecclesiastical detour, and he spent about a decade living happily ever after as a reborn Presbyterian until our Lord’s last call.
About a week before going home to Jesus, we talked about the increasing dysfunctions in our corner of the Kingdom. When I said I didn’t know how much longer I could take it, he yelled, “Listen, pal, you got me back into this. So you better not run away now.”
I didn’t like the inference; reminding me of the dark hours of Gethsemane, Good Friday, and silent Saturday. Or as reported, “At that point, all the disciples deserted Him and fled” (Matthew 26:56b).
Bravehearts not fainthearts build the Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
After a very pregnant pause, Paul concluded with cautionary counsel that continues to compel denominational stability despite accelerating assaults on our biblical heritage upheld by complementary sacred literature (viz., Book of Confessions and Book of Order): “It’s easy to advance a career and grow a church by appealing to the extremes from left or right. But Jesus didn’t do that. He told the truth. If you leave the church which birthed you, you may never grow up – not to mention failing to pay your debt to it. You’ve got to stay where you’ve been planted. Jesus never abandoned His people. I can’t imagine His pleasure if you do.”
Paul remains right.
I’ve still got a debt to pay to those Christians called Presbyterians.
My faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior was guided by Presbyterian parents, Sunday School teachers, officers, members, and a pastor (Harold F. Mante) who enfleshed agape.
I went to a denominational seminary that taught me how to articulate faith without looking like a religious nutball with two feet planted firmly in the air, although I still resent Dr. Duba telling me that I could take Spanish for practical ministry and brush up on Latin, German, and French for doctoral studies after taking Hebrew and Greek.
And while I don’t talk too much about backsliding because most folks don’t get far enough ahead to slide back (c’est moi), I have thanked God for redemptively-minded presbyters who encouraged healing rather than discarding me in a few moments of personal and pastoral failure.
Besides, as Hans Evans, senior pastor of Coatesville Church on the border of Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country, said nearly 30 years ago as I sat by his hospital bed days before he went home to Jesus, “I know you’re discouraged and even embarrassed by trends in our denomination. But remember two things. First, the difference between coal and diamonds is pressure. Second, if you’ve ever wanted to be a missionary, stay in our denomination. It’s the best mission field open to us today.”
Please don’t get me wrong. I’ve got some very serious to eternal concerns about the existential misdirections of the PC(USA).
When a PNC asked what I thought are our “key theological issues,” I responded, “The most significant problems in our franchise, as well as American culture, provide the path to their solutions by constructive contradiction: dissipating Christology, disrespect for biblical authority, irreverence for the sanctity of all human life, confused sexualities, and extreme theologies from left and right.”
That’s why I ally myself with anyone praying and laboring to renew (rebirth?) our Christocentric, biblical, and Reformed heritage as never contradicted in the history of our constitution’s evolution.
Coupling Paul’s counsel with a cognizance of human depravity tainting all parts of Christendom, explains why I don’t run away to another franchise or fellowship. Or as I said when invited to plant a church for the EPC at its genesis, “Why should I leave one stinking denomination for another stinking denomination? It makes more sense to stay and work for faithful fragrances.”
Hosea 11:8-9 is so persuasive.
Knowing God and the Godly have never given up on me, how dare I give up on the PC(USA)?
A recent visit to Rockford Memorial Hospital’s ICU comes to mind.
A woman with emphysema was on the verge of death. She confessed smoking several packs of cigarettes every day for as long as she could remember; but she also announced quitting just in time to save her life. When I asked when she quit, she said, “Yesterday.” With all praise to God for her recovery and return home, she reminded me that it’s never too late to turn away from what’s ailing us and to return to all that enabled health in better days.
God knows it ain’t easy.
Calvary Road, not Easy Street, is the path to victory; and take another glance at Matthew 16:24-28 if you’ve lost your trip’s itinerary.
So I guess I’m just an aging mainline Jesus freak.
Paul’s last God-breathed words compel me to stay; and as his namesake said, “I am not ashamed of this Good News about Jesus. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
That witness makes sense amid all of the nonsense.
Robert R. Kopp is pastor, Bethany Church, Loves Park, Ill.
