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Dear Family,

I write this on Fathers day, so happy Father’s Day to all you fathers.  And I want to make our Father in heaven happy today as well.

Proverbs 11:1 says, “A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight.”  Life Promotions’ late Board Member, Stan Plzak, once told me that a pendulum is at its fastest and has the most power, not when it’s on one side or the other, but right in the center.  Many people see the center as compromise. But according to His word, I believe it’s a position of strength.  I believe a position of center validates people with important and intelligent things to say on both sides, because I believe we can glean from both.

As far as it depends on me I want to “be at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18) But people have told me, “Side, side, pick a side!” No. I cannot do it. I will not allow one side or the other to win and think that their side is the only one that is the Lord’s side. Instead, my heart’s desire is to be a small part of answering Jesus’ prayer, “…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” (John 17:21)

I will not separate myself, because… “He who separates himself indulges his desires and shows contempt for sound advice of any kind.  A fool takes no pleasure in trying to understand; he only wants to express his own opinion.” (Proverbs 18:1-2)  We must work together, despite differences, to build His kingdom.  If I bought into some of the propaganda that is circulating, Lifest would not only have to take a stand against Jim Wallis, but also have to separate from the Willow Creek Association and anyone and any church associated with it. I’d have to speak against Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, author of The Purpose Driven Life, as well as the NAE – the National Association of Evangelicals representing 46,000 evangelical churches in America, as well as the Catholic church.

I was reminded of an old song by Scott Wesley Brown, the same person that brought us I’m Not Religious, I Just Love the Lord (This shows you how long I’ve been working with Christian music.)  His song All of Us Together goes, “None of us has got it all together. But all of us together got it all.”

I’ve wanted this discussion about Jim Wallis to go away. It has not. People that I love and respect are on both sides of this conversation. That’s what has made this decision so difficult. It’s also one of the bad things about being in the middle. I’m even a middle child.  Being in the middle often results in people being mad at you on both sides.  But I know it’s part of my calling.  It’s a job that God has given me. I am not here to please everyone; I just want to do what I believe God has called me to do.

There will be consequences no matter what decision I make regarding having Jim Wallis speak at Lifest. But I have made my decision, what I believe I know to be right.  I have not made this decision in a vacuum, but I’ve read every e-mail, letter and comment. I‘ve researched and checked facts and sources. I’ve sought wisdom through a multitude of counselors, and prayed. Oh, how I’ve prayed.  I stand before Lifest, my family, and most importantly, God, with this decision, no matter the outcome to me.

I know Jim Wallis. Jim Wallis loves Jesus. He tries to live that faith out as a husband of one wife, a father of two boys, a little league coach, and an advocate for the poor. He believes and upholds the Apostles Creed (see our blog on how we select speakers: http://www.lifestblog.com/?p=45). I do not agree with all of his politics, or even some of his non-essential theology. But I cannot cancel him based on the accusations that have been made. I have not found enough facts or truth in them to cancel him.

I assure you that what Jim Wallis is going to share at Lifest on Friday, July 9th, will be the true gospel, his conversion, and a call for us, the church, to take on our responsibility for the poor. I would have no hesitation having my kids, young Christians, and seekers alike hear his message.  It’s a message that I feel the church desperately needs to hear.

I believe this just as strongly as I believe the messages by our other speakers need to be heard as well, like…

•           Gianna Jessen on Saturday night, a young woman who was aborted at 7 months by her mother and lived to tell her story.  It will be a message on the sanctity of all life.

•           Luis Palau, world evangelist, on Sunday (Free to everyone – contact us for invitations to hand out to non-churched friends and family to hear an invitation to know Jesus).

•           Bo Boshers with Willow Creek Association presenting a workshop for youth leaders.

•           Brian Pingel of NorthCentral – an Assembly of God Bible School.

•           Tiger McLuen of Bethel University, a Baptist College.

•           Father Mike Tess, an Episcopal Priest.

•           Dennis Episcopo, pastor of the Missionary Alliance Church in Appleton.

•           And more than 50 other speakers of various backgrounds and denominations who all uphold the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It’s in this spirit that I’m asking you to come and be part of what God is doing at Lifest.

For His Kingdom,

Bob Lenz – President, Life Promotions

1. JLR

   June 27, 2010 at 2:00 am

   And the trouble with speaking against emergent-encouraging, contemplative spirituality-advocating, CFR-joining, indiscriminately ecumenical Rick Warren and the increasingly theologically/doctrinally and politically liberal NAE is what exactly?
2. Pam

   July 3, 2010 at 4:22 pm

   You are making NATIONAL news, but not in a good way. Jim Wallis should not be a guest speaker at the fest!