At the core of my favorite movies, there usually are men who have forged a bond through shared struggle.  Woodrow Call and Gus McCrae in “Lonesome Dove.”  Jim Braddock and Joe Gould in “Cinderella Man.”  Major Winters and Easy Company in “Band of Brothers.”  I am drawn to these stories of partnership and friendship.  In real life, God has given me a band of several brothers (and sisters) with whom I have been able to grow with, learn under, and serve alongside.  One of those people in my life is Bruce Alfred Hess.

For nearly 37 years Bruce has faithfully served as the Senior Pastor of Wildwood Community Church.  I have been blessed to have been a part of this church for nearly a quarter of a century.  I was encouraged by Bruce’s leadership and teaching for nearly a decade before I ever joined the staff here.  Many of you know that I attended Dallas Theological Seminary for graduate school.  I chose that school for one reason:  Bruce Hess.  Bruce never told me to go to DTS.  In fact, we never talked about it.  But, when I was a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, and a back row attender listening to his sermons, I knew that I wanted to learn to teach like he could teach.  I had entered college with a sense of calling into pastoral ministry and had planned on attending seminary after OU graduation.  When I found out Bruce went to DTS, I applied to only one school.  Bruce knew his Bible, and I knew I needed to learn it as well.

Most of my college years, Bruce was preaching through the Gospel of Mark.  It was the first time I had been exposed to extended expositional teaching of God’s Word.  I learned so much from each message and was inspired to read the Bible on my own and personally apply what I was seeing.

While I was in my first year of seminary, Kimberly and I came back to Norman for a weekend and attended Wildwood to worship with friends.  After church was over, I remember walking back to our car and saying to Kimberly, “Wouldn’t it be great to one day be on staff at a church like Wildwood?”  Four years later, this dream came true when I was asked to join the team at Wildwood working with College Students and Small Groups.  Bruce (together with Wildwood’s Staff and Elder teams) helped to create a steady influence for Christ in our community.  Not many things about Norman are the same as they were in 1992 when I started at OU . . . but Wildwood still feels the same to me, and I am blessed by that steady influence.  Bruce has not run a sprint in Norman, but a marathon, and a generation of people like me have been impacted as a result.

After joining staff, I was initially quite nervous to be around Bruce.  We had never really interacted socially, and all I really knew him for was his razor sharp sermon outlines, perfectly gelled hair, and “life response” points.  I will never forget at some point during my first couple of weeks on the job, Bruce came into my office (a converted copy room at the time) and slowly closed the door behind him.  I began to sweat, wondering what was coming next.  He pulled up a chair and asked me what I thought about OU’s new recruiting class for football.  I was both relieved and delighted.  Not only did we have a love of football in common, but I was not being fired!  Bruce was a real guy, and it was that day that I began to know Bruce as a friend, not just a pastor.

About a month after I started at Wildwood my grandmother passed away.  My family asked me if   I would officiate the funeral.  I was honored and terrified.  I had never officiated a funeral before, and somehow had missed “How to do funerals” day at seminary.  After saying “yes” to my family, I phoned a friend – B.A. Hess – and quickly went to school on his experience leading families through grief.  He shared many things with me that day . . . insight that has shaped how I have led funeral services ever since.  Bruce was just that way.  Always generous with what he knew.  Always willing to explain it when asked.

I have had the privilege of having a front row seat watching Bruce deal with trials inside the church and inside his own life.  Whatever the circumstances, Bruce’s God is always bigger than the problems he is facing, and that inspires hope and faith in all of us.  From battling cancer to confronting congregational challenges, he always keeps trusting God.

For all the ways God has used Bruce at Wildwood, He has used him even more around the world.  Hundreds have trusted Christ at Family Life events he and Janet have spoken at over the years.  Thousands hear his teaching weekly on Latvian Christian Radio.  Many more have been ministered to through seminars he has led in Mexico.  God has truly used Bruce all over the world. 

Over time, I have seen my role shift from College and Small Groups Pastor to Executive Pastor and now to Senior Pastor (a job I just began January 1, 2016).  At each phase of the game, I have been blessed to have Bruce support and cheer for me.  It takes a secure leader with his eyes focused on Christ to allow another to lead beside him the way Bruce has welcomed me.  Bruce always made sure there was room for me at the table and opportunities for me from the pulpit.  It is a generosity most never know but that Bruce has given to me.

Bruce is not retiring.  There are many years of ministry ahead of him.  He also is not leaving Wildwood.  We are excited that Bruce will continue as a full time member of our staff team and be a regular part of our teaching team (in the worship services about a third of the Sundays, as well as teaching in a variety of other contexts around the church and around the world).    However, after 36.5 years of faithful service as Wildwood’s Senior Pastor, he is transitioning roles and handing me the baton of Senior Pastor.  It is a job that simultaneously makes me giddy with excitement and scares me to death . . . twenty years of Pastoral ministry experience will do that to a person.  As I take that baton, however, I want to say two things:

1. I hope I can run with perseverance the race laid out for me, following the example set before me.
2. Thanks Bruce.  I speak for many when I say how blessed we all are for what God has done in our lives through you.  I am looking forward to many more years trusting Christ together for bigger things.  I am thankful for the story of partnership and friendship God has given us together.  It is easy to be in your company.

In Christ,

Mark Robinson

July 13, 2015

Dear Wildwood,

The Supreme Court of the United States recently ruled that marriage between two people of the same sex was legal in all 50 states.  This decision has produced waves of reactions around the country.  Some have celebrated this decision as a triumph of equal rights for all Americans, regardless of sexual orientation.  Others have lamented this decision as further evidence of moral decline (or worse.)  Further, the internet has encouraged millions of Americans (including many Christians) to take to the world wide web to share their personal “take” on this situation.

While many excellent articles have been written on the topic already, I feel compelled to share some of my own thoughts on the matter to help season the conversation around Wildwood (where I serve as a pastor).  As I respond, I want to make clear that I do so as a pastor, not as a politician or judge.  Supreme Court historians, attorneys, and pundits have already discussed this decision from every conceivable legal angle.  I can add very little to that conversation.  I comment as a pastor who cares about the soul of our congregation, community, and country.  I also do so as a sinful man myself, with imperfect understanding of things.  I write not as a hypocrite who believes I am better, but as one who has found grace through Jesus Christ, and I want to point all towards Him.  With those caveats, here are a few thoughts I have had about the situation.

The Supreme Court passed this decision by a narrow majority; a narrow majority that I see echoed in our society today.  The past decade has seen the majority public conscience shift in favor of same sex marriage.  However, popular opinion does not determine truth.  Popular opinion can shape U.S. Law, but it does not change Biblical revelation.  In fact, the norm is for Christianity to be a minority view.  Jesus was Lord, even though the majority mob on the original Good Friday morning shouted “Crucify Him!”  Our faith is based in the God-inspired truth of the Scriptures, not the latest Barna Research poll.  While the U.S. Law has been changed, the fact that homosexual acts are sinful has not (as passages such as 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 and Romans 1:26-27 convey). As a Pastor, I would admonish all Christians to not allow public opinion to change their doctrinal beliefs (regardless of subject).  Our faith is grounded in the Word (Jesus, the Living Word, and the Scriptures that point to Him – the written Word.)  This has always been the case, and always will be.

Historically, the Christian faith is a minority view.  Growing up in America, where Christian ethics have influenced much of the popular worldview for hundreds of years, we have enjoyed the privilege of having our faith and culture agree on a number of things.  This has allowed us to freely gather and worship and share our faith openly without being arrested.  We have even enjoyed special privileges like tax exemption for our churches and Bible verses in our courtrooms.  While it has been a huge blessing to grow up in this environment, a majority Christian environment is not promised by God in this life, and is not even the “normal Christian life” as described in Scripture.  In fact, it is normal for Christian beliefs to be seen as odd by the world around them.  Indeed, the Bible calls homosexual acts sinful — but the entire biblical ethic on sexuality is at odds with the majority opinion, not just its views of homosexuality.  The Bible says that the BEST (and only appropriate) expression of sex is between a man and woman who are husband and wife.  This is a minority opinion in our world today.  In fact, way more people in the world today commit the sins of heterosexual lust or fornication (any heterosexual activity outside of marriage, including pornography) than commit sins of homosexual acts (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 for more of the Scriptures call for Christians to flee all kinds of sexual immorality.)  Christian beliefs and ethics about all sexuality are minority views in our world today.  The Supreme Court’s decision is simply another reminder that this is not our home — our citizenship is in heaven.  Our values will never fully fit in until we are there.

Some have wondered why the church is so “fixated” on the particular sin of homosexuality.  While I understand the sentiment (it is in the news, in sermons, and often talked about), I actually don’t think the church is fixated on it.  Most of the time, when the church talks about homosexuality, it does so in response to questions from individuals or the culture at large.  As far as I know, the culture is not asking the church to celebrate very many other actions that God defines as sinful in the Bible.  Yet, currently, the culture is wanting all individuals and organizations (including churches) to celebrate the legalization of same sex marriage. How can the church celebrate what God condemns?

At the same time, I do not believe that homosexual acts are unforgivable or “the worst sins.”  They are sins like gossiping, idolatry, stealing, or heterosexual activity outside of marriage (see Romans 1:28-30 for just one of the many lists in the New Testament describing some of the variety of human sinfulness.)  God can forgive all in Christ.  I don’t think that people who commit homosexual acts are the ONLY sinners, and they certainly are not the majority of sinners.  I simply think that they are sinners . . . like every other person on the face of the earth.  Even if we eliminated sexual sin from consideration, all people still sin in a multitude of other ways.  Furthermore, I don’t think that the most important thing about ANY person is their sexuality.  The most important thing about every person is the fact that they were created in the image of God.  That is why we honor all people and love them by pointing them to Christ, regardless of the areas of their struggles.

Too often, homosexual temptation is described as a “them” problem, as if it only impacts those outside the church.  The reality is that every church, including Wildwood, has people inside the church who struggle with homosexual temptations.  It is an “us” issue.  We will deal with this temptation like any temptation . . . together – trusting Christ to empower resistance to temptation and righteous living, and offering the hope of forgiveness when we fall.

Instead of spending all our energy arguing for our “rights,” the church needs to focus on helping sinful people (of all persuasions) understand that there is hope and forgiveness that is found in Jesus Christ.  There is nothing about the Supreme Court decision or public opinion that changes the fact that all people are sinners in need of a Savior.  In fact, the reality that we live in a world where these tensions exists reminds us why Jesus had to come and die.  Our sin separates us from a holy God and only the forgiveness provided in Christ can reconcile that relationship. The church must continue to shine Christ’s light in this dark world and point people to Him.  Our main message on sin and sexuality is that there is hope in Jesus Christ for all who embrace Him.

As Christians, what are we to do today in light of this decision?  We are to live a life that stands out (not blends in) with the world around us (1 Peter 2:11-12).  We are to submit under the human authorities God has placed around us and give honor to all people, representing Christ with integrity in our secular society (1 Peter 2:13-20).  And we are to champion the notion of salvation through Christ alone (1 Peter 2:21-25).  (For further expounding of these principles see my sermon from June 28 by visiting this link.)

I hope this short letter helps add some depth as you process life as a Christian in America in 2015.

In Christ,

Mark

P.S.  My good friend and Senior Pastor Bruce Hess preached a 3 part sermon series on the topic of homosexuality in the fall of 2014.  At the same time he also prepared a set of web links to relevant information for those who want to go deeper.  To watch those sermons or access those resources, click here.

  On Sunday, April 12, I preached a message at Wildwood Community Church entitled “You Give Them Something to Eat.”  This message was the final installment in the “Passion Road” series and was based on Mark 6:30-44.  Below are a set of questions related to this message for further reflection or group discussion.   Sermon Questions:

1. Read Mark 6:30-44
2. What was the context of Jesus’ miracle of feeding the 5,000?  (i.e. what was happening with the disciples at the beginning of this section?)
3. I made the statement today that I believed this miracle was as much for the disciples as for the people that were fed.  Do you agree with this statement?  Why or why not?
4. Have you ever fully realized that Jesus has invited you to be involved in His work in the world?  Do you feel as though you have answered this invitation?
5. Many times, we feel as though we have inadequate resources for the tasks Jesus has called us to.  Recall a time when you felt inadequate for the serving task God was calling you to.
6. Jesus is able to do through the disciples what they could never do by themselves.  He does this as they dynamically depend upon Him. What would it look like for you to maintain a dynamic dependence upon Jesus as you served Him?
7. What stood out to you most about this message?  Anything you are taking away from this message and want to apply?