Shane Vander Hart

I launched Caffeinated Thoughts intending to maintain it as a personal blog. The first two years shared a lot of personal and ministry news (I worked for an organization called Serve Our Youth Network at the time). It morphed into a multi-contributor (though I still do the bulk of the writing) place for news and commentary on politics, faith, culture, and current events.

Since I live in Iowa, I write a lot about Iowa politics. Because of the branding of that website (which I love by the way), it’s eclectic nature, how news is often mixed with opinion, and the limited amount of time I am able to put in it is not seen as the legitimate news site that it could be. (When I’m asked what news site I’m with I often get strange looks when I say “Caffeinated Thoughts” unless people know me.)

So I’m thinking out loud here – I’ve thought and prayed about a new news site. At first, I thought I would rebrand Caffeinated Thoughts, but I would hate to do that. It’s a known website. It fits a niche, and I don’t want to disrupt that. Instead of trying to generate news from that website it should focus on commentary. After all, it is in the name – “thoughts” – and generally everyone, besides me when I write straight news pieces, offers an opinion.

What I have in mind is a broader center-right website that would focus on Iowa political news and public policy.

• Federal news as it applies to Iowans.
• State political news from the executive branch, legislature, judicial branch, and political groups and parties, as well as, election news.
• Municipal news (with the addition of other contributors)
• Think pieces on public policy as it relates to Iowa
• Opinion – separate from the news

Creating a new, Iowa-focused news site is not an idea that I am ready to launch tomorrow, next week, or even next month (if at all). To do this well, it will take funding – something I lack. It will take sponsors and investors.

I would like to ask for prayer as I continue to explore this.

I would also appreciate feedback so please feel free to drop me a line – shane@shanevanderhart.com.

Sorry for the long hiatus, I’ve been convicted about not posting here semi-regularly. There are things I want to write about that are not a good fit other places I write, and this particular topic is one of those items.

Ligon Duncan, the CEO/Chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary, shared his social media strategy on Twitter earlier this month. I wanted to share the 10 rules he shared:

1. Relentlessly encourage, edify & inform.
2. Ignore trolls, mockers & slanderers into oblivion.
3. Starve dissensionists, narcissists, & errorists of the attention they crave.
4. Point people to sound people & resources.
5. Exalt Christ. Bible. Grace. Truth. Gospel.
6. Stay out of food fights. Don’t lob hand grenades into serious discussions. Bring people together.
7. Be kind. Persuade (rather than rally).
8. Treat people on social media like I would treat them in person.
9. Don’t be different on social media from what I am in my life, family, church and ministry. Be the same person online and offline.
10. Don’t give inordinate attention to people whose only “platform” is social media & who elsewhere have little accountability, responsibility.

I think this is a pretty good list, a convicting list. Some days I do this better than others. However, I think that social media (Twitter especially) would be a much better place if more of us followed rules #8 and #9 in particular. 

The Chicago Tribune published a lengthy exposé about sexual misconduct allegations that have been made against Bill Hybels, the founder and Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church. I don’t want to repeat them here, but I encourage you to read the story and Willow Creek’s and Bill Hybels’ response.

I’m very familiar with this congregation. I had many friends and serve at the church in South Barrington, IL (a suburb northwest of Chicago) when I attended Trinity International University. I attended their youth ministry conference when I was a youth pastor. I’ve attended their services in the past.

I’m personally not a fan of the seeker-sensitive worship model and I don’t agree with all of Hybels’ or the church’s theology (doctrines of grace, women as elders and pastors, etc.). That said, I do appreciate their heart for the lost, I did come away with some great ideas through their training, and I have zero doubt that God has used that church in Chicago and beyond.

I am also concerned when any church encounters trouble like this. Churches with the impact and visibility that Willow Creek has is even more troubling because of the impact it can make throughout the global Church.

The news story also just makes me sad. It is disappointing if true, and I’m familiar with some of his accusers (Nancy Beach, John and Nancy Ortberg) so I can’t envision what motive they would have to lie. A number of the claims seem credible and at least one, not so much.

On the other hand, if this isn’t true, I would be equally disappointed in the accusers. I find it sad all around.

I think what is definitely clear in the article, whether or not anything inappropriate took place, was that he did not truly practice the “Billy Graham rule” like he encouraged others to do.

The “Billy Graham rule” comes from the late evangelist’s policy to not spend time alone with women he was not related or married to. It served him well.

If he had there would have been no side trip with Nancy Beach. There would not have been any one-on-one meetings with women that could have put him (and the women!) in potentially compromising situations. Following the “Billy Graham rule” would have guarded against false accusations and prevented potential sexual misconduct.

I wish that Hybels would admit to failing in this way or that Willow Creek would call him out on it.

While the church should not assume the allegations are true, they shouldn’t assume they are not as well.

The Bible says, “Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses,” (1 Timothy 5:19, ESV).

If the Chicago Tribune story is accurate (and I think they were fair in getting both sides of the story) we are well beyond that threshold.

It’s important that we don’t put leaders on a pedestal, so high that we think they can never fall. Because when they do fall it reverberates through the church.

The Apostle Paul added in his instruction to Timothy, “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear,” (1 Timothy 5:20, ESV).

I do commend Willow Creek Community Church’s elders for investigating the allegations.

My prayer is that Willow Creek will reconsider whether the investigation they instigated was thorough enough. Three former board members of the Willow Creek Association, one of whom I know personally, resigned because they believed it was not.

I also pray that there will be transparency (they have not released the investigator’s report). Even if Hybels did not engage in sexual misconduct, it’s important to disclose whether or not he put himself in compromising situations. It’s also important for the church to know how thorough the investigation really was.

Also, let this be a lesson to all in leadership. Lead and live above reproach. The “Billy Graham rule” is a great policy to make your own.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty,” (Psalm 91:1, ESV).

I took this photo last June while on a nighttime walk with my daughters. We were on the High Trestle Trail Bridge near Madrid, IA at night. If you’ve never been to this trail and its bridge, I highly encourage you to go both during the day so you can see the scenic Des Moines River valley and at night so you can experience it lit up.