Looking for mature brothers in Christ to follow
Arthur at “The Voice of One Crying Out in Suburbia” has written an excellent post called “Dudes need dudes to learn how to be dudes.” His post picks up where my post “My Word of Prophecy: Stop Listening to Prophetic Voices” leaves off, and then applies it to another post about manhood.
(As an aside, I’m overlooking Arthur calling my post title “clunky” because he also called it “clever.” I’m assuming the first adjective was a mistake…)
Arthur recognizes that less mature brothers in Christ need more mature brothers in Christ as examples to follow. (In the same vein, of course, the same could be said for women.)
He writes:
In most churches, the guy everyone is supposed to look up to is the pastor. This raises an issue because the way we have created a separate clerical class means that a) most men are not going to find much in common with the pastor and b) secretly most men have little interest in being a vocational minister so there is not much that seems desirable from an imitation standpoint. Most pastors seem stressed, overworked, underappreciated and generally frustrated and unhappy in spite of the happy face they put on. Who wants to imitate that? Compounding this, many times the pastor is younger and frankly less mature than many of the other men in a congregation. Not less “mature” in the sense of being able to delvier a sermon or exegete a passage of Scripture or throw out Greek and Hebrew terms, less “mature” in the sense that actually matters. Who should a young husband and father emulate and seek to learn from, a guy his own age who is starting a family and struggling in the same ways just because he is the pastor or a more mature older brother who has come out on the other side and has the experience to match?
There is much, much more to Arthur’s post. He even tackles the problem of “celebrity preachers”…
As I’ve said several times on this blog, I believe this is an important (and missing) aspect of discipleship among the church. We need more mature examples to follow. However, for most of us, we tend to learn from and follow people that we don’t really know.
Thanks for the reminder, Arthur!
Let the others weigh what is said…
The title of this post comes from the ESV translation of 1 Corinthians 14:29. According to Paul, when 2 or 3 prophets speak, others should “weigh” what the prophets say. This is sometimes called “judging” or “discernment.”
But, what does this mean? As important as this is for the church when we gather together, I realized recently that I haven’t written much about discernment. So, I’ve written a series on the topic of discernment that I plan to publish next week.
Specifically, my series covers the role of discernment when the church gathers together, and I look at a few passages of Scripture in which we see different types of discernment.
But, I want to start by asking you (my readers) about discernment. What do you understand “discernment” to be? What do you think it means for others to “weigh” what prophets say? Do you think other types of speech (teaching, encouragement, etc.) should be “weighed” in the same way? Who is responsible for this kind of discernment/weight/judgment? Finally, what passages of Scripture do you think are important for us to understand what discernment means? (These passages can be instructions about discernment or examples of discernment.)
I hope you decide to share your thoughts on this topic, even if you haven’t thought about it much before.
Can’t we let someone else think about discipleship for us?
Gavin at “Simple Church Alliance” has written a very good post called “What is a Disciple and How Do We Make Them?”
He focuses on the two questions in the title of his post: 1) What is a disciple? 2) How does someone make a disciple?
Obviously, Gavin is not saying that we are supposed to create disciples. Only God can do that through his Holy Spirit. However, we do see examples and instructions in Scripture that indicate that we should be able the business of helping one another grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
But, what does this mean? Isn’t that what the church is for? I mean, don’t we have leaders (pastors, elders, bishops, teachers, etc.) to take care of making disciples so the rest of us can go on about our normal lives?
Gavin says:
It is surprising to me how long I was able to go on as a Christian without ever really taking time to address these two important questions. For most of my life walking with Jesus, I’ve ended up doing a bunch of spiritual stuff (meetings, programs, etc) with the hope that some of it sticks on the wall of discipleship. I do believe that, despite me, God has probably used some of my frenzied activity to make disciples. As of late, however, I have been under the conviction to allow the answers I find in Scripture about the Great Commission (What is a disciple and how am I supposed to make them?) to dictate my time and activities.
Ah, yes. Filling our lives with “spiritual stuff”… I’ve been there, done that, and I have the embroidered polo shirt to prove it. In fact, if I’m not careful, I can easily wander into that way of life again.
While Gavin doesn’t answer the two questions that he asks in this post, he does promise to do so in later posts.
So, I’ll post those questions to you: 1) What is a disciple? 2) How does one go about discipling others?
My coffee cup is stained…
I’m not a coffee addict. Really, I’m not. But, I do drink coffee at work. Occasionally, I’ll drink coffee at other times and places, but most of my coffee drinking occurs Monday through Friday when I’m at work.
I have a special coffee cup that I use at work. My friends Maël and Cindy gave it to me. (They were going to save it for a PhD graduation present, but they’re not sure I’ll ever graduate.) It has Hebrews 10:24-25 printed on the side, and it’s larger than most cups. (It’s so large that I’ve never filled it to the top.)
Even though my coffee cup is special, I’ve noticed something recently. My coffee cup is stained. The bottom of the cup especially is discolored from the coffee that’s been in it. If anyone looked at my coffee cup for very long, they would know that it was used to hold coffee… because it has been stained by the coffee. The coffee has left a lasting mark on the cup.
I’ve heard that the same thing can happen with tea. When a cup is used over and over again to hold tea, the cup will become stained by the tea.
Growing up, I remember having cups that were stained from Kool Aid. We particularly liked red Kool Aid, and many of our cups had a red sheen to them. We could tell which cups we used to drink Kool Aid because the Kool Aid had left its mark on the cup.
Those of us who are in Christ are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. When we submit to him, he fills us like coffee fills a cup. When he fills us, he leaves his mark on us like coffee or tea or Kool Aid stains a cup. Like those cups, people should be able to tell that we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. It should be as obvious as the stains on my coffee cup.
My Word of Prophecy: Stop Listening to Prophetic Voices
Okay, obviously, the title of this post is a little tongue-in-cheek. Hopefully, it will make more sense as you read further.
This post is part of the November synchroblog on the topic “Calling Us Out of Our Numbness.” As with most of the synchroblog topics, I was intrigued by this one. However, I had almost decided not to participate. Why? Because I had already written about “spiritual numbness” and how the church often “helps” the situation. (See my post “Numbing our souls with church activities.”)
But, just before I pulled the plug on this month’s synchroblog, I read through the description again:
Richard Rohr says, “The role of the prophets is to call us out of numbness.” Since the beginning of time, prophetic voices both in and outside of scripture have been calling us to consider change of some sort. Sometimes it is spiritual change, other times it may be economic, political, or systemic change. Regardless of the emphasis, prophets challenge us to consider a better future. Right now there’s a strong sense of change brewing in the church, the world; people are rising up and calling individuals, communities, nations, and everything in between out of numbness and toward justice, mercy, equality, and love.
This month’s Synchroblog is centered on where are you being challenged by some kind of prophetic voice.
What is it stirring up in you?
What is God challenging you to consider?
How does it intersect with your faith & practical experience?
Of course, there is definitely something that I have been challenged by recently, and it fits in nicely with this synchroblog topic. In fact, I have been challenged and challenged and continually challenged with this same observation over the last few years, and it continues to rear its head.
What is the challenge? I’ve noticed the tendency in my life to listen to those who I do not know. I listen to their voices from books, articles, blog posts, lecture halls, and even pulpits. They tell me what to think, what to believe, and how to live. In many cases (perhaps even most cases), they are correct in what they tell me.
So, if these voices are correct, then what’s the problem? Well, there’s certainly nothing wrong with words of prophecy, encouragement, instruction, or even admonishment. However, the problem arises in the fact that I am listening to people that I do not KNOW.
I do not know how they live. I do not know how they treat their spouses or children. I do not know how or if they love their neighbor. I do not know when or where or if they server other people. I do not know anything about them except what they write or say. In other words, I’m listening to the voices of strangers.
Yes, for the most part, even those people who spoke to me from pulpits in church buildings or from podiums in school classrooms (even seminary classrooms) were strangers to me. I may have spoken to them a time or two outside of the lecture setting – I may have even shook their hand or hugged them – but I knew almost nothing about their lives other than what they told me.
This is not the way that prophecy, or teaching, or exhortation, or admonishment, or any other type of speaking is designed to work (or described in Scripture), especially when it comes to discipling and helping one another grow in maturity in Christ. These forms of communication do not point to strange words from strange people. Instead, they point to words from a friend – from those who have shared or are sharing their lives with us.
Paul reminds Timothy about this kind of relational speaking when he wrote him a letter:
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings… (2 Timothy 3:10-11 ESV)
This isn’t the only passage that places speaking within the context of sharing life together. See also Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-7, and Titus 2:1-15, among others. Even when Paul sent a letter to people he had never met (Colossians), he sent it via someone who planned to stay and live among the people as a living example to go along with Paul’s words. (Colossians 4:7-8)
So, what is God stirring up in me? What is he challenging me to consider? God continues to challenge me concerning the voices that I’m listening to. Do I know them? Do I know their example? Do I know how they live? Do I know how they love God? Do I know how they love others? Do I know if they are truly servants? What do I know about them?
Obviously, it’s not wrong to listen to those you do not know. But, who are my primary sources of encouragement, teaching, prophecy, etc.? If those primary sources are strangers to me – if I do not know how they are living – then, I think, there is a problem.
(Yes, I realize that my blog and this blog post can be one of those strange “voices.” If these posts provide a source of discussion among people you share your life with, then great. If, instead, my writings – and other writings – or sermons or books or whatever are your source of teaching, encouragement, prophecy, etc., then I would recommend spending less time with strangers – i.e., me – and spend more time with those who God has brought into your life.)
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Here is a list of other bloggers who are taking part in November’s synchroblog on the topic “Calling Us Out of Our Numbness”:
- Joy Wilson at Solacetree – The Blessing of Losing Your Faith
- Jeremy Myers at Till He Comes – I Have a Dream
- Glenn Hager at Breathe – Uncomfortably Numb
- Linda at Kingdom Grace – On Earth as it is in Heaven
- Sally at Eternal Echoes – Where are the True Prophets?
- Tammy Carter at Blessing the Beloved – No Compromise
- Alan Knox at The Assembling of Church – My Word of Prophecy: Quit Listening to Prophetic Voices
- Liz at Gracerules – Listen
- Christine Sine at Godspace – Surrounded by Prophetic Voices: Clouds of Witnesses That Call Us Out of Numbness
- Amy Martin – The Window of Suffering, the Beginning of Hope
- Kathy Escobar at The Carnival in My Head – Rising Up From Below
- K.W. Leslie at More Christ – What is God Challenging You to Do?
- Katherine Gunn at Truth Makes Freedom – Where is Your Heart?
- Steve Hayes at Khanya – Murder of the Cathedral
- Leah Chang at desertsspiritsfire – Wall Street, Our Street
Formal Education and Spiritual Maturity
Yesterday, Christopher at “A New Testament Student” published a very good post called “Education.” His post was a response and continuation of a post that I wrote three years ago called “Maturity and Education.”
Christopher is writing about a topic that is very important to me for several reasons. In his post, he says (among other things):
The idea of education in the Church is one that has often perplexed me. The apostles were fishermen, tax collectors, and were even called “uneducated men” (Acts 4:13). They were men filled with the Holy Spirit, walking in faith and trust in God. On the other hand, they did spend three years under Jesus teaching prior to his crucifixion and also received teaching during Christ’s short stay on earth after His resurrection. As with most ideas in our faith, it comes down to the heart.
How you approach Christian education makes all the difference. If you go into seminary or bible school with the intent to gain a degree just so you can pursue a career in ministry and keep that mentality throughout your studies, you will gain quite a bit of knowledge. However, that knowledge may not result in exponential growth in spiritual maturity. If you enter into seminary with the intent to seek the heart of God, the self discipline, amount of study, and time needed to complete any degree in Christian higher education will undoubtedly result in greater maturity upon graduation.
Because of my original post, I’m often accused of being against formal education. I don’t understand this accusation, especially since I currently have three degrees (one bachelors and two masters), and I’m working on a PhD. In fact, I would love to one day teach in a formal education environment. I am not opposed to formal education.
However, formal education is not the same thing as spiritual maturity. In fact, at times, formal education can be a detriment to spiritual maturity, especially if the studies hinder the student’s life in community with other believers and in serving others. (In the seminary context, I’ve heard some students state that going to school is their service for that time period. This is a dangerous attitude in relation to a person’s spiritual maturity.)
In relation to leaders among the church (that is, whose example do we follow?), we should consider spiritual maturity first. Some can be highly educated (even in the subjects of Bible, Christian theology, missions, ministry, etc.) and still be very immature when it comes to living a life that demonstrates the gospel of Jesus Christ. Having a formal education does not indicate that that person’s example should be followed.
Yes, formal education has its place. But, we must never confuse formal education with spiritual maturity.
Replay: They don’t need me… but God sent me
Four years ago, I wrote a pair of posts called “They don’t need me…” and “… but God sent me.” These two posts were my own reflections on two passages of Scripture. But, they were also my reflections on a seeming contradiction/paradox. People need God, not me. But, God sends me. In the same way, God sends you, if you are one of his children. People need God; and God sends you.
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… and [praying] also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:19-20 ESV)
Paul recognized himself as one called to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles, and yet he needed others to pray that he would carry out his calling.
Paul knew that God had called him to speak in Rome, and yet he asked for prayer for boldness.
Paul proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ in cities all around the Roman empire, and yet he asked for prayer to do what he ought to do.
Paul had the knowledge, the training, the experience, and the testimony, and yet he asked for prayer.
I’m glad that Paul asked the church in Ephesus to pray for him. I’m glad the he asked them to pray that he would have boldness to speak the gospel. I’m glad the he recognized that his knowledge, training, experience, and testimony would not provide what was necessary to bring people into God’s kingdom.
I also have knowledge, training, experience, and testimony. But, I also need prayer, because I need God, and those I speak to need God. I can give them words and I can give them service, but I can’t give them what they need. They don’t need me, even if God chooses to use me. They need God.
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All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:18-20 ESV)
In my previous post, I stated that they don’t need me, meaning that those outside the family of God need God himself, not me. In the passage above, I think Paul reveals the other side of this coin. While the world does not need me, God has sent me into the world as his ambassador, his representative.
As God sends me (and his other children) into the world, he sends us on a mission of reconciliation. This is interesting to me. God does not send us on a mission of condemnation, but reconciliation. Just as we have been reconciled to God, we have been give a service and a message of reconciliation to take to those who are not reconciled to God.
We implore… but God reconciles. We speak… but God transforms. We engage… but God brings into relationship with himself.
They don’t need me; they need God. I know God. They need the God that I know. I introduce them to God through a service and message of reconciliation. Through my service and message, God reconciles the world to himself.
They don’t need me; they need God. They don’t need me; but God sent me.
Running the Race as an Illustration in Scripture – Part 5
In the first post in this series, I explained that while running recently I was reminded of several passages related to running a race and athletes. Since I started running for exercise a few months ago, I decided to look into those passages a little more closely to see if my experiences helped me to understand them.
In this post, I’m going to look at an illustration concerning athletes, not necessarily running. However, I think it applies. This illustration is in 2 Timothy. Here is the verse in the broader context:
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful – for he cannot deny himself. Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. (2 Timothy 2:1-14 ESV)
While this is a long passage, I think it’s important to keep at least that much together. Those faithful people (2 Timothy 2:2) who have been entrusted with what Timothy learned from Paul are mentioned again (2 Timothy 2:14) as those who are to be reminded of “these things” – that is, the things between 2 Timothy 2:2 and 2 Timothy 2:14.
Within this passage, Paul offers several different illustrations and metaphors to encourage Timothy as he teaches others. One of those illustrations concerns an athlete, who must compete “according to the rules” in order to receive the prize. The phrase “according to the rules” is translated from the adverb “lawfully.”
When running a race, a certain course is laid out and certain rules are enforced. For example, in some races, the use of mp3 players is not allowed. In runner decides to use an mp3 player anyway, that runner will be disqualified. Recently, a marathon runner in England was disqualified because he took the bus for several miles of the race.
In this passage, Paul doesn’t tell us exactly what he’s talking about here. But, if we look at other letters, we can see that Paul is often concerned about people not only believing the gospel, but living in a manner worthy of the gospel. To me, this is the closest point to what Paul wants Timothy to share with others.
What would you like to add to this discussion?
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Running the Race as an Illustration in Scripture:
1) Part 1 – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
2) Part 2 – Galatians 2:2 and Galatians 5:7
3) Part 3 – Philippians 2:16
4) Part 4 – Hebrews 12:1
5) Part 5 – 2 Timothy 2:5
Running the Race as an Illustration in Scripture – Part 4
In the first post in this series, I explained that while running recently I was reminded of several passages related to running a race and athletes. Since I started running for exercise a few months ago, I decided to look into those passages a little more closely to see if my experiences helped me to understand them.
In this post, I’m going to look at another running illustration, this one used in the Book of Hebrews. Here is the verse in the broader context:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)
The author has just reminded his readers of the faith of several historic and scriptural figures (Hebrews 11). In each case, the person trusted God in spite of problem, suffering, persecution, and even death. There was a reason for this reminder: the readers needed to trust God in spite of suffering and persecution as well. (See Hebrews 12:4.)
Now, the author uses the illustration of an endurance race (that is, a long distance run) to encourage his readers to persevere in spite of the problems they are facing. There is a path “set before” the readers, and they are to run down that path, regardless of what happens to them. They are to run with “endurance” or “patience, steadfastness, perseverance.” In other words, they are to keep on running and not stop regardless of what happens to them.
In order to encourage his readers, the author reminds them of the race that Jesus ran. He is given as their example in persevering in the race in spite of suffering or persecution. (This isn’t the only thing the author says about Jesus, but it shouldn’t be ignored as we study Jesus as high priest, sacrifice, mediator, etc.)
I haven’t run very long distances yet. My longest run so far is 7.5 miles. Of course, a couple of months ago, 7.5 miles might as well have been 750 miles. While running longer and longer distances (from less than 1 mile at a time in August to 4-5 miles in September, to 7.5 miles last weekend), I have learned a little more about what it means to keep on running in spite of problems. I imagine that I will continue to face problems and will continue to need perseverance as I run even longer distances.
A friend of mine is planning to run a 1/2 marathon in a few weeks, and another friend is running a marathon that same day. To be honest, I think I might be able to run a 1/2 marathon one day, but a full marathon seems out of reach. What would it take for me to be able to run a 1/2 marathon or a marathon? Perseverance.
Of course, there is so much more than we can talk about from this short passage. For example, we could also talk about the obstacles that should be removed and the things that a runner could be entangled in. But, that will have to wait for another day.
What would you like to add to this discussion?
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Running the Race as an Illustration in Scripture:
1) Part 1 – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
2) Part 2 – Galatians 2:2 and Galatians 5:7
3) Part 3 – Philippians 2:16
4) Part 4 – Hebrews 12:1
5) Part 5 – 2 Timothy 2:5
Running the Race as an Illustration in Scripture – Part 3
In the first post in this series, I explained that while running recently I was reminded of several passages related to running a race and athletes. Since I started running for exercise a few months ago, I decided to look into those passages a little more closely to see if my experiences helped me to understand them.
In this post, I’m going to look at another illustration used by Paul; this one was written in his letter to the Philippians. Here is the verse in the broader context:
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Philippians 2:12-16 ESV)
This passage follows a very strong passage in which Paul instructs his readers to seek unity and fellowship by considering others as more important than themselves (Philippians 2:1-4). Paul points them to the living example of Jesus Christ, who, while being much more than an example, was a perfect example of the humility that all of God’s children should demonstrate (Philippians 2:5-11).
In this passage, Paul continues exhorting his readers by reminding the Philippians that while they are working hard at living the kind of life exemplified by Jesus Christ, God is at work in them to bring it to fruition. Thus, this passage is about maturity in Christ.
And, that is a very important difference between this passage and the ones in Galatians. In fact, almost the exact same phrase is used in Galatians 2:2 and Philippians 2:16, that is, “running in vain.” However, the illustration of running a race in vain (a race that cannot be completed) is used to illustrate two very different points in Galatians and Philippians.
Remember that in Galatians, Paul compared trusting in righteousness by keeping the law to running in vain. But, in Philippians, Paul compares failure to live by “holding fast to the word of life” to running in vain. In this passage, he says that a child of God who fails to mature is like running a race that cannot be finished. Interestingly, Paul sees this maturity as partly his responsibility.
We can see this double responsibility (proclaiming the gospel of grace and helping others mature in grace) in Paul’s letters and in his activities as recorded by Luke in the Book of Acts. Thus, for Paul, failure to trust completely in God and the righteousness that he bestows by his grace is like running in vain. But, at the same time, failure to continue growing in maturity in Jesus Christ is also like running in vain. The two go together.
What would you like to add to this discussion?
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Running the Race as an Illustration in Scripture:
1) Part 1 – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
2) Part 2 – Galatians 2:2 and Galatians 5:7
3) Part 3 – Philippians 2:16
4) Part 4 – Hebrews 12:1
5) Part 5 – 2 Timothy 2:5