When I was a featured blogger…
Usually, on Saturdays, I “replay” one of my older blog posts. But, I was recently reminded of an interview that I did five years ago with a friend of mine for a blog called “Said at Southeastern.” The interview was in a post called “Featured Blogger: Alan Knox.” And, if you’re interested, here are a few more interviews that I’ve done: “Interview with Alan Knox” (by Dave Black from March 2007), “A Conversation with Alan Knox” (by Michael Halcomb from December 2007), and “Alan Knox: Conversations w/ Friends” (an audio interview by Dan Allen from March 2011). There was another interview from 2009, but unfortunately it’s no long available online. Enjoy!
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Featured Blogger: Alan Knox
This month’s featured blogger is Alan Knox, a Ph.D. student at Southeastern. He has an excellent blog entitled The Assembling of the Church. We took the time to ask Alan a few questions that will hopefully encourage you to check out his blog. Enjoy!
Background Information:
Tell us a little about yourself
I’m 40 years old. I was born in Alabama and lived there until 8 years ago (except for college). I went to college at Georgia Tech and have degrees in Electrical Engineering. I love computers, reading, and spending time with people.
Tell us a little about your family
I’ve been married to Margaret for 19 years. We met in the fourth grade. We have two children – Jeremy (almost 14) and Miranda (10). We also have two dogs – Lucy and Aggie.
Does your family read your blog?
My wife reads my blog, and my children read if there’s something about them. Actually, to be completely honest, Margaret likes reading the comments. Yes, that means that she likes to read what other people have to say more than she likes to read what I have to say.
Tell us a little about your walk with the Lord
God saved me when I was about 10. I wish I could say that I grew in grace and stature, but I didn’t. In fact, for many years I considered myself an agnostic. I never stopped believing in God, but I didn’t know exactly what that meant. Almost 15 years ago, I began to be discipled by several different men, each teaching me how to walk with God, both by their words and their example. Today, I try to walk with God in everything that I do. I recognize that I rely completely on him for growth and obedience.
About his Blog:
How long have you been blogging?
I’ve been blogging since March 2006.
Why did you decide to start blogging?
I decided to start blogging to aid me in my studies. In May 2006, I began the Ph.D. program at SEBTS. I’m majoring in biblical theology with a focus on ecclesiology. Blogging gives me an outlet for much of my studies, to help me think through and discuss different ideas. But, this is not simply about theoretical discussions. I also practice much of what I discuss.
How did you choose the name The Assembling of the Church?
Well, I’m studying the purpose for the meeting of the church in Scripture. The title reflects that focus. I usually blog about the church. Other blog names that I wanted to use were already taken.
How much time a week do you put into your blogging?
The amount of time that I spend blogging changes from week to week. I write fast. So, it doesn’t take me as much time to think through these issues and write about them as you might think.
It appears that you spend a lot of time studying and thinking through your posts. How did you process this information before you started blogging?
I spend a lot of time reading – reading Scripture, reading for Ph.D. seminars, and “fun” reading. Usually, by the time I write a blog post about an issue, I’ve discussed it with various friends and family members. Sometimes, I simply write descriptive posts about things that have happened. Many of my ideas come from interaction with other bloggers. I especially appreciate commenters on my blog, even when they disagree with my views. I’ve learned a lot from interacting with them.
Do you or your readers have a favorite post or series of posts?
The most read post that I’ve written is called “The Church or the Organization” with a post called “Summary – Should elders/pastors be paid a salary?” quickly gaining ground.
If you could give us a list of several blogs you regularly read and enjoy, what would be on it?
I have too many blogs in my blog reader to recommend just one or two. I guess the ones that I would recommend are on the sidebar of my blog.
A personal update
I include bits and pieces of personal information in many of my blog posts, but I rarely write a personal update like this one – maybe one or two per year. But, with many things changing in my life right now, I thought I would give my readers an update – for those who are interested anyway.
First, a continuation one a previous update. If you’ve been around my blog long enough, you know that I changed my eating habits and exercise routine about 16 months ago in July 2011. Over the next few months, I lost about 35 lbs. I’ve now kept that weight off for a year. I’m not dieting; I changed the way that I eat. For example, I do not eat fried foods at all, which is strange for a Southern boy like me. Oh, I may eat a piece of fried chicken (or something else like that) every couple of months, but I usually regret it. My body doesn’t like that kind of stuff anymore.
Also, I began running for exercise about that same time. I’m continuing to run about 20-25 miles every week. This year (2012), I’ve run several long distance runs including a 10 mile trail race, a 12 mile trail race, three half marathons (13.1 miles), and many shorter races. (No, I haven’t run a marathon yet. My longest training run is 17 miles. I’m considering registering for a marathon next spring, but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet.)
The big recent news, of course, is that I’ve changed jobs. I’m now working for a new IT company called CtiPath as a Service Delivery Manager. In the last few weeks, I’ve been flooded with new information, new processes, new tools, and new people. In many ways, my mind is spinning. But, it’s been fun. I’m really enjoying this new venture, and I’m looking forward to what God does through this new job.
So, what about school? As you may know, I’ve been in the PhD program at Southeastern Seminary since 2006. I’ve finished all my seminars, passed my comps, and had my prospectus approved. But, I’ve had very little time to work on my dissertation because I’ve had to work extra part-time jobs (along with my previous full-time job as a web developer for the seminary) in order to support my family. I have to finish my dissertation by this spring, or I will not be eligible to graduate (because of a time limit). Will I be able to finish? I don’t know. It depends on how this job goes.
So, looking back over the last few years, I’m not where I thought I would be. But, I wouldn’t change anything. I’m excited about where God has me and the direction that he’s moving me.
And, what about this blog? Well, I still enjoy writing and interacting with my readers. Plus, it actually takes very little time to write these posts. So, for now, I plan to continue blogging.
Thank you for reading, commenting, and caring about me and my family. I appreciate you all very much!
The church as a team of player-coaches
As I was thinking about my post yesterday (see “How specialization harms the church“), I also thought about how my understanding of the church had changed over the last few years.
I remember when I once saw the church as a team with a coach (or coaches). The coach(es) trained the players, helped them learn their roles, then sent them out to play. Of course, in this view, the leaders among the church are the coaches while everyone one else is a player.
Later, my view changed slightly. I began to realize that among the church the coaches were also players. They still played an important role, but they were not just coaches; they were player-coaches. Of course, in this view, there was still a distinction between leaders (who were now player-coaches, not just coaches) and everyone else (who were still players).
Now, though, I see the church in an even different light. All are players and all are coaches. Yes, there are certainly different specializations (to use the coach/team analogy) and different levels of experience/ability. But, this doesn’t change the fact that all have the ability to coach others, and all are responsible for playing.
When we see the church as a team of player-coaches, it emphasizes several important aspects of our life in Christ that we share together.
1) We’re all equal in Christ; all are important; all are necessary.
2) At any point in time, any follower of Jesus could be a coach (leader).
3) At any point in time, any follower of Jesus could need a coach (leader).
4) Leading (coaching) is not about position or even function (since there can be leadership in different aspects of life).
5) Leading (coaching) is about helping others follow Jesus (in whatever aspect of life that is needed).
6) We all play the same game (which is not a game, but is life in Christ).
7) We all play for the same team.
8) We all play for the same owner.
9) We all take our directions (plays) from the same owner.
Obviously, every analogy fails at some point. But, what do you think of my analogy of the church as a team of player-coaches? Or do you prefer one of the other analogies that I mentioned (players with coaches or players with player-coaches)?
How specialization harms the church
“I’m not gifted in that area, so I don’t have to do that.”
“That’s not my ministry, so I’ll leave that for someone else to do.”
“I was called to do something else, so that’s not my responsibility.”
I’ve heard those excuses my whole life, and, for a long time, I bought into it. But, in the last few years, I’ve changed my mind. In fact, I think this kind of specialization harms the church.
The question was raised recently by Miguel at “God Directed Deviations” in his post “Aren’t All Christians Supposed to Make Disciples, Be Witnesses, and Evangelize?”
Miguel offers a couple of quotes: one of which supports that specialization based on giftings while the other does not support this kind of specialization. There is some back and forth (but still a good discussion) in the comments as well.
So, what is the discussion about? Well, according to Scripture, we know that some people are gifted at teaching. Others are gifted at encouraging. Still others are gifted at serving. In fact, we find many different spiritual gifts listed in Scripture, and it’s clear that 1) different people have different gifts, 2) no one has every gift, and 3) those with a certain gift should serve in that way.
The question is, then, who is responsible for teaching? For encouraging? For serving? For giving? For pastoring? For administering? For prophesying?
Are those gifted in those areas responsible for serving in those areas? Of course they are. Peter states that emphatically in 1 Peter 4:10. Paul says something similar in 1 Corinthians 12:7.
But, here’s the thing, given that those gifted are responsible for serving in that particular area, it does not follow logically (or scripturally) that others are not responsible for serving in that particular area. In fact, I think that all followers of Jesus Christ are responsible for teaching, serving, giving, encouraging, prophesying, pastoring, showing mercy, and any other type of service toward others.
Why would I conclude that all believers are responsible for these types of service (even when not gifted in that area)? Well, there are several reasons. For one, the results of any kind of service are not dependent upon the one serving, but upon God working through his Spirit in the life of the person serving. Also, the multitude of “one another” passages which are addressed to all believers (at least, all recipients of that particular letter) moves us away from any kind of specialization.
Thus, I believe that ALL Christians are responsible to “teach one another,” even those who are gifted at teaching. I believe that all followers of Jesus are supposed to “serve one another,” even those who are gifted as servants. All believers should “encourage one another,” even those who have been given the gift of encouragement.
So, what happens when only those gifted in teaching teach? What happens when only those who have the spiritual gift of evangelism do the evangelizing? What happens when only the spiritually gifted pastors serve through shepherding others? What happens is that the church is hindered in its growth and maturity, and we began to rely on certain people instead of relying on the Holy Spirit.
The church truly is a relational organism, and we rely on God’s life and power in each and every one of us, in whichever way he chooses to work at any time.
Yes, it is our responsibility, our calling, and our ministry.
Learning about discipleship by leading a pace group in a half marathon
Did you know that Thanksgiving Day is one of the biggest (perhaps THE biggest) running day of the year? It’s true. In our area, there were two big races, one with over 1500 runners and the other with over 2000 runners. And, remember, I live in a small town. In Raleigh and Durham and other larger towns around RDU, there were even larger races.
Last week on Thanksgiving Day, I was given an awesome opportunity. I was asked to lead one of the pace groups for the Skinny Turkey half marathon (13.1 miles). What does a pace leader do? Well, it was my responsible to run the race in a constant pace in order to finish at a certain time. For me, I was asked to lead the group that finished in 2:30 (two hours and thirty minutes). Now, this is quite a bit slower than I normally run a half marathon. So for the week before the race, I practiced running at the slower pace.
During the race, I was responsible for encouraging the runners who wanted to stay with my pace group. Of course, we encouraged and cheered other runners as well, both those who were running faster than us and those who were running slower than us. (Runners are usually a very encouraging group!)
As I was running this race and leading the pace group (trying to keep my pace as consistent as possible and to stay on schedule to finish in 2:30), I realized that there were some similarities and differences between pacing a race and discipleship.
For instance, it was very important that I understood what was happening around me, how the other runners were doing, and to help those who were struggling as much as possible. I think this is similar to discipleship as we help one another follow Jesus Christ.
Of course, there is a big difference here as well. Why? Well, I could not change my pace in order to slow down for runners who needed to slow. Also, I was always the pace leader, but in life and discipleship, the one “pacing” often changes based on situations and circumstances.
Then, I started wondering what a “pace group” for life would look like. People would help one another along. They would “slow down” or “speed up” based on the group as a whole. Those who were stronger at any one time would help those who were struggling. Of course, at any one time, some of those who were stronger at one time could be the ones who need help later. Perhaps different ones would be stronger going “uphill” while others would be stronger going “downhill.”
Along the way, the group would help one another keep the “goal” in mind. But, of course, the “goal” isn’t 13.1 miles ahead; it is a lifetime of “running.” We rest together when necessary; we keep running together when we can.
Of course, that’s the church as it’s described in Scripture. I love it when God uses running to give me a glimpse of how his children should live together in Jesus Christ.
The Call to Worship
While we’ve been studying through Ephesians on Sunday mornings, we keep tripping over the word walk. Of course, these instructions about “walking” are actually instructions about living. And, of course again, living is something that take place every day… every minute actually.
When you think about the way you “walk” (or live), do you only think about certain times or certain situations? Of course not. Life never stops. Our “walk” never stops. Whether we are walking in a worthy manner or not, we are always walking.
Just to get the juices flowing… here are the passages that I’m referring to:
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience… (Ephesians 2:1-2 ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called… (Ephesians 4:1 ESV)
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. (Ephesians 4:17 ESV)
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV)
Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true)… (Ephesians 5:8b-9 ESV)
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV)
Now, when I was meditating on those passages, I came across the post below on Dave Black’s blog (November 24, 2012 at 8:52 a.m.):
“Now let us prepare our hearts for worship this morning” is perhaps the most-repeated sentence you’ll hear when you enter church on Sunday mornings. It is, of course, completely unbiblical. Worship is 24/7 (see Rom. 12:1-2). We don’t come to church to worship; we come as worshippers.
Theologically, the church has no “place of worship.” God already dwells within the community of His followers. A church building can never properly be called a “worship center” because that title has been reserved, under the New Covenant, for God’s people. For me, having a “call to worship” is a witness to a deep lack of biblical understanding. True worship, real biblical worship, takes place Monday through Saturday as much as it does on Sunday.
I wonder what would happen if Christians stopped seeing a certain time at a certain place as “worship” and understood that every step they took (in their “walk”) is or is not worship. It can be worship… it may not be worship.
I wonder what would happen if Christians began to realize that God is probably more concerned with how they live at other times than what they do when they enter a “church building” (or a home church, for that matter).
It’s about our walk… not about a special time of “worship.”
Scripture… As We Live It #236
This is the 236th passage in “Scripture… As We Live It.”
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. But, of course, the days will be even more evil in about 2000 years. You won’t believe how awful it will be then. (Ephesians 5:15-16 re-mix)
(Please read the first post for an explanation of this series.)
Replay: Grace to More People = More Thanksgiving to God
For the last few days – since Thanksgiving Day actually – I’ve been “replaying” some of my Thanksgiving-based posts from the last few years. This is from a post called “Grace to More People = More Thanksgiving to God” which I originally published 2 years ago. This post examines the connection between grace and thanksgiving – a connection that Paul makes in his second letter to the Christians in Corinth.
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Grace to More People = More Thanksgiving to God
On this Thanksgiving Day (actually, for the last few days), I’ve been thinking about and writing about thanksgiving, gratefulness, giving thanks, etc. For this Thanksgiving Day post, I want to return to Paul second letter to the Corinthians. (Well, it may have been his third or fourth letter, but it’s the second letter that still exists, so we call it 2 Corinthians.)
In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul writes about the hardships that he has faced while traveling around the Roman Empire proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. But, several times, Paul tells his readers that he does not lose heart and that they should not lose heart.
At one point, Paul makes the following statement:
For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:15 ESV)
“As grace extends to more and more people” is a reference to the goal of Paul’s apostolic work. He travels from city to city and from region to region and proclaims the good news of Jesus Christ so that the grace of God might be extended to more and more people.
There are many great things that happen as God’s grace is extended to more and more people. For instance, those people become God’s children. They are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. They become members of one another and members of Jesus Christ. They are justified.
But, notice Paul’s focus in this particular passage. As God’s grace is extended to more and more people, the amount of thanks being offered to God increases, and this brings glory to God.
When Paul thinks of thanking God, he thinks of those people who God has brought into his life (like the believers in Corinth – see 1 Corinthians 1:4). However, thinking about the many people who were continuously being included in God’s family because of the ever increasing reaches of God grace also caused Paul to thank God.
We all have many, many reasons to be grateful to God. Most of us can thank God for our families, our health, for food, for clothing, for shelter. We can thank God for other believers and friends and family. We can thank God for his work in our life and in the lives of the church.
But, let’s never stop thanking God (and encouraging others to thank God) that his grace is being extended to more and more people!
Thankfulness in Scripture – a different look
Have you every thought about the times that Jesus “gave thanks”? What about Paul? Do you know what he was thankful for? Interestingly, when we read about “giving thanks” in Scripture, the context is often quite different from today. And, the things that people were thankful for was often quite different as well. Perhaps we can learn something from looking at times when Jesus and Paul “gave thanks.”
What do you think?
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When Jesus Was Thankful
He [Jesus] took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. (Matthew 15:36 ESV; see also Mark 8:6; John 6:11)
And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you…” (Matthew 26:27 ESV; see also Mark 14:23; Luke 22:17, 19)
So they took away the stone [from Lazarus’ tomb]. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” (John 11:41 ESV)
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Why Was Paul Thankful?
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. (Romans 1:8 ESV; see also 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Philemon 1:4)
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. (Romans 16:3-4 ESV)
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (1 Corinthians 1:14-15 ESV)
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. (1 Corinthians 14:18 ESV)
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. (1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV)
NOT Thanksgiving
Two years ago, I wrote a post called “NOT Thankful.” This seems like a good time to “replay” this post. Why? Because many of us (especially in the United States) are thankful today. But, what about yesterday? What about tomorrow? Next week? Will we still be thankful? If I’m honest – and I try to be – then there are more times when I’m NOT thankful than times when I am thankful. And, my like of thanksgiving has nothing to do with the date or with the blessings of God. It has everything to do with my own heart. What about you?
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NOT Thankful
Thankfulness… thanking God… I thank God for many things… most things… sometimes… even usually.
I have to be honest… I’m not thankful to God for all things.
I’m not.
I want to be.
But I’m not.
Maybe it’s not that important that I be thankful for all things…
…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ… (Ephesians 5:20 ESV)
[D]o not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6 ESV)
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 ESV)
[G]ive thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you… (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV)
Ok. So, maybe it is important to be thankful for all things. But, I must also be honest with myself (and with God and with others) that I’m not thankful for all things. I’m not even thankful for all people. I’m not thankful for all circumstances or events. Sometimes, if I’m completely honest, I’m not thankful for anything at all.
But, since I kept reading passages about thankfulness, I found a passage that mirrors my thankfulness very well:
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ (Luke 18:11-12 ESV)
Finally… a passage about thankfulness that I can completely support!