The Mature Way

I laugh now, but a few days ago I felt needlessly angry after reading a differing translation of 1 Corinthians 16:13, a passage that always encourages me. The Apostle Paul’s conclusion to his tremendous first letter to the early church in Corinth is inspirational. In the NASB (New American Standard Bible), the passage is rendered “…act like men…” In the NIV, the verse goes like this: “…be men of courage…”

In the age of scrutinized and deconstructed masculinity there is no better time to take a better look at this passage. But like always, context is king so remember to read the entire letter as it provides fabulous context to Paul’s conclusion.

With a little help from New Testament Greek scholar Dr. Bill Mounce, let’s pick this one apart and put it back together.

“ἀνδρίζομαι (andrizomai) occurs in the New Testament only here. Its etymology is clearly from the root ανδρ, from which we get ἀνήρ, “man,” predominantly (if not exclusively) used of males. Other cognates listed by BDAG include ἀνδρεῖος (“pert. to being manly”, ἀνδρείως (“in a manly i.e. brave way”), and ἀνδροφόνος (“murderer, lit. ‘man-slayer’”) do not occur in the New Testament. BDAG is quick to emphasize that words formed with the root ἀνδρ “show[s] erosion of emphasis on maleness.” And so, for example, in their definition of ἀνδρεῖος, they include “heroic deeds worthy of a brave person,” and “ do many heroic deeds, of famous women.” 

Of course, it is in these areas of interpretation that one must be careful of how you use BDAG. A quick perusal of BDAG’s entry on ἀνήρ meaning “equiv. to τὶς someone, a person” easily illustrates this. A quick perusal of the cited verses — Lk 9:38; 19:2; J 1:30; Ro 4:8 (Ps 32:2); Lk 5:18; Ac 6:11 — shows an interpretive position that I do not feel is appropriate for a dictionary. For example, Lk 9:38 is, “And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.” What in the text requires the “man” not to be the father, hence, male?

ἀνδρίζομαι occurs in the LXX 24 times, almost always in what must have been a common phrase, ἀνδρίζου καὶ ἴσχυε, translated by the ESV almost uniformly as “Be strong and courageous.” Unfortunately, I do not have the resources here to look into all the secular usage of the term.

But I want to get back to the point. Etymologically, it is clear that the word originally meant, “act manly” (TDNT), “be a man,” hence the ESV and other translations (“act like men,” NASB; “act like a man,” HCBS; “quit you like men,” KJV). Obviously, it doesn’t mean that the person should be a male — that is not something that can be exhorted. Rather, the person should strive to the qualities that historically have been connected with maleness, which in this context is courage and strength. And hence most modern translations: “be courageous” (NRSV, NIV, NLT); “show courage” (NET); “be brave” (NKJV, NJB).

In his commentary in the NIGTC, Thiselton comments that “the translation of ἀνδρίζομαι has probably become unnecessarily sensitive,” and points out that ἀνδρίζομαι has two semantic oppositions. In this context, it is not male vs female but rather “stands in contrast with childish ways, citing conceptual parallels such as 1 Cor 13:11 and translates, ”show mature courage” (page 1336). Garland, in his BECNT commentary, prefers the Old Testament background cited above, that Paul is calling all the Corinthians to be “strong and courageous” (page 766).

This is one of those situations where, from a translation standpoint, the question is whether the word still contains its etymological emphasis, or whether in this case BDAG is right and the word “show[s] erosion of emphasis on maleness”; in other words, the meaning of ἀνδρίζομαι has moved beyond it etymological beginnings.

It also is one of those translation issues where the committee’s policies come into play. Does your translation philosophy tend toward the words or toward the meaning?

Personally, I do not see anything in the biblical context or the usage of the word that requires a male orientation. Either Thiselton's or Garland's position is feasible; I tend toward Garlands because ἀνδρίζομαι was part of such a stock phrase in the LXX. But whatever it nuances may be, it is certainly a call for a mature courage, and that is always a good word.”

As I get older, it makes more sense that being a man of courage requires acute alertness, firmness, maturity, strength, and love. I have learned that anything done apart from love is the greatest way to lose influence and a bad reputation. I think part of the problem, personally and culturally, is possessing a skewed understanding of love (I’d dare admit childish even). The Apostle does close out the sentence with urging them to “do everything in love.” So brothers AND sisters, let us commit to growing up.

Source: https://www.billmounce.com/monday-with-mounce/“act-men”-1-cor-16-13

I’m a Bad Pastor: And Why I Think it’s Worth Saying So!

by Anthony Moore

       As this post is re-published from the author's brilliant contemplations, I want to invoke all of 1 Corinthians 13. He is now a former pastor, primarily due to succumbing to the enormous burden of pastoring. The greatest caution I have been given repeatedly is the fact that once a man and his family enter or begin pulpit ministry, their life is pretty much public. Privacy is no longer a premium in ministry as there are many people in the flock who need your attention and counsel. Not only are there people who need you but people waiting for you to fail, both inside and outside the fellowship. No longer is my life about me. Well, Anthony Moore has great advice for that. Again and again many pastors who have served for over four decades offer such calming advice, all based around the theological pillar of grace. We in the church only get to enjoy a very special grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Treasure troves are deposited into a Christian's life at salvation and grace is one of those fortunes we now possess through inheritance (Ephesians 1:3-14).

___________________________

"Thirteen years have passed since our 35-1 National Championship run. Much has taken place since those glory days. For starters, I married a hall of famer, Natasha Neal, and together we have three beautiful boys: Marcus, Titus, and Malachi. Then, with great impact to my athletic figure, I exchanged my basketball shorts for a bible and a pulpit. Very few people know me now as an athlete anymore and most, if not all, value me pastorally navigating a difficult situation more than they do me navigating a particular defense. Still, pastoring and being an athlete have a lot in common, and in at least one way you might not have considered. Both being a pastor and an athlete come with public praise and scrutiny. Both require great discipline and perseverance. And, in both disciplines, those in attendance tend to overlook the amount of work invested in what’s being executed. Also, a successful pastor and a successful athlete should have in common a real understanding of one’s weaknesses. It’s this last point that I wish to consider just for a moment in light of pastoral ministry.

Human Perfection is an Allusion

In pastoring, and I would say the Christian life in general, there’s always the temptation to project an image of oneself that’s more adept and polished than what is actualized. Yet, faulty presentations of self are never lasting. When the athlete pretends to be better than he or she is, exposure is ushered in on the tides of failure and defeat. For the pastor, however, the greatest danger is not the loss of a game but rather every step toward achieving a polished look is a step toward deconstructing the portrait of grace in one’s life. Think about it for a moment: If the leaders we are to emulate in the church are perfect, in what sense are they, the leaders, able to point to the truth found in Scripture that Christ Jesus came to save sinners? It’s in light of this truth that I gladly make this confession—I’m a bad pastor! Here are three reasons why:

I’m Sinful

First, I’m sinful. I’m not the Good Shepherd in John 10. Jesus is. I sin daily and have to repent of things like anger, pride, and anxiety to my friends, family, and you the congregation. This is not a ploy or cute literary device. It’s the reality of the situation. When the Lord pronounces judgment on the counterfeit shepherds in Ezekiel 34, the operative question becomes, “Who, then, will shepherd God’s people?” The Lord answers that question with over fifteen references to Himself in one chapter as the one who will shepherd His people. Is that clear enough?! Of course, we know that Jesus is the means by which God indeed becomes the great Shepherd of His people. Why does that matter? It matters because Jesus is the great and perfect Shepherd of His people so I don’t have to be. I don’t have to be perfect and coming to grips with that is key. For example, the athlete who never acknowledges weaknesses will make light of the strength of his teammates and, therefore, fail to understand his need to lean on them when it’s needed most. So, too, the pastor must learn to acknowledge his weaknesses and utter dependency on Christ and His Word. That’s done by exposing weaknesses and painting big and beautiful portraits of the truth of the Gospel: God saves and uses sinners for His glory!

I’m Young

Second, I’m young. Don’t get me wrong, I’m competent. Or, at least I’ve thought intentionally about pastoring for 10 years (2 degrees at a seminary and an internship). My point is, I have so much to learn. I’m still a kid at heart. I’m still learning and still growing and trying desperately not to make childish mistakes. I have been through so much in my life and yet I feel like a pup. As a pastor, it’s my unwillingness to come to grips with my youthfulness that causes me to fail to give myself permission to grow. I want to be the pastor now that I will be in 15 years, Lord willing. That’s a high ambition with lofty expectations. If I make peace with that mentality, then I’ll quickly become heavy laden with despair. And one bad sermon or a botched counseling case or disappointed member will send me into a tail spin. That’s a very precarious place for a pastor, especially when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords has promised to build his church regardless of my carefully crafted illustration or ability to bring gospel truth to a situation. Related to the previous point, God is calling shepherds to demonstrate gospel growth to our congregation, not perfection.

I Can Be Hurt

Finally, I can be hurt! My greatest strength is that I love people. I really do. I invest in relationships and want them to be deep and authentic. Yet, like most people, my greatest strength is also my greatest weakness. My identity in Christ should free me up to truly love people. But, often times my identity can be more informed by people’s perception of how I’m caring for them than by my status in Christ. In those moments, it may not seem like it but I’m overcome by pride. I’m caring for people as a means of making much of myself. The world, my relationships, and God himself exists to serve me and difficulty comes when they don’t make much of me as I think they should. What does that mean? It means that I’m a sinner and have a propensity to commit sins, even sins against those I’m charged to shepherd. Often times my first response when confronted with my sin is to retreat. It helps me protect myself and provides me with a way around pain. Yet, that response is inconsistent with how my savior willingly gave His life for me. I should confess the opposite of perfection, I’m a sinner and I need Him more and more each day.

Christ’s Perfection is Real

I remembered sharing my struggles with an older pastor whom I respect and love and he responded and said, “Man, why are you in ministry again?” Seems harsh, but I think his words were needed. The weaknesses I have (and any weaknesses that could be stated) make me the least likely candidate to pastor. But herein lies the point: “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Cor 27-29). The point, Paul concludes, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” Hence, if there is one compelling reason why I’m fit to pastor here at this church it is because I truly trust the power of the Spirit and the word of God to build His church––not my ability to craft sermons, not my personality, and certainly not my ability to be perfect. I trust Christ and the power of His Word. So, I have no problem admitting how and why I’m a bad pastor. If you’re a pastor or serve in a leadership position in your church, I would suggest you write a similar letter to your people. Try starting with something like this, “I’m a bad pastor and here’s why!” 

Source: http://thefrontporch.org/2015/08/im-a-bad-pastor-and-why-i-think-its-worth-saying-so/

Why I Listen to Old People

"Give instruction to a wise man and he will be wiser still,

Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning."

Proverbs 9:9

Ever since I was a child, as much as I can remember I have always been around older people. I remember so fondly growing up with my grandparents for the first seven years of my life, how having them in full view was perpetually inspiring. I don't remember a day of boredom. They were also my very first mentors. I never forget their counsel.

That's why I love this article by Josh Riley who writes of the value of learning from those who are both older than us, and those who have gone before us. It is these who often tell us about most crisis, "It's not a big deal." Or, "Pray about it child, God will take care of it all." Chuck Swindol once said that he feels sorry for anyone who does not have a mentor. It's such an undeniable pity. I must remember by God's grace, to stay close to my mentors and listen to those who have gone before me.

The more I “mature” in age, the more I find myself listening to old people.

We sometimes hear about the difference between new writers and dead guys.  The appeal of the dead guys, of course, is that they have gone on to glory and its too late for them to become heretics or major moral failures.

And the new guys have some fresh insights, having been exposed to a different world growing up than older folks.  But there is a middle ground of life experience we need to pay attention to: the old guys who have most of life behind them and the reality of impending glory before them.  They have much to say worth listening to.

And by old folks, I mean people in the last quadrant and season of life—roughly 60 or 70 and over.

Here are a few reasons why you should listen to old people:

1. Old people have lived more of life than the rest of us.  When they stand up to speak, they have a long track record of life from which to draw.  And much of that time was spent actually focused on living life rather than memorizing passwords, tweeting trivia, engaging with video games, Facebooking, and texting.  Much of that time was spent thinking, reflecting, and doing real things–often hard things– rather than watching people pretend to do real things on television. They know more about the human experience and the struggles of the human soul.  They have regrets.  Regrets we can learn from and, if we are wise, strive to avoid.

2. Old people are done with ladder-climbing and can speak the truth without fear of losing a job, donors, followers, blog readers, a career track, supporters, customers, conference invitations, record deals, or a popular reputation (those things shouldn’t impact any of us…but let’s be honest.  They do).  Do you ever wonder why modern-day preachers rarely speak out against heresy the way New Testament apostles did in virtually every New Testament epistle?   It’s simple, really.  We don’t want to lose our platforms.  If we speak the truth, we’ll anger the liberal heretics on the left, the conservative Pharisees on the right, and the money-changers who rule both and who control more of the religious trinket and publishing empires than we’d like to admit.  Truth is, we value acceptance over faithfulness—that’s why we hoard influence rather than dispensing 100 proof Truth.  Old people just don’t care about that kind of pretense any more.  They’re no longer trying to climb the ladder, so if they offend gatekeepers and aren’t invited to the latest conference, it’s OK.  They probably don’t want to fly all the way out there anyway.  They don’t have to walk on eggshells, fearful their church following might shrink, which in turn would shrink their own reputation, which would in turn shrink their own income and lifestyle.  It’s already shrunk, due to empty nest syndrome, age limitations, and the general downsizing of life that takes place at that age.  It’s so easy to justify compromise when we’re seeking fame and influence that we don’t recognize we are doing it…. until we get old and don’t need the fame to feel good about ourselves, the income to sustain a very comfortable lifestyle, or the reputation to impress the flock into buying our stuff.  Old people can truly view people as…well, people, rather than religious consumers. They are prepared to give people what they need, rather than what they want.  Having lived most of life, they have a better understanding of what people need, whereas younger people have a better understanding of what people want. They are willing to dispense spiritual surgery to address the rot in the soul, rather than hand out pretty Band-Aids, pain killers, and entertainment that do little more than cover up soul pain and make it feel good for a while.

3. Old people have walked with God and have seen and heard most all aberrant theologies and pharisaical perspectives.  They’ve seen personal shipwrecks caused by every kind of perverted theology from liberal “grace” abusers who turn grace into licentiousness, to conservative, legalistic Pharisees who have extra rules and rules and more rules for everybody.  Most of them have lived on both sides of the fence at some point in their lives and have learned to major on the majors and minor on the minors.  They fight for the gospel and ignore secondary issues, where the younger guys still fight for influence, acceptance, and a viral blog post, Instagram shot or video.

4. If they are truly regenerate, the older they get the more aware they are of their own shortcomings and the vastness of the grace of God. They’ve learned to enjoy growing and living in grace, and responding to it with obedience and gratefulness rather than callousness or performance standards.  They aren’t impressed with themselves and don’t waste much time on nonsense.  They realize how silly 95% of the stuff people on earth get excited about on earth really is.  They know they don’t have another 50 years ahead of them and so the things of eternity are becoming clearer to them as the clutter of life is pulled away.  They still believe God has a sense of humor but they somehow sense He isn’t laughing at most of the stuff we are laughing at on television.  They are more serious about life, and yet often less anxious at the same time.  They spend less time stressing in the pursuit of coolness, and more time resting in the pursuit of godliness…less time striving to be accepted by ungodly people or churchy people and more time enjoying the acceptance of God they already have.

Sure, there is a tendency in old age to become a grump, a curmudgeon, and a luddite resistant to change and technology.  But that shouldn’t prevent us from learning and listening.  After all, young folks have a few undesirable tendencies too.

So, that’s why I increasingly listen to old guys, not just dead guys and young guys.

Do you want to know what is temporal and cool?  Talk to a millennial.  Want to know how to make money?  Talk to a boomer.

But if you want to be wise?  Listen to some faithful old guys and ladies who have walked with God two or three times longer than you’ve even walked the earth.

The internet is filled with wisdom from some of these folks…people like Alistair Begg, J.I.Packer, Peter Lord, or Steve Brown, John Stott (recently deceased, sadly) and Billy Graham come to mind for me.

But you don’t have to just listen to “professional” Christians.  Some of the godliest and wisest men and women you’ll ever meet might be just down the hall in your own church.

Or even in your own family.

Lets learn from those who came before us and are still with us. 

Source: http://worship.com/2013/08/why-i-listen-to-old-people/

Things I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self About Calvinism (Or: How to Be Less of A Jerk)

by Stephen Altrogge

Another well-articulated and tastefully conveyed conviction to model myself after.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?

Jesus replied:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with

all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second

is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets

hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:34-40

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:2

“When I first understood the Doctrines of Grace (more commonly known as Calvinism and/or Reformed theology), I felt like I had entered The Matrix (minus Keanu Reeves).

It was as if multiple puzzle pieces were clicking into place and a single, unified picture was becoming clear. Things that seemed somewhat confusingly jumbled, like the various covenants, Israel’s rejection of Christ, and weird statements in the book of Romans, suddenly came together, like in a television show when an enlightened detective starts drawing lines between various mug shots and newspaper clippings while heart-thumping music plays in the background.

All this was a big deal to me, and I quickly came to the conclusion that it was my mission from God to convert every person in existence to Calvinism. As you can imagine, this made me quite a pleasant person (insert record scratch noise).

As I’ve gotten older, slightly more godly and slightly less annoying, I’ve come to a few realizations about the place the Doctrines of Grace should hold in my life.

I wish I could go back in time and communicate these things to my younger self, although my younger self probably would have fiercely debated my older self and then come away concluding my older self was a moron.

What would I tell my younger self?

CALVINISM MATTERS, BUT IT’S NOT EVERYTHING

I treated the Doctrines of Grace as if they were the sum and substance of Christianity. As if when Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he said, “Be sure you believe in election and total depravity!”

This full-throated zeal for all things Calvinist caused me to look down on those who were far more godly than me yet maybe didn’t agree with me on every point of doctrine.

Sure, you’ve given your entire life to serve orphans and widows in Cameroon, but you don’t believe in election, so what’s the point?

Meanwhile, I’m sitting in my living room, wearing sweatpants and sipping coffee while I read Systematic Theology. 

It was absolutely pathetic.

I still believe that the Doctrines of Grace are crucially important to understanding Scripture, but there are other astonishingly important elements to following Jesus.

Like love. Mercy. Justice. Generosity. Serving. Compassion.

Calvinism should NOT be the dominant theme in everything I do as a Christian. Rather, it should be the background track, like the bass line in a Daft Punk song. Or, as John Newton said:

I am more of a Calvinist than anything else; but I use my Calvinism in my writing and preaching as I use this sugar. I do not give it alone, and whole; but mixed, and diluted… I think these doctrines should be in a sermon like sugar in a dish of tea, which sweetens every drop, but is nowhere to be found in a lump – tasted everywhere, though prominent nowhere.

IT’S NOT MY JOB TO CONVERT THE WORLD TO CALVINISM

For a brief time, I became the Mormon missionary of Calvinism (minus the weird name tag and odd underwear). I thought it was my job to convert all people to the gospel of Reformed doctrine, and if they didn’t convert, I became frustrated.

If someone disagreed with me, my brain began generating thoughts like this:

Why can’t they see it?!? They must be spiritually defective! They must be, like, a baby Christian or something! Have they not accepted John Piper into their hearts? Maybe if I just speak louder and longer, I can convince them of the truth. 

I foolishly assumed that it was my God-given responsibility to make sure that every person I knew fully agreed with everything I thought. As if I somehow had cornered the market on all sound doctrine and biblical understanding.

This is incredibly ironic given that the very heart of Reformed theology says God gets all the glory because he is the one ultimately responsible for all the saving, changing, and preserving. It’s like Alanis Morissette said: “Isn’t it ironic?”

Yes, yes it is.

I don’t debate about Reformed theology much these days. I’ll happily discuss it with someone who wants to, but I know that I can’t convince or change any person. If you want to chat about Calvinism, let’s grab a beer (a requirement of being Reformed) and we’ll hash it out.

CALVINISM IS NOT REQUIRED FOR GODLINESS

Some of the most godly, prayerful, loving, generous people I know, do not believe in Reformed theology. These people are so godly and so spirit-filled that they make me look like a headhunting pagan who plays with ouija boards for fun.

The truth is, godliness and Calvinism don’t necessarily go together. Calvinists have a somewhat well-earned reputation as pompous, self-righteous windbags who would rather write 10,000-word screeds than actually serve someone.

When I was younger, I assumed that a person who didn’t embrace Reformed theology was somehow less mature or godly than me. I look back and shudder.

I was the windbag.

I was the one who loved hearing myself talk.

I was the one who liked to toss around fancy theological words (double reprobation anyone?).

It was both terrifically ungodly and tremendously obnoxious. If you were at the business end of my weaponized Calvinism, I apologize.

I still fully embrace Reformed theology, but I now realize that it’s no longer necessary for godliness.

When John Wesley (an Arminian) was asked whether he thought he would see George Whitefield (a Calvinist) in heaven, he said, “No.” Then he said:

Do not misunderstand me, madam; George Whitefield was so bright a star in the firmament of God’s glory, and will stand so near the throne, that one like me, who am less than the least, will never catch a glimpse of him

I feel the same, but in the opposite direction. I expect I won’t see many of my fellow believers in heaven who don’t believe in Reformed theology because they will be much nearer the throne than me.

CALVINISM ISN’T THE SOLUTION FOR EVERY PROBLEM

When I first truly understood that God is sovereign over all things, that was a great comfort to me. God is working all things together for my good. God is the one responsible for saving people. God is in control of governments and presidential candidates (thank goodness!).

But too often, I treated the Doctrines of Grace as the cure-all medicine for every spiritual problem.

You’re struggling with worry? Don’t you believe God is sovereign?

You’re struggling with anger? Don’t you believe in total depravity?

You’re worried about whether you’ll make it to the end? Don’t you believe in perseverance of the saints?

You get the point. Calvinism became my miracle pill that I dispensed freely. No matter the circumstances, I was always quick to whip out my bottle of Reformed theology from my fanny pack of systematic theology (I think that analogy works).

I somehow failed to grasp that truth always goes down better when it’s preceded by grace, love, compassion, and the bearing of burdens. Grace is the spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine of truth go down. Love, compassion, and empathy make it so much easier to hear truth.

Now I still talk encourage people with those same biblical truths, but not before I spend plenty of time simply listening and bearing burdens.

IN THE END

When Jesus returns and all is said and done, I don’t think we’ll be debating the finer points of theology. We’ll be so enraptured with the glory of God that not much else will matter.

Until then, I’ll seek to continue to learn from those who are more godly than me. By God’s grace, in 10 years I’ll be less of a pompous windbag than I am now.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to drink a craft beer while listening to a John Piper sermon.

Source: http://theblazingcenter.com/2016/11/things-wish-tell-younger-self-calvinism-less-jerk.html