Let Us Reason Together Part 1: Christian Debate and Kindness

"I disagree with you for the following reasons: (1) I think you're less-intelligent than me, and (2) I've had this opinion for a long time, I really like it, and am not thinking about changing it.  If you continue to press the point or present me with further uncomfortable facts, I will be forced to vocally question your sanity and insult your way of life."

How would you feel if someone used this line of debate technique on you?  What would you think if the topic under discussion was "Why you should believe in Jesus" and the person speaking was a self-proclaimed defender of the faith?

 Today, I want to begin to talk about debating our opinions (and our faith) in a manner befitting Christians.  When we defend our faith (or any opinion, for that matter), we are presenting a view of Christ to the world, which means our words can have eternal consequences.  We can wound or heal; we can shut the door of Heaven or open it wide to a searching person.  Because of this, we should really, really (can I emphasize this enough?) guard our words and our demeanor carefully.

The Root of Kindness...

The groundwork for any discussion should be a rule of kindness. I'm not talking about some official rulebook for order in a meeting; I'm talking about a personal decision to be kind, no matter what happens, and no matter what the other person says or does. That's impossible, you say?

The Bible says that kindness is one of the "fruits of the spirit," (Galatians 5: 22-23), that is, it is an expression of the power and presence of God in a Christian's life.  Now, those who do not personally acknowledge God as Lord of their life can be kind at times--we hear it on the news and should give them credit and praise for it--but there is a difference between Christian and non-Christian kindness.

Jesus called attention to the difference when He described what would be called a "normal reaction" and then stated what God expects people to do instead:

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. 
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?" (Matthew 5: 38-47 NIV)

Kindness is Unmerited Favor. Image: Eddie Two Hawks

In a nutshell, non-Christians give people back to others what they have earned and deserved, but Christians should give undeserved grace and favor in return for cruelty, disrespect, and unkindness.  Jesus doesn't just flatly demand this change in behavior; He backed it by modeling it personally. In fact, in Matthew 5: 48 (the sentence that comes immediately after the passage above) Jesus said, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."  That is, be complete, mature, and fully-developed in your behavior, living up to the higher and more honorable standard God has modeled for you. What did God the Father do to model this perfection? He sent His son to rescue an undeserving people (See also Micah 6: 3-8).

So, we can establish that the origins of true kindness are from God and manifestations of His own character, and that they are something contrary and completely foreign to normal thinking outside of those who follow God. How about those who practice unmerited kindness but don't want anything to do with God?  The Bible describes this scenario, too, with a phrase: "having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3: 5 NIV), that is, these people conform outwardly to a model God established, but in their hearts, they reject the power behind that pattern and thus the power of that pattern, dooming themselves with their own hypocrisy (see also Matthew 25: 31-46 NIV).

Applying Kindness to a Debate

Since kindness comes from God and was first modeled by Him, it should be applied with a sense of its sacredness, that is, with an awareness of what it represents. If you are proud of your relationship with God, kindness should be liberally applied to others, but if you are embarrassed about God, you should be stingy with kindness.

Yes, I am being facetious to make a point.

If you are having problems being as kind as Christ, then you should at least go by your own personal human reference point, using the rule Jesus suggested: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets," (Matthew 7:12 NIV). This is really a gateway into understanding God's kindness toward us, by causing us to give some serious thought about a key question: What do we want others to do to us?

So, at the beginning of debate, before even opening our mouth, we are directed to think first about that question.  We have to do it again and again, as necessary, before each exchange in the conversation.  We have to keep it in mind before we take action. We have to think about it after the blow lands but before our cheek stops smarting.  Because God has made us with thinking, reasoning minds, we are expected--no, required--to think, and because not all of us are old, studied, or gifted with cleverness, we were given a question even a child could answer. What do we want others to do to us?

This habit has a peculiar significance for Christians, because when we act according to its direction, we are as much as saying, "Not my will be expressed here, but Yours, Jesus," and "Not my honor be defended here, but Yours, Jesus."  If we can get into the habit of remembering and honoring this rule every day, but particularly during an argument, we are welcoming Jesus in to bless and sanctify our speech, and to direct us to say what is beyond our human power to say. Only Jesus has the power to tame the tongue; it is beyond human will power to control its poison (see James 3: 7-12 NIV).

In short, during debate of any sort, invite Jesus in and He will teach you kindness, and His presence in the conversation will bring reward for both you and your debate opponent.

Does Kindness Mean Backing Down or Standing Your Ground?

The Bible doesn't say or even imply that Christians are always right or that God will always support every idea a Christian has or feels. This means that sometimes Christians have to back down in a debate, even when they don't feel persuaded by the other person and still feel that they are right. I have struggled with this and I've seen others struggle with it even more than I ever have, because it's really hard to lose, particularly if you have a strong, winning personality type.

But, I won't go into that right now.

The fact is, in some cases, it is kinder and more godly to back down from an argument before it even begins, while in other cases, it is better to pursue the point.  The good thing is that the Bible gives us guidance about that, too!

In the case of choosing when to back down, 2 Timothy 2: 23-24 (NIV) says, "Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." Here you see kindness shown as the foundation for choosing not to argue, rather than the foundation for argument, because the subject of the argument is not important enough for debate.

When is it important enough to keep arguing? Only when the subject hinges on a matter of absolute truth and obedience toward God, not something "foolish and stupid," that is, something that doesn't have eternal significance.  For instance, when Goliath challenged the strength and the king, and thus the God, of the nation of Israel, David had to go out onto the battlefield to fight him (1 Samuel 17). Later, when Ahab and the prophets of Baal proposed that their god was more powerful than Elijah's God, he had to debate with them, by agreeing to build an altar and letting the entire stakes (the choice of whether the nation would follow Baal or God) rest on the outcome of the debate (1 Kings 18: 16: 39).

It is interesting to point out that in the case of these sanctioned debates, the very nature of truth and the power of God was in question, and in the end, it was God and not a person who defended the point. He only worked through an individual's obedience and bravery to make His opinion known. 

Summary: Kindness in Debate

Looking back over this discussion so far, there is a clear thread running through all my points.  Kindness comes from God; it does not come from man.  Kindness is ultimately implemented by God through obedience to His will as we choose our words and actions carefully. Finally, kindness chooses our battles, and as a manifestation of the power of God, kindness fights our battles on matters of eternal spiritual significance, because Christ, as a matter of kindness, "is not willing that any of these little ones should perish" (Matthew 18: 14 NIV), but that "whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3: 16 NIV).

A (Controversial) Perspective on Using Your Talents for God

I believe in using my talents for God's service.  This is a common theme in a lot of today's church discourse, and I don't disagree with that.  However, I'm going to say something controversial, here.  Often times, the church is wrong about what individual Christians should be doing in God's service.

Obviously, it is not wrong to try to help people or be charitable.  It is good to do so.  We hear genuine needs every day, and we should care. We are heartless if we don't.

Still, there is a cookie-cutter mentality that has lapped over into the Christian world that has no place among us.

To begin with, there are people who have been told that they should help out at the soup kitchen, or build houses for people, or contribute large sums to their local charities, or go out as missionaries to the far corners of the world.  Unfortunately, they are the kind who can burn boiling water or who can't talk to strangers; they are flabby or uncoordinated, causing them to get hurt when they try to lift a hammer or a heavy board; they are barely middle class themselves, so they don't have much to contribute financially each month; and they are frightened and unequipped for the mission field.  Should they feel guilty?  Are they bad Christians because they are bad at all the typical "Christian" things to do?

I don't believe so.  I know there are readers who will say, "Don't make excuses," and I'm not intending to.  I am just saying that to make my first point: Everyone is talented at something, but not everyone is talented at everything; therefore, everyone should use their talents for God, but since everyone's talents are so varied, they should not all be doing the same things.


Rather than feeling guilty on some level for their failure to measure up to other people's abilities, Christians out there should be considering how their own God-given abilities could best be used.  The Bible compares a church congregation to a body, where each person works as a part, keeping the whole body healthy, and with each part being necessary and placed there for a reason (1 Corinthians 12: 12-27).  Perhaps there are talented individuals out there who have not yet realized that they, too are necessary, even though they haven't found their "niche" to serve quite yet.  They may not realize that they are created by God for a purpose,  perhaps to put "Christian engineering" or "Christian salesman" or "Christian deliveryman" on the map as a new way to serve God while showing His love to our fellow man--doing jobs that no one else could do as effectively.  Maybe they are the only ones in the whole world who can do the job.  They will never know, if they keep comparing themselves to others.

That brings me to another point I wanted to make: Christians shouldn't use the oddness or obscurity of their talents as an excuse to downplay them or refuse to use them.  A person's penchant for armpit orchestra could break the ice with a few laughs, opening doors to share his or her testimony with an audience; a talent for origami could help cheer up an elderly person or a sick child in the hospital; life experience as a parent could help a Christian man or woman mentor a struggling single mom at church or a young man who is trying to get his life back on track.  God can use any talent, since He made every person and saw in advance what each could do (Ephesians 2: 10), but God cannot use a talent if the talent holder knows better than Him what other people need.

Bloom Where God Plants You...

This leads into my last point: Where Christians are is where God can use them best.  Take Christian students, for instance. While they can reach out to the homeless in their towns, they might be best suited to reach out to their fellow students.  The workers at the local shelters cannot attend classes and live in the dorms, eat at the school cafeterias, or gather at places where the other students hang out.  If all of the Christian students feel they can only serve by working at the shelter, there may be thousands of young people who don't benefit from the help God sent Christian students to do on campus. God has placed each person where they are, for a purpose they alone may be able to fulfill (Esther 4: 14), so when the time comes, they had better be there to minister to the need that is there.

I'm sure there is more to be said on this subject, and I invite readers to add their comments to the discussion.  How best would you advise Christians to use their talents for God? Are there any more Scriptural guidelines I have failed to mention?

Modeling Leadership Like Jesus

Years ago, I read a book about how to lead like Jesus. I don't remember all the points the book made, but one principle that stuck with me was the author's assertion that a good leader never asks followers to do something he wouldn't do.

When we apply that to the life of Jesus Christ here on Earth, it's striking.  Jesus commanded us to serve others, and He modeled that by washing His disciples' feet (John 13: 12-17).  Jesus commanded us to love our enemies, and He modeled that by loving people like Judas, who ate with Him.  Jesus commanded us to pray, and He did that often, both publicly and privately (John 11: 38-44; Matthew 26: 36-41).  Jesus commanded us to leave behind even our homes and families, if necessary, to obey God (Matthew 8: 18-22), and He did that very thing to accomplish His Father's purposes at the cross. Speaking of crosses, Jesus commanded us to give our whole selves to God, to the death if necessary (Luke 9: 23, 24)--but He did that first.

So today, I'm asking if you are leading like Jesus did, in your own life.  Are you asking your spouse, children, friends, coworkers, or even strangers to do what you wouldn't do?  Have you asked them to go where you wouldn't go?  If so, have you thought about changing things?

I know we all fail and fall short of perfection, but that is no excuse for a failure to try.  Jesus modeled what was right while He walked among us to demonstrate that it is possible for a man (or woman) to do these things.  Furthermore, Jesus modeled leadership for us to prove that He is going ahead of us to strengthen us when we are weak and afraid, just as God led Moses in the desert with pillars of fire and cloud (Exodus 13: 21-22).

God is calling us to let Him lead us, even as we lead others. Let's follow in His footsteps.

I Forgot, but God Didn't

Try as I might to organize myself and make plans, it seems that I am still really good at forgetting things from time to time.  I mean, sometimes it seems like I forget more of my obligations than I remember.  To list some of my failures, I have been known to get so busy writing that I forget to eat, I have forgotten to study for a college-level test before (this was with a planner!), and more recently, this past Friday I forgot to post something here on Savvy Sheep.

Is this like you, too?  I hope someone will agree with me, so I don't have to feel like I'm losing my mind.  I think the problem is not so much a memory issue as it is a focus issue.  When I forgot that test, it was not out of habit or even carelessness.  A friend had needed me to be there for her the night before, and by the end of it, I had put my whole focus on that, to the neglect of other things.

Our Lack of Focus

When something gets so huge that it engulfs our focus, we tend to forget, and neglect, the other things that need our attention.  This can happen with housecleaning, it can happen with relationships, and it can even happen with our relationship with God.

Yes, in the spirit of humble confession, I have been known to neglect my relationship with God in the midst of busy times with my work and so forth.  Unfortunately, I think this is also a fairly universal problem of human beings.  The saddest part of it all is that it doesn't pay to neglect God.  Nothing else is truly satisfying.   Even when I open the Bible and it convicts my heart of sin, I appreciate the concern for me that went into those words.  As David wrote, "your rod and your staff, they comfort me," (Psalm 23:4 NIV 2011).

God's Absolute Focus

Contrast our lack of focus with God's absolute focus.  From the moment Adam and Eve sinned, God set into action a plan that He carried out at the perfect time.  He didn't forget the people who forgot Him.  All the time that they were suffering in the bondage they had foolishly chosen, He was working out a solution, and He didn't leave even one detail, not even one word, to chance (Romans 5:6; Isaiah 55: 10-11).

And now that He has accomplished the salvation that He had planned, He is still working on other plans He made.  It is clear by what He does that people are high on God's priority list, and other things are not stealing His focus.  In Jesus' words, "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows," (Luke 12: 6, 7 NIV 2011).


God focuses so much on us because He loves us.  Just as we can spot our loved ones in a crowd or even from great distances, God can filter out all the distractions and see only our hearts and our needs.  He loves us and cherishes us.

The Meaning of Neglect

What a terrible thing it is to neglect God!  It is so important to spend time with God, meditating on His word and making His thoughts our rules for living.  His ways are good, and obeying Him protects us from the suffering of punishment.  Taking time to study His word changes our focus and transforms our lives into the healthy pattern that He desires for us.

Going deeper still, His ways are the only things in this world that have value, and this is proven every time we come back to Him.  All else fades in transience and disappointment.  His word, eternally enthroned as Christ (John 1:1), lasts forever, but the ways of the world will always crumble and die.


Going even deeper still, when we neglect God, we are neglecting someone who loves us more than the people who love us most.  We are insulting our closest friend, and putting off the God who loves us so much that He sent His son to die for us.  There is a note of betrayal there, and the stench of sin. Keith Green sung about it in his song, "You Love the World (and You're Ignoring Me)."  Here is the video:

Today, let us take our focus off of the distractions of the world, and reject the things that corrupt us.  Maybe we forget things, but let's not forget God.  He hasn't forgotten us.

Denominational Differences and Dealing with Heresy the Biblical Way

Earlier today, I got up, switched my computer on, as I always do, and within a few minutes I was checking my news page on Yahoo, Facebook, and so forth.  There was more church buzz than usual today.  Apparently a famous minister has published a new book that many are calling heretical, and after reading explanations of the content, as well as snippets of other books from this minister, and so on, well, I think I would have to agree.


But I'm not talking about that book, or the minister, today.  I want to talk about the underlying issues, because as far as I know, this particular debate will also pass away, but the issues are eternal.  What is heresy?  What should we do about it?  Should we get upset by it?  This, and not the particulars, is what most people need to know, so they know how to react the next time, and the next, and the next...


So let's take a quick look at debate and heresy, denominational versus core teachings, and how the Bible tells us to deal with these two kinds of differences when they arise.

A Stranger in my Inbox

I got an unusual email through the Facebook messaging system this morning.  Using very poor grammar, a complete stranger suggested to me that it was good to have "friends from all over" and asked me if I agreed; then he acted as if he knew me well and really wanted to hear from me.  When I stepped over to his profile to look (I wanted to make absolutely sure I didn't know him), I saw that his profile was poorly filled out with strange and vague responses.  He had few friends, mostly female and most with eastern European names (I didn't know any of them, either).

I went back to the email and reread it a few times.  I could think of a million ways to respond, but each of them seemed either very rude, or very paranoid.  I have been taught by society that a person can't be too cautious, and when you suspect the worst, you are probably right.  My profile is locked down with the maximum security settings for this reason, and it is out of mercy that I allowed this person the ability to contact me at all.  Honestly, I believed the worst, and nothing had been done to change my mind.

The best response is probably no response, I thought.  That is the recommended response from the world.  It is certainly the safest in the impersonal online world.  Still, I doubt that this is all that God wants from me today.

I don't believe God has called Christians to be naive and walk into traps.  I also don't believe God has called us to suspend the good judgment He gave us.  On the other hand, God has called us to "entertain strangers" and openly broadcast our faith, given the opportunity.  So where is the middle ground between being a Christian misanthropist and being a Christian witness?

I think we can answer that by examining the life of Jesus.  He took interesting questions from people who acted friendly but had unfriendly motives, and He always answered them--only He answered them with a truth that cut to the heart of the matter.  If we read through the questions and their answers now, and really analyze them, we come to understand that Jesus' answer always called sin into the open and demanded repentance and honor for God (see Matthew 22: 15-22 for an example of Jesus' convicting truth).  Truth is so much more clever than all the wit and rhetoric in the world!

I think that really answers my question.  If I should decide to send any kind of answer to this man, I can only answer with words I know God has given me; I cannot answer with my own human wit, based on speculation about a heart I do not know.  I believe the only effective witness is an answer based on "inside information,"  the specific, unspoken needs of an individual, which only God knows.  Because of this, I have to pray and ask for God's guidance, and only respond if He tells me to do so.

I only brought this up because it has become a trend in the Christian community, lately, to blindly take in strangers, overlooking any risks involved.  In fact, we are often made to feel guilty for being cautious, because we sometimes let caution hold us back from taking any visible action.  A popular song on the radio tells Christians to roll down our windows and give money to beggars at the traffic lights, but even those who don't serve God know that this could be a dangerous practice.

So what should we do?  There is no question that we ought to love the strangers Jesus died for, but let's be careful about how we do that.  The Bible instructs us to measure every step with the truth, and obey only God's directions, not basing our actions on what we think is right and good (Psalm 119: 105; Proverbs 14: 12).

We can be certain we have overcome the world by the power of Jesus' sacrifice (John 16: 33), and that we have been empowered to do God's will, despite the risks.  However, as long as we live in this world, our bodies are still subject to troubles and harm.  Therefore, God has taught us prudence to protect us from unnecessary trouble (Proverbs 16: 22; Proverbs 21:16). There is a difference between boldly taking on trouble because God told us to, and boldly getting into trouble because we think God will bail us out.



In all cases, He has told us to pray (Romans 12: 12; Ephesians 6:18), so this should be the starting point, and the first, if only, action that we take (Matthew 5: 43-44).  Beyond that, sometimes God instructs us to pass up "witnessing opportunities," because the time is not right and the person is not receptive to the message (see Matthew 7:6), while on other occasions He tells us to speak His words with boldness, even when we don't feel we've adequately prepared (Matthew 10: 18-20).  Only God knows which situation we are in, so let us listen closely to Him.

Now, as for my own situation, I am trying to balance prudence with my witness, and waiting on God before I dash off an email response.  I've prayed for this person, and about this person, several times today, and this blog post will remind me to keep praying for years to come.  Maybe that's all God wanted in this situation, or maybe there is more to be revealed.  I don't know.  I'm still waiting.

How about you?  Can you think of any further instructions that Christians should keep in mind when they meet strangers and wish to share their faith?  Looking forward to your comments.  Until next time, this is me reminding you to stay savvy, and stay in God's will.

Weekly Snippet: Wise Joking

Today is April Fools Day (April 1), the day when everyone plays tricks on everyone else.  If you hang out with the right kind of people, whatever tricks they decide to play on you today should be relatively harmless (if they are cruel friends, today you will learn).  The laughs you share today might even make lifelong memories for everyone involved, or give you a bright idea for a future project or career (who knows?).  After all, truly good jokes are uniquely creative, filled with good humor, and enjoyed by all parties.

Bad joking, on the other hand, is full of things displeasing to God and disquieting to our fellow man.  We are cautioned to avoid the kind of joking that ruins reputations and job opportunities, does physical or emotional harm, tempts individuals to sin, or causes onlookers to despise Christianity and Christians as hypocrites.  In Paul's words, "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving" (Ephesians 5: 3-4 NIV 2010).

The point is not to destroy Christian's fun or freedom, but rather, to set us apart and hold us to a higher standard than everyone around us.  If we truly wish to be like a city on a hill, or a light that cannot be hidden, we should recognize that with this responsibility comes a certain loss of anonymity.  The world notices the light, and the slightest dimming of that light makes what we say seem like a mockery.  They want us to fall, so that we will cease to make them uncomfortable.  Shall we welcome that outcome?

We say we follow a perfect God, who judges the whole world and punishes sin always; we say we have been redeemed and changed; we say we have become dead to sin.  If the world hears this, and sees that we live as if God doesn't punish sinful behavior, or as if nothing changed in our lives and our priorities, or as if we are comfortable with rebellion--well, why wouldn't the world laugh?

Christians still commit sins from time to time--but they repent, and they cease returning to them.  Because we have not been fully made perfect yet, we might despair that we would never represent God properly, except that we know that God has always, and will always, represent Himself.  The most we can do is represent the nature and the quality of our own faith.  With experience, the world learns the difference. Because of this, we should try, every time we have the opportunity, to show the world how our perspective has changed, and how God has made us different.  His power is real.  Let's show what He can do, even today.

Until next time, this is me asking you to be wise, not foolish, when choosing your steps; God will make the way easy for you (Proverbs 3: 5-7).  Thanks for reading!

Iron Sharpens Iron, so Encourage One Another

As Christians, but more generally as human beings, we can tend to get together and grumble with our friends and family about what is not happening in our lives, what results we are not seeing, and the needs that have not been met.  Now, I want to mention that it is good to gather with friends; in fact, I believe it is God-ordained.  However, it isn't spending the time well if everyone walks away feeling as bad as they did before.  What can we do to make the troubled times easier for our friends?  If suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope (Romans 5: 3-5) what can we do to help each other bear those fruits in our lives?
The Bible says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another," (Proverbs 27: 17 NIV 2010).  Iron was one of the hardest substances available to the common man in the ancient world, and its strange physical properties were readily used as metaphors for human behavior.  Iron scraping iron could produce an extremely hard, sharp edge and rid things of brittle rust; similarly, one person's good counsel and leadership by example can help others remove bad habits and damaging character flaws from their lives.  Iron pounding heated iron could produce any number of shapes, all harder than the material before it was heated; similarly, discipline, and yes, persecution from others can prepare a person for tough jobs and struggles they may encounter in the future.

I am not suggesting that we persecute each other to "toughen each other up," but I think it is a good habit to think of how we can build each other up.  Here are a few things we should think about doing to "sharpen" each others' faith, so that everyone feels refreshed, and I hope strengthened to face their troubles.

• Pray together.  It isn't enough to just nod your head in agreement that your friends' troubles are bad.  Pray with them!  Jesus said, "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them," (Matthew 18: 20 NIV 2010).  There is nothing more powerful than offering to help them get our Advocate involved in resolving their problem (see John 14: 15-17; 1 John 2: 1-2).
• Remind them of God's power and provision.  When we are presently struggling, those troubles tend to consume all of our thinking and fill up our view.  We can't remember what used to bring us hope and joy.  Be a friend to a struggling friend by reminding that person of the miracles you have witnessed together, and the times of joy and celebration you have shared.  Paul wrote to struggling Christians, reminding them of how far they had already come with God, so that they would feel encouraged to stay the course (see, for instance 1 Corinthians 1 : 4-9).
• Give them a gift that meets a deep need.  When some of the early prophets were hungry, people welcomed them into their homes and fed them; when one early church member needed a cloak, another who had an extra, gave it to him.  When David was depressed, Johnathan showed up and encouraged him.  We can do something similar by preparing a meal for an elder who lives alone; offering to babysit someone's children for an evening; or mailing a friendly letter for no particular reason except to say "hello."  I am not saying that we should give gifts expecting reciprocation, nor that we should do things out of a condescending sense of charity or personal importance.  The goal is to stave off depression, worry, or physical needs in your friend, which can, like rust, tear down their strength and bring their faith to the breaking point. 
• Give truthful counsel.  If a friend asks for advice, tell the truth,  particularly that which is derived from many sources in the Bible, and temper it with love.  Not all good and truthful advice feels like affirmation; as the proverb goes, "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses," (Proverbs 27: 6 NIV 2010).  A metalsmith polishes off rust and lifts his hammer to remove flaws and direct the metal toward its strengths.  Our counsel should be the kind used by God for the same end--to build up and discipline a believer toward good behavior and victorious living.  Since all good counsel truly comes from the Lord (Proverbs 8: 14), we should always present it with the gentleness and humility that comes from listening to the One who has counseled us.

 I am sure there are more things that can be done to "sharpen" each other's faith.  If you think of any, I welcome you to share them in the comments section.  In fact, by sharing them, you will be doing just that.

Until next time, I want to encourage you to stay savvy, and work to sharpen your faith, so that no attacks from Satan can harm you.  Be built up!

A Word to the Leaders Among Us

In honor of President's Day (a modern holiday that combines George Washington's and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays), I thought I'd talk today about what characterizes godly leadership.  While there are literally thousands of different leadership models out there, focusing on politics, personality, workplace efficiency, and more, I prefer to talk about leadership the way the Bible models it.

If you read leadership training materials, or just browse that section at your local bookstore, you are going to see phrases like how to get ahead, the leader of the pack, separate yourself from the crowd, surviving the shark tank, and other such phrases.  The underlying principle is that we get ahead by muscling ourselves to the front or setting ourselves apart by putting down the competition.  This can lead to cutthroat tactics like lying and making false promises, attacking the competition to hedge it out, focusing on your own needs without considering those of others, and so on, eventually developing into an obsession with power and publicity.

Sometimes the competition can seem so fierce to a Christian that these tactics are tempting, especially when they seem to work, but God has called us to a higher standard of leadership--the model of Christ.  The leadership style Jesus modeled is the opposite of what the world calls good business tactics.  However, I firmly hold on to the truth that God's way is the way of life (Proverbs 12:28).  My personal experience has shown that while the world's tactics pay off faster than those of the Lord, they are much shorter-lived.  I'd rather succeed with God's blessing than get ahead as a flash in the pan.

Just what are these counter-intuitive tactics I'm talking about?  Here are a few key qualities of a leader that Christ demonstrated for us:

1. Follow God before you lead others.  This is the most-overlooked characteristic of a good leader these days.  Society puts emphasis on education, experience, and physical attributes, but the most important quality to have is a redeemed heart.  God opposes a rebellious heart.  He requires obedience from us, and from all the people we lead; why would He bless someone who is leading others astray? See Hebrews 11: 6.
2. Be humble.  "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall, " (Proverbs 16:18 NIV 2010).  Pride blinds us to good advice and urges us to challenge God's laws to excuse ourselves.  Those who are "incapable of error" will be laughed out of the limelight in the end, and afterward they will have God's correction as well.  There is no reproach, no secret to catch up with us later, when we freely admit the truth about ourselves--we are full of error and weakness, and others may be better at what we do.  See especially Luke 14: 7-11.
3. Put others ahead of yourself.  This is the lesson in humility taken to the next level.  It is not enough to say that others are better than us; we must model this by serving those people in the manner of a servant.  This means that we will never be at the head of the pack.  We might even be pushed to the very back!  No worries, though.  God praises those who obey Him, even if they are at the back of the pack, and He rewards those who hang in there with every good thing (see Psalm 37: 4-7).  The Lord of all washed His disciples' feet!
4. Be a patient teacher.  Jesus taught all the time--it seems that He hardly had a moment when He was not teaching.  There's one thing we should note, however.  Jesus was often teaching the same thing, over and over again, to the same people!  A good leader knows that progress only comes when followers learn what they should, or complete what they have been working on.  Sometimes progress can only be gained by excessive repetition.  It does no good to try to run ahead before the foundation has been laid (see Proverbs 25: 15).
5. Know the people who follow you.  This makes sense in terms of discipleship and good planning and delegation practices. Jesus knew the people who were with Him every day--their strengths and weaknesses, what they loved and what they hated, their family and their culture, their language and education levels, etc.  He addressed them individually, on their level, for maximum impact, and He never asked them to do something beyond their capacity.  Jesus called them to individually follow Him, not en masse. See John 21: 15-22.
6. Be steady in your purpose.  People respect those who hold steady to their integrity and their mission and carry it through, despite obstacles that frighten or dishearten their followers.  Though Jesus experienced persecution from the leaders in His day, He never flinched from doing what was right or what was needed.  By this, He emphasized the importance and value of His mission, without fine words or public scenes.  Can we be this determined? See Matthew 13: 13.
   
7. Model the behavior you want.  I've heard it said, never ask someone to do something you wouldn't do yourself.  Jesus did just that.  He modeled many virtues, like honesty, humility, and patience.  Greater than all of these things was His demonstration of love to the people around Him.  Though they all abandoned Him, He did not stop demonstrating the love He wanted from them, even on the cross--even after He rose from the dead!  See John 15: 12-14.

If you take these principles to heart, you may not be the most-praised leader of modern times, but wherever you are, you will be celebrated in Heaven--not just for your obedience, but also for the lives you affected in a positive way.  Do you think you can't do this in a secular world?  Of course you can.  Jesus did!  Do you think your efforts will go unnoticed?  Of course not!  God sees all that happens, and though people may scorn you, they notice as well.  Never think that the right thing does not draw attention to itself.

A few years ago I took a course on leadership, and for one assignment I got permission to read Jesus on Leadership by C. Gene Wilkes.  If you are interested in following Jesus' model for leadership, specifically servant leadership, I thoroughly recommend this book--and I'm getting nothing for this recommendation.

Until next time, this is my reminder to you to stay savvy, and lead in Jesus' footsteps!

Weekly Snippet: A Letter to the Churches

Keith Green wrote a song called "Asleep in the Light," which at times is reminiscent of the tone in the letters to the churches at the beginning of the book of Revelation.  I grew up listening to it, so whereas some people might hear it as a scathing rebuke, I have always taken it as a warning to guard against such behavior in myself.  If someone came up to you today, asking about Jesus or spiritual matters, how would you respond?  Would you be too busy to pay attention? Would you give generously of what you had, but forget to present the person with the real, spiritual bread that you have been given (John 6: 51)?

It could be that you are afraid to try to share your faith, for fear that it might jeopardize your position in your workplace, social group, or neighborhood.  If so, ask God to strengthen and embolden you to share your faith when the opportunity comes--and it will, but usually when you aren't looking for it!  Also, ask other Christians to pray for you against any supernatural attacks you might encounter when you take that step of faith.  These, too, will come, as Jesus warned, "Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Mark 13: 13 NIV 2010).  This is no small project to take on, but it is a worthy one, with eternal rewards.

Something to contemplate over the weekend.  Until next time, this is me reminding you to stay savvy and share your faith!

Weekly Snippet: Bible Memory Verses

Lately I have noticed that it has gone out of fashion to encourage children to memorize Bible passages for church every Sunday.  This used to be the norm; in fact, it was actively encouraged when I was small.  There were organized competitions for who could commit the most verses to memory over the course of a month, etc., and prizes were awarded. My sister actually won a handmade doll in one of these memory verse contests.

I miss this, and I can't help but think that children are really missing out on something special.  Although at the time it was mostly about winning prizes or candy, I can look back now and see how those memory verses have stayed with me for decades now.  Some days I try to give myself that kind of a challenge again.

Why is this not encouraged any more?  I'm afraid we are trying too hard to spare the children's feelings,  for fear that they are the kind who have a more difficult time with memorization, or who lack supportive parents at home.  Are we afraid that the children will come to associate the Bible with failure and disappointment?  This seems simple to fix: Reward everyone who does the minimum, help all of the kids with drills when they are with us on Sunday, and encourage some healthy competition to keep up interest.  This is a skill with more value than the ability to drive or the ability to write a good essay!  Even the minimum is a blessing.

Now, I confess that at times I cannot remember the scripture reference (ex. Joshua 1: 9), but I think it is most important that I remember the words.  I have likely committed thousands of verses to memory, and usually I know the book, if not the section (beginning, middle, or end), so I can find it when I need the reference.  Virtually every scripture I have referenced on this blog was one that I memorized for Sunday school at some point.  I just wish I could say it was every passage.

I realized what a valuable gift my Sunday school teachers had given me when, of all things, I was reading Uncle Tom's Cabin for a college class assignment a few years ago.  I'm in a rush today or I would find the exact passage in my copy and quote it here for you.  In the scene I am referencing, Uncle Tom has been beaten nearly to death by Simon Legree, the wicked slave owner, and though he cannot see the pages to read the words in his Bible, he remembers what he has read and finds comfort in them. 

Do you see why committing Bible verses to memory is important?  If and when we find ourselves in a bad situation, where a physical copy of the Bible is not available to us, or perhaps if we found ourselves in a country where it was no longer legal to own a Bible, we can carry it with us in our hearts and our minds.  There it would be safe.  No one could take the Bible away from us!   Then, in that dark hour, it would be there to bring us comfort.

Just a thought today.  Feel free to leave me a comment!

Weekly Trivia Files: The Nature of a Servant

The Bible instructs us to be "imitators of Christ" (Philippians 2), but today I feel God urging me to explain again what this really means.  It isn't a new concept for most Christians, but far too often we avoid any in-depth study of this topic.  What was Paul suggesting when he began to explain Jesus' model for our lives by pointing out that Jesus "t[ook] on the very nature of a servant"?

Respecting Authority

The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. -- Proverbs 15: 33 NIV
Earlier this week I explained what it means to "fear the Lord."  In essence, if we fear the Lord, we respect His authority and bow to His right to judge us and others.

Now, Jesus was and is God.  Even when He walked the earth, He had authority over all things, and therefore didn't have to obey anyone or submit to anyone's so-called authority over Him.  Still, to demonstrate for us what it really meant to respect authority, He chose not to exercise His rights.  God's plan to redeem mankind required that Christ submit Himself to the Jewish and Roman authorities to be murdered.  He didn't have to obey, but Jesus wanted God's ways and His plans to be exalted in everyone's eyes.  It wasn't about getting honor just for Himself on earth; He wanted God to be honored, and He wanted to honor humankind through His sacrifice.

In essence, by being humble, by humiliating Himself before others (because He could have prevented all the mockery He chose to endure), Jesus brought honor to Himself.  First, God honored Christ's humility by raising Him from the dead.  By this act, God brought all creation, throughout all time, to honor Him in a deeper way than they would have if Jesus had only sought the honor of mankind on earth, long ago.

In the same way, Jesus modeled for us the habit of bowing our heads to authority, because this brings us honor from those in authority over us.  It is in our fallen natures to seek honor from those that are beneath us, to make ourselves gods among men, but the greater honor is to be honored by those who don't have to do so.

Forgetting Ambition

Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all."  -- Mark 9: 35 NIV
 A servant, by nature, is stuck in a low social position, never expected to rise above this position to equality with the master.  Even in traditional fairy tales, when the servant climbed the social ladder, it was to a position higher than his or her original master.

As Paul pointed out in Philippians chapter 2, Jesus did not seek to be above God by doing this, nor did He even seek equality with God.  Jesus was content to be in the lowly position, servant to all, even God His Father.  He was content with the esteem that God gave Him, and accepted what He got from God as all that He needed or deserved.  Because He left this up to God, God gave Christ great honor, even seating Him on the throne above all creation and subjugating Christ's enemies under Him (Psalm 110).

In the same way, we should not seek to gain honor or a higher position for ourselves, but rather should view ourselves the way God sees us.  From God's perspective, we are nothing more than clay, animated by His breath.  From the greatest to the least of us, there is no quality or achievement that can raise us above this position.  Only God can do that, by bestowing upon us His special attention, calling us "friend" and sending His son to rescue us.  When we honor God with our whole hearts, He honors us with His redeeming love.

Loving at All Times

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. -- Proverbs 17: 17 NIV
When we decide not to love others, or to love them less than another, we are in essence looking down on them and judging that they are less worthy of love than we are.  To love someone is to raise him or her to a position in our hearts that is higher than ourselves--to honor him or her above our own worth.  Real love (not lust or fan club-gathering) is by nature a servant's attitude, that is, a position in life that does not change according to the situation.

Paul explained this quality in Christ when he wrote, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5: 8 NIV).  Not only did Christ demonstrate an attitude of servanthood to God His Father, but also He demonstrated an attitude of servanthood toward us, by treating us as friends who He loved, even when we did not show Him love.  To love someone unlikeable is to honor that person above our own feelings.

Wrapping it up: The Charge of a Servant

The principle purpose of a servant is to meet the needs of the master, and to bring honor to Him and all His household.  A servant's job is never about him, and a servant who is doing his job is not thinking about himself.  So when Jesus became a servant, He put behind Himself all of His needs and desires and sought only to fulfill those of His master, that is, God the Father, and those who He raised to a place of honor, that is, the whole human race (whether they choose to honor Him or not).

In the same way, those who obey God and imitate Christ are not thinking about themselves, but rather are always thinking about the needs of their Master and His household and accepting His correction and direction.  In every word and deed, in every facet of our lives, we are to put others above ourselves, including God our Lord, and leave Him the job of giving us honor.  Can we do that?  By His grace, with His help and His example, we can.

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5: 2-4 NIV)

How to Read the Bible for the First Time, Part 3

There are many ways to read the Bible, including a whole library of books out there. I can't claim to be the best person to give advice, as I've said before. My main reason for tackling the subject is my conviction that, of all the advice I can offer Christians for becoming "savvy sheep" in a predatory world, reading the Bible, well and often, is the most crucial. If you don't know your Bible, you might as well put a "Trick Me/Trip Me" sign on your back when you get up in the morning.

I got another anonymous comment on my last post in this series. This time, I know who left it, but since this individual chose to post anonymously, I'll leave it at that.

Anyway, "anonymous" pointed out some gaps in my teaching that I should have noticed, but hadn't :(. Mainly, that I had assumed that someone reading the Bible for the first time would check the index at the front of the Bible if he/she couldn't find the book I was recommending. However, some Bibles might not have a table of the books at the front. If it doesn't, go here and print out the list for reference, since these are listed in order and grouped into Old and New Testaments.

Also, I had been wondering how I was going to link the Old Testament to the New Testament. The simplest way, as pointed out in the comment, is to suggest that every time the New Testament says, "this was in fulfillment of prophecy," or the like, that new readers should stop there and go back to the referenced Old Testament passage (which should be listed in a footnote).

One thing the comment didn't mention is a basic Bible skill I ought to cover--that is, how to read a scripture reference. When you read something like,

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3: 16 NIV).

the part in the parenthesis should be read as "The book of John (New Testament Gospels), Chapter three (that big number three separating the text), verse sixteen (the tiny number sixteen in the text of chapter three), in the New International Version translation." For detractors out there who are rolling their eyes about this paragraph, just remember that there was a first time for learning every skill.

I apologize for throwing people in the pool without even giving them life vests! I needed the teacherly advice, "anonymous." Thanks!

Getting a Sense of History

Okay, so the next step is to really get a grounding in the history contained in Scripture. Since I'm assuming complete unfamiliarity with the Bible, I think you might wonder right about now how the promise of salvation in a Jewish religious book came to be offered to non-Jewish people. If you want to know that, you'll have to get busy reading a whole bunch of books.

The comment suggested reading the book of Acts next, and I think that is a good idea. In the book of Acts, we pick up right where the Gospels left off. In those pages, we read how Peter filled the role Jesus had prophesied, that "On this rock I will build my church," how the group of believers grew beyond the few followers of Christ and spread outside Jerusalem, how they discovered that Jesus wasn't just for Jewish people, and even how they first came to be called "Christians." We also are introduced to the teacher who carried the new Christian movement forward into the doctrine and principles that shape it, even today: the Apostle Paul.

After that, the comment suggested the book of Hebrews, but I'm going to amend that and say that Hebrews ought to be read alongside the Old Testament books of Genesis and Exodus. It's like a companion book, really, generalized and explaining concepts first introduced there, relating the themes in various historical figures' lives to the more general themes of God's plan of salvation for all peoples.

What You Should Know at This Point

Besides learning a lot of church and world history, you should know at this point about the origins of the basic doctrines you hear from pulpits. The basic teachings of the modern church weren't made up recently, by nineteenth-century men in starched shirt collars or twentieth-century men in silk ties, as so many modern teachers would have you believe. When something has been taught so many times that people are getting bored with it or have begun to call it cliche, it is always good to go back to the beginning and remember why the old teaching is still good and powerful.

One other thing I have to interject, since I've been talking about Jewish versus non-Jewish content in this post, is that antisemitism is shameful in a Christian context. For one very obvious thing, Jesus was Jewish! For another, through countless centuries, the Jewish people have recorded everything that Christians can now base their faith upon. They were at times the only people on the face of the earth who actually knew and believed in God and made any attempt at honoring Him. Gentile Christians shouldn't be hateful, they should be grateful! Yet, all too often, this is not the case, and I don't believe that reflects a loving, Christlike attitude for our fellow man.

Can't Teach Me Nothin'

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. --1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

What was Paul telling Timothy when he wrote that? Punish older members of your church if they don't give you proper respect because you are younger than them? Or, perhaps, that young persons in leadership shouldn't take any criticism from older congregants?

How are we to interpret the "don't let" part of that verse? I've heard this verse used to criticize church elders who disapproved of the younger generation's "new way of doing things." I've also heard it used to encourage young people to lead when they were neither equipped nor qualified for the positions they were being encouraged to seek. However, this verse isn't saying either thing.

The main point of the verse was not to address the "problem" older people who were looking down at their young pastor, Timothy. It's really about Timothy's worthiness for their respect, and what he could change about his own behavior that would gain their respect. If Timothy wanted respect from the elders in his church, he had to change himself, not react against them. Youth, in an older person's mind, translates to "wild oats," erratic and often disobedient behavior, even rejection of authority. This is certainly not godly behavior, and no one should be given authority or respect when he or she has no respect for God's standards.

No, if any young person wants to lead, he or she has to act mature, not like a "youth." Young leaders should model the godly behavior they claim to be leading others to have, being exemplary role models "in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." Otherwise, these young leaders are the worst kind of hypocrites, and deserve to be ignored or replaced by worthier leaders.

Another important thing to glean out of this verse is the disassociation of "mature" and "immature" behavior with the actual age of the person. Timothy was instructed to act older than his physical age, to gain the approval of his elders. Meanwhile, there may have been older people who were acting younger than their age, dismissing genuine, God-given authority with the petulance of stereotypical teenagers, and using Timothy's youthful appearance as a justification for their deeper spiritual rebellion.

The one thing we can certainly see is that God's standards of behavior apply uniformly to both groups, both young and old. Straying from God's moral standards makes a person unworthy of respect, no matter his or her age, five or ninety-five. All Christians, in order to gain respect, must act mature, modeling righteous behavior in every aspect of their lives.

How do we go about measuring maturity, if it has nothing to do with physical age?

Mature, as in the Bible, Not as in Video Games

• In Speech--Do prospective leaders recognize bad speech habits in their own lives and humbly seek to correct these habits? This includes gossip and dirty jokes and cursing.
• In Life--Do prospective leaders live their everyday lives for God, making life and career choices to please God and to do His work, or do they go through life without considering other people or even consulting God about their decisions? Is it clear that they know Whom they are working for, and what God's purpose is for their lives? (Philippians 1: 20-26)
• In Love--Do prospective leaders love others, and not just themselves and their friends? It is easy to love friends, but it is hard, without God in our lives, to love people who hate us or who cause us pain or discomfort. A Christian leader should be capable of godly love, or he or she is not actually a Christian ( 1 John 4:20).
• In Faith--A leader without faith may know an awful lot about the Bible and even be able to recite passages, but without faith, all that knowledge is meaningless to him, and to those whom he teaches. Knowing all about God is not equal to knowing Him (Hebrews 4:2). Without faith, a leader has no understanding of what Christianity really means, so how could he or she teach it to others?
• In Purity--This goes farther than just avoiding the many kinds of sexual immorality in this world. A prospective leader should not be engaging in any sort of behavior that is offensive to God or that casts shadows on his/her credibility. This ranges from covering for and sheltering murderers, to consulting with witches and fortune tellers, to having a reputation for cheating and lying. Just as the priests in the old testament were not allowed to enter the temple if they were impure, Christian leaders of any age should not attempt to take leadership if they are blemished by sinful behavior (see Psalm 24: 3-5).

Can't Teach Me Nothin'

From God's perspective, maturity is not defined by age or life experience, but rather a willingness to obey and humble ourselves to His leadership. For the longest time, people have mistakenly believed that experience or even extensive education brings wisdom and leadership potential, but only humility and obedience to God really brings about the proper maturity. In this way, it is possible for a child who reads his Bible and tries to do what it says to be a more qualified leader than the adults who teach his Sunday school class.

If a child wishes to take up this leadership role, he has only to set an example in moral behavior that shames even the adults around him--not to advance himself, but rather to advance Christ's work.

We should never have the "can't teach me nothin'" attitude that I've been picking up from people in the church lately. More specifically, this includes adults who feel that they can learn nothing from younger Christians, because they've already "been there, done that," and young people who dismiss everything older people say because it seems too outdated or old-fashioned. What has been true is still true, or it never was; what has been righteous is still righteous, or it never has been. If what is being taught is in God's Word, it's validity is not in any way affected by the age and experience of the one sharing it. Physical age means nothing if we are spiritual babies. If we haven't learned it yet, we shouldn't shoot the messenger.

The standard by which Timothy was to measure his life was a universal standard, which applies with impunity to all people in the Christian community. We are all leaders in this world, setting forth the moral standard of Christ. If all the world sees is a bunch of immature people, behaving like uncontrolled "youth," they have every right to despise us--and far too often, they do. We claim that we have something better in our walks with Christ; now it's time to prove it. If we want the respect of the world, we have to earn it, not demand it or take offense when we don't receive it.

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. --1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

Orphans Are "In" and Other Trendsetting Movements

I've been reading the Lemony Snicket series, called "A Series of Unfortunate Events." If you're familiar with it, you know that the story is about three kids-- Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire--and their efforts to find a guardian after their parents are killed in a fire. This is complicated by the evil Count Olaf, who wants to steal their family fortune. In their sixth home (book six), which I just started reading, the kids go to live with the trend-savvy Esme and Jerome Squalor. If you've read it, you already know that the reason why the Squalors did not adopt the children before was that, until recently, "orphans were 'out.'" In fact, when something goes "out," as the children learn in the early chapters, the Squalors drop it like a hot potato, which makes the Baudelaires wonder how long they will last.

Okay, so what does this have to do with this blog?

The setup for this book got me thinking about trends: fashion, decorating, reality-TV, fitness and dieting, "green" efforts, politics, et cetera.... It seems that culture is driven constantly from one extreme to the next by different trends. If we're not careful, it can pull us in and toss us around like laundry in the washing machine.

One basic rule of trends is "what goes around, comes around." We're always seeing the same fashions again, for instance. Pack rat frugality really pays off, if you're willing to keep a closet full of old clothes long enough. Solomon was right when he wrote, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV).

Frankly, I'm tired of trends and trend-following. It wastes my time and money, and leaves me stressed-out or insecure about myself. Keeping up with the latest trends is exhausting!

The Rudderless Ship

The one thing that bothers me even more is when I see the church as a whole chasing after various cultural trends. To make myself perfectly clear, I get angry hearing the elements of postmodernism, moral relativism, self-affirmation humanism, psychobabble, and the like in church. These things aren't from God! They can only confuse people and destroy their faith. The Apostle Paul wrote,

It was he [God] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4: 11-15 NIV)

I have been told that the image of people being "tossed back an forth by the waves" is that of a rudderless ship. The rudder is for steering, and is especially useful during a powerful storm. The image paints a clear picture of one way of life. Without knowledge of the truths of God, we cannot become strong or mature, and our lives spin helplessly out of control.

Note the difference between the two kinds of doctrine and the two kinds of teachers Paul describes. The first teachers are God-appointed, and their teaching gets its authority and fulfillment from God and in the very nature of God. It trains and equips its hearers and leads them into "maturity," "unity in faith," "works of service," and ultimately to attaining everything that God wanted them to have, "the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

In contrast, these teachings of cunning and crafty men are compared to "waves" and "wind." They are useless and impotent. They can't steer anyone's life or help in any way, because they are not unified, and they have no future purpose in mind. They can't prepare anyone for a future purpose. Rather than strengthening the "boat," they are merely threatening to tear it apart.

I hate human trends in church because I can see how they break the church apart and steal away its direction and purpose. Ultimately, they rob everyone of "the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" and wreck their lives on a darker shore. It is Christ, not man, who should be behind our doctrine, giving it authority. Any other offering is irresponsible, at the least, or "deceitful scheming" at the worst.

I Didn't Forget...Back to "Orphans Are 'in'"

Lemony Snicket's Baudelaire children worried about the day when "orphans go 'out.'" I'm happy to say that with God, they are always "in."

Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. (Isaiah 49: 15-17 NIV).

Follow God! He knows where He's taking you (even if it's not popular), He cares deeply for you (even when no one else remembers!), and He wants to see His purpose fulfilled in your life (to the full measure of blessing!). Don't be deceived--don't choose the shipwreck!

The High Road is Love and Compassion

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. (2 Timothy 2: 22-26 NIV)

Here is a passage that might get people thinking--and arguing--these days. What exactly is Paul saying here? What should modern Christians get out of this passage?

First, some background. If you've read first and second Timothy, you know that Timothy was a young man (I don't know how young) and that when Paul left him in the leadership of a church, it sparked some controversy in the congregation. The two letters from Paul to Timothy that have been preserved are basically instruction manuals for how a young person can overcome the disapproval of others and have a successful ministry for Christ. This particular passage summarizes some of Paul's main pieces of advice.

So, let's break the passage down. I see several pieces of advice, but there are three main points in the passage: (1) Show maturity by pursuing virtue instead of wicked or childish things which bring reproach on you, (2) show maturity and virtue by distancing yourself from arguments that call on you to take sides and hurt your brothers and sisters, and (3) show maturity and concern for others by gently reasoning with your enemies, instead of telling them off or talking down to them.

To boil that down further, Paul was instructing Timothy to strengthen his position by denying his opponents any sort of a weakness to latch onto and turn to their advantage. Meanwhile, Timothy was supposed to care enough about others to take the time to help them in their own relationships with God--despite how difficult they could be sometimes. As unflattering as it was, Paul was telling Timothy that he was supposed to be the unwavering example of a caring adult, even when his fellow church members were being children.

If there is one major difference between children and adults, it is that children are weaker than adults. They are not yet physically strong, and they are more easily tricked and overpowered in mind-games, as well, because they are both naive and ignorant of many things. They present an almost endless array of weaknesses and hand-holds to anyone trying to harm them. Because of this, it is an adult's responsibility to defend children and teach them how to defend themselves, but it is absolutely unacceptable (and positively disastrous) for an adult to act like a child.

That's a challenge for the best of us. In fact, I can honestly say that I haven't been able to follow it consistently. I know I'm in the danger zone, about to act more like a child than a mature adult, when my temper starts boiling and I hear myself beginning sentences with phrases like "She had no right," or "How dare he think he can get away with." In those moments of defensiveness and resentment, I am leaving myself open to attack. It's almost as if I get tunnel vision, and I can only see the petty disagreement in front of me, instead of the real players and the real issues.

This is precisely what Paul was trying to warn Timothy about. Too often, the cares and disputes of this world are so powerful that they distract us from the big picture. The big picture is that God is good and cares for our very souls, but Satan is bad and wants to draw us into sin and destruction apart from God. If we allow ourselves to get caught up in any dispute without remembering this, we can be led into resenting others instead of helping them defend themselves, and we can forget to raise our own shields against the enemy. Now is not the time to act like a petty, naive child! If we aren't careful, we will allow the Devil to use us to harm others, and throw us away, afterward.

What is the solution to dealing with people who just want to fight? Well, the adult solution that Paul prescribes is one of calm, loving, peaceful instruction. We should first conform our lifestyles to be virtuous, not only because that keeps us above blame, but also so that we are secure in the rightness of our judgment in the situation. What do I mean by that? Well, if we are familiar with God's requirements for our own lives, we are better able to judge whether we are being unreasonable with our requirements of others. We are in the wrong if we are asking more of others than we are asking of ourselves.

Next, we should decide whether the issue is worth fighting over. If it isn't, we shouldn't respond to others' attempts to bait us and lure us into a fight. Maybe, by our example, they will see that it's not worth fighting over, and change their behavior. What Paul meant by being "the Lord's servant" is that we should take Jesus' example in our behavior, letting Him lead us while leading others. This kind of leadership is not backed by force, but by the power of gentleness and kindness. It's not the way the world disciplines and leads, but it is God's way. "Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone" (Proverbs 25: 15 NIV).

The last step is understanding the responsibility of being the mature Christian. We are responsible for how we treat those who want to engage in petty disputes with us, and our actions in such situations have eternal consequences. If we are mean in the way we deal with the dispute, we aren't teaching them anything that could help them escape Satan. We very well may be leaving them vulnerable to ultimate destruction in their sin. With the proper perspective, we can easily see that we should have hearts overflowing with love and compassion for those who want to dispute with us--not anger, impatience, or any other childish and irresponsible emotion.
I'll leave you with another quote from the same letter to Timothy as the one I've been discussing. I'm anxious to hear your thoughts on this matter.

Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. (2 Timothy 2: 14-16 NIV)

Don't Conform to the Pattern of the World

The most-visited article on Savvy Sheep so far has been God's Kids Don't Groupthink. At the time I wrote it, I wouldn't have ever guessed how popular that topic would be with church leaders today. So, how can knowledge about Groupthink help the church, and can such knowledge hinder it?

What is Groupthink?

First I'll brush you up on what Groupthink is. It was a term coined by William H. Whyte in 1952 in a Fortune article, but popularized by Irvin Janis in later sociological research. Similar to childhood peer pressure, it's a type of group mentality that occurs among groups of people that share the same values and background. A group that is guilty of Groupthink puts strong emphasis on group cohesion and acceptance rather than creative problem-solving or "thinking outside the box." This may occur out of the desire to be thought of as "one of the group" or "easygoing," or out of intellectual laziness (i.e. "Their idea saves me the trouble of coming up with one myself"). Outside ideas are discarded, and dissenters are often singled out and criticized for failure to go along with the group. The silence of dissenters further supports the false idea that the group is unanimous in its decision. In short, Groupthink can lead a group of highly-educated, intelligent people into illogical decision-making and dangerous choices.

The Underlying Messages of Groupthink Research

I think Groupthink is a valid label for a real issue, but I have a problem with the underlying postmodern humanistic ideology involved in this theory.

To overcome Groupthink, researchers say we need a "devil's advocate" in the group, and all of his dissenting suggestions need to be considered when formulating a plan or decision. This isn't a bad idea, but we are assuming that with a large enough variety of opinions on an issue, we can arrive at the truth. That, to me, is too much of an assumption.

As a Christian, I believe that all human beings are fallible. I also have to agree with part of the Postmodern teaching (with many reservations) that opinions are often based on internal reference points (personal experience and perspective), but not external reference points (facts, authorities, ethics, and universal truth), and are therefore not true for everyone. So at what point does a multitude of opinions become truth for the masses? How can I depend on even a hundred different people in a group to arrive at the correct decision? Isn't it possible that all of them could be wrong?

So, the cure for Groupthink, if we are to follow the suggestions we have heard, is to make people into gods and "create a truth" for every situation. Well, I'm not buying that.

I will pause here to point out that the Bible is not specific on many issues, although some Christians have made them into central points of spiritual contention. The Bible doesn't always tell us what to do in a specific situation, but it does offer guiding principles for our lives. We can make group decisions that work to synthesize multiple opinions, but we should do this within the framework of morality that the Bible provides us. We are not "little gods" and our opinions should never supersede Biblical standards of behavior. An altered, Christ-centered application of Groupthink research in the church would seek out real universal truth, as embodied by the nature of Christ and the teaching in the Bible, and shape group decisions within this Biblical truth.

The Bible does say, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed" (Proverbs 15: 22 NIV); however, it also says, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails" (Proverbs 19:21 NIV), and "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain" (Psalm 127: 1 NIV). We must be careful that God is always a central part of the plans we make in a group.

I guess what I mean to say is that as long as we are aware of the underlying philosophies behind this theory, and are careful not to allow them to infiltrate our thinking, we can use these sociological group studies to benefit the church.

Critics of the Church

In the past, the visible church (as characterized by buildings and catechisms) has acted under the influence of Groupthink, and decided that such things as slavery, antisemitism, and even the crusades were justifiable for whatever reason. Opinions ruled and became doctrinal truth. This is Groupthink without the moral guidance of Scripture. As a reasonable and logical consequence, the visible church has drawn criticism from Groupthink researchers and media commentators, who have supposed that religion is Groupthink.

If we allow the consensus opinion in the church to supersede the guidance of Scripture, perhaps we deserve what we get.

If churches want to overcome Groupthink, I suggest that the first thing they should focus on is how to make sure everyone is knowledgeable about what the Scripture actually says--both about the topic and about the general moral issues connected to the topic. Next, a variety of opinions and perspectives, from multiple generations, should be heard, but anything that contradicts a principle of God's Word should be quickly thrown out. After that, the leaders, followed by the congregation, should examine themselves and submit their opinions to the rule of scripture.

That is how it should be, but the visible church is ruled by fallible man. It fails at times to obey God, and draws ridicule to Christianity when it does. It's the job of the real Church (those individuals who believe in Christ and allow Him to direct their steps) to overcome the shortcomings of the visible church with righteous behavior.

The Solution

You see, true Christianity carried out to its fullest measure is not Groupthink at all. It rejects conformity of the mind and thinking, which is dominated by majority rule or peer pressure. God made us as unique individuals with unique perspectives, and never intended for us to give up our individuality for the acceptance of a group.The Bible says,

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—-his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12: 2 NIV)

So let's break this down. (1) If we disobey God, we are conforming to the rebellious mindset of the unbelieving world. (2)Worse still, conformity with the world prevents us from knowing God's plan for our lives. (3)If God is not part of the plan, Scripture promises us that the plan will fail. (4) So to sum it up, without God's instruction (the "renewing of the mind"), we can only succumb to Groupthink.

Therefore, the Bible is the best solution I have for the problem of Groupthink, and the church is in the best position to carry out this solution.

God's Kids Don't Groupthink

I heard about a term in one of my senior classes in college--Groupthink. Groupthink is a sort of abstract concept that has its roots in secular sociology and psychology, but I thought it might be good to talk about it here.

"Groupthink" happens when everyone in a group has pretty much the same background, outlook on life, etc. In such situations, they all tend to think alike and are afraid to say anything that might make them unpopular with, or different from, the group. In this situation, creativity and productivity drop. Disasters happen because no one was brave enough to warn the others about potential problems.

Leadership studies suggest that if you get a variety of people, all with different backgrounds and perspectives, who are not afraid to offer a different opinion, even if it disrupts the peace in the group, you can overcome Groupthink and have a more creative and productive workplace.

Something made me think about all of that again, the other day. Do churches have problems with Groupthink? Yes, I think sometimes they do. Unfortunately, sometimes they do the wrong thing to overcome it.

Recently, I've heard of a campaign to overthrow anything rated as old or worn-out. In churches, that may mean hushing up or purging old and accepted traditions, and replacing them with new ones.

One problem, though. Doesn't that just mean replacing one peer group with another, and thus one kind of Groupthink with another?

The Bible's Answer for Groupthink

Okay, so non-religious people have studied groups and have noticed that diversity causes a more productive and original-thinking group. If we have everything in common, we are afraid to venture out or challenge the consensus, for fear of becoming a pariah. Add someone to the group who's totally different from us, and is willing to say so, and he or she can share new information--can teach us.

So maybe out with the old and in with the new is not such a good idea. The old has withstood many challenges--that's why it's old. Why don't we just mix the two? In essence, I mean letting older people use their experience to challenge the consensus of the young, and letting younger people suggest new perspectives that challenge the consensus of the old.

This is a revolutionary idea, apparently. American culture dictates that classrooms and friendships be segregated by age group, and now even Sunday school classrooms have followed suit. Still, is this what the Bible tells us to do?

The Apostle Paul wrote about instruction and organization in the early church. He didn't let the spiritually immature teach the spiritually immature. He also specifically told people who were older (chronologically) to lead, because their more advanced lives offered more examples that others could learn from.

Older women were to teach younger women how to behave in a way that was both moral and acceptable to the surrounding culture (Titus 2: 3-5); older, married men with families were supposed to be the spiritual leaders for the whole church (1 Timothy 3: 1-5). New converts could not lead, because they lacked the knowledge of the scriptures that told them to respect their elders, and they became conceited with their new power (1 Timothy 5: 1,2; 3:6). So far, however, that only covers older people teaching younger ones. Does it work both ways?

There were cases when younger people were put in charge of older ones--case in point, Timothy, who became a pastor over a congregation that included some elders who despised him because he was younger (1 Timothy 4:12). Older people, then, can learn from younger people, provided that these younger people have enough spiritual background that they are qualified to teach. See 1 Timothy 3: 1-5 again if you need specifics on a church leader's qualifications.

Jesus Himself also said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it" (Mark 10: 15). In other words, even those with mature faith can learn about genuine faith from children.

When You don't Take the Bible's Example Seriously

Problems result when kids (those lacking spiritual maturity) only minister to kids. King Rehoboam is an excellent case in point.

His father was the wisest man who ever lived, although even King Solomon didn't take his father's (David's) example, and ended up following after other gods.

His son, Rehoboam, also didn't learn from his elders. When his kingdom complained to him about his merciless labor requirements, he went to his experienced elders, his father's advisers, and asked for advice.
They told him to be compassionate and give his subjects a kind answer, so they would love him (1 Kings 12: 6,7). Instead, he went to his peers who had grown up with him and shared his background (uh-oh, Groupthink!) and took their advice (ignore his subjects' concerns and speak harshly to them), which resulted in civil war (1 Kings 12: 8-19).

Solving It

The lesson we can learn, as Savvy Sheep, is that we should never dismiss someone or something (such as a church elder or a church tradition) just because we don't like what it has to say about us. Rehoboam wanted to look tough, like all the surrounding kings. He also wanted the approval of his friends. Perhaps he rejected the elder's advice because he didn't like what it revealed about his own character (petty and mean, not kind at all), or perhaps he just thought it was too conventional. Whatever his reasoning, he got disaster.

So, how can the church overcome Groupthink? We can start with the good foundation of faith and holiness that our elders have laid for us, and to that we can add the knowledge and perspective of our own experience. Disaster comes when we completely throw out the old and do our own thing. How could Rehoboam, with his unique and up-to-date knowledge of politics, have used the situation to unite his people and built up a favorable reputation for his kingdom? How can we use the old teachings and the experiences of our elders to address the problems this generation is facing?

Come on, folks. Let's all put our heads together and come up with creative ideas for our churches that capitalizes on diversity. It works better that way.