The Joy of Glory

Discovering endless joy in the boundless glory of God…

Category: Letters to my Seminarian Self

August 20, 2013

Letter #15: Don’t Debate…Dialogue

Dear Jonathan,

I understand your frustrations with Bradley. From the way you described the conversation I believe I would have been frustrated too. Sometimes there is a point that just seems so obvious to you and you want for others to see it as well, but they seem blind or close-minded.

For what it’s worth…I agree with what you were saying. However, I do think you are missing the central issue of your conversation, namely, that it wasn’t a conversation. We both know that you were in debate mode, trying to prove your point and win the argument…you were not listening at all to what Bradley had to say.

Now, debate is not always a bad thing, but I wasted so much of my time in seminary arguing with others in such a way that only led to frustration and griping…not to fruitful growth. Jonathan, I would encourage you…

debateDon’t debate…dialogue.

You are surrounded by so many people who think differently than you…take advantage of that! When talking through issues such as baptism, the Lord’s supper, ecclesiology, justification, homosexuality, creation care…or even the “big” one…Calvinism and Arminianism, honestly listen to people with the intention of learning from them!

I’m not telling you to change or let go of your convictions, but to change your conversational restrictions. Be open to discussing things. This will stretch you and bring true growth.

I was so blessed, in the latter portion of my seminary career, to deepen my convictions while also widening my appreciation for people who don’t share them. I wish that had been my approach to conversations from the beginning.

When you enter into dialogue, state your thoughts clearly and concisely…then listen, take in what is being said, and don’t formulate your rebuttal while they’re talking. Wait until they finish, process what they said, and then respond in love. In this way, you not only set the tone for the conversation, but will actually get to a deeper place as your inviting disposition will likely lead the other person to open up and say things they might have otherwise held back.

Extend grace to your interlocutors and you might be surprised what gracious things the Lord will teach you through them. These are just some of the great gifts you receive when you…

Don’t debate…dialogue.

Grace and Peace,

J

*To know/understand the premise behind these letters please click here.

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August 13, 2013

Letter #14: Evangelism is not an Elective

Dear Jonathan,

I hope you are finding my letters encouraging and that they are not simply sounding like parental lectures. That is not my goal. I just want to share with you things I wish had been shared with me during my seminary journey.

You are just over the halfway point in this process, and I honestly believe you are growing in many great ways. I do think you are at a great point to pause and reassess why you are doing what you’re doing. Why are you even going to seminary?

Do you remember our early exchanges where we talked about the purpose of seminary? Instead of rehashing all those things, I think I’ll try to restate it all very simply…

You are going to seminary in order that you may better know God and make him known.

I think you are accomplishing the first half of that sentence. In all our exchanges, I can sense your excitement as your relationship with God deepens and widens. However, truly knowing God should always lead to us making him known! So…I hope you understand something that I completely missed during my seminarian years…

EvangelismEvangelism is not an elective!

It is crazy to think that you could actually spend three to four years of your life dedicated to theological studies, but never share anything you’re learning. How could one spend so much time soaking in the riches of who God is and never tell anyone?

I nearly did just that, and I do not want you to fall into the same pit as I did. The gospel by definition is news, and news it meant to be announced…shared! As you come to know God through Christ more and more, your heart should be aching to make him known…to declare the gospel!

Jonathan, it is so important that you find ways to interact with people who do not know Jesus. Make friends who are unbelievers. I’m not asking you to treat people like projects…looking at them as mere potential converts that will give you more stripes on your Christian black belt. No. I’m simply asking you to love people who do not know the love of Christ.

In doing this, sharing your faith will happen more organically, for we naturally talk about which we are passionate. You are passionate about Christ…make him known! Don’t wait for seminary to require this of you or offer a class on it…

Evangelism is not an elective…it is a directive from Jesus!

Grace and Peace,

J

*To know/understand the premise behind these letters please click here.

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August 6, 2013

Letter #13: Exegesis ≠ An Exit for Jesus

Dear Jonathan,

So you’ve finally made it far enough along in your language studies that you are getting to do some exegesis! I’ll be honest…the third and fourth semesters of Greek were among my favorite seminary courses. I loved digging into all the nuances of the original text and seeing the grammatical connections that really made the meaning leap right off the page!

Yet, I did notice that my dedication to exegesis began to cause a problem that you might encounter as well. I began to allow my obsession with Greek grammar to invade my teaching within the church more and more…to the point that the sharing of information became my end goal.

TBS-Koine-Greek-New-Testament-004My exegesis actually became an exit for Jesus.

Now before you get all up in arms and start defending your beloved language studies…hear me out. What I mean is this…I became so overly focused on exegesis that my teaching turned into technical lectures aimed primarily at educating my people.

I was filling heads with all sorts of knowledge, but I was not calling hearts toward a “knowing.”

The primary purpose of preaching is not education (though important), but encounter! We long for the Spirit to work through the Word and for people to encounter, see Jesus in all his glory and be drawn to him! We don’t want people to just walk out of a service knowing more about Jesus…we want them to know Jesus more!

The difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus is rather simple. The former involves the head only, while the latter involves the head and heart. Knowing about Jesus is the gaining of mere facts. Knowing Jesus means my heart is stirred with a  desire for him, a love for him, trust in him.

The aim of preaching is for people to come know Jesus more and more so that they may be equipped to make him known!

Now, does this lessen the importance of exegesis? May it never be! On the contrary it increases the importance of it! I need to be pointing people as accurately as I can to the one true God through Jesus. To do this, I must carefully study the meaning of his Word. But, the end goal of my study is not to simply transfer that meaning to my hearers, but for that meaning to transform my hearers.

My exegesis should not serve as an exit for Jesus, but as an escort to him!

I’m not telling you to never talk about Greek grammar from the pulpit or never to share technical information. What I am saying is always make sure that information is not your end goal!  Your end goal is that everything you share stir up people’s hearts to want to know Jesus!

Jonathan, be a good exegete! We desperately need good exegetes teaching in our churches! But, do not ultimately be an exegete, but a worshipper! Worship the God you see and come to know as you study the text and when you teach the text…help others toward worship as well.

Don’t let your exegesis serve as an exit for Jesus, but as an escort to him!

Grace and Peace,

J

*To know/understand the premise behind these letters please click here.

 

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