The Intentional Pursuit of Holiness

In his helpful book, The Great Omission, Dallas Willard argues, “It is a simple fact that nowadays the task of becoming Christ-like is rarely taken as a serious objective to be thoughtfully planned for, and the reality of our embodied personality dealt with accordingly. I have inquired before many church and parachurch groups regarding their plan for putting to death or mortifying ‘whatever belongs to your earthly nature’ or flesh (see, for example, Colossians 3:5). I have never once had a positive response to this question. Indeed, mortifying or putting things to death doesn’t seem to be the kind of thing today’s Christians would be caught doing. Yet there it stands, at the center of the New Testament teachings” (Willard, 84).

Does this strike anyone else as odd? I realize I may still be a bit naive, but I was under the impression that devoted followers of Jesus should actually make it their goal to be more like Jesus. Call me crazy, I know, but what are we to do about this spiritual dilemma? I’m glad you asked because I just happen to have a few suggestions. As is usually the case, these suggestions are not original to me. Most profound things that proceed from my mouth (or my computer keyboard) are things I have read from people far more scholarly than I. However, I feel compelled to pass along these nuggets of wisdom as I discover them with the hope they may assist someone else as they have assisted me.

I am currently leading a small group of believers through a process by which they will understand (and prayerfully implement) a helpful accountability resource called a “Life Transformation Group.” Let me explain. “A Life Transformation Group (LTG) is a simple way to release the most essential elements of a vital spiritual walk to people who need Jesus to change their lives from the inside out. It is a grassroots tool for growth which encourages and supports people to follow Christ by fueling internal motivation rather than applying external pressures and ploys. This tool empowers the common Christian to accomplish the uncommon work of reproducing spiritual disciples who can in turn reproduce others” (For more information on LTG’s and other helpful resources, visit www.CMAResources.org).

The most interesting thing happened during our last meeting. We were discussing the “Character Conversation Questions,” which comprise the accountability portion of how each group is designed to function. As we discussed these five questions, we realized each of these questions also serve another purpose in the life of the believer. I asked the members of the group to summarize a theme they noticed in the five questions we had just considered. The first answer given was one simple word: intentional. We had just uncovered the two-way street of the accountability structure found in these groups. Not only do these questions allow us to reflect on the past week to see how God has worked in our lives, they also provide a framework through which we can distill our purposes for the coming week as we strive to follow Jesus.

Consider these five questions:

1. In what ways have you been a testimony this week to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and actions?
2. How have you experienced God in your life this week?
3. How are you responding to His promptings?
4. Do you have a need to confess any sin?
5. How did you do with your Scripture reading last week?

As you probably have noticed, the questions seem reflective at first glance. However, one can also see clearly how each question could be understood as a goal for which to strive. Imagine if we rewrote the list in the imperative rather than the interrogative.

Consider these five commands:

1. Actively look for ways this week to testify to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and actions.
2. Be sensitive to the presence of God in your life this week.
3. Be prepared to respond obediently to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
4. Be alert! Be on your guard against temptations to sin against God.
5. Intentionally schedule time for Scripture reading every day.

Isn’t this interesting? We can now use these accountability questions as a guide to assist us in our daily pursuit of godly living. These questions can serve as daily reminders to maintain Christ-centered priorities as we strive to follow Jesus. What a tremendous resource for the Christian life! I am so thankful to Neil Cole and the folks at Church Multiplication Associates for their helpful resources. But I am supremely thankful to my great God and Savior Jesus Christ who continually guides and directs me in His path for His glory and for my good.

Growing as Christ’s disciple isn’t easy, but it’s possible in the community of God’s people. Be intentional. Submit to the Lord’s leadership. Be amazed at the results.

Mike. Out.

Do The Right Thing (1 Peter 3:13-4:19)

Seasons of a Leader’s Life, Jeff Iorg. Broadman & Holman, 2013. 227 p.

The following is an excerpt from Dr. Iorg’s book, Seasons of a Leader’s Life.

“As you near the end of your leadership career, you will likely look back over a mixed bag of decisions – some good, some bad. You will also look back over countless situations where you chose a course of action when the options were muddled and the consequences unclear. In other cases, the situation was more traumatic and defined. You had to make choices with significant negative results assured – like losing your job, downsizing others, losing money, creating divisions in your ministry, or some other negative result. In the worst possible cases, people suffered because of your decisions.

Leaders make decisions, sometimes hard decisions, in the face of turmoil or even persecution. Part of leading is taking responsibility for making tough choices and living with the consequences. One friend told me, “You can’t lead if you can’t inflict pain.” Our decisions may cause pain for others. At other times, we afflict ourselves by our leadership decisions. Leading hurts.

How can a leader maintain emotional equilibrium, knowing the potential consequences of the choices made? What helps maintain perspective and gives you the strength to make the hard calls? Can you leave a legacy of controversial decisions with generally good outcomes? Peter outlined resources for leaders to draw on when making touch decisions to do the right thing, no matter the anticipated negative consequences.

Peter started this part of his legacy with a promise that “if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed.” He advocates being ready to “give a defense” of our hope in Jesus Christ and responding to everyone with “gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear.” Peter advised that detractors will ultimately be “put to shame,” although in the short run they may appear victorious. He reminds us “it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”

Throughout this section, Peter interweaves the example of Jesus making the right decisions and suffering for it as a model for us. Jesus did the right thing and suffered for it in more profound ways than any of us will ever experience. He chose to die for us; he suffered for sin he didn’t commit to make our salvation possible. His example is the ultimate illustration of a person suffering unjustly while steadfastly refusing to compromise doing what was right. By following Jesus’ example, you can “equip yourselves also with the same resolve” to resist the “slander” that comes from people who attack you for making right choices with controversial results.

Along with Jesus’ example, Peter highlights two other resources to help you make those hard decisions with painful consequences. He begins by reminding us to “be serious and disciplined for prayer.” He then advocates, “Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since lovers a multitude of sins.” Peter insisted that strength is drawn from prayer and from other believers, people who will stand with you when the chips are down. Some people will abandon you to suffer alone. But others, who truly love you, will stand with you no matter how difficult the situation becomes.

Peter reminds us to foster fellowship with other believers as a resource to strengthen us through difficult decision-making.

Prior to the reminder about the support of others, Peter mentioned the priority of prayer. Your relationship with God, as accessed through prayer, is your primary resource when decision to do what’s right no matter the consequence. When you face a formidable decision, pray about it. When you feel isolated and alone and you’re not sure who to turn to, God is there for you. Pray about your decision, make your best choice, and God will sustain you in the darkest moments.

The secondary resource for strength in tough decision-making is the love and support of special believers. While many people will abandon you when pressure-packed situations become overwhelming, some will stand firm. When I became a seminary president a few years ago, a friend sent me this note: “When times get tough, call on Jesus. Then call on me. I will be there for you.” And he has been! Good friends who will stand with you, who understand the no-win situations you must face, who trust your character to undergird good decisions, and who refuse to abandon you are a special gift from God. Fair-weather followers may cut and run at the first sign of trouble. True friends will stand with you to the end.

Despite these resources – prayer and supportive friends – choosing to do the right thing no matter the consequences is still difficult. One reason is that the results of these decisions often look like failures in the short run. One pastor stood up to racism in his church and lost his job. Years later, his moral conviction was celebrated as the church repented and welcomed members of other races. One executive made an unpopular decision to change the funding priorities and policies of his organization. Short-term pain made many squeal for relief. But when as economic downturn put many other organizations out of business, his weathered the storm without layoffs or cutbacks. He went from goat to hero, praised by the same employees who had griped about his austerity in better times. One academic leader defended a key doctrinal position, which cost him followers and dollars. His school ultimately recovered but not without years of struggle. In all these cases, the right decision produced immediate loss and personal pain. While the rest of the story is more positive, in those moments of decision and immediate aftermath, the results weren’t assured.

This is reality – many hard decisions produce immediate pain. We hope righteousness will ultimately prevail, but when the decision is made, there’s no guarantee about the future outcome. The challenge is in doing the right thing no matter the consequences or results. The most dramatic biblical example is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, as told in Daniel 3.

Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon. He erected a huge golden statue of himself and demanded that everyone worship it. But when the signal was given, there were three young men who refused to bow down before the idol. Nebuchadnezzar was furious. He threatened to toss Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into a fiery furnace. Their response perfectly summarizes this part of Peter’s legacy: “If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold you statue you set up” (Daniel 3:17-18). These men were determined to do the right thing – no matter what.

They refused to worship an idol and were tossed into a furnace so hot their captors were killed in the process. Yes, they were later delivered by God’s power – but that’s not the most significant part of the story. The key point is that these young me were determined to do the right thing whether deliverance happened or not.

Part of your leadership legacy is the decisions you make and their results. More important, your legacy will show the kind of decisions you made and your moral courage to do the right thing no matter the consequences. Peter modeled this with some of his decisions, for example, like deciding the doctrine of salvation at the Jerusalem Council and accepting the vision of the descending sheets as indication of God’s inclusion of the Gentiles in his kingdom. Peter knew the pressure of strategic decision-making and the ensuing controversies in the church. When he wrote this part of his legacy, he challenged us to follow his example.

You will leave a legacy of strategic decisions. Some of these may be quite personal – who you married and how you managed your finances. Some will be part of your leadership role – where you served, the ministry you built, the convictions you upheld, the doctrine you defended, and the people you employed. All of these decisions contribute to your legacy. But more important, the quality of your decisions – your willingness to consistently do the right thing no matter the consequences – is your true legacy.

People will remember what you did and what you decided. But they will remember more what you stood for along the way.”(197-200)

Old Wine, New Wineskins

Alvin Reid, Professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, makes this statement often: “Lost people are more amazed at our silence than offended at our message.” Understand this statement in the context of the local church and you understand my perspective, including the premise behind this blog post.

I was reading an article Reid wrote in the Spring 2017 edition of Facts & Trends, a publication of Lifeway Christian Resources, Nashville, Tennessee. He discusses the findings of a recent study undertaken by Lifeway Research / Billy Graham Center for Evangelism at Wheaton College. He couches the findings in terms of his latest book, Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out, available from B & H Academic. I have to say I find the results of the study profound, while not all that surprising. Let me clarify.

The researchers asked several questions concerning the interest of unchurched Americans in listening to what Christians have to say. Examples include statements such as: “I would be more interested in listening to what Christians have to say if I saw Christians treating others better because of faith.” “I would be more interested in listening to what Christians have to say if I saw Christians caring for people’s needs because of faith.” Each statement was listed with a percentage value indicating its popularity as a response from the sample group. There were three values, however, that stood out to me above the others in the article.

The first two values are related and they may surprise some who read this blog. Among unchurched Americans surveyed, 79% agree with this statement: “If a friend of mine really values their faith, I don’t mind them talking about it.” Similarly, among unchurched Americans, 73% of those surveyed don’t think their Christian friends talk about their faith too much. Given these responses, it seems the door to gospel-centered conversation is open far wider than the average church member may care to admit. I believe the average church member may suffer more from fear or lack of confidence than they do from lack of opportunity when it comes to gospel-centered conversations.

Now, let me say up front the following information is based on my personal experience and is certainly not descriptive of every church in every city. However, I believe many other churches in America may hold similar positions. This is my premise: some churches believe sincerely they have no need of changing their current practices when it comes to great commission mobilization or advancing the gospel to the ends of the earth. They are content to continue doing things the same way they have been doing them for whatever historical period of time with which they are comfortable. Unfortunately, this is where the final value of which I spoke comes more clearly into focus.

According to Lifeway Research, “67% of unchurched people say they are unlikely to attend church in the future. For them, spirituality and church do not naturally go together. When millennials were asked where they go for spiritual help, church did not make the top 10” (Facts & Trends, Spring 2017, 15). Consider the juxtaposition of these three values and draw your own conclusions, but I see one glaring, if not completely obvious, inference based on the data. Churches must be willing to hold their methodology with open hands while holding the biblical truth of the gospel with closed hands. In other words, the church must never retreat from sharing the whole truth of the good news of Jesus Christ. But the church must always be willing to adapt and contextualize the presentation of this truth to an ever-changing culture. Missionaries study the best ways to present the gospel truth in the context of the mission field in which they serve. Why should the local church on American soil be any different? Answer: it should not be.

Reid concludes his article with five helpful “reminders for Christians to help alleviate their fears” when it comes to engaging others in gospel-centered conversation:

1. Think less of giving a presentation and more of having a conversation.
2. Tell them the great story of the gospel more than listing propositions.
3. Connect the story to their everyday life experiences.
4. Start in their worldview, not yours.
5. Don’t just invite them to church—invite them into your lives and your community.

I would suggest another important principle to remember: the conversion of every person with whom you share the gospel does not constitute success in evangelism. Obedience to share the gospel through words and actions constitutes success in evangelism. Pray. Share. Leave the results in the capable hands of Almighty God.

Mike. Out.

[Note: All statistical data and quotations taken from an article entitled, “How to Share Jesus without Freaking Out: Effective Evangelism in the 21^st Century,” by Dr. Alvin Reid, published in the Spring 2017 issue of Facts & Trends, Lifeway Christian Resources, pp. 12-17.]