Sydney J. Harris, the well-known columnist of some years past, was wont to observe that the primary problem of his profession was not so much that of finding subjects upon which to comment as rather that of narrowing the possibilities to one. Despite Harris' journalistic abilities, his occasional diatribe against the Christian faith (e.g., "Jesus' teaching that one should love his enemies is as impractical as much of the rest of his teachings," etc.) eventually led to our regret of his having entered the profession at all. While not a vocational journalist, our present need to choose from various relevant possibilities did bring columnist Harris to mind - along with our own present time schedule. Hence the following:
While having breakfast with a fellow minister and his wife at a local restaurant recently, the conversation eventually turned from issues of common interest to a consideration of those afflicted with the "preacher's itch." For any unacquainted with the term, reference here is to those who, for lack of adequate knowledge, communication skills, leadership ability or other requisite enablement, never succeed in attaining a viable pulpit ministry despite the overwhelming desire to do so. Discernment is sometimes little required in determining those thus afflicted.
At this point, our fellow pastor's wife shared that an evangelist brother of hers was once speaker at a conference in which the presence of a considerable number of "wannabes" - along with their need for recognition - was soon evident. Stopping in the middle of his address, her brother announced that, as of that moment, he was calling a prayer line for healing - healing for all those suffering with the "preacher's itch." When we all had ceased laughing, the only additional response was likely that of wishing we had been there.
Nor is Scripture devoid of parallels. In terms of distorted or misguided ambition at large, Matthew 20:20-28 or Mark 10:35-45 can prove profitable. With regard to those afflicted with the "preacher's itch," both I Timothy 1:7 and James 3:1 are to be seen as offering sound advice. Or, in cases of the extreme (although having never been the target of such) I have, nonetheless, been witness to leadership ambition of a quality perhaps not totally dissimilar to that of Korah and his co-conspirators in Numbers 16.
Well, anyway...
Burl Ratzsch
Showing posts with label spiritual objectivity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spiritual objectivity. Show all posts
Friday, September 18, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
ADVANCE TOWARD MATURITY
God has never willed the Church to be static. While "the principles of the doctrine of Christ" ("rudiments of Christianity," NEB) remain foundational, they are, as per the apostolic author, to represent that point of initiation from which the believer is then to progress in spiritual life and experience (Heb. 6:1-3).
And while the Gospel does not change, there are aspects and attributes within our present world by which the outworking and propagation of the Gospel are influenced. Societal perceptions, modes of expression, intellectual inclinations, ad infinitum, are not the same at all times and in all places, and are to be taken into account when presenting the truths of the Gospel. With this in mind Paul states, "I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some" (I Cor. 9:22). As has been learned in more current times, foreign mission efforts of the relatively recent past have often missed this point while attempting to create American style congregations singing post-Civil War hymns and songs of a "western" musical orientation - to little mention a commitment to methodologies typically little cognizant of the people's natural mental processes, sense of expression and faculties of perception and response.
Importantly, current realities in our own time and culture can affect our modes of response as well. Religious musicologists and psychologists, for example, are much aware that the endless "heavenly mansions and riches" songs that came out of the Great Depression era were, to large extent, reflective of the pressures and and resultant mindset of that time. (Furthermore, such songs also tended to miss the intent of Jesus' words in John 14 - but that is another subject). Nor need it be added that, in most instances, there is more than a little contradiction in a present day American congregations singing, "Here I wander, like a beggar, in the heat and in the cold." (Ask your genuinely committed 'teenager to identify with either content or musical idiom of such songs...)
The point is this: As times change and the days darken, the foundational truths of the Gospel will remain the same. At the same time, the context in which they are perceived and received will likely become altered in an assortment of ways. To illustrate:
One can little doubt that spiritual reality assumes a considerably deepened - or even to some extent, differing - sense of meaning within those cultures and settings wherein Christian commitment places one's well being, or even life itself, at risk. Within context of this nature, one can little envision attempts to engender enthusiasm or "work up the Spirit" by means of the "hyped" emphases and/or psychological ploys sometimes observable within churches of our present time and setting.
The days to come will bear effect within our communities of faith as maturity and stability become increasingly essential to spiritual survival. Simply put: Change is coming in relation to the valid Body of Christ.
In the words of the apostolic author, "Let us then press on to maturity" (Heb. 6:1). It will prove itself an end time requisite.
Burl Ratzsch
And while the Gospel does not change, there are aspects and attributes within our present world by which the outworking and propagation of the Gospel are influenced. Societal perceptions, modes of expression, intellectual inclinations, ad infinitum, are not the same at all times and in all places, and are to be taken into account when presenting the truths of the Gospel. With this in mind Paul states, "I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some" (I Cor. 9:22). As has been learned in more current times, foreign mission efforts of the relatively recent past have often missed this point while attempting to create American style congregations singing post-Civil War hymns and songs of a "western" musical orientation - to little mention a commitment to methodologies typically little cognizant of the people's natural mental processes, sense of expression and faculties of perception and response.
Importantly, current realities in our own time and culture can affect our modes of response as well. Religious musicologists and psychologists, for example, are much aware that the endless "heavenly mansions and riches" songs that came out of the Great Depression era were, to large extent, reflective of the pressures and and resultant mindset of that time. (Furthermore, such songs also tended to miss the intent of Jesus' words in John 14 - but that is another subject). Nor need it be added that, in most instances, there is more than a little contradiction in a present day American congregations singing, "Here I wander, like a beggar, in the heat and in the cold." (Ask your genuinely committed 'teenager to identify with either content or musical idiom of such songs...)
The point is this: As times change and the days darken, the foundational truths of the Gospel will remain the same. At the same time, the context in which they are perceived and received will likely become altered in an assortment of ways. To illustrate:
One can little doubt that spiritual reality assumes a considerably deepened - or even to some extent, differing - sense of meaning within those cultures and settings wherein Christian commitment places one's well being, or even life itself, at risk. Within context of this nature, one can little envision attempts to engender enthusiasm or "work up the Spirit" by means of the "hyped" emphases and/or psychological ploys sometimes observable within churches of our present time and setting.
The days to come will bear effect within our communities of faith as maturity and stability become increasingly essential to spiritual survival. Simply put: Change is coming in relation to the valid Body of Christ.
In the words of the apostolic author, "Let us then press on to maturity" (Heb. 6:1). It will prove itself an end time requisite.
Burl Ratzsch
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)