Loving God with our minds

 When Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment He responded, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." Most Christians would respond that they do love the Lord, but I wonder how many can say they love Him with all their minds. The reason I say this is because of the shallow thinking found among many Christians today. For many, their faith is a mile wide and an inch deep. They've never seriously studied the teachings of Scripture and know only what pastors and others have taught them, and too often their teacher's knowledge of God is shallow as well. A few decades back pastors were considered the theologians of the church. Today, they are expected to be therapists who are careful not to use too much "God-talk" so as not to offend anyone.

In his book, Love Your God with All Your Mind, Christian philosopher J. P. Moreland discusses the importance of emphasizing the intellectual life to our congregations for their own personal spiritual growth and to enhance their ability to share their faith with others. Moreland goes on to tell the story of an interview Billy Graham had with Parade magazine when he was asked what he would do differently if given the chance. He responded, "I would have studied more. I would have gotten my PhD in anthropology."

I am now approaching my 75th birthday, and I believe my answer would have been similar. I wish I had pursued a PhD in theology or apologetics to deepen my knowledge about God and my relationship with Him. Not that a particular degree makes a person a better Christian or even a more knowledgeable Christian (I know too many people with a PhD degree that I am convinced stands for Post Hole Digger because even a post hole digger knows more about God than they do!).

Today I am in a serious study of the attributes of God so that I might know Him better. There are times in my study that I have to stop and simply praise Him for that particular attribute. Not only does it help me better know God, it also helps me see how that attribute has impacted my life. Such an understanding naturally leads to worship.

How would you describe your own knowledge of God? How much time do you spend studying the Scriptures to see what they have to teach you? Can you honestly say your faith has grown in the past year? The past 5 years? What about since the day you prayed asking Jesus Christ into your life? I've known many Christians who's faith never grew beyond the day of their baptism. If this describes you, what are you going to do about it? Let me make a suggestion if you want to change this in your life; read Moreland's book to start with. When you finish his book, begin to read other books that are written by serious biblical scholars and theologians. Listen to podcasts from similar people. It's Ok if some of it is over your head. You're learning. As you learn more about God you will find your faith will begin to deepen. You will find it easier to worship. You will find it easier to share your faith with others. You will be amazed at how your life will change.

Taking the long view in ministry

 I made a mistake a couple of years ago. (I know that's hard to believe!) In an effort to remove a few books from my library I sent my copy of The Clock of the Long Now to the Salvation Army. In case you are not familiar with this clock, it is a clock designed to keep time for 10,000 years. You can read about the clock online, but the book builds on this clock in an effort to help people see the value of a long-time perspective in all they do. I wish I still had the book because I feel the need to re-read it.

We live in a hurry-up world where speed is of the essence. I will admit to the reader that I am not a person with great patience. I often joke that I believe microwaves are much too slow. I prefer everything to move at light speed. My early ministry reflected that mindset which caused me a lot of frustration. One of the blessings I received by spending 20 years as pastor of Hebron Baptist Church was that it taught me that anything worthwhile would take longer than I thought it should. I doubt that those pastors whose pastoral tenure lasts more than 3-4 years ever learn that.

In his classic Your God is too Small, J. B. Phillips writes, "It is refreshing, and salutary, to study the poise and quietness of Christ. His task and responsibility might well have driven a man out of his mind. But He was never in a hurry, never impressed by numbers, never a slave of the clock. He was acting, He said, as he observed God to act - never in a hurry."

Phillips is right. God is never in a hurry. Our Lord Jesus Christ had such a short time to accomplish all He was given to accomplish, yet we never find Him in a hurry. He always found time to address the needs He encountered, and He still accomplished the purpose for which He came to earth to fulfill.

I am not advocating that we in the ministry waste time, but it is also time that we step back and recognize that God does not move at our pace. So many times I felt frustrated because the congregation didn't understand the vision I tried to share with them. I forgot that it takes time for God to reveal that to them as He had revealed it to me. Yes, I will even admit that there were times I was frustrated with God that He wasn't moving as quickly as I would prefer! (I can't say enough about how wrong that is!)

Sometimes I wish ministers would be called to a church where they would spend their entire lives serving that congregation and community. Yet, I also know that there are times when God calls us elsewhere to use our gifts in a different setting. I will say that I doubt that happens every 3-4 years, but I suppose that's my opinion. Long-term ministries help us see the value in taking a long-term perspective in what we are doing. It would also help us see all that God had done in our churches and in our own lives during that period of time.

I want to encourage those in ministry to commit to the place where you are serving. Don't leave just because things are difficult. Don't leave because it's hard to get people to understand your vision. You might leave just as God is getting ready to make a break-through in that church. H. B. London, Jr. once reminded us that if we are serving in a great church it was because someone stayed there long enough to make it a great church, and if we are serving in a place that wasn't so good it might be that God was calling us to stay there until we made it a great place.