Sin has a subtle and deceptive nature. Satan shows no discrimination in his chosen targets. For the past few days I’ve been considering that truth. In order to combat the evil one, I’ve been examining ways that sin is trying to take root in my heart, particularly as an elder. What I’ve discovered is alarming, and I think it would serve all Christians, especially pastors, well to consider whether the same is true for you. Here it is: Grace-given giftedness does not excuse, permit, or lessen the varying presence and/or severity of sin before God, but rather calls us to greater accountability. Sin can deceive us into believing that God some how looks less upon our sin because of the presence of giftedness. It’s as though we’ve placed our sin and gifts on the scales of God’s pleasure and the latter has tipped his favor towards us.

Well, this is a dangerous and monstrous lie. The presence of grace-given giftedness doesn’t excuse sin but calls us to greater accountability both for sin and the stewardship of our giftedness. (Lk. 19:20-27; cf. Matt. 25:14-30; James 3:1) Here’s the reality: Giftedness can be improved even with the presence of sin. Teachers can improve their teaching and public speaking, deacons can find new and improved ways to serve, parents can instruct, and the list goes on. But now matter how well we use and improve our gifts, God will always be displeased with our sin. So our responsibility is to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving (our)selves” (James 1:22).

I could go on. But if you are an elder or leader in your church with teaching responsibilities, you will be well served by the words of Richard Baxter when he wrote:

Though there is a promise of shining as the stars, to those ‘who turn many to righteousness,’ that is but on supposition that they are first turned to it themselves. Their own sincerity in the faith is the condition of their glory, simply considered, though their great ministerial labors may be a condition of the promise of their greater glory…Believe it, brethren, God never saved any man for being a preacher, nor because he was an able preacher; but because he was a justified, sanctified man, and consequently faithful in his Master’s work. Take heed, therefore, to ourselves first, that you he that which you persuade your hearers to be, and believe that which you persuade them to believe, and heartily entertain that Savior whom you offer to them. (Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor, Section 1-The Nature of this Oversight)

Okay, this seems to be the month for Christianity Today articles. And there is yet another one I couldn’t pass up. Don’t worry! You’re not going to get another two-part series because the results of the survey summarize perfectly the need for the local church. Here’s the purpose of the survey:

To understand the range and differences among American Christians, Christianity Today International (publisher of Leadership) recently partnered with Zondervan Publishers to commission Knowledge Networks to conduct attitudinal and behavioral research of U.S. Christians. In September 2006, more than 1,000 self-identified Christians 18 years of age and older were surveyed on their religious beliefs and practices. The results reveal a number of significant differences…In fact, portraits of five distinct segments emerged from the study. We have named them Active, Professing, Liturgical, Private, and Cultural Christians.

The article then went on to say “three critical issues emerged” for church leadership as a result of the survey. They were…

• The local church is no longer considered the only outlet for spiritual growth.
• Churches must develop relational- and community-oriented outreach.
• Lay people have to be better equipped to be God’s ambassador.

I think these are three issues we must regularly address.

Brad’s last post was interesting and helpful. He is right that one rarely moves from belief to unbelief all at once. It is a series of many little steps. I read an essay by Nicholson Baker in his collection of essays entitled The Size of Thoughts that described well the process of changing one’s mind — it is many little changes of mind that culminate in one larger change . . .

In additional to Brad’s suggestions, I would add that being present with the church routinely is a great aid to preserving one’s faith. Also, it’s essential to pray that God would continue to give us the grace to believe. As Josh M. mentioned last night, we should all be like the father who cried out, “I believe, help my unbelief.”

Depending on when you read this post, one of our members will be preaching or has already preached from Hebrews 6 reminding us that the way to unbelief is a slippery slope. Apostasy is not usually a grandiose event or, to continue the analogy, a walk of a cliff’s edge. A Christian doesn’t just wake up one day and decide not to believe the Gospel. It’s not the same explosion of a Mentos dropped in a Diet Coke. It’s more like a Coke that sits in a freezer for hours on end, slowly building pressure, until it suddenly burst. There are small steps that we take each and every day that if not carefully placed, we will find ourselves on our way to not believing the Gospel.

So what can we do to prevent such a thing from happening? What are some small steps we can take when we realize we are on a slippery slope? Well, let me try to speak as elder that has been charged with shepherding God’s flock.

1. Talk to someone immediately. This is probably the most important step. But unfortunately, it is too often neglected. As soon as you find yourself deeply struggling with a particular sin, questioning your church’s Statement of Faith (SoF), or find yourself enticed by a some teaching outside your SoF, go to someone immediately and talk to them. That may be another member, elder, or pastor. If it’s been said once, it’s been said hundreds of times by the elders of this church - “Why didn’t he or she say something earlier? Why are we just finding out about this?”

A delay in talking to someone usually indicates a couple of things. First, it indicates a misunderstanding of church membership and it’s benefits. Second, it shows the naivety in thinking you can handle “it”, whatever “it” may be, by yourself. I recognize in my own sinful heart the temptation to keep silent. But as an elder, I can’t emphasis enough the value of immediately talking to someone despite any awkwardness or embarrassment you may experience.

2. Realize this is a perilous slope. If you can be tempted to be silent then you can also be tempted to down play the seriousness of your situation. Spiritually speaking, sin disorients our senses. We think we have 20/20 vision when in reality we are blind. Apathy and indifference are two of our biggest spiritual enemies. They are not a help to nor an indicator of spiritual life. They will only deceive you into thinking that what you are believing, doing, or not doing aren’t serious nor urgent. In addition, we can be tempted to excuse our sin because of our circumstances. For example, I may excuse my neglect of properly leading and caring my wife to my “busy” circumstances. I may be busy but it doesn’t excuse me of my responsibilities.

Goad asked a few posts ago what’s in our toolbox.  Good question, though I feel a sense of deja vu, haven’t we discussed this before?  Anyway, some sources that have served me well include:

• D. A. Carson, New Commentary Survey & Tremper Longman, Old Testament Commentary Survey — After all, if you are going to use commentaries, you might as well have some guidance to see that you are using good ones.
• Eerdman’s Handbook to the Bible – I like the quick overviews it gives me of books/chapters.  Very helpful.
• New Bible Dictionary (IVP) — Invaluable resource!
• New Dictionary of Biblical Theology (IVP) — Also wonderful for seeing themes in the Old and New Testament
• Paul House, Old Testament Theology  (IVP) & Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament (Eerdmans ) — both of these serve a similar purpose, helping me see the themes within books, taking individual books of the Bible on their own, appreciating them for their own contribution
• Longman & Dillard, An Introduction to the Old Testament and Carson, Moo, and Morris, An Introduction to the New Testament

Pretty basic stuff — helpful to me.

Aaron, I’m still trying to process your post. I can’t tell if you’re advocating for further education “if the possibility is present” or just putting it out there for discussion. Given some our private conversations, i.e. not on this blog, I think it’s the latter. Either way, it’s still appropriate to discuss.

I have to say it’s a topic I often revisit given my situation. I think I could make that “if” a positive one. Just look at my circumstances. Financially, my family could afford it. We’re already here in Lville, so we wouldn’t be relocating. I already have good study habits from my undergrad; thus, it would make for a smooth transition allowing me to complete the program faster. The only downside is the sacrifice of time and emotion my family would have to make. And I don’t down play how big a sacrifice that is, especially for my wife and girls. Do I, therefore, meet the qualification of “if the possiblity is present?”

Now I want to make one distinction before I continue. My decision is whether or not to do an MDiv., not the Ph.D. And I do believe the MDiv. is more essential to a pastor’s education than the Ph.D. Thus, I would highly encourage a pastor to do an MDiv., maybe even make that “if” a reality. There’s more that could be said, but I’ll leave it there.

But if we’re speaking generally, I have to say formal education merely for the sake of formal education, even for a pastor, may not be the wisest decision. Keith may be getting at what is most important in a pastor’s education, and that is the tools for learning. I don’t think I could be an effective elder if I weren’t equipped with the proper tools. (Some of this harkens back to Dorothy Sayers’ The Lost Tools of Learning). And I wouldn’t have those tools were it not for Boyce or some equivalent education/training. Okay, one may be exposed to certain works and theological categories in his formal education he may not have otherwise. Nevertheless, that exposure is no substitute for the rigorous study a pastor is called to in his sermon preparation.

There are a lot of men at Third preparing for pastoral ministry and the question often comes up, just how much formal education is appropriate beyond the MDiv (most of the guys at Third are getting an MDiv since we are in Louisville near Southern, a great seminary–so that decision has usually been taken care of).

Recently, a friend of mine reminded me of the great work that I’d not looked at for quite a while, The Preacher and Preaching, edited by Samuel Logan. James Montgomery Boice, the late pastor of Tenth Pres has an essay entitled, “The Preacher and Scholarship” in which he addressed this very question. Here is his advice:

1. Get all the formal training you can. Not everyone is in a position to do long years of formal academic training. Sometimes financial concerns hold one back. At other times a job opens up, and it seems wise to accept it. But these circumstances aside, if the possibility is present and the student has ability to do further work, it is good to get the training before taking up a ministry. For one thing, it is hard to do it later. Many ministers will confess that the pressures of pastoral work, demands of a growing family, and burden of administration have all but eclipsed serious reading or study from their schedule. Work toward an advanced degree if possible. One of my predecessors at Tenth Presbyterian Church, Donald Grey Barnhouse, used to advise young ministers that if they knew the Lord was returning at the end of four years, they should spend three hours in intensified training and only then use the last year in full-time service (95).

Getting a PhD is not easy and it is costly in more ways than one. It is a burden financially, sure, but in many instances (mine included) it requires certain sacrifices to be made by all members of the household. Thus, he advised the pursuit of “all the formal training you can” only “if the possibility is present.” For some men, the possibility is simply not present–and that is God’s providence. Thankfully, the lack of a formal education does not keep a pastor, an elder, from studying, and learning, and growing. As Boice wrote later, “The preacher who is not continuing to learn is limiting himself unnecessarily.”

May all of us–whatever stage we are in–have wisdom!