Tim Keller, in reflecting upon the pastoral wisdom of John Newton, discusses several different personality styles or perhaps problematic ways of relating to others.
He writes:
Here I'll share my expanded list—based heavily on his Newton's
original one. Since Newton gave each case study a slightly humorous
Latin name, I've done the same.
Austerus is a solid and disciplined
Christian but abrasive, critical, and ungenerous in dealing with people,
temperamental, seldom giving compliments and praise, and almost never
gentle.
Infitialis is a person of careful and
deliberate character but habitually cynical, negative, and pessimistic,
always discouraging ("that will never work"), unsupportive, and vaguely
unhappy.
Pulsus is passionate, yes, but also
impulsive and impatient, not thinking things out, speaking too soon,
always quick to complain and lodge a protest, often needs to apologize
for rash statements.
Querulus is a person of strong convictions,
but known to be opinionated, a poor listener, argumentative, not very
teachable, and slow to admit wrong.
Subjectio is a resourceful and ambitious
person, but also someone who often shades the truth, puts a lot of spin
on things (close to misrepresentation), is very partisan,
self-promoting, and turf-conscious.
Potestas gets things done but needs to
control every situation, has trouble sharing power, has a need to do
everything him or herself, and is very suspicious and mistrustful of
others.
Fragilis is friendly and seeks friends, but
constantly gets feelings hurt, easily feels slighted and put down, is
often offended and upset by real and imagined criticism by others.
Curiosus is sociable but enjoys knowing
negative things about people, finds ways of passing the news on, may
divulge confidences, and enjoys confronting too much.
Volatilis is kind-hearted and eager to
help, but simply not reliable—isn't punctual, doesn't follow through on
promises, always over-extended, and as a result may do shoddy work.
Read the rest of it here.
09 May 2013
The Preeminence of Christ
He is the image of the invisible God
the firstborn of all creation.
For by him all things were created
in heaven and on earth
visible and invisible
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities
ALL THINGS were created through him and for him.
And he is before all things
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning
the firstborn from the dead
that in everything he might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell
and through him to reconcile to himself all things
whether on earth or in heaven
making peace by the blood of his cross.
the firstborn of all creation.
For by him all things were created
in heaven and on earth
visible and invisible
whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities
ALL THINGS were created through him and for him.
And he is before all things
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning
the firstborn from the dead
that in everything he might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell
and through him to reconcile to himself all things
whether on earth or in heaven
making peace by the blood of his cross.
Elizabeth Smart on Abstinence Only Education
I came across this piece this piece
about Elizabeth Smart from the Huffington Post. Elizabeth Smart, the 14
year old girl who was kidnapped at knife point, forced into a
polygamous marriage, and repeatedly raped before being discovered has
blamed her abstinence only education, at least in part for the degree of
trauma she experienced.
She commented that for those who receive abstinence only education, they are left feeling "dirty and filthy." My first comment would be that this is probably a universal, or near universal, experience for victims of rape. Feelings of shame are not isolated to, nor even more intense, for those who received abstinence education.
She said she didn't run because after being raped, she wondered who could ever want her now? Her education told her that premarital sex would make her like a chewed piece of gum. The message that she is trying to promote is that children should be taught that they have value, no matter what. In that goal, she is assuredly right. Children are valuable. Indeed, I would argue that it is only the Christian worldview that makes sense of universal value. It is grounded in the imago Dei--the image of God. Every person is created in God's image and therefore possesses intrinsic worth. It is the materialist viewpoint that has a grounding problem with regard to universal worth because the theory upon which it is based says that the strong rule over the weak. In Smart's case, the strong took what they wanted.
In a society where sex is devalued, merely mechanical, and a pleasurable end in itself, sex trafficking and rape will probably intensify in years to come. We have devalued personhood across the age spectrum. Christians need to be champions for the value of people, regardless of their circumstances.
Christians also need to step up and tell people that God created sex as a good and honorable thing and because He doesn't want to see people cheapened, He places certain boundaries around it (namely in a monogamous marriage). But Christians also need to tell people that Jesus loved prostitutes, adulterers, and regularly pursued them. It is because of who God is that those children have value no matter what.
If you haven't seen this video, I would commend it to you.
She commented that for those who receive abstinence only education, they are left feeling "dirty and filthy." My first comment would be that this is probably a universal, or near universal, experience for victims of rape. Feelings of shame are not isolated to, nor even more intense, for those who received abstinence education.
She said she didn't run because after being raped, she wondered who could ever want her now? Her education told her that premarital sex would make her like a chewed piece of gum. The message that she is trying to promote is that children should be taught that they have value, no matter what. In that goal, she is assuredly right. Children are valuable. Indeed, I would argue that it is only the Christian worldview that makes sense of universal value. It is grounded in the imago Dei--the image of God. Every person is created in God's image and therefore possesses intrinsic worth. It is the materialist viewpoint that has a grounding problem with regard to universal worth because the theory upon which it is based says that the strong rule over the weak. In Smart's case, the strong took what they wanted.
In a society where sex is devalued, merely mechanical, and a pleasurable end in itself, sex trafficking and rape will probably intensify in years to come. We have devalued personhood across the age spectrum. Christians need to be champions for the value of people, regardless of their circumstances.
Christians also need to step up and tell people that God created sex as a good and honorable thing and because He doesn't want to see people cheapened, He places certain boundaries around it (namely in a monogamous marriage). But Christians also need to tell people that Jesus loved prostitutes, adulterers, and regularly pursued them. It is because of who God is that those children have value no matter what.
If you haven't seen this video, I would commend it to you.
08 May 2013
Look Up
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is
just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if
there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think
about these things.-Phillipians 4:8
A short walk around the block can be refreshing. Over the lunch hour today, I took a slow stroll around block, specifically meditating on "whatever is lovely". I sought to be intentional about considering those things that seemed lovely. The warm Spring air, the breeze on my face, the blue sky with sparse clouds, and even the throaty call of a crow were beautiful.
Despite looking for beauty, I also observed many things that marred the beauty--discarded soda bottles, the final traces of melting snow stained like crude oil, the smell of cigarette smoke--each a sign of disrupted beauty. I was also acutely aware of my smart phone in my pocket, a misnomer if their ever was one, beckoning me to check my Facebook page. I refused its call.
As soon as I re-entered the building, though, I quickly retrieved my phone. Facebook. Twitter. Email. All things that must be checked. Twenty steps from my office, I heard someone comment that I was stuck up...or something similarly pejorative. If I am honest, I don't actually recall what she said. I looked up to see two friends of mine sitting on a bench in the hallway. Admittedly, I did not even see them sitting there. My behavior and her comment-offered-in-jest were eye opening. She was, of course, right. In my deliberate effort to step outside and appreciate my surroundings, I quickly reverted to something less lovely.
I was reminded that we often exchange real people for status notifications on a three inch screen. We exchange lovingly prepared cuisine for prepackaged monochromatic food products. We exchange marital intimacy for lewd, pornographic images. We exchange a never ending, never repeated three dimensional universe that features every shade in the color spectrum for a flat, lifeless television show, often that we've seen before.
How often do we do the same thing with God? We each have a script of Who God is, but that script contains our edits. His inspired Word gives us glimpses of His steadfast love, His glory, His mercy, His Holiness, His tenderness. Glimpses. One day, we will see much more clearly (1 Corinthians 13:12), but now we have just hints, but even those are subject to our editing. We correct who we think God should be and in doing so, flatten the picture.
Sometimes We should seek to look up and behold His beauty, accepting what is for the moment, acknowledging that our two dimensional interpretations are merely hints at who He truly is. We should be grateful for His self-revelation in 66 books, but understand that His beauty is so much greater than we can possibly imagine. Rather than refining our edits, perhaps we would benefit from using God's word to help us anticipate Truth. Justice. Honor. Purity. Love. Commendability. Excellence. The One who is worthy of Praise.
A short walk around the block can be refreshing. Over the lunch hour today, I took a slow stroll around block, specifically meditating on "whatever is lovely". I sought to be intentional about considering those things that seemed lovely. The warm Spring air, the breeze on my face, the blue sky with sparse clouds, and even the throaty call of a crow were beautiful.
Despite looking for beauty, I also observed many things that marred the beauty--discarded soda bottles, the final traces of melting snow stained like crude oil, the smell of cigarette smoke--each a sign of disrupted beauty. I was also acutely aware of my smart phone in my pocket, a misnomer if their ever was one, beckoning me to check my Facebook page. I refused its call.
As soon as I re-entered the building, though, I quickly retrieved my phone. Facebook. Twitter. Email. All things that must be checked. Twenty steps from my office, I heard someone comment that I was stuck up...or something similarly pejorative. If I am honest, I don't actually recall what she said. I looked up to see two friends of mine sitting on a bench in the hallway. Admittedly, I did not even see them sitting there. My behavior and her comment-offered-in-jest were eye opening. She was, of course, right. In my deliberate effort to step outside and appreciate my surroundings, I quickly reverted to something less lovely.
I was reminded that we often exchange real people for status notifications on a three inch screen. We exchange lovingly prepared cuisine for prepackaged monochromatic food products. We exchange marital intimacy for lewd, pornographic images. We exchange a never ending, never repeated three dimensional universe that features every shade in the color spectrum for a flat, lifeless television show, often that we've seen before.
How often do we do the same thing with God? We each have a script of Who God is, but that script contains our edits. His inspired Word gives us glimpses of His steadfast love, His glory, His mercy, His Holiness, His tenderness. Glimpses. One day, we will see much more clearly (1 Corinthians 13:12), but now we have just hints, but even those are subject to our editing. We correct who we think God should be and in doing so, flatten the picture.
07 May 2013
Reflections on Becoming a Centurion
Nearly 4 years ago, I heard Chuck Colson speak for the first time. I was at a large counseling convention and he was one of the plenary speakers. He talked about worldview and promoted a program he was passionate about--the Centurions Program. Chuck had a vision to raise up leaders from around the world who could speak prophetically into the culture at large. Each year, 100 people were selected to go through this rigorous program. I remember thinking to myself, if I ever have a chance to become a Centurion I will do so, but I did not give it much more thought.In the intervening years, I have began to study apologetics in greater depth. I completed the Ambassador Basic Curriculum through Stand to Reason, the apologetics certificate program through Biola University, and the Foundations of Apologetics Course through RZIM, which I coupled with readings and audio materials. The information I gathered was beneficial, but it was really just information. There was no real opportunity to interact with those involved with these programs.
Last spring, I decided (finally) to apply to the Centurions Program. Shortly after I applied, however, Chuck passed into glory. I confess there was a part of me that wondered whether I should withdraw my application, but after some soul searching, I realized that Chuck was not the reason I was applying, it was the training (though I do look forward to meeting him some day). And so I began.
Centurions is an intense year. There is a lot of reading and writing about topics relevant to worldview. Each month, there are also conference calls where we heard from Christians working in a variety of contexts. For example, we heard from Joel Belz of World Magazine on interacting with the press and Joni Erickson Tada on ministry to persons with disabilities.
Aside from these opportunities, there were two program highlights for me. First, there is an online forum for the Centurions. I took full advantage of this community. I learned from what others posted. I was challenged to examine my own views on theological and cultural issues. Most importantly, however, was that I have developed, or I am developing, friendships with other Centurions from around the world.
The weekend residencies were the second highlight. Twice during the year, our Centurion class would descend upon Landsdowne, Virginia for three days of intensive training in biblical worldview. I expect these weekends are similar to standing in front of a fire hose. I was blessed to hear from many different speakers and to engage with my colleagues, or shall I say my friends, from around the world. Rather than single out the strengths of each of the faculty, let me just say they each bring a well developed understanding of worldview and a passion for Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.
I cannot recommend this program strongly enough. It is intensive hard work. It will help you to sharpen your thinking, enflame your godly affections, and engage in work for our King. If you choose to do this, I promise you will never look at the world in the same way again.
And that is a good thing.
30 April 2013
Tolle Lege
Tolle Lege means "take up and read!" Augustine of Hippo heard these words at the time of his conversion and was compelled to open the Bible and read. Too many people, however, fail to "take up and read", critics and Christians alike.
I just finished listening to the four part White Horse Inn podcast on "Questions of Faith." The producer, Shane Rosenthal, went to college campuses to do man on the street interviews with students. I want to mention two of the themes I observed. First, most of the students were openly critical of the Bible. They criticized its accuracy, testimony, and general truthfulness. Second, most of them, when asked, had never read the Bible. Some admitted to reading isolated bits and pieces whereas others had no exposure to it at all. Some were exposed to men like Bart Ehrmann, but not to the Bible. So, they were making fairly bold criticisms of a a book, a religion, a Person that has utterly changed the world without ever having read the Bible.
If Jesus is who he claims, if the Bible records truth, if there are eternal consequences (even just potential consequences) for accepting the message, then wouldn't it seem that people would want to read the actual source before openly criticizing it or rejecting it out of hand?
Also, for my Christian brothers and sisters, this book contains God's revelation about who He is and who you are. We believe that the Bible is the clearest revelation of His nature and of His plan for humanity. If you are basing your life on this book, make sure you have read it.
So whether you are a believer or a Bible basher, Tolle Lege! Tolle Lege! Tolle Lege!
I just finished listening to the four part White Horse Inn podcast on "Questions of Faith." The producer, Shane Rosenthal, went to college campuses to do man on the street interviews with students. I want to mention two of the themes I observed. First, most of the students were openly critical of the Bible. They criticized its accuracy, testimony, and general truthfulness. Second, most of them, when asked, had never read the Bible. Some admitted to reading isolated bits and pieces whereas others had no exposure to it at all. Some were exposed to men like Bart Ehrmann, but not to the Bible. So, they were making fairly bold criticisms of a a book, a religion, a Person that has utterly changed the world without ever having read the Bible.
If Jesus is who he claims, if the Bible records truth, if there are eternal consequences (even just potential consequences) for accepting the message, then wouldn't it seem that people would want to read the actual source before openly criticizing it or rejecting it out of hand?
Also, for my Christian brothers and sisters, this book contains God's revelation about who He is and who you are. We believe that the Bible is the clearest revelation of His nature and of His plan for humanity. If you are basing your life on this book, make sure you have read it.
So whether you are a believer or a Bible basher, Tolle Lege! Tolle Lege! Tolle Lege!
28 April 2013
Lust for Influence is an Addictive Drug
Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence
or stand in the place of the great,
for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
-Proverbs 25:6-7
Yesterday, I received an email from a trusted younger brother. He basically asked me how I avoid idolizing other leaders and how I avoid the lust for the type of influence they have. Although stated in fairly general terms, it seemed to me that he was calling me out, at least to a degree. Although that was not his intention, he would have been justified in doing so.
I confess that I am glad that I have an influence upon others. I do not think that, in and of itself, is sinful. Certainly, the apostle Paul called people to look upon his life to know how to act, not that I am in any regards like the apostle. However, I think that Christians should seek to have influence upon others. That is discipleship.
The danger for me is that it is so easy to move from seeking to have an influence upon others for the glory of God, to sending a subtle message to encourage them to look at me. As I was thinking and praying yesterday, I considered some of the things that I have said to others and some of the things that I have shared on Facebook, and it is clear that I have shared not so much to point to Christ but to make others say, "wow, he must be popular or well connected." As a sinner, that is one of the points at which Satan knows he can attack me. When Satan told Jesus that he would give him all the kingdoms of the world, I hesitate for a moment and say, "really Jesus? He said ALL of the kingdoms. Do you really understand how popular, how powerful, that would make you?" Lust for influence is an addictive drug.
God has allowed me some really amazing opportunities throughout my life. When considering how my life is going, I can resonate with Dave Ramsey who says "better than I deserve." However, I have too often taken those opportunities as chances to glorify myself.
I pray that the things that I share with others, the things I write in social media, the thoughts of my heart would seek to draw my heart and the hearts of others to Jesus. However, I also pray that God, in his mercy, would forgive me for my pride and arrogance. I would ask too that if you have been someone who has seen in me this tendency that you would also forgive me.
One of my favorite verses, one which I meditate upon often is Psalm 115:1--"Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to Your Name give glory."
27 April 2013
Perfect, yet growing
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.-Hebrews 10:14
I love this verse. Look at what is going on here. Because of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf and our union with him, we have been perfected for all time. If you are in Christ, you are perfect. Do you see that here? You are perfect. That means no flaws in you. That means spotless. Why? Because of Christ's perfection given, or imputed, to you. If you are a Christian, when God looks on you, He sees Christ. He sees perfection.
Yet, we are also being sanctified. In other words, you are being made holy. You are growing in righteousness. So, in addition to having already been perfected in Christ, if you are a Christian, you continue to grow in holiness. You have not yet arrived at sinlessness in your deeds--you will not in this life--but you will continue to become more Christlike.
This is one of the Bible's mysteries. It is not an either/or, it is a both/and. You are both perfect and growing. Praise be to God.
For more, consider definitive versus progressive sanctification.
I love this verse. Look at what is going on here. Because of Christ's sacrifice on our behalf and our union with him, we have been perfected for all time. If you are in Christ, you are perfect. Do you see that here? You are perfect. That means no flaws in you. That means spotless. Why? Because of Christ's perfection given, or imputed, to you. If you are a Christian, when God looks on you, He sees Christ. He sees perfection.
Yet, we are also being sanctified. In other words, you are being made holy. You are growing in righteousness. So, in addition to having already been perfected in Christ, if you are a Christian, you continue to grow in holiness. You have not yet arrived at sinlessness in your deeds--you will not in this life--but you will continue to become more Christlike.
This is one of the Bible's mysteries. It is not an either/or, it is a both/and. You are both perfect and growing. Praise be to God.
For more, consider definitive versus progressive sanctification.
24 April 2013
This is Your Brain Without Dad
I just came across this old story (from 2009) about the importance of mom and dad in a child's life. The study looks at degu pups raised with and without dad. Those raised without dad showed more aggression and impulsive behaviors. Further, their brain cells didn't connect to one another as efficiently (technically, they had less dense dendritic spines) in the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex.
Moms matter. Dads matter. It almost seems that's the way we were designed.
Moms matter. Dads matter. It almost seems that's the way we were designed.
23 April 2013
Stand to Reason + White Horse Inn = Excellent Podcasts
Two of the radio programs that have been the most influential in terms of my thinking and development as a Christian have been Stand To Reason, hosted by Greg Koukl, and The White Horse Inn, hosted by Mike Horton, Rod Rosenblatt, Kim Riddlebarger, and Ken Jones. Over the last three weeks, Greg Koukl has sat in with the guys from the White Horse for a discussion on "questions of faith". I promise you will learn a lot listening to these men talking with one another. I would strongly commend them to you.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
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