One Simple Way to Promote Unity

Mike Leake

photo-1583409612493-7eb9ee8b7b5dIt’s no secret that our world is polarized. I could give you some sort of quote or statistic here to back it up, but there’s a good chance you are reading this article after just being on social media. So, I’m safe to assume that you are not blind to the polarity and anger and offense that is the toll fare for trafficking on this medium.

Disunity and polarity aren’t new. They are as old as the Garden of Eden. And they crop up in the first century in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. I’m one who believes that Philippians 4:2-3 is one of the central points of Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

I believe much of what Paul is driving towards in his discussion about humility and striving together for the sake of the gospel has to do with this spat between these two named ladies. I also believe that Philippians 4:4-9 is connected to this passage.

When I’ve studied or preached on this passage in the past I’ve focused on Euodia and Syntyche. I even applied the directions in 4:4-9 to them. If you want to have unity then it’ll come through rejoicing, casting your cares on the Lord, and thinking correctly. I still believe that’s a fine application.

But I missed someone in this exhortation.

True companion.

We do not know the identity of this dude (or lady-dude). But whoever he/she is this person is called upon to “help” these women. And you know how I believe TC is supposed to help them? Look at Philippians 4:8 for a clue:

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.

You want to know how to help the polarity in our world? First and foremost, focus on beauty yourself. Secondly, tell a better story. (I’m indebted to my friend, Alan Cross, for that language). You are not going to fix the disunity in your family, your local church, your community, or your nation by laboring to get everyone to agree with you. That’s not even what you’re biblically called to do. But we are called to live in the beauty of following Jesus and also call others into this glorious way of living and thinking.

There are really good and wonderful and beautiful things happening right now. Even in 2020. God is good and He is doing good. He still delights to give His kingdom to a dear little flock. That’s worthy of celebrating and getting excited every single day. And that’s the story that helps bring unity in the midst of polarity.

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The Sufficiency of Scripture and Biblical Counseling

Mike Leake

photo-1499652848871-1527a310b13aWhat is the best book that you’ve ever read on the assassination of President Garfield? For me, and I only know of one, it’s Destiny of the Republic, a great book by Candice Millard.

Did I just deny the Bible’s authority and sufficiency?

After all, God has written history. He’s certainly a better author, but when it comes to books actually written on President Garfield, I have to give the award to Mrs. Millard.

I’ll confess that I feel a bit uneasy with that last paragraph. I’ve been heavily trained in the biblical counseling movement and within Reformed evangelicalism. Such pedigree means that I believe with all my heart that God is the best in everything. I still believe that to be the case, but there is a misstep in application here that I believe does great injustice to our view of biblical counseling and the sufficiency of Scripture.

Heath Lambert’s Misstep

Eric Johnson has, I believe rightly, critiqued the use of scriptural sufficiency among some within the biblical counseling movement. Johnson has argued at length that when Protestant Christian theologians have argued for sufficiency it is in matters of salvation and doctrine. He calls this “salvific doctrinal sufficiency”. That’s a fancy way of saying that if you want to know how to please God then Scripture is sufficient. Piper would share a similar view:

In other words, the Scriptures are sufficient in the sense that they are the only (“once for all”) inspired and (therefore) inerrant words of God that we need, in order to know the way of salvation (“make you wise unto salvation”) and the way of obedience (“equipped for every good work”). The sufficiency of Scripture does not mean that the Scripture is all we need to live obediently. (here)

Lambert takes issue with Johnson here. He notes that “the faithfulness—even the existence—oft he movement is at stake in a critique like this” (Lambert, 40). He then seems to refer to Johnson as one of whom “it has become the task of the biblical counseling movement to defend the sufficiency of Scripture from attack by those who believe the Bible is not sufficient resource to help when life’s challenges confront a person.” (41)

Lambert goes on to argue for the Bible’s progressive, completed, formal, and material sufficiency. Material sufficiency means that “the Bible tells us everything we need to know from God about any topic” (48). He then proceeds to argue that “we mean that the material sufficiency of Scripture extends to the subject matter of counseling.” (48)

But note Lambert’s definition of counseling: “Counseling is a conversation where one party with questions, problems, and trouble seeks assistance from someone they believe has answers, solutions, and help.” (13) To combine these thoughts, if one person has a dilemma of “hearing voices” then the Bible tells us “everything we need to know from God about any topic” to provide “answers, solutions, and help.”

This is where I believe Lambert has not answered the critique of Johnson. Johnson is saying that the Bible doesn’t speak of it’s own sufficiency in this way, neither does historic Protestantism. It never claims for itself to be the best book on finding help when you are hearing voices. If you want to know what God says about hearing voices the Bible is the best book to turn. If you want to know how to please God if you’re hearing voices the Bible would also be the best place to turn. But if you’re wanting to know about the causes and cure for hearing voices, the Bible does not make this claim for itself. And that is where I disagree with Lambert (and many within BCM). To my knowledge, he has not sufficiently argued that the Bible speaks this way of itself.

But, this doesn’t have to dishevel the entire biblical counseling movement. Let me explain.

A Way Forward

Lambert acknowledges “there is nothing about the embrace of the sufficiency of Scripture for counseling that requires someone to reject the presence of others sources of knowledge outside the Bible.” (53) Though, I’d argue that Lambert later undercuts this assertion, it’s helpful for him to say that one does not by necessity have to reject outside help.

In my mind all of this centers around asking a wrong question. I think for many the question becomes “is it necessary to use outside sources in counseling”. I will be specific. In order to provide help and healing for someone hearing voices is it necessary to use something other than the Bible?

I do not believe I will ever say yes to that question. I say that because help and healing is ultimately found in a Person; namely, Jesus Christ. A person hearing voices can be given help and healing simply by an encounter with the risen Christ. And I would also argue that the ultimate responsibility of a believer in a counseling moment is to point to Christ (using Lambert’s inclusive definition of counseling).

But in my mind this is framing the question the wrong way. Of course Christ is ultimate in help and healing. Of course, pointing to Jesus is our greatest goal. The real question, and how this relates to sufficiency, is whether or not in a given counseling moment the Bible claims for itself supremacy of place.

I come to you for healing in PTSD. What I mean by that is that I want the night terrors to stop and I want to somehow get some help within my body. Whenever I encounter certain situations I want to stop having a fight or flight response.

Imagine first that I’m an unbeliever. As a biblical counselor you rightly believe that my real issue is sin and a fractured relationship with Jesus. I come to you with wanting the night terrors to stop and you put those on hold for a moment in order to help me see Jesus clearly. By the grace of God, I’m converted. I would argue that substantial change and healing and help is going to be given. You don’t have an encounter with Jesus without this. The night terrors might even stop for a season.

But what if they don’t? And what if I keep coming back to you for help with night terrors. As a biblical counselor you are going to help me answer the question, “how can I best please God whenever I’m battling night terrors”? We can pray together for God’s help. We can even try to assess things biblically and see if I have unresolved guilt or issues within my past that need to be biblically handled. And the Bible is the A-plus, number-one, fully sufficient resource for doing this very thing.

But the night terrors continue. My body still goes into fight or flight response in certain situations. Does the Bible have supremacy of place in handling night terrors? It does have supremacy of place in helping me come to Christ the ultimate Healer. It does have supremacy of place in helping me know how to please God in the midst of this trial. But I would argue it does not have supremacy of place, and does not claim to have supremacy of place, when it comes to being cured of night terrors.

What if there have been proven methods for helping a patient no longer have night terrors? Is it denying the sufficiency of Scripture to use these? Of course not. Nor is it denying the sufficiency of Scripture to say something like, “The Body Keeps Score is the best book written on dealing with trauma”.

I don’t mean that ultimately. You can be healed of the effects of PTSD and still fall short of the glory of God. You still need ultimate help and healing from Christ. But you can experience healing—at least in the “my night terrors have stopped” type of way. And The Body Keeps Score may actually be better at providing that type of healing. And saying this is not denying what is meant historically by the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture.

Conclusion: 

In sum, I think we err if someone comes to us wanting help with night terrors and we only pursue getting those to stop. Obeying Christ with night terrors means more than just “I was healed of the effects”. And the Bible is fundamental in this endeavor and is sufficient in this endeavor.

I also think we err if someone comes to us wanting help with night terrors and we only give them the Bible and never actually address the actual help they came to us for. People are holistic beings. Christ aims to heal the whole person. (And will eventually) I do believe the Bible may be incredibly helpful in this regard. In fact, it may be all that is necessary. But I also believe there are other resources which may even be primary at this level of healing.

We do not want to diminish the Bible. But we also do not want to make claims for the Bible that it’s not making for itself. Ultimately, our healing and help is found in Jesus Christ. And he spit on the ground and rubbed mud in a dude’s eye. Let’s be a little less condemnatory of methods folks are using to provide help. But let’s also not be satisfied with muddy-eyed healing when Christ aims for the ultimate healing which comes from union with Him.

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Why We Need to Labor to Keep Christianity Falsifiable

Mike Leake

dwight-schrute-falseAt the time of publication of this article the Jacksonville Jaguars sit with a 1-12 record. Dead last in the AFC South. Absolutely zero chance of making the playoffs.

Do a little thought experiment with me, here. Imagine that you’re a die hard Jags fan. You’ve put time, money, and emotional effort into this thing. You were so confident in the team during the offseason that you made a hefty wager that they’d be Super Bowl champions.

Your wager isn’t looking so good these days. But I have great news for you. I had a dream last night and I visited with the Lord of glory. And He told me that it was written in heaven, it was an absolute certainty, that the Jacksonville Jaguars were going to be the Super Bowl champions.

What do you do with this claim that I’ve made? On first glance it appears that Christianity is made of this stuff. The angel Gabriel telling the old man Zechariah that he was about to be a daddy sounds even more implausible than the Jags winning the Super Bowl this year. Both were mathematically eliminated.

Zechariah was rebuked for not believing the angel. His response is intentionally contrasted with Mary’s response. His was a “show me and I’ll believe”. Her response was “I believe, can you show me?”

So would it be right for your spiritual leaders to rebuke you for not believing this dream? Imagine that I, as a pastor, encouraged my entire congregation (because this was part of my dream) to pool together our money and place a massive bet on Jacksonville to win the Super Bowl. We’ll give all the money to missions, of course. Is it proper for me to rebuke you for asking for some evidence before you donate? Is Christianity the stuff of unverified claims and defaulting to believing those who had dreams and visions of the impossible?

Falsifiable With Consequences

I would argue that even though the Bible is filled with individual (and unfalsifiable) encounters with the Lord, these encounters are accompanied by something which is historically verifiable. Prophecy was grounded in that which could be proven or disproven historically. And there are sharp consequences if what you claimed did not come true. If you do not have both in your context, then you’re more cultish than Christian.

Consider Abraham. He had a private encounter with God. But the promises were historically verifiable. If Abraham doesn’t have a child with his barren wife, Sarah, then his claims are bunk. Just as my dream about the Jaguars winning the Super Bowl. If they don’t win the Super Bowl then even though I might have had a dream it wasn’t something from our always truth-telling Lord.

And there are sharp consequences all throughout the Scriptures for false prophecy. False prophets were put to death. I believe the reason for this is because we ought to default to belief of a prophetic word**. It is to be tested, yes, but the foundation of discernment is hope. But this is impossible if there are no guards upon false prophecy.

If I share that God has told me the Jaguars will win the Super Bowl, and encourage others to take action upon this prophecy, and when some other team (the Browns?) win in 2020, I should never be allowed to pastor again until deep repentance has happened.

The Difference Between Cults and Christ

Christianity remains the most falsifiable religion. And I believe we have evidence in the New Testament that this was an important distinctive of the Christian faith. There is a reason why Paul did not make his trip to heaven a defining point of his gospel message. As I’ve said before:

Christianity is a put-it-under-the-microscope type of faith. Notice what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:6, “…but I refrain from [boasting about my trip to heaven], so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.” Do you see what Paul is doing? He is saying, “I’m only going to boast in what you see Christ doing in my life (verifiable) or the gospel I preach (verifiable)”.

The Spirit loves the light. He loves truth. The gospel isn’t afraid of the microscope. If the foundation of your faith isn’t something verifiable (falsifiable) then it’s something different than what Paul preached….

This is why I say if there is not a culture of this in your context, it is more cultish than Christian. Cults major on making unfalsifiable claims the foundation of their faith. Their culture is inundated with these types of claims.

I say this because I’m hearing all sorts of claims these days related to politics by those claiming the name of Christ. And I urge you to consider whether these claims are falsifiable and if there is a context of consequence related to these claims. I am concerned that many folks are being drawn into cultish thinking.

If it’s true it’ll survive a microscope. And if it’s real prophecy the folks making these claims are willing to put their livelihood and even their own blood on the line. There are no take backs with biblical prophecy.

We cannot surrender the claims of Christ so easily and pretend that the absolutely astonishing (and yet falsifiable) claims of a resurrected Messiah are on par with “I don’t care about the evidence I know in my heart that this unverifiable thing happened”.

Cults thrive amidst bloodless claims made in the dark. Whereas Christianity thrives upon the shed blood of witnesses to under-the-microscope and plain for all to see truth. Be careful about which one you’re giving your life to.

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**I am speaking here of biblical culture and not intending to debate cessationism or charismatic theology.

On Being a Berean With Ourselves

Mike Leake

photo-1567206153494-18ff48fa2261If you aren’t familiar with Christianese, being a Berean is being like those dudes in Acts 17:10-15 who didn’t simply take the apostles words but they dug into them to see if they were true. So being a Berean means that you are one to examine a claim to make sure that it lines of with Scripture. (I’d also argue that what really made the Bereans special was that they received the Word).

It seems to me that when we talk about being a good Berean we’re usually thinking about assessing the claims of others that are brought before us. And we do need to be Bereans when it comes to the truth claims of others. There are people intentionally trying to deceive and some who are unknowingly in error. Scripture does call us to assess truth claims.

But I think we’ve wrongly given someone a pass on these matters. Ourselves.

My Sermon Preparation

I write a couple sermons every week. It’s one of my favorite things in life to do. Part of this is the exhilaration of wrestling with a text and trying to see it from multiple angles. Most weeks I see the passage similar to the commentaries I read. My insights aren’t much different from other sermons I read on the topic.

But sometimes….sometimes, I see something almost totally different than what I’m reading. This happened to me last week in preparing a sermon on Luke 1 about Gabriel coming to both Zechariah and Mary. I had a thought that I’d never heard before. So what do I do in that moment?

I rigorously try to disprove myself. And if I cannot then I will, still with trepidation, pose my insight as a possibility. I do that because I’ve been convinced by the Proverbs that, it’s better not to exalt yourself before men and then be thrown down (Proverbs 25:7). If the insight is true than it’ll take flight. If it’s not, then it’ll be squashed down—as it ought to be.

On Social Media

Being a good Berean means questioning ourselves first and foremost. Just because I have an insight hit me like a bolt of lighting doesn’t necessarily mean that thought came from on high. If we really believe what the gospel says about our propensity to error then we’ll become adept at considering our words.

Charles Bridges is correct when he says:

To believe every word of God is faith. To believe every word of man is credulity. Faith is a principle of infinite moment. Eternal life and death hang upon it. But it must be grounded upon evidence, and it can only be exercised according to the character and measure of the evidence. An indiscriminate faith is therefore fraught with mischief. The world was ruined by this weakness. (Gen 3:1-6). And often since it has been the occasion of sin, and even of downfall. (Bridges, Proverbs, 180).

This is true of my thoughts and statements just as much (if not more) than that of my neighbor. Wouldn’t it behoove us to take great caution in not only fact checking the articles we share but also our own insights as well. This stuff carries infinite weight.

This isn’t meant to cripple us into saying nothing. It’s to say let us be cautious with our words. Let us weigh them and put them under the microscope. Let’s put them through the furnace and see what impurities melt away. If we’ve done so and our words stand then let us boldly proclaim them.

But let’s be good Berean’s. First and foremost with ourselves.

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