Our God IS Greater, But Should We Proclaim That?

Mike Leake 3 Comments

Kurt Willems has written an interesting piece this morning on the song, Our God is Greater.  His take is that it *might* make our God seem less great.  Willems believes that because we live in a post-Christian society singing about how “our ‘cosmic dad’ can beat up everyone else’s ideological parent” could reinforce the stereotypes against Christians. 

He argues that we must “find our voice in the margins” and not trying to “live out a Christendom shaped dream of yesteryear”.  Such lyrics sound “coercive and arrogant” to post-Christendom trained ears.  Willems argues that we ought to live out the Christian life and the world will know that our God is greater by our “Jesus-shaped Spirit-empowered communities” and we will not need to rely “upon verbally combative claims”. 

I hear what Willems is saying, and honestly with a little more discussion I could potentially be convinced of his position.  But I do what to push back a little bit and defend the song “Our God is Greater” and even in a missional context. 

The Biggest Problem

The main problem that I see with Willems’ position is that the Scriptures that undergird the lyrics in the song were spoken by minorities living in a world similar to our own post-Christian society.  Yes, the contemporary voice that these words are given may come with a Christendom-jaded perspective—but in their original context (I’m thinking numerous passages in the OT and obviously in Romans 8) Christendom wasn’t around. 

How would a reading of Nahum fit with Willems’ position.  The entire thing is basically a taunt of the nations and a proclamation that “our God is greater”.  God Himself says in Ezekiel 38 (among other places) that he will make his name great and display his awesomeness and holiness in the sight of the nations.  God seems to be singing, “I’m Greater, I’m Higher, to the Nations” and he is calling Israel to join him. 

Only an OT directive?

It could be possible, though, that we are defending the theocracy of the OT and that in the NT our call is different.  Is proclaiming “Our God is greater” before the nations a call that is reserved for the OT?  While I don’t like pitting the OT against the NT, I do think that the mission is lived out differently.  The Old Testament is fundamentally a “come and see”, whereas the New Testament is more “go and tell”. 

So, is part of the “go  and tell” a commission to proclaim “Our God is Greater”? 

Isn’t this what Paul does in Acts 17?  I can hardly make sense of Paul’s declaration, “The God who made the world and everything it it”, if he is not in part saying—This “unknown God” is greater than all of the others, He will judge, and He is today calling everyone out of ignorance and into repentance. 

Therefore, I agree with Willems that we do not need to be needlessly confrontational or try to promote Christendom.  I stand with Willem in declaring, “thy Kingdom come” and not the little one that we’ve tried to set up in its place.  But I differ with Willem in that believe one of the means that God uses to bring His kingdom is to proclaim the emptiness of idols and the Lord’s greatness at their expense. 

I will continue to lovingly and humbly sing “Our God is Greater” in the hopes that the sovereign Lord of the universe will display this power and continue to draw the nations to Himself.  Let’s also not forget that part of this cry that “Our God is Greater” is a hope that He is overturning the works of the devil and that He is greater than all brokenness.  Yes, some might be offended that we proclaim our God as greater, but it is not a needless offense.  Eventually, if they are to come to Christ, their knee must bow and their tongue confess that God is Greater and Higher than any other god we’ve tried to erect in his place. 

7 Questions with Dave Rohrer, Author of The Sacred Wilderness of Pastoral Ministry (Part 1 of 2)

Mike Leake

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to read and review an excellent book written by Dave Rohrer.  The book, The Sacred Wilderness of Pastoral Ministry, is gritty, honest, and helpful.  I was overjoyed to get an email from Dave Rohrer and also to secure a seven question interview with him.  We’ll do this in two parts, expect part 2 tomorrow.

1. What inspired this book?

For me the word “inspired” connotes a suddenness that was certainly not a part of creating this book. It’s not like I woke up one morning and said: “Gee, what a great idea to write a book about pastoral ministry using John the Baptist as an archetype.” I did not have a vision of John and hear God say: “Write what you see in a book.” What I do know is that ever since I have been a pastor I have struggled with what I am doing and why I am doing it. I have loved and hated this work; and as I have navigated the journey of being a pastor I have relished those opportunities I have had to reflect with other pastors about our common calling.

This book mainly grew out of the work of theological reflection I have done with interns at University Presbyterian in Seattle. Over a period of about seven years I developed this material on John the Baptist in the context of reflecting on the theology of ministry with these interns.

I started to think about John in this way because of the richness of the story in Luke 7. That expression of John’s doubt and Jesus’ subsequent affirmation of John arrested my imagination. I wanted to get to know John better and in seeing his doubt I saw him as a vulnerable person and a kindred spirit in ministry. The more I worked with John’s story and discussed it with these interns the more I began to feel like turning it into a book. When the idea for the book finally came it was like it had been gestating in me. Once it was ready to be born I had the energy to write it and that took about a year.

2. What do you hope the book accomplishes?

I hope that this book will start or continue conversations among pastors and church leaders about who pastors are and what the essence of their work is. In the face of a rapidly changing church, pastors are barraged with all sorts of material designed to help them to plant and grow or revive and stabilize congregations. What we don’t get as much of is an opportunity to think together about why we do what we do. So I hope this book can contribute to the discussion of what pastors ought to be doing to faithfully answer their call in the midst of these changes.

I am not proposing this book as an alternative to the books on leadership and congregational development. I see it as a completely different beast. It’s an attempt to reflect on the one necessary thing we need to keep close to us as we work to lead a congregation. It offers a set of lenses through which to see and evaluate that work of congregational leadership. Hopefully it sets our work in context. I don’t see it telling people how to do their work as much as offering people a reason to keep doing their work.

3. You are on a bus when a seminary student sits down next to you. You discover that within the week he will begin pastoring his first church. He asks you for advice on being a pastor. You have 3-5 minutes before he has to exit the bus. What do you tell him?

“Stay on this bus and get as far away from here as you can.”

But seriously folks….

First, I would tell the student to cultivate a listening heart and learn some practice of reflection that cultivates self- awareness. We pastors spend a lot of time wondering about whether or not we are effective and what God might be accomplishing through us. But the only thing we can ever be certain about is what God is doing in us. So pray for the eyes of your heart to be opened to the truth of who God knows you to be and let that awareness open your ears to the Spirit’s invitations to grow into the image of Christ.

Second, I would say, all of your work as a pastor is about participating in work that is already in progress. The most freeing thing about ministry is that God is inviting us to be a part of what he is doing. So start every pastoral encounter with this prayer: “Lord how are you at work here and how are you inviting me to be a part of it?”

Third, (if he’s still on the bus or hasn’t told me to mind my own damn business) I would quote two passages from St Paul, II Corinthians 4:1 and Romans 12:16: “Since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry….do not claim to be wiser than you are.” The ministry we have as pastors is God’s gift to us. It is an opportunity to experience God’s gracious mercy. So seek the way of humility: stay in touch with the truth of who you are and who you aren’t, and be on the lookout for the gifts God is wanting to give you.

—

Dave will answer 4 more questions tomorrow.  Stay tuned…

If you have not already you can, and should, pick up the book.

Why I Will Not Be Voting For Dave Miller for 2nd VP

Mike Leake 4 Comments

Yesterday it was announced that the editor for SBC Voices, Dave Miller, will be nominated for the 2nd VP of the SBC.  Though I greatly respect Dave and am honored to be able to write for SBC Voices, I will not be voting for him.  And there is one, and only one, huge reason why…

I can’t be in attendance.

That is my only reservation for voting for Dave.  (My apologies if I am supposed to call him something other than simply Dave, now). 

Alan Cross has written a very nice piece on the esteemed Mr. Miller.  I would echo Alan’s reasons for voting for Dave.  If I could be in attendance I would vote for Dave with my right hand as well with the ballot that I tricked them into giving me with a fake mustache. 

So, if you do not have the same problem as me in voting for the Iowan Wonder then I urge you to cast your vote for Dave Miller for 2nd VP of the SBC.  Do it for me.  Do it for America.  Do it for world peace. 

No word on whether Dave, if elected, will be challenging messengers to Feats of Strength.  Though I do hope he’ll accept his nomination wearing the above suit. 

Faithful Fathers Make War

Mike Leake

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ (Mark 9:43-48 ESV)

When dads don’t take sin serious they make the Savior look less than precious.  Faithful fathers will take sin seriously by making war on the flesh.  Christ is more precious than feet, hands, eyes, and anything else we could value.  Yet if we treat our sin as worthy of protection and hide them from the penetrating gaze of the jealous God we communicate to our children that God is less than these. 

Dads, make war!