Gritty Humility and Mock-Holiness

Mike Leake 1 Comment

Do you remember how Jesus said, “whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”?  There is a way in which my two year old son models this.  He is too blissfully ignorant to know that he is supposed to wear a mask.  If he is ticked off he lets me know it.  If he is sad he lets me know it.  He is confident enough in my love for him that he doesn’t have to pretend.

There is also a way in which new believers model this—at least for awhile.  Most new believers are so amazed that God loves and accepts them—think Romans 5:8—that they are humble and confident enough in the Father’s love that they don’t pretend to be more than they are. 

Oh, but how time changes this. 

You can see this in many small groups or Sunday school classes.  A new believer “ignorantly” (though rightly) confesses sin in a very raw way.  He has yet to learn all of the masking words we Christians use.  This ignorant sap doesn’t yet know how to clean up his sin and make it pretty and acceptable for his Christian community.  So, he just comes right out and says it—“I get so pissed off with my boss that I start fantasizing about his destruction”.  This new believer boldly says what he is thinking, feeling, and doing. 

Shocked, confused, and enamored with such a confession the group gives the obligatory correction.  Now comes the advice parade.  Most people around the room give advice for dealing with anger.  Much of the advice is a veiled rebuke.  There is seldom a place for such gritty humility. 

Fast forward five years and this new believer is fully acclimated into the mask-wearing community.  He’s now a seasoned believer.  He finds himself in a small group that has a few new believers in attendance.  On one occasion a new believer shares his unmasked confession.  Our now seasoned believer remembers back five years ago when he was encouraged to put on his mask of mock-holiness.  Now rather than gritty humility he finds advice and obligatory correction spewing from his lips. 

Mock-holiness is safer.  Real holiness only comes from gritty humility.  And gritty humility is messy.  But which is the Jesus-way?

New Writer Needed

Mike Leake 4 Comments

This is probably not the most prestigious position that you will ever have.  And I guarantee it will not be the highest paying.  In fact I won’t pay you anything.  You may get a few free books out of the deal.  You probably will not get much notoriety–as this blog only gets a little over 100 hits per day.  But I have seen steady growth over the last year and there may be some bigger opportunities in store in the future. 

With all of that being said.  Would anyone care to join me?  My good friend Terry Buster writes occasionally.  But I am looking for one (maybe two) more people to join me in writing on this blog.  We do not have to have the same theological leanings.  I only ask that you write with humility, grace, and Christ-centeredness.  I would like for you to write at least one-two posts per week.  That will keep traffic here during my school months when I cannot write as much. 

If you are interested please email me mleake792 AT students DOT sbts DOT edu.  Or leave a comment with your email and I’ll email you a few questions. 

Jesus. Everything is Different.

Mike Leake 1 Comment

Many bible commentaries are dry exposition of texts.  Your affections are seldom stirred by the writing in most commentaries.  Not so with the Pillar Commentary Series edited by D.A. Carson.  Here is an example; Commenting on Mark 2:21-22 James R. Edwards says of the new wine and unshrunk cloth parables:

The parables illustrate the radical posture and presumption of Jesus.  Jesus is the new patch and the new wine.  He is not an attachment, addition, or appendage to the status quo.  He cannot be integrated into preexisting structures, even Judaism, Torah, and the synagogue…He goes to the synagogue, but not as everyone else goes to the synagogue.  Jesus goes with new teaching (1:27).  He is like the scribes in that he teaches, but his authority surpasses theirs (1:22)…He relinquishes himself completely, though never surrendering his divine authority.  He gives himself in service, though rendering allegiance to none but God.  He gives his life to the world, but he is not a captive to the world.  The question posed by the image of the wedding feast and the two atom-like parables is not whether disciples will, like sewing a new patch on an old garment or refilling an old container, make room for Jesus in their already full agendas and lives.  The question is whether they will forsake business as usual and join the wedding celebration; whether they will become entirely new receptacles for the expanding fermentation of Jesus and the gospel in their lives.  (Emphasis mine)

Jesus is much more than something we add to our already full lives. 

Calvin on the Theologians Task

Mike Leake 2 Comments

I have many questions about the Bible and all that God has revealed.  There are many things that remain a mystery.  I would like to know more about the fall of Satan.  I would like to know more about the relationship between divine sovereignty and human freedom.  There are numerous questions that I have that are just plain silly, like whether or not Adam had a belly button. 

Even though John Calvin’s namesake is often involved in heated arguments often filled with speculations, I find his attitude to ward speculations helpful.  Here are a few helpful quotes:

  • “The theologians task is not to divert the ears with chatter, but to strengthen consciences by teaching things true, sure, and profitable.”
  • “…in all religious doctrine, we ought to one rule of modesty and sobriety:  not to speak, or guess, or even to seek to know, concerning obscure matters anything anything except what has been imparted to us by God’s Word. 
  • “Let us not indulge in curiosity or in the investigation of unprofitable things.”
  • “Therefore let us willingly remain enclosed within these bounds [Scripture] to which God has willed to confine us, and as it were, to pen up our minds that they may not, through their very freedom to wander, go astray.” 

I do not think that Calvin is saying that it is wrong to ask questions.  Nor do I think he would be necessarily against pursuing things like scientific discovery.  But when pressed to give a solid answer on things which God has not chosen to reveal—Calvin often refuses to speculate.  He does this because he believes that what God has revealed through Scripture is sufficient for us.  The only “true, sure, and profitable” thing which we can rest on is the gospel as revealed in Scripture. 

So, let’s labor to understand what God has revealed and not waste so much time in empty speculation that God has chosen not to reveal.  In other words when you have a question, perhaps your primary source should be the Bible.  The fundamental question that governs all else must be—What has God revealed to us in Scripture about this.