An open letter to those called to ministry (including myself)
Don't give up.
I was doing homework for a class I hate. I had to write something out for an Old Testament prophesy. It was in II Samuel. Part of the prophecy said, "When he does wrong I will punish him" and then it said "I will not turn my back on Him."
Well, this goes against the NT. We believe that Jesus never sinned and we believe that when the weight of the sins of the world was on Jesus "even God could look no more" (My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?)
I asked these questions in my paper - my last question was. If there isn't a good explanation for these prophecies, I can't justify the idea that the OT and NT flow harmoniously - how can we justifiably call the testaments harmonious?
The professor gave me a short answer. "Very Harmoniously." WTF?
I know I've already blogged about this, but I can't get it out of my mind. He gave up. He stopped trying. My view of inerrancy and infallibility hung on his answer to my question - and he wasn't trying that day.
Don't give up. When ministry seems so humdrum and usual don't give up. When kids ask questions that don't contribute to the discussion please remember that their very faith might hang in the answer to that question. Don't be afraid to take time, to promise an answer later, or to schedule it in. I have become pretty depressed since I recieved that answer. I don't know why. I hate the Bible and Theology department at my school. I put a lot of hope in this particular professor. I thought he would be different, but he wasn't.
I recieved a good answer (from Dr. Smith, the director of the School of World Missions who mentors me) but, I just can't shake the feeling I get that I will never find any resolution with the Bible and Theology Department.
Be different. Change the world. Change the church. Swear in a sermon. Say no to something you don't want to do. Take time, not just to be Holy, but to answer the simple questions and the difficult one. Never look down on someone for understanding less of the Bible.
Don't give up.
I was doing homework for a class I hate. I had to write something out for an Old Testament prophesy. It was in II Samuel. Part of the prophecy said, "When he does wrong I will punish him" and then it said "I will not turn my back on Him."
Well, this goes against the NT. We believe that Jesus never sinned and we believe that when the weight of the sins of the world was on Jesus "even God could look no more" (My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?)
I asked these questions in my paper - my last question was. If there isn't a good explanation for these prophecies, I can't justify the idea that the OT and NT flow harmoniously - how can we justifiably call the testaments harmonious?
The professor gave me a short answer. "Very Harmoniously." WTF?
I know I've already blogged about this, but I can't get it out of my mind. He gave up. He stopped trying. My view of inerrancy and infallibility hung on his answer to my question - and he wasn't trying that day.
Don't give up. When ministry seems so humdrum and usual don't give up. When kids ask questions that don't contribute to the discussion please remember that their very faith might hang in the answer to that question. Don't be afraid to take time, to promise an answer later, or to schedule it in. I have become pretty depressed since I recieved that answer. I don't know why. I hate the Bible and Theology department at my school. I put a lot of hope in this particular professor. I thought he would be different, but he wasn't.
I recieved a good answer (from Dr. Smith, the director of the School of World Missions who mentors me) but, I just can't shake the feeling I get that I will never find any resolution with the Bible and Theology Department.
Be different. Change the world. Change the church. Swear in a sermon. Say no to something you don't want to do. Take time, not just to be Holy, but to answer the simple questions and the difficult one. Never look down on someone for understanding less of the Bible.
Don't give up.
posted by Michael Airgood at 12:27 PM
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