QC and SG accountability (29/3/19)

Winnie shared about pastoral and practical issues in the Youth MInistry as it tries to evolve to survive and be more effective in its role.  I noted how everyone loved being pastored and cared for by leaders but by nature were emotionally unready for any change, even if that change is intellectually perceived to be desirable!

We continued discussion of some Christian clichés:

1.        “Judge not, that you be not judged”

This is a very Biblical statement – it comes from the lips of Jesus! (Mt 7:1). It is often used as a reason for not making a statement about someone’s morality. ‘Judgement’ is withheld (or at least, unspoken), and this makes us seem very spiritual. Clearly Jesus does not intend for us to not exercise discernment between what is good and worthy and what is evil and unworthy. A few verses down (Mt 7:6) He tells us to identify ‘dogs’ and ‘pigs’ and to withhold spiritual treasures from them, and this would be impossible without discernment!

The context of v.1 is clear: we cannot make moral pronouncements without first being aware of our own sinfulness (v. 3-4). We ourselves will be judged (v.2) and will desire a generous view of our failings. So this cliché must be interpreted as never judging from a harsh and morally superior attitude. QY noted that so many youth did not want to be judged without being loved as well.

2.       “Love the sinner, hate the sin”

This is often invoked when considering people whose lifestyles we consider unbiblical (e.g. LGBTQ individuals). Here those who use this cliché desire to express love and a non-condemning attitude at   some level. This idea is not found in Scripture - the Bible is clear that God does indeed hate and set Himself against the wicked (Dt 7:9-10, Ps 11:6). The nature and the acts of people are not distinguishable, either theologically or practically. The cliche can create a false impression of distance between people and their actions.

Furthermore, we are in fact all sinners. The cliché encourages us to view people more as ‘sinners’ whom we condescend to love than ‘neighbours’ or ‘enemies’ whom we are in fact commanded to love (Mt 22:39, 5:43). So our approach should be to love everyone, and yet without losing awareness of the repugnance of sin as well as our own sinfulness as well as theirs.

3.       “God helps those who helps themselves”

This is a call to practical effort – an encouragement for someone to inspire someone to take the initiative. The idea is found nowhere in the Bible, although Scripture always encourages us to work hard (Col 3:23, Prov 6:10-12, 12:11, 24). Yet it is clear that making God’s help contingent on our effort is the very antithesis of the Gospel. We are saved by grace (Eph 2:8-9), not by God seeing the sincerity of our effort. All our working is because of God’s gracious work in us (Phil 2:13, 1 Cor 15:10). That is why, at the end of our working, we give all glory to God - it was His motivation and empowering in our effort that led to success.

4.       “Let go and let God”

At best, this encourages us to surrender the situation into God’s sovereign and loving hands. It is a hard thing to let go, and hard also to ‘let God’ determine our ways. Jesus does promise us rest from our burdens (Mt 11:28) At worst, this cliché can give the impression that everything will be fine once we stop putting in effort. It can also mean that cessation of effort will inevitably lead to God doing the very thing we wanted to do but were failing at. We cannot have the expectation that God will fulfill our agenda. The Christian life is one of purposeful effort (2 Ti 2:3-6): we are soldiers and athletes and farmers. We must deny ourselves and die daily in following Christ (Mt 16:24, Lk 9:27). As J. I. Packer once put it, “The Christian’s motto should not be ‘Let go and let God’ but ‘Trust God and get going.