Paradigm 7: Mentoring Core Values
Edmund Chan emphasizes the importance of clearly crafted, articulated and implemented core values. The 3 core values he identifies as a mentor are:
1. Grace: we are to be grace-receivers in joy and grace-releasers in love to others.
2. Growth through accountability: we reflect on what others say about us so that our faith and character develop.
3. Godliness is defined here as 'putting God in the equation of life' - we orientate every part of our lives to Him. This is a sanctifying work of the Spirit. We 'train ourselves for godliness (1 Ti 4:7)
I asked if these 3 values were the ones we ourselves would choose if we were to mentor others.If we had one thing we wanted to model for a younger Christian - one thing we wanted to pass on of what we had, what would it be? We mentioned obedience, surrender, steadfastness, loyalty and commitment. Brokenness, a teachable spirit, discipline, love for Christ and good stewardship were also mentioned.. I said that I suspected that we choose the values that we ourselves are strong in to pass on to others.
Why have core values in the first place? Core values give identity and stability in a changing world. They help decision making. We don't usually operate with these in our awareness! FFMC does not have articulated core values. Our cell does not have articulated core values, although I would expect that we share a commitment to Christ as Lord, the Bible as the authority for faith and practice, accountability and openness to one another and so on. Core values need to be personally owned before they can be effective and cannot be effectively imposed from above.
God preeminently showed grace to others on the Cross - He took the ultimate punishment for unworthy sinners so that we might receive not only forgiveness, but blessing. Grace is the distinctive feature of the Christian faith. Grace removes the rationale for pride and any sense of superiority over others. Grace exalts God as the only worthy One. Grace, properly understood, means that we can never bargain with God or pay back Him back for all he has done. In our lives it means we also forgive and bless the undeserving people we meet. It means we stop comparing ourselves to others in thinking we are 'better' or 'worse' . We learn to come to Him fully accepted and vulnerable, without excuse or merit on our part. And we also accept people who approach us in the same way, without condemnation or expectation that they perform favours for us first.
Accountability enables growth because others can see our blind spots. These are areas we cannot see in ourselves, but that others can see in us. The factors that can prevent accountability structures from helping growth as they should include fearfulness, distrust and dishonesty.The most mature members of a group must lead the way in being vulnerable to correction and confession. (James 5:16)
A godly perspective is not just one that is based on Scripture, but one that takes God's presence and reality into account in every way. "Godliness" normally refers to a certain holiness of life, but as defined by Edmund Chan is closer to "God-centredness" 1 Tim 4:6-10 speaks of training for godliness rather than physical training. This involves painful effort (v.10). There is repetition and progressive competence in what we are training for in order that we can act out quickly and effectively what has been ingrained in us as we train. So I encouraged each of us to obey consistently in small ways so that we are ready to obey in greater ways. I think John Macarthur's encouragement to discipline is helpful here: "The ability to regulate one's conduct by principle and sound judgment, rather than by impulse, desire, or social custom. Biblically, self-discipline may be summarized in one word: obedience."We train to be godly by obedience.
1. Grace: we are to be grace-receivers in joy and grace-releasers in love to others.
2. Growth through accountability: we reflect on what others say about us so that our faith and character develop.
3. Godliness is defined here as 'putting God in the equation of life' - we orientate every part of our lives to Him. This is a sanctifying work of the Spirit. We 'train ourselves for godliness (1 Ti 4:7)
I asked if these 3 values were the ones we ourselves would choose if we were to mentor others.If we had one thing we wanted to model for a younger Christian - one thing we wanted to pass on of what we had, what would it be? We mentioned obedience, surrender, steadfastness, loyalty and commitment. Brokenness, a teachable spirit, discipline, love for Christ and good stewardship were also mentioned.. I said that I suspected that we choose the values that we ourselves are strong in to pass on to others.
Why have core values in the first place? Core values give identity and stability in a changing world. They help decision making. We don't usually operate with these in our awareness! FFMC does not have articulated core values. Our cell does not have articulated core values, although I would expect that we share a commitment to Christ as Lord, the Bible as the authority for faith and practice, accountability and openness to one another and so on. Core values need to be personally owned before they can be effective and cannot be effectively imposed from above.
God preeminently showed grace to others on the Cross - He took the ultimate punishment for unworthy sinners so that we might receive not only forgiveness, but blessing. Grace is the distinctive feature of the Christian faith. Grace removes the rationale for pride and any sense of superiority over others. Grace exalts God as the only worthy One. Grace, properly understood, means that we can never bargain with God or pay back Him back for all he has done. In our lives it means we also forgive and bless the undeserving people we meet. It means we stop comparing ourselves to others in thinking we are 'better' or 'worse' . We learn to come to Him fully accepted and vulnerable, without excuse or merit on our part. And we also accept people who approach us in the same way, without condemnation or expectation that they perform favours for us first.
Accountability enables growth because others can see our blind spots. These are areas we cannot see in ourselves, but that others can see in us. The factors that can prevent accountability structures from helping growth as they should include fearfulness, distrust and dishonesty.The most mature members of a group must lead the way in being vulnerable to correction and confession. (James 5:16)
A godly perspective is not just one that is based on Scripture, but one that takes God's presence and reality into account in every way. "Godliness" normally refers to a certain holiness of life, but as defined by Edmund Chan is closer to "God-centredness" 1 Tim 4:6-10 speaks of training for godliness rather than physical training. This involves painful effort (v.10). There is repetition and progressive competence in what we are training for in order that we can act out quickly and effectively what has been ingrained in us as we train. So I encouraged each of us to obey consistently in small ways so that we are ready to obey in greater ways. I think John Macarthur's encouragement to discipline is helpful here: "The ability to regulate one's conduct by principle and sound judgment, rather than by impulse, desire, or social custom. Biblically, self-discipline may be summarized in one word: obedience."We train to be godly by obedience.
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