Meekness is not a weakness - 9Marks Trends

Well, we have come to the last trend that I noticed from A Pastors’ and Theologians’ Forum on Selecting Elders, a 9Marks article given to me by a brother in Christ. Previous posts in this series have included:

• Intro
• Giftedness is paramount
• Pastor/elders should be selected from within the body

As was seen in the last post in this series, one of the main benefits of selecting pastor/elders from within the body is the opportunity to observe their lives (on a related note, check out this post on Advantages of non-hired, local leaders ). This allows the body really to get to know someone and know if the person has some temper or humility issues. Consider the following quotes:

“One of the lessons I’ve learned and re-learned in more than one church is the danger of selecting a man to serve as elder who has a history of protracted, repeated, and/or unresolved conflict. … This may demonstrate itself in a lack of gentleness, a propensity to taking rigid positions when none are required, an inability to lose graciously, or simply an over-love of debate. Whatever the form it takes, quarrelsomeness is a serious impediment to effect service as an elder; unchecked it is a clear disqualification (1 Tim 3:3). … Meekness is not a weakness.” - Michael Lawrence

“Be careful about recognizing an elder who has an unhealthy interest in theological disputes.” – Ed Roberts

“Quieter men, quiet hearts, are worth their weight in gold and may astonish us by their wisdom.” – Sinclair B. Ferguson

Well said gentlemen! The church is in need of much meekness and humility. Too often believers so believe that they are right, that they do not care who gets run over as long as their ideas get recognized as right. This usually results in strife and division in the body of Christ and a bad witness to the world around it.

Thanks, Dennis, for the article. I have been encouraged by it, and I hope all of you readers have been too.

10 Years

Today marks my and Cindy's TEN year anniversary. Like many have experienced before us, and many will experience after us, ten years is one of those milestones which elicit feelings of unbelief of how long and of how short it has been: it's hard to believe that it has already been ten years since the day we said "I do," and yet it feels like we have known each other forever and have always loved each other, yet ten years is a lot less than forever.

As I think of a description of who I was ten years ago, I can't help but think "immature." I was a brand new believer in Jesus Christ, 23 years old, working on my Ph.D. in AE, with many selfish dreams. Now ... well let us just say that God has been refining me (He still has much work to do),I'm 33 years old, finishing an MDiv and considering another Ph.D., this time in Theology or Philosophy, trying to be like John the Baptist and allow Christ to increase in my life and Maël to decrease.

I've been blessed with a lovely wife who has been my helpmate on this journey, which is much different than the journey we thought we were going to be taking ten years ago. A wife which God has given me to love me, to encourage me, and as a friend once said, to keep me humble.

To our past ten years, Honey: may God grant us many, many more.