Whose Approval Are We Seeking?

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15

There it is. Summed up in Paul's words to Timothy. That's the goal of our study, our discipline, and our dedication. That we would be approved unto God. Sadly, we know there is a great temptation to seek the approval of others, even at the loss of God's approval.


I attended Bible college for four years, and received my bachelor's degree in theology. I'm thankful for that experience and education. I have never regretted the investment in my ministry. I continued my studies through the university where I'm employed. Later, I started working on studies in theology at the master's degree level. I'm a supporter of continuing education. I think our learning should be lifelong. We ought to keep working on the discipline of study. I believe we need to labor over the Word to be unashamed workmen. While we're working at it, though, let's remember Whose approval really matters. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God..."

As focus increases on academic achievements in the church and among its leadership, we must stay on guard especially in this area. Built into its DNA, academia includes a pursuit of constant and graduated approval. But whose approval? If we're not careful, our quest may become the approval of academic peers, professors, certifying boards, and those who award degrees. Yet, such approval can stand contrary to God's approval. To make the grade of man, what will we say? Will we be called upon to compromise Biblical values and doctrinal positions to receive the certification of men? One won't always demand the other, but I know cases where compromises have been expected in order to go to the next level of academics.

My secular job is a role in academic administration in a university. I have witnessed the constant pressures of measuring up for degrees and accolades. It's costly. It's unending. Ultimately the accolades of man fall far short of the one statement of approval we are supposed to seek:

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

It's not from our peers that we need to hear these words. It's not from committees. We must hear God say it.

I'm concerned when I see the intense pursuit of approval from unbelieving academics. It seems to have increased in the last few years. Perhaps some in the Church grew tired of having so-called scholars looking down their noses at Apostolics. Certainly it's tiring to hear other denominations misrepresent our understanding of the Bible. Of course it's frustrating to have us labeled as emotional but uneducated.

But back in the day, the closest followers of Jesus weren't identified by public accolades of their knowledge. No, the unbelieving intellectuals looked at the disciples "and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS." (Acts 4:13)

I hope we'll continue to study, and grow in knowledge. Paul instructed Timothy to do the same. However, if we have to decide between knowledge that garners public accolades or power that illustrates we've been with Jesus, the right choice is obvious. I know the response from many will be, "We can have both. We can be highly educated, Holy Ghost-powered believers." That is true. Certainly we have many fine examples of that truth in the Church today. We even have some examples from the Bible.

Paul was, of course, educated at high levels. He put that education to good use. But when it came down to priority and preaching, Paul the scholar said,

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."     1 Corinthians 2:1-5

"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." That statement should direct our academic pursuits in these perilous times. Whose approval are we seeking? Where does our confidence rest? In the wisdom of men? In our own knowledge and education? Do we want people to praise us or praise God? I want to hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant..." 

Let's Stay Hitched!

Not long ago, author Andy Stanley dropped a hermeneutical bomb on the Christian world. The summary of his proposal: "It's time to unhitch...from the Old Testament..."
Defending his position against the backlash later, Stanley replied that critics didn't listen to his message series in its entirety. Apparently, they took a few quotations out of context and didn't give his entire message an opportunity to speak. But isn't this exactly what Stanley is proposing we do with the Bible? Isn't he suggesting we only take part of its message as our guidance?

Stanley points out that some atheistic authors and unbelievers use difficult passages from the Old Testament to discount Christianity. But I have to ask, should the Church's response be to discount the Bible, too? Listeners of Stanley's "Aftermath" series might get the impression that he considers the Old Testament as wobbly as the atheists do. Stanley quotes Harris and Dawkins repeatedly, remarking on one of Dawkins' disparaging statements about God: "That's a great line, isn't it? I mean...I don't believe it. But that's a great line."1 Then he makes up a conversation on behalf of Peter the disciple of Jesus. Note that. The atheists get quoted verbatim. Peter gets paraphrased in what I consider a gross misrepresentation. Here's that example from part 1 of the series:

Stanley explains, “If you were to ask Peter, ‘What’s the foundation…where do you find your hope…' He wouldn’t have quoted a verse from the Old Testament…he wouldn’t have quoted a verse at all…”

But this is exactly what Peter does on the day of Pentecost. He quotes the Word of God. He references David, Psalms, the prophets, Joel. When asked about the supernatural events the Church experienced on the day of Pentecost, Peter quoted Scripture. He gave as point of reference a reason for what was seen and heard that day. And it was based upon Old Testament prophecies and writings.

"But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams..."  - Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, Acts 2:16-17

Stanley's explanation within his series is that "our experience is based on a relationship with Jesus not on a book." He goes to some length to explain that the early Church didn't have the Bible we have. True. But they certainly had Scripture. And they linked their experience and relationship with Jesus to what they knew from Scripture. This Scripture is the very part that Stanley proposes unhitching from in the quest to move toward "reclaiming the new." Here's the brief promo copy of his new book, based in part on the Aftermath series: "Today we preach, teach, write, and communicate as if nothing has changed. As if 'The Bible says it' still settles it. It's time to hit the pause button on much of what we're doing and consider the faith modeled by our first-century brothers and sisters who had no official Bible, no status, and humanly speaking, little chance of survival."

On the surface, Stanley's book "Irresistible" presents an idea that the Church believes in. That is, we believe that a return to the faith, doctrine, and methods of the Church in Acts is key to what we need today. However, beneath the surface of the book there's a proposal for a dangerous move: discounting the Old Testament or seeing it as a disconnected part from the New Testament. Doing so removes so many "ancient landmarks" that help us understand what the first century Church was really experiencing at Pentecost and throughout the New Testament record. Peter understood this connection and it's clearly why he pointed out the link between the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the prophecy of Joel. "This is that." Paul understood the connection and repeatedly pointed out the Old Testament types and shadows and their parallels to the Church.

"Unhitching" from the Old Testament is not just a matter of cutting away the books of Genesis through Malachi. Readers who find those books "troublesome" will find themselves in trouble when they get to the New Testament. There they will quickly discover that the first book, first chapter, first verse immediately launches into references to the Old Testament. And those references are not just to historical markers, but to people who are important in the role of helping us understand the Who and what of Jesus Christ! Will proponents of unhitching recommend we get rid of every reference to the Old Testament? Some already have. If so, there will be conversations deleted that came right from the mouth of Jesus. There will be entire chapters that will have to be altered, since Paul quoted and referenced so much of the Old Testament in his writings. Of course, the adversary knows that removing so much of the Bible will eventually prompt the removal or diminishing of all the rest. We see this already in too many places.

Let's endeavor to say, as Paul said, "...I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." (Acts 20:27) Let's take this precious book called the Bible in its entirety. "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:21) Those are words worth holding on to.

Let's stay hitched!

Notes:
I communicated with Andy Stanley prior to sharing this article to convey to him my intent behind the commentary you've just read. I believe this is the Biblical mandate; to go to the person first to air a grievance before taking it elsewhere. I also want to note what I expressed to Andy regarding his books and ministry: I have been reading Andy Stanley's books for almost 15 years, and utilized some of his books and resources when my wife and I planted the first church we started in our city. Books like Visioneering, Can We Do That?, Choosing to Cheat; It Came from Within, were all instrumental in my early years as a pastor. I read them and I shared them with others. The above article is not an opposition to all of Andy's work. It is, however, in direct opposition to his views as expressed about the Old Testament and the place it ought to have in the life of Christians.

1 The Dawkins quote was, in part: “The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving..." I'll stop there, but the infamous quote doesn't warrant compliment, by any means.

God's Timing and a Good Book

I've lost count of the number of times someone has recommended a book or given a copy to me, and I discovered that God brought that book into my life precisely in the season I needed it most. It's one reason I try to move quickly to purchase recommended books. It's also why I try to gift books to others as God prompts me or as I come across titles that have blessed me.

As a teenager with an early call to the ministry in my life, I would receive copies of ministry and missionary books from leaders in my home church. None of them knew I had placed some restrictions on my ministry in certain areas. Let's just say I had held my ground on staying close to home for ministry. During that season, a dear Sunday School teacher gave me a copy of the wonderful book Bill Drost the Pentecost. And the limitations I had tried to maintain regarding my involvement with missions and missionaries began to crumble. A few years later, the impact of that book was built upon by Bro. Jim Sleeva, my missions instructor in college. And for the first time I really accepted that the world at home and abroad was a mission field. If I purposed to fulfill my calling, I would be a missionary one way or another, in one place or another, and I must be willing to go. At that time, my involvement began with "home missions" and I started visiting new church plants and eventually accepted an invitation to serve in a home missions work in Indianapolis. That journey took me away from home and familiar territory to where I am now, pastoring the church my wife and I planted as Kentucky Missionaries over 10 years ago in Richmond.
https://pentecostalpublishing.com/p-843-bill-drost-pentecost.aspx


This past October, on the drive to Indiana, for what would be my last Earthly visit with my Dad, I began listening to C.S. Lewis's "The Weight of Glory", recommended by my wife. I didn't finish the selection of sermons and messages on the way there. I arrived at my parents and stayed by Dad's side until he passed away late that night. On the way home to get my wife and kids for Dad's funeral, I finished "The Weight of Glory." It was profound, powerful, and perfectly timed for a grieving son. A couple days later, I re-read Lewis's The Last Battle. "Higher up and further in" resounded in my soul as I longed for the Heavenly reunion the Narnia characters were experiencing.

God's timing and a good book are a powerful combination.

A couple years ago I was introduced to a classic book at the recommendation of Rev. Philip Harrelson. I'm a little embarrassed to say I had never read A Tale of  Three