Thoughts On the Humility of Christ
Humility In
the Midst of Glory
Listening to
the radio on my way home from Bible study this last week, I turned the local
Christian station, and heard a familiar voice. It was the voice of a person I
have heard little bits of before, but never paid a great deal of attention to. This
person a New York Times best seller, and is very popular, even in more
conservative Christian circles. Her name, known by many, is Joyce Meyer, and
there I am sure there are many who simply are not sure as to the validity of
her preaching. Firstly, it should take much Biblical searching to find that
saying "her preaching," in and of itself, is an issue (as she is a
woman pastor). But that debate aside, let us go beyond the basic confrontations
get right into the meat of the issue: what she actually says.
Those who are so immensely popular should, naturally, incur extra scrutiny, because the Scripture is not vague on the broadness of the path that leads to destruction (where there are many followers, such paths are more likely to be more condemnatory than anything, thus they need much more a critical questioning before one so easily attaches themselves to the followers).
What stood out to me is the convincing nature of her speaking. She was very down to earth, and what she said was very applicable to her hearers. In fact, she quoted much Scripture (albeit not often with the context), and was somewhat stern in her application of said passages.
And yet (to keep this example short), what she said lacked something, and had in its roots something very akin to that which is very popular, and just as deadly. She has been, and rightfully so, plopped into the "prosperity gospel" camp, with her infamous book "Enjoying Everyday Life." Such is the focus of her ministry, actually, with the man who introduces and closes each broadcast stating their motto (forgive my paraphrasing abilities), "Teaching you how to enjoy God and everyday life." (Something along those lines). Suffice it to say, the focus is clear: if you learn to love and follow and enjoy God, you'll learn to love and enjoy each day He gives you. Too few seem to find fault with this approach, and to their credit, unless you are nitpicky, it seems like a fine approach, since it seems to have a good starting point (God).
But then, ironically, this is the very thing it lacks. Allow me to explain...
Those who are so immensely popular should, naturally, incur extra scrutiny, because the Scripture is not vague on the broadness of the path that leads to destruction (where there are many followers, such paths are more likely to be more condemnatory than anything, thus they need much more a critical questioning before one so easily attaches themselves to the followers).
What stood out to me is the convincing nature of her speaking. She was very down to earth, and what she said was very applicable to her hearers. In fact, she quoted much Scripture (albeit not often with the context), and was somewhat stern in her application of said passages.
And yet (to keep this example short), what she said lacked something, and had in its roots something very akin to that which is very popular, and just as deadly. She has been, and rightfully so, plopped into the "prosperity gospel" camp, with her infamous book "Enjoying Everyday Life." Such is the focus of her ministry, actually, with the man who introduces and closes each broadcast stating their motto (forgive my paraphrasing abilities), "Teaching you how to enjoy God and everyday life." (Something along those lines). Suffice it to say, the focus is clear: if you learn to love and follow and enjoy God, you'll learn to love and enjoy each day He gives you. Too few seem to find fault with this approach, and to their credit, unless you are nitpicky, it seems like a fine approach, since it seems to have a good starting point (God).
But then, ironically, this is the very thing it lacks. Allow me to explain...
"Have this mind in yourselves,
which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not
count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking
the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of man. And being found in
human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even
death on a cross."
-
Philippians 2:5-8
-
Philippians 2:5-8
I have found
this passage very sobering as of late, for a very particular reason. Thinking
in light of Christmas after listening to a couple sermons by John MacArthur, I
found my mind greatly stirred by the reality of Who God is, and what it was
that Christ did. Indeed, many (including Joyce) speak of Christ coming to die
for us on the cross. The significance of Him dying so that we could live,
taking our guilt upon Himself. And they even preach that we should glorify Him
because of this, and do good works because of this, not in order to gain it. But
what is most often left out, vague or just plain misunderstood or miscommunicated,
is the reality of the humility Christ showed, and the exaltation He gains after
the fact. For indeed, though they consider the fact that He was God, it means
little to them. The only significance they see in the matter is the application
to us, not the act itself. The stirring fact and the most amazing thing to them
is how the Gospel applies to us, and yet the core fundamentals that so many
consider too boring or "too above us" are the things that should
bring awe above all else. For example, Christ wandering in the wilderness. Just
consider what this is: the Creator of the universe- all things in all places-
wanders around hungry. We can hardly
wander around the house hungry without complaining or feeling at our end, and
that for five minutes, let alone days. And certainly, He would be the One with
the least excuse, wandering around 40 days without so much as a crumb to eat. Was
He lost? Was He confused? And yet, in this seemingly pointless picture we see
the beauty of the paradox that is God in the flesh of man: His humility. For,
as MacArthur so accurately pointed out, one of the most sobering and important
realities in the Christmas account, and the Gospel as a whole, is the humility
that Christ showed, both before men and before the Father. He, the Creator of
all things, was hungry. He was also tired. He felt pain, and sadness. He was
very much human, facing the consequences of sin without ever having sinned. And
the biggest question that arises in the minds of many is, "Why would He do
that?" Indeed, even the devil himself had this question, telling Him to
just turn the stones into bread, since He was more than capable.
When I hear many of the "Word faith" preachers (think Charles Capps, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, etc.) talk about "claiming God's promise in your life," having the ability to speak things into existence (circumstances, feelings, etc.), I think of this example seen in our Lord. Were He to follow the words of these men (including Joyce), He would've claimed God's promise to provide for His children and turned the stones into rocks. After all, He calmed the storms, cast out demons with mere words, and performed many other miracles by His voice. The emphasis of the modern church is to meet our own needs, and then the needs of others. God has a gift for you, after all, and you just need to "name it and claim it." God will provide for His children, right? But... why then the lack in the lives of the Christians? Why don't we have whatever we want? If the Bible and the preachers are to be believed, we should be lacking nothing. After all, there are many who have contentment, who don't get what they need in abundance. In fact, many just barely make it by with what they have. Where is the overflow? Where is the promise of us being spoiled by our Father? Why are we lacking???
And this is the issue: me. Notice the example Christ gave: He asked for so little. In fact, one of the biggest things He asked for from the Father was to have His greatest pain and suffering taken away (bearing the sins of all who believe in Him, past, present and future). As He requested in Matthew 26:39, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me..." Did God fail Him? Did He not hear Him? Was Christ lacking in faith? Joyce is quite clear, when she says that if you follow God (show humility and contentment), He will abundantly supply all your earthly needs. So either Christ fell well short of this, bearing the greatest pain there ever was, or there was a different message found in the Gospel: humility. Christ became so obedient and humble before the Father, that He went even to a cross in complete and total subjugation (and people today hardly make it to church). (And for those who say "Well, that was what Christ came to do, so this is an exception," you clearly have not read about Paul's "thorn in the flesh.")
The biggest qualifier for this as a counter to today's preaching is obviously, and yet so well hidden. The reality is, this is GOD submitting to pain. Not only this, but this is GOD, in the form of a man, being humble, even to the point of hanging naked and beaten, on two posts of wood. Obedience does not lead to material results that make us happy and comfortable, obedience itself ought to be what makes us happy and comfortable, despite all that happens around us, and yes, even all that happens to us. Though there is immense wonder prepared in heaven for us, we are content nonetheless here on earth, because we serve God. The only time we should feel discontent and uncomfortable is when we are not doing all the more for Him. The more we lose and suffer, the happier we should be, since our happiness is found in the glory of God.
Why is this never mentioned in the conferences of Joyce? Why is it that the only way we are happy is when we get something out of it? We should actually seek to get as little out of serving God as possible, since this makes all the clearer that it is GOD for Whom we live.
When I hear many of the "Word faith" preachers (think Charles Capps, Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen, etc.) talk about "claiming God's promise in your life," having the ability to speak things into existence (circumstances, feelings, etc.), I think of this example seen in our Lord. Were He to follow the words of these men (including Joyce), He would've claimed God's promise to provide for His children and turned the stones into rocks. After all, He calmed the storms, cast out demons with mere words, and performed many other miracles by His voice. The emphasis of the modern church is to meet our own needs, and then the needs of others. God has a gift for you, after all, and you just need to "name it and claim it." God will provide for His children, right? But... why then the lack in the lives of the Christians? Why don't we have whatever we want? If the Bible and the preachers are to be believed, we should be lacking nothing. After all, there are many who have contentment, who don't get what they need in abundance. In fact, many just barely make it by with what they have. Where is the overflow? Where is the promise of us being spoiled by our Father? Why are we lacking???
And this is the issue: me. Notice the example Christ gave: He asked for so little. In fact, one of the biggest things He asked for from the Father was to have His greatest pain and suffering taken away (bearing the sins of all who believe in Him, past, present and future). As He requested in Matthew 26:39, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me..." Did God fail Him? Did He not hear Him? Was Christ lacking in faith? Joyce is quite clear, when she says that if you follow God (show humility and contentment), He will abundantly supply all your earthly needs. So either Christ fell well short of this, bearing the greatest pain there ever was, or there was a different message found in the Gospel: humility. Christ became so obedient and humble before the Father, that He went even to a cross in complete and total subjugation (and people today hardly make it to church). (And for those who say "Well, that was what Christ came to do, so this is an exception," you clearly have not read about Paul's "thorn in the flesh.")
The biggest qualifier for this as a counter to today's preaching is obviously, and yet so well hidden. The reality is, this is GOD submitting to pain. Not only this, but this is GOD, in the form of a man, being humble, even to the point of hanging naked and beaten, on two posts of wood. Obedience does not lead to material results that make us happy and comfortable, obedience itself ought to be what makes us happy and comfortable, despite all that happens around us, and yes, even all that happens to us. Though there is immense wonder prepared in heaven for us, we are content nonetheless here on earth, because we serve God. The only time we should feel discontent and uncomfortable is when we are not doing all the more for Him. The more we lose and suffer, the happier we should be, since our happiness is found in the glory of God.
Why is this never mentioned in the conferences of Joyce? Why is it that the only way we are happy is when we get something out of it? We should actually seek to get as little out of serving God as possible, since this makes all the clearer that it is GOD for Whom we live.
Well done Timothy, this was very helpful. :)
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