We evangelicals are people of the Word: learning is what we do. Yet learning so easily promotes arrogance. Our conviction that we have the truth easily collapses into pharisaic fault-finding.
In his excellent book A Little Exercise for Young Theologians, Helmut Thielicke says young students of theology are prone to go through a rather nasty stage he calls “theological puberty.” It’s the stage when, after a bit of study, you know more theology and Bible than any of your friends and family. Your knowledge outstrips anyone in a Bible study group, and you feel this rush of theological adrenaline.
What he’s describing is captured in the wonderful word sometimes used to describe students in their second year of study: sophomores. The word comes from two Greek words stitched together: sophos, meaning “wise,” and moros, meaning “foolish.” Sophomores are “wise fools.” With a year’s study under their belts, theological sophomores feel like geniuses. But their little knowledge has misled them and puffed them up.
With a year’s study under their belts, ‘theological sophomores’ feel like geniuses. But their little knowledge has misled them and puffed them up.
How do theological students avoid this sad tendency? In Philippians 2:1–13, Paul gives us the secret of humility and the heart of true Christian ministry: we must behold Christ’s humility so we might adore him, be changed by him, and then make him known.
Adore Christ
Paul holds out Christ to us that we might adore him. We’re supposed to read the description of the great Prince of Heaven who humbles himself to the cross with the result that we might willingly bend the knee. That’s the whole point of authentic Christian study. It’s our joy to devote ourselves to learning, but as we fill our brains with the knowledge of the Scriptures, we don’t seek simply to learn for learning’s sake. Instead, we fill our minds with a vision of Christ so we might bow before him in adoration.
In Christ, we see the One with supreme power who doesn’t grasp but rather pours himself out for others. For us to emulate Christ in ministry—which is the point of our study—we must pull down the old man and demolish his vaunting and deluded self-confidence and self-love. Those of us who are called to theological pursuits may rightly crave theological strength. But the source of that strength makes a difference. A man strong in himself can rarely proclaim a suffering Savior. So put aside your own strength and brilliance and adore him.
Be Transformed
The knowledge of Christ is given to us not simply to slosh around in our heads—and certainly not to puff us up—but to transform our heart and character. If you want to use your education to become more dominant, more impressive, then it would probably be best if you stopped studying instead.
Success is seductive. But the church is tragically littered with cautionary tales of fantastically gifted leaders who crashed because of their lack of character. These leaders started out with a blazing heart and love for Christ, and they were given opportunity, praise, and power. But they didn’t have the character to handle it.
Those of us who are called to theological pursuits may rightly crave theological strength. But the source of that strength makes a difference.
As you deepen your knowledge of the Scriptures, Christian history, and doctrine, you too may receive opportunities, praise, and power. The more you’re given, the more humility you’ll need. The more gifted you are, the more good you can do in the world—but also, the more harm. The path you’ll follow depends on whose mind you have.
Will you follow your own mind? Or will you have the mind of Christ Jesus, who did not grasp his rightful equality with God but emptied himself? Great good or great harm depends on this. So fix your eyes on Christ, our beautiful and definitive leader. See the attraction of his humility, and resolve now to be humble, Christlike students. Let love for his humble generosity be your sword against your pride.
Make Him Known
At this point, you may stop and wonder aloud, “I’m preparing for ministry in the church. Isn’t the church supposed to have a grand vision of reformation? How does humility fit in with a healthy desire to make the name of Christ known?” This is exactly the point. It’s Christ whom we’re to make much of. Our focus must not be on what people think of us. Our boasting comes not in our knowledge or achievement but in the cross.
Paul says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3–4). Beware one-upmanship and rivalry. Here theological students need to watch for the dangers of the grading system. Marking work is supposed to help you assess how you’re doing, to encourage striving toward excellence—good and important aims. But in our sin, we can use our grades to foster unhealthy competition, to build a foundation for pride.
In our sin, we can use our grades to foster unhealthy competition, to build a foundation for pride.
Don’t go there! Seek to do excellently, but not to outdo brothers and sisters. No, let’s develop a culture of looking to the interests of others. Let’s fight to have a warm fellowship characterized by caring for each other through thick and thin—a band of brothers and sisters who stick together for the glory of Christ. If we do that, imagine the wider ways Christ will be made known in generations to come.
Isn’t it moving to meet a truly humble, Christlike older Christian leader? You can’t help but be affected by it. Don’t you want to be like that as well? One person’s humility inspires another’s. How much more is this the case when we set our eyes on Christ and his cross!
At the foot of the cross, our sin is revealed, God’s grace is revealed, and we’re brought to new life. At the cross we develop honesty. When we stray from the cross, vanity and deceitfulness creep back in. But when we return to the cross, we don’t want to pretend to be perfect or better than we are. We want the grace that alone enables us and others to flourish.
This article adapted from Authentic Ministry: Serving from the Heart by Michael Reeves (Union Publishing, January 2022).
