A few weeks ago I was helping to judge at the local Social Studies Fair. A very kind and elderly couple who have actually known Libby better than they have known me over the past few years stopped to talk with me. He said, "You teach at the college, don't you?" I told him that I do teach there, but only part-time. I told him that I also preach for the church of Christ that meets south of town. When he asked if I am the "pastor" there, I had to tell him that I am not a "pastor," but that I am the preacher. As the conversation progressed I also had to respond to some question by saying that I am not called "Reverend." As I turned to walk away after a very friendly conversation with local friends I was feeling pleased that maybe I'd helped to explain a few principles regarding New Testament Christianity. Then he said, "Oh yes, I hope that you'll be able to find some steady, full-time work soon!"
I suppose that many things might be illustrated by this little event. Clear communication may not be one of those things! Maybe, however, this helps to illustrate just one more way in which brethren sometimes seem to feel pressured to alter who or what we are as the Lord's people in order to feel more accepted by those about us. The scriptures suggest no titles that we might wear that will seem grandiose or even all that impressive. They give us no magnificent-sounding words to describe our work of service. When we use scriptural terms and descriptions for the church, the various offices and roles, and the work of the church, we end up sounding a bit like simple plain vanilla in a Baskin Robbins world. I would not be in the right if I were to judge the motives of brethren who begin inventing ostentatious-sounding titles or descriptions for individual people, events, or for works done by local churches, but at times it appears that there might possibly be some element of wanting to take the rough edges off of the fact that the church of Christ is different from human denominations. At least at times it can appear that possibly there is some discomfort in being modest and simple. With this possibility in mind, let's consider some Biblical principles that ought to guide us through such thoughts.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.'' Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ...but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:18-31).
However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing (1 Corinthians 2:6).
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7).
But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Galatians 6:14).
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day (Isaiah 2:11).
Paul was often ridiculed, even by his brethren, for his failure to be some powerful and commanding personality (1 Corinthians 2:3-5; 4:9-13; 2 Corinthians 10:10). He recognized that it was not his place to elevate himself in the eyes of any man: "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant...." (2 Corinthians 3:5, 6). There is something of self-centeredness in thinking that we can create with our own hands and schemes what can accomplish more than can be accomplished with what God has delivered to us. God had Gideon whittle his large army down to only 300 men to battle against a much larger army "lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me'" (Judges 7:2).
Are we willing to look small in order to accomplish great things for the cause of Christ? Can we resist the worlds press into its own mold (Romans 12:2)? May God help us to willingly decrease that He might increase.
