PODCAST 19
How Convictions become Character (part four) Men are called to ‘Theologize’
By Jay Wegter
Q. Disciplers are the real facilitators who help empower men to occupy their godly masculinity. Can we talk more about this link between men’s ministry and discipleship? XIV. Biblical convictions empower Christian men for a ‘lifestyle’ of ministry
Jesus’ earthly ministry had an incredibly masculine tone to it. His discourses were rugged and unsentimental and overwhelmingly tough sounding. Christianity is a battle; it is conflict with the world, the flesh and the devil. Men of God are to take up the painful and heavy realities of the Bible (such as the doctrine of eternal hell) and put them forth without dilution, moderation, or modification.
The man of God knows intuitively by the masculine nature planted in him by God that he is called to turn hearts by authoritatively speaking the truth of God in grace.
As a herald of the truth he speaks the Word of God with forcefulness and penetrating application. This will involve contending for the faith (Jude 3). It will entail a willingness to step forward and disagree—it will entail action by asserting that the truth stands in stark antithesis to error. This necessarily has a polemic feel to it. The believer is an ambassador of the King of the universe. He knows that heaven and hell hang upon what people will do with the message, thus there is urgency and forcefulness in the delivery of the message (a masculine character about it). It is a manly task to summon sinners to repent and be subdued to their Creator. The greater our fear of God, the more we will be freed from our fears and inhibitions as we proclaim God’s truth.ⁱ (This is the polar opposite of ‘peace at any price’. Appeasement is a plan to surrender by degrees.)
So much conversation among professed believers is vain, carnal, and mundane. Spiritually we could compare it to a group of guys slapping each other with foam swords from the toy store while their countrymen and family members are being slaughtered in the street.
Q. Without sounding trite (we can think of countless examples of locker room pep talks), isn’t it inescapable that conviction is birthed and forged under fire (pressure)?
XV. Christian character is forged by biblical conviction under fire
The exercise of godliness involves overcoming the neutralizing force of discouragement. Every committed believer is painfully aware of his shortcomings. What God requires of us is humanly impossible, and we are tempted to define ourselves by our failures. The evil one is subtle; he sows the suggestion that we ought to pull back on our efforts to serve God because it will only be a fresh opportunity for us to demonstrate failure or mediocrity. So discouragement, like a dart, strikes at our very heart—at the very core of our being. Under the effects of discouragement we are tempted to retreat into an anonymous world of self, cocooned from other Christians. We cease to aspire lest new failures further define us.
Discouragement is a debilitating enemy—for despondency can paralyze us spiritually. The powers of darkness seek to have the believer ruled by guilt and unbelief. In that state, the energy needed to mortify sin dries up. The saint becomes vulnerable to ruling lusts and spiritual defeat. Guilt and unbelief can put us in a position to be controlled by fear instead of by love. In order to resist this demonic strategy, we ought to know the schemes of the evil one; the powers of darkness are at work to interrupt the sanctifying process of being ‘perfected in love’ (1 Jn 4:18).
In order to rebound from discouragement and despondency, it normally requires close fellowship from other believers who will engage us in exhortation, encouragement, and admonishment. Spiritual growth takes place in community. We must place ourselves in the position for body life to edify us. That will mean giving others access to you so that they may ‘speak into your life’. This interdependence is a vital channel of fresh renewing grace. Receiving that grace gives us the blood-bought right to believe again after failure—the right to go to God for more grace and love because Christ is our qualification and eligibility for it. Entire ministries are needed just to help believers who are paralyzed by discouragement to learn how to rebound from it and reclaim gospel joy.
Q. The ‘man up’ verse in the NT has godly masculinity in view. If we do not lean into our fears and continue to move ahead amidst push-back, we are not acting like men.
Biblical convictions are absolutely essential if we are to stand against opposition
“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Cor 16:13-14). This command is based upon the assumption that your resolve to stand for truth and principle will be severely tested. Christians are to be alert, expecting resistance so that they will be ready to stand against fierce opposition. Without this preparation and determination to be courageous, we can be easily knocked down when under attack.ⁱⁱ (A clear conscience and fortitude go together.)
Biblical conviction produces courage, fortitude, and strength amidst an assault. The man controlled by conviction is still standing strong after the battle. To “act like men” is to not be weak and vacillating. The godly man is watchful; he stands by his convictions and defends them. The man with biblical convictions is equipped to do battle in spiritual warfare; for his convictions are put into action by means of the sword of Spirit (the Word of God) and the belt of truth (Eph 6:12-18). Therefore to “act like men” is to be strong and courageous and not afraid—knowing that the Lord will not fail you (Deut 31:6; Josh 1:6-8). The man who exemplifies godly masculinity is not easily dismayed, but demonstrates fortitude amidst the test.ⁱⁱⁱ “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity” (Prov 24:16).
Gaining strength involves a conscious decision to wait upon the Lord—looking to Him as our source of strength: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD” (Ps 27:14). Godly manhood is upheld by God being for our masculinity. Manliness involves letting one’s heart take courage in the Lord so that you do not give in or give up in the face of relentless pressure and opposition.
We will be tempted reach for a carnal escape route when fear, pressure, and intimidation assault us. But it is our biblical convictions which in the power of the Spirit allow us to be victorious amidst the onslaught. We take our stand upon our convictions and do not yield ground. We press on to the goal of faithfulness without wavering.ⁱᵛ The child of God is a warrior who demonstrates fortitude and courage in the face of temptation. This is the polar opposite of superficiality, for the man of God is known by his refusal to tolerate compromise and false doctrine and sin in his own life.
Men of conviction are rare these days; they stand out from the rest because they do not live for the approval and glory of other sinners. For that reason, the world does not approve of them. Therefore, because of their unassailable integrity, they are maligned as stubborn and proud. In a world of compromise and ‘group think’ and political correctness, it should be no surprise that the man of conviction should be branded as a bigot, as unloving, and arrogant.ᵛ This potential rejection is another opportunity for the character wrought by conviction to shine.
The godly man fears the Lord, not men, thus he knows that he is under a divine mandate to demonstrate fidelity to the truth. (EX. Note the ‘steel beam’ analogy by Barnhouse). Courage and conviction operate together: it is know, believe, and do the truth. Integrity of heart is a refusal to deviate from the truth. It is steadfast adherence to the doctrine without duplicity (without double-dealing or hypocrisy). This is only possible if a man truly fears the Lord so that he lives with a reverential fear of God dominating his life. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Prov 9:10). To fear God is to fear sinning against Him. Real men fear God —they do not wish to incur God’s anger, punishment, and judgment. They assiduously steer clear of dishonoring God by disobedience.ᵛⁱ
Q. I don’t picture it as a feminine quality to test a man to prove his masculine character. That testing activity comes from holy motives in God’s masculine character. I think our disciples need a hand on the shoulder in order to grasp this—that at times God is testing and refining and proving the genuineness of their faith.
What is the connection between suffering and proven character?
Ever notice that a tree in the middle of a forest often looks much like all the other trees around it? We might say that it lacks distinguishing character. But the trees on the ridgeline are much different. Their greenwood has turned to hardwood under the most severe conditions. Storm and wind and cold have twisted them and driven their roots down deep. They look especially rugged. Their hold upon the soil and the rock is tenacious. Their unique distinguishing robust character may be attributed to the opposition of the elements they have weathered. So also the man of godly character has been shaped by God-ordained circumstances which have tested his biblical convictions giving him stability amidst the storms of life. “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom 5:3-5).
Faith is proven in the ‘fires of tribulation’. The Lord subjects His people to difficulties which become a form of fatherly discipline teaching us to wait patiently for His promised deliverance. Divine discipline and affliction is the source of ‘proved-ness’, endurance, and steadfast patience. As we are sustained by Him, our hope in His promises is strengthened and confirmed—‘proven character’ results. This hope will not disappoint us in the end. God stands behind His Word, and He has given us proof of His promise which we experience: out of His amazing generosity, the gift of His indwelling Spirit lets us know His love (‘the love of God has been poured out in our hearts’, v. 5).ᵛⁱⁱ
Victory in spiritual warfare entails knowing that God promises to come to our aid. “But resist him [the devil], firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you” (1 Pet 5:9-10).
God promises to establish and strengthen believers as He takes them through conflict. Out of suffering comes growth; the believer is settled securely and firmly by God who strengthens them through trials. We are assured that the Lord will make all things right and will restore in time and or eternity any loss experienced during our suffering. Our hope is fortified through tribulation so that we take increasing comfort in the fact we have been ‘called into His eternal glory’. “God has determined that we should be summoned into the midst of His own glory (coming into to it by union with Christ to share in it).”ᵛⁱⁱⁱ
Q. Love of the brethren is not primarily warm feelings. Genuine Christian love does what it best for his brother and sister in light of eternity. And that means plowing our time, talent and resources into presenting every man complete in Christ.
Our attitude toward trials is determined by our conviction concerning God’s purpose for them. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4). James tells us that there are many kinds of trials which put our faith to the test. Remarkably if we understand the divinely ordained benefit of trials, we ought to rejoice amidst them, for trials produce perseverance, tenacity, stick-to-it-tive-ness.
It is by struggling against difficulty and opposition that spiritual stamina and endurance are developed. Through persistence in trials, perseverance accomplishes the work of maturing our character.ⁱˣ How comforting it is to know that God is at work in all of our difficulties—He does not waste a tear or a sigh, all crosses and losses and oppositions are ‘cycled’ into the maturing process which builds our character.
Endnotes:
i Ibid.
ii John MacArthur, “Masculinity and the Church,” Resolved Conference
iii Ibid.
iv Ibid.
v Ibid.
vi Ibid.
vii C. E. B. Cranfield, Romans; A Shorter Commentary, Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1985, pp. 104-106
viii Wayne Grudem, Tyndale N.T. Commentaries, 1 Peter, Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1988, pp. 198-199
ix Donald W. Burdick, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, James, Frank E. Gaebelein, Ed., Zondervan, 1981, p. 168