All Things Are Yours…
1 Corinthians 3:21-23 So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future–all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
Recently, a friend asked me what I had been reading. I replied that I had just finished Gordon MacDonald’s fantasy, The Princess and the Goblin. To which he replied, “Wasn’t he an Arminian?” I replied that actually George was a universalist (everyone is saved in the end). End of conversation. It’s funny how we can quickly label someone and subconsciously use it to imply that his/her insights are not worth reading or considering or even enjoying.
Human nature is such, according to Dr. Timothy Keller, that we take our “doctrinal differences and endow them with moral significance in order to feel superior to others.” I am of the Reformed tradition and love to meditate upon the sovereignty of God in all things, including our salvation. However, the conviction of having the “right” understanding of scripture can create personalities that are more known for what they are against than what they are for.
This quote by Gordon Fee has really helped me understand this…
The Corinthian error is an easy one to repeat [I am of...etc]. Not only do we all have normal tendencies to turn natural preferences into exclusive ones, but in our fallenness we also tend to consider ourselves “wise” enough to inform God through whom he may minister to his people. Our slogans take the from of “I am of the Presbyterians,” of “of the Pentecostals,” or “of the Roman Catholics.” Or they may take ideological forms: ” I am of the liberals,” or “of the evangelicals,” or “of the fundamentalists.” And these are also used as weapons: “Oh, he’s a fundamentalist, you know.” Which means that we no longer need to listen to him, since his ideology has determined his overall value as a spokesman for God. It is hardly possible in a day like ours that one will not have denominational, theological, or ideological preferences. The difficulty lies in allowing that it might really be true that” all things are ours” including those whom we think God would do better to be without. But God is full of surprises; and he may choose to minister to us from the “strangest’ of sources, if we were but more truly “in Christ” and therefore free in him to learn and to love.
This does not mean that one should not be discriminating; after all, Paul has no patience for that teaching in Corinth which had abandoned the pure gospel of Christ. But to be “of Christ” is also to be free from the tyrannies of one’s own narrowness, free to learn even from those with whom one may disagree…. Gordon Fee, NICNT 1 Corinthians.
Chris, thank you so much for posting this. All people are guilty of this to one extent or another, but I think that we in the Reformed/”Conservative” camp have the tendency to be quicker to the gun than others who may be more open about such matters. I’ve recently been learning A LOT from men like N.T. Wright, Karl Barth, John Perkins and others of a different theological persuasion than myself, and it is a relief to hear from someone as aged and saged as yourself (wink wink) that this does not mean that I am falling away from grace!
Love you friend.
Thank you! You have summed up much of what I’ve been thinking. Very clear and concise.
Very edifying, hard to hear, and timely. I just found your blog and look forward to making it a regular read. Thank you for your ministry.
chris, i was totally tracking with what you were saying… tim keller quote, a little scripture, labeling people, etc.
but then you came to a quote by Gordon Fee. and isn’t he an egalitarian…?
LOL!!!! Trev, I read your comment and seriously just thought, “O my goodness; didn’t he just read Chris’s blog?!” LOL!!!!
2 thoughts…
First, I love George MacDonald and have for a while. (Princess and Curdie isn’t quite as good). But I love At the Back of the North Wind and many of his other works.
Second, I too understand this even being out here in Minnesota at Pastor John’s (Piper’s) church it is funny how one student is of R.C. Sproul, another of Macarthur, many of Pastor John, or me with Tim Keller, and how we can argue over doctrine via our preachers. I’ve thought of that verse quite often and it is interesting to see how it doesn’t encourage conversation but you’re right it kills it. People instantly shut off when they realize this temptation.
Thanks Chris - enjoy the read.
I think it’s just dad-blamed annoying when people shut off after hearing a certain name! But seriously, it is great spiritual pride that would keep us from hearing and examining anything from someone just because they are a …. Thanks for posting this Chris!
As Keller says, “There is no pride like religous pride.” I am certainly guilty of this.
I am just laughing at Trevor’s “egalitarian” comment. Seriously laughing.
Some egals even think for themselves and consider the “one another” verses before they start labeling others, or even themselves. Convictions and understanding from the Scriptures comes with walking with the Lord and His guidance in His Word, by His Spirit. God’s gifts and callings are irrevocable and some (even those with whom we don’t argree with, or who don’t share our gender) have giftings that the Spirit uses for God’s own glory.