Snob. – Part 2
So I have been doing some thinking about theological snobbery. (See my last post by clicking here.) I think I might have figured out what is underneath the arrogance. It is a lie, and the lie is this: As a Calvinist, I’m a more mature Christian than the non-Calvinist.
Because I have a certain understanding of God and His sovereignty and how that sovereignty relates to human free will and the whole work of salvation, I must be more mature. After all, I am right on these matters, right? (And I do think I’m right!) But no, theological knowledge is NOT the same as Christian maturity. We should be careful with theological knowledge because, “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1).
Understanding doctrine does not equate automatically with wisdom, discipleship, or Christian manhood or womanhood. It just doesn’t. There is no way I believe that the young man who is saved in a Reformed tradition and comes quickly to accept TULIP line for line is as mature as the sweet old man who has faithfully been in the pews of his church for sixty years and knows of no tulip but the flower. That old man has lived through hell – the death of two children, the loss of another child to a cult, the slow death of his wife of fifty years, wars of state and wars of culture – and yet he loves Jesus, loves to tell people about Jesus, and loves to give to kingdom causes. He thinks an Arminian hails from Eastern Europe, but he also has a sweet fragrance of humility and kindness and compassion coming from his spirit. That’s maturity.
One sweet lady who passed away about a year and a half ago is another great example of this. She didn’t believe in the Five Points. She was what I would consider a “traditional Southern Baptist” through and through. But that woman had a prayer life that made me envious. She had a heart for younger women that was inspiring. She had a love for the Bible that many times put this preacher to shame. And her dependence on the Holy Spirit was an amazing example of humility. She overcame this world by dying to cancer and living by faith up to the last breath. That’s maturity.
Paul says in Philippians 3:15 that those who are mature live as if they have not arrived spiritually, but instead they “press on toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (3:14) They seek to know Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings and the power of His resurrection (3:8-10). They seek to share the mind of Christ, which is not a mind that gets lost in diagrams about the end times and supralapsarianism, but a mind that in humility considers others more significant than they consider themselves (2:3).
Writing to Timothy, Paul said that we should be trained in godliness – that is, we should strive for Christ-like living (1 Timothy 4:7-8). This godliness is not about factual, doctrinal knowledge but Spirit-borne fruit in living by faith in the Gospel. In fact, the point of all Paul’s ministry and instruction was “love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5). Love for God and love for neighbor mark maturity. And snobbery is opposed to love.
Jake, I am so thankful for these posts. I completely agree with you and love the way you articulated your thoughts. I also appreciate the humble way you approached writing this.
I loved the examples you gave of the man and woman who have suffered much and trusted Jesus through it all and endured for so many years with a great love for God and for others. I am so susceptible to the pride and doctrinal arrogance you speak of. But what have I received that I have not been given? Nothing! All that I have learned, seen, or experienced is grace. And all that I haven’t, that’s grace too!
I am guilty of taking pride in my own accomplishments while letting my heart grow cold to Christ and to others. There are many things to learn, but they are of little value if they do not draw us closer to our Lord and give us a deeper love for others. I have quieted my conscience before by thinking things like, “It’s not that I can’t feel lovingly toward her, but we just see things a lot differently. That’s makes it really hard to start much of a relationship.” What pride and simple hatred!
Your posts have helped me to examine my heart for theological snobbery and to search it for love for Jesus and for others, since that is true fruit.
Well articulated Jake. Multiple times I have had people tell me that their biggest objection to Reformed theology is the arrogance of those who hold to it. That is both sad and the ultimate irony, given that at the heart of Reformed doctrine is the belief that this is all by God and for God. This is not about us ever. Yet, many of us, when we come to understand these beautiful doctrines, become prideful because we know that God is sovereign. Again, sad and ironic.
The challenge is turning the flashlight inward. Even as I see the tragedy of the situation, I am just as prone to that level of pride. May all of us, myself included, throw ourselves at the foot of the throne of grace, humbled and broken, to the glory of King Jesus. When we live with that type of radical humility, all those around us will be attracted to, not put off by, these doctrines we hold so dear.
I have been blessed to be a part of what we sometimes jokingly referred to as the Calvinist posse at the Houston campus and I saw very little of it. I’m sure it exists, and of course if tends to exist more prominently among newer students. I account for this by that scripture which saith “Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.” The frist couple of semesters a lot of guys get a bit puffed up but thatnk the Lord most of them seem to get wiser as they go on.