The Magazine of Covenant Theological Seminary
COVENANT Vol. 20, No. 2
Living With the Gap Between Your Condition and God’s Calling
Summer 2005
Equipping the Church
The Psalms and the Pathway to Healing
Apologetics and Failure
Volume 20, No. 2 Summer 2005 FROM THE PRESIDENT
2 Several years ago, alumnus Rick Gray told a story about a psychological profile test he took for missionary service that asked, “Do you hear voices when you are alone?” He thought for a moment
The Pursuit of Excellence and the Perils of Perfectionism DR. RICHARD WINTER
and was surprised to realize that the answer was yes. We all hear voices, don’t we? They may not be audible voices but, nevertheless, somewhere in each of us we hear voices that tell us what we ought to think of ourselves. Maybe it is the critical voice that says, “You haven’t done enough yet.” Maybe it is the voice of our own
6 Living With the Gap Between Your Condition and God’s Calling REV. JOE NOVENSON
shame that says, “If I tell people how I really feel or what my life really has been like, they will reject me.” Maybe it is a voice that says, “You are going to fail and there is no hope.” I hope that this issue of Covenant magazine will help you identify some of those voices in your own life – and the sources from which they come. And just as importantly, I hope you come into contact with the greater voice of love – in Christ
16 Equipping the Church Covenant Seminary’s Role in Training Lay Leaders
Jesus from His Word. This May, we are saying “goodbye for now” to another outstanding group of Covenant Seminary graduates. But they hear voices, too. Would you pray with me that the loudest voice in their lives is the voice of loving truth spoken in Scripture? And pray that over the coming months and years these alumni will be able to be voices. It is by being grounded in the reality of God’s love and reassured by His Word that these graduates will have a voice of love to share God’s Word wherever they are.
18 The Psalms and the Pathway to Healing Facing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse
And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Rom. 10:14b). Thank you for partnering with Covenant Seminary to echo the voice of Christ’s love.
REV. EWAN KENNEDY
23 New Books by Faculty
Bryan Chapell
24 Apologetics and Failure PART 2
Or, Why It May Be Good for Us to Lose the Argument – FRANCIS A. SCHAEFFER INSTITUTE – MARK P. RYAN
COVENANT MAGAZINE
Summer 2005
Right: Kathy Chapell hosts a gathering in her home led by counselor and faculty wife Janet Burns to talk with seminary women about “Peacemaking: Settling Differences in the Family and Church.”
More Than Meets the Eye
As important as classroom time is at Covenant Seminary, the ministry training that takes place is not all listed on a semester’s course schedule. Many significant moments of interaction happen outside of the classroom during ministry lunches, special lectures, and other gatherings designed to help students serve the Church and live as salt and light in society. The snapshots featured on this page show a few of these significant moments of learning outside a traditional classroom from the past spring semester. Above: Daniel Oh, Director of Intercultural Ministries for OC International, speaks with an M.Div. student during a World Mission Organization Fair.
Below: Chris Granberry speaks on church planting on an Indian reservation in Washington State.
Above: Alumni John Gullet, Charles Pettijohn, and Dan Gilchrist visit the seminary with their families and lead a ministry lunch on serving as a solo pastor of a small church. Left: Andi Ashworth and Charlie Peacock-Ashworth share about “Hospitality in the Life of a Busy Family” as a prelude to the Spring Schaeffer Lectures.
Intercessor
10
Alumni News
12
Events
14
Campus News
28
Student Profile
30
DR. RICHARD WINTER Professor of Practical Theology
While waiting to board a flight to England, I found myself searching for something to read. I noticed a young woman standing alone in front of a whole wall of the latest women’s magazines. One cover proclaimed: “The Search for the Perfect Woman.” I wondered what it must be like to face such an onslaught of “perfect” models and celebrities with whom to compare one’s body, face, clothes, and hair.
COVENANT MAGAZINE
Summer 2005
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The ideas in this article, as well as additional teaching on the roots of perfectionism, are presented in greater depth in Richard Winter’s recently released book Perfecting Ourselves to Death: The Pursuit of Excellence and the Perils of Perfectionism (InterVarsity Press).
The Pursuit of Excellence and the Perils of Perfectionism
As I browsed the magazine rack myself, I encountered images and articles about “perfect abs” and huge biceps that made me feel like a wimp! Other articles highlighted the inadequacies and imperfections of my own life and made me long for a stylish, powerful car and a dream house.
A
Is Anything Wrong with Perfectionism?
lthough I know that the photographs
There is debate about the assets and liabilities of
of models in magazines are computer
perfectionism in the academic and popular literature.
enhanced and the decorated homes
Some see all perfectionism as unhealthy and bad; others
are far from reality, I want to look
see perfectionism on a spectrum where only a certain
like those people. I want to live in that house. I want to believe that
degree of perfectionism is unhealthy or neurotic. The latter
it is possible to be bright and
view is illustrated by a study of 820 academically excellent, gifted sixth graders. The study found that 25 percent of
beautiful in a world where
1
the children were “dysfunctional” (neurotic, unhealthy)
brains and good looks are recognized and rewarded.
perfectionists; 42 percent were healthy perfectionists,
The Triumph of Technology
pursuing excellence but not to a neurotic degree; and
We live in a world where technology helps us overcome
33 percent were non-perfectionists.
many barriers to living a more perfect life. We hold in our
It is important to note that one can have different
hands the tools to create flawless complexions, perfectly
degrees of perfectionism affecting just one or two areas –
shaped bodies (just watch The Swan, Extreme Makeover
such as how we look or the grades we achieve – or
or Nip/Tuck!), highly efficient cars, beautiful homes, and
perfectionism may affect every part of life.
instant communication. Not only do the advances of
To be more specific, normal, healthy perfectionists
technology enable us to overcome distance, time, everyday
are usually full of energy and enthusiasm, have a positive
wear and tear, and just plain old forgetfulness; technology
self-image, and rarely procrastinate over decisions.
promises to improve us at the genetic level as well.
They are realistic about their own strengths and weaknesses.
In the not-too-distant future we will be able to enhance
They are driven more by a (positive) motivation to achieve
the brain with microscopic computer implants, improving
than by a (negative) fear of failure.
memory and cognitive ability. The era of designer babies is
In contrast neurotic, unhealthy perfectionists set
already here. Today, human eggs and sperm are marketed
unrealistically high standards. Their sense of self-worth
with a high value on the donor’s intelligence and looks.
depends entirely on their performance and production
In the worlds of business, academia, and athletics,
according to the goals they have set for themselves.
striving for excellence is greatly valued and highly
Continuous self-criticism, in the form of concern over
productive, giving an edge in a very competitive arena.
mistakes and doubts about doing the right thing, is a
But could there be a dark side to this striving for perfection?
distinguishing mark of unhealthy perfectionism. 1
L.K. Silverman, “Perfectionism” (paper presented at the 11th Conference on Gifted and Talented Children, Hong Kong, 1995), 1.
www.covenantseminary.edu
3
Training Servants of the Triune God
Non-perfectionists are people who have little or no
sive tendencies, difficulties recovering from failure,
shame or guilt about failing to reach high standards or to
and suicidal impulses.
be organized. They are relaxed, easygoing, and fun to be
Vince Foster, the lawyer to the Clinton White House,
around, though perhaps sometimes so laid-back that they
was first in his law school class and considered a person of
are perceived as being disorganized, unreliable, and lacking
impeccable integrity. He is reported to have possessed: ...impressive intellectual capacities, intense loyalty, and
in self-discipline.
powerful personal strength...he would research each case he
Having repeatedly discussed with friends and colleagues the issue of whether all perfectionism is unhealthy, I believe
worked on extensively, going through 20 drafts if needed. In a
it is more practical to accept the spectrum paradigm
commencement address to the University of Arkansas law school
showing differing degrees of perfectionism. This is certainly
he said, “The reputation you develop for intellectual and ethical
the view that underlies most of the latest research on
integrity will be your greatest asset or your worst enemy. Treat
perfectionism, which also describes three
every pleading, every brief, every contract,
main types of perfectionism:
every letter, every daily task as if your career
2
The self-oriented perfectionist
will be judged on it. I cannot make this point
demands perfection for him or her
to you too strongly: there is no victory, no
self – this type of perfectionist is try-
advantage, no fee, no favor which is worth
ing to live up to his or her own high,
even a blemish on your reputation for intel-
and often impossible, standards. The
lect and integrity. Dents to the reputation in
socially prescribed perfectionist is
the legal profession are irreparable.”
the person who has the “ghost” of a critical parent looking over his or her shoulder or some type of voice from the outside drives this person to meet the expectations of others. Finally, the other-oriented perfectionist thinks, “Why can’t people live up to my standards and do things the way they should be done?” Each of the above three types of perfectionism may vary in intensity and in some people there is a combination
The series of events in the Clinton
Problems arise when we live under the tyranny of a belief that perfection is possible, when we have standards that are so high they are impossible to attain.
White House which led Foster to being criticized in the Wall Street Journal caused him to sink into depression. Eventually he committed suicide because he felt he was a complete failure. This sort of all-ornothing, black-or-white thinking is typical of a perfectionist. Some perfectionists, like Vince Foster, are very driven to achieve their goals, and this may be healthy. But, pushed to an extreme, this type of perfectionism, especially when other-oriented, can lead
of all three.
to controlling and self-centered behavior.
The Perils of Perfectionism
Others may be described as defeated perfectionists because
Let me say again that not all perfectionism is unhealthy.
they have given up trying to reach their impossible stan-
It is good to enjoy high standards and pursue excellence in
dards. In fact they may think of themselves as the complete
life. But sadly, the negative and unhealthy aspects of perfec-
opposite because their home is such a mess. Their all-or-
tionism can be very destructive and crippling. Problems arise
nothing thinking causes them to believe that “if it cannot be
when we live under the tyranny of a belief that perfection is
perfect then there is no point in even trying to make it so.”
possible, when we have standards that are so high that they
The driven perfectionist, under pressure, can switch to the
are impossible to attain. When a person’s self-worth depends
hopelessness of the defeated perfectionist.
on reaching those high standards, it is an inevitable script for self-defeat and creates his or her own personal hell of
2
Paul L. Hewitt and Gordon L. Flett, “Perfectionism in the Self and Social Contexts: Conceptualization, Assessment, and Association with Psychopathology,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 60, no. 3 (1991): 456-70.
3
Sidney Blatt, “The Destructiveness of Perfectionism: Implications for the Treatment of Depression,” American Psychologist 50, no. 12 (1995): 1003-4.
repeated failure and eternal regret. Perfectionism can also lead to all sorts of other problems, such as anxiety, depression, phobias, indecision, procrastination, obsessive-compul-
COVENANT MAGAZINE
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Summer 2005
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Hope for Change
accepting His grace, love, and forgiveness. When we know
I strongly believe that there are practical steps we can take
that we are accepted and loved with all our imperfections,
to confront unhealthy perfectionism in our lives, but it is
we are set free to pursue excellence without fear of failure
important, first, to put those strategies on a solid theological
or rejection, and with gratitude to God.
and philosophical foundation. Almost all of the great
So, my worth in the eyes of God does not depend on
religions of the world have in them an awareness that we
my works. I do not need to live under law but under grace.
need to be better than we are. The difference between the
Many perfectionists still live under the law. They find it
religions, though, is the path we take toward becoming
hard to accept the grace of God because there is often a
better, healthier people.
basic insecurity with deep fears of rejection, of failure, and
Many religions prescribe rules and rituals which have to
of being out of control. But all these deep fears are dealt with
be followed to make us good enough to be acceptable to
by returning to a relationship with a loving God who accepts
some deity. Christianity is profoundly and
us, with all our failures and imperfections.
wonderfully different because the Biblical
But you may say, “Surely there is a
picture shows that people can never be
proof text for the perfectionist in Jesus’
good enough. Francis Schaeffer often used
own words, ‘Be perfect, therefore, as your
to say that Christianity is both the easiest
heavenly Father is perfect (Matt. 5:48)’.”
religion and the hardest. It is the easiest
The Greek word here is “teleios,” mean-
because we come with nothing, with
ing “mature, reaching an appointed goal”.
empty hands, to the foot of the cross.
We are called to maturity and holiness,
And yet it is the hardest, because our
and Jesus was pointing us in that direc-
pride says, “I want to do something to
tion. The Apostle Paul recognized that
contribute to my salvation, to being good enough.” So, when our drive for perfectionism leads to yet another defeat, we can call out to the Lord who accepts, forgives, loves, and values us not for what we do or achieve. In Christ, God offers us total acceptance as we are, because He has achieved perfection on our behalf. He
In Christ, God offers us total acceptance as we are...
gives us Christ’s righteousness when we
perfection is not here yet: “When perfection comes, the imperfect disappears” (1 Cor. 13:10). One day we will be perfect, but not now. “Not that I have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Jesus Christ took hold of me” (Phil 3:12). We have been saved and justified; we are now in the process of being changed, renewed, and perfected.
turn to Him in faith.
We are called to have our minds
The divine dilemma is that God is
renewed (Rom.12:2). Old habits of think-
pure goodness and perfection, and we are deeply flawed,
ing die hard. Insecurity, feelings of insignificance, desire to
imperfect, and wanting our own way, wanting to be in
control, fear of rejection and failure – all of these things are
control. This, ultimately, is at the root of sin. We deserve
based on lies that must be replaced with the truth. God gives
punishment and need rescue from this dilemma. The amaz-
us the Holy Spirit as the great Counselor. He also gives the
ing thing is that God sent the perfect sacrifice – Christ
practical help and support of the community of faith in this
Himself. Scripture says, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
renewal process which will only be completed when we are
each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has
with the Father in glory.
laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 5:6). Because of
Strategies for Change
His sacrifice there can bea restoration of relationship with
There are some practical things that people who struggle
God. This is the true pathway to perfection.
with perfectionism can do to learn to live with imperfection.
This road to heaven involves letting go of ultimate
First, we must confront reality. Perfectionists can do this by continued on page 27
control and giving up trying to be God ourselves. It is about
www.covenantseminary.edu
5
Training Servants of the Triune God
JOE NOVENSON Senior Pastor of Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church Member of Covenant Seminary Board of Trustees
LIVING WITH THE
GAP Between Your Condition AND GOD’S CALLING
COVENANT MAGAZINE
Summer 2005
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Living With the Gap Between Your Condition and God’s Calling
Years ago I went to India and had an experience that I never thought I would encounter in my lifetime. While in the midst of preaching through a translator, I was approached by several policemen. They were yelling in Malayalam, a language I could not understand. My interpreter translated, saying, “They are telling you to stop preaching.” And I said, “What should I do?” He said, “My Bible has a few words in it about preaching when they tell you to stop. Does yours?” At that moment, I experienced the gap that I believe Genesis 16 and 17 depicts – the gap between the condition of God’s servants and God’s calling. Specifically, in this instance, I experienced the gap between my condition of abject terror and a calling to proclaim the Word of God.
M
“You will not…you will not…you will not.” This is a classic
aybe you have felt that
presentation of a promise of sovereignty.
gap. If you have, you will want to take a moment to
Specifically, the Lord promises unilateral power to
read the account of God’s
sovereignly care for His progress in ministry. Maybe you
Word and work in the life
know all about Reformed theology and God’s sovereignty.
of His servant Abraham.
I hope you do. But I would remind you that it was 11 years
In Abraham’s life we see the
from the time when the first promise was made to Abraham
promises that God gives
until the time when he made an illicit choice. Because of
to each one of us to live with the gap between our condition
illicit thinking, Abraham made an illicit choice to have an
as God’s servants and our calling. Because no matter who
illicit relationship with Hagar and produced an illicit child
you are, you must realize that the gap is huge – it was large
in order to accomplish God’s will. You know what it took to
for Abraham and it is large for you.
break Abraham’s trust in God’s sovereignty? All it took to break that trust in Abraham’s life was the ticking of the
Unilateral Power
clock – just the passage of time.
In Genesis 17:1-14, just after the account of Ishmael’s birth,
Wouldn’t you think God would respond to that by
Abraham receives the sign of circumcision. Here God gives
saying, “You’re fired!”? Instead, we see that the Lord
a promise of several things. First, He promises power –
intensifies the promise. To a man whose condition is broken,
unilateral power. By “unilateral” I mean one-sided. Not
the Lord says, “I will…I will…you will…you will.” The Lord
bilateral. Twelve times these verses say, “I will,” “you will,”
says He will accomplish His purpose and He says He will yet
“I will make,” “you will be.” This is like a jackhammer
use His servant.
hammering on self-reliance. The Lord might as well say,
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Training Servants of the Triune God
Covenantal Promise
This means that if your life and ministry reflect parochial
The second thing that should be noted is that the promise
or colloquial values, you will fail your Master. You must
of unilateral power is undergirded by the covenant. Abraham
live prayerfully to see every sin-made barrier that exists
has already failed to be perfectly obedient to God, and he
between people torn down, and that a new humanity – the
will fail again. But remember Genesis 15. Here the Lord
Kingdom of God – would be seen on the earth. You must
tells Abraham that He will not break His covenant and that
think universally. If you have engineered your Christian life
when the human recipients of the covenant do break it,
to be only with people like yourself, you have got to change.
the Lord will take the punishment for that covenant breach
You’ve got to change.
upon Himself.
Familial Manner
It is as if God is doing the reverse of what was done to me
Third, please note that this unilateral promise of power for
when I was in high school. The upperclassmen would come
God’s mission takes place familially. Five times in Genesis
to me and say, “Do you want to flip for this coin?” I was a
17:1-14 the Lord says to Abraham,
freshman, so I said, “Yeah, sure.” And
“father…father…father…father…father.”
they would flip me and say, “Heads, I win;
Not once does He say, “preacher, pastor,
tails, you lose. Yuk, yuk, yuk.” Of course, I
evangelist, professor, scholar.” That is
would never win. In Genesis 15, God, in
not because there is anything wrong
one sense, says to Abraham, “Heads, you
with those vocations, but in this passage
win; tails, I lose. This covenant will not
the familial manner of God’s mission
be broken by me, but when it is broken, I
is emphasized.
die.” That is the imputed righteousness of Christ, God making Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God. New Purpose, Universal Impact
The Lord also promises unilateral power to give a new purpose with universal impact. Abram means “great father.” But the Lord gives him a new name: Abraham, “father of many nations.” Abraham has a new purpose: to serve others – and not only those others who are in his immediate view. In essence,
This at least means that, whatever
...you should see yourself as having moved from being a guest (one who is served) on this planet to being a host (a servant) by God’s grace in your life.
like Abraham, you should see yourself as
your vocation, your care for your home is equal to, if not more important than, every other good thing you will do. Your relationships at home with your family are at the heart of what God is going to do in the earth. It also means that none of us has the luxury of being professionally distant from people as we “minister.” In 1780, a collection of letters by John Newton was put together and titled Voice of the Heart. In the preface of one edition, Reverend R. Cecil is quoted as saying, “With respect to his ministry,
having moved from being a guest (one who is served) on this
he appeared perhaps as least advantaged in the pulpit, as
planet to being a host (a servant) by God’s grace in your life.
he generally did not aim at accuracy, composition of his
Christian, you are to be the host of the planet.
sermons, nor at any address or delivery of them.” Cecil
God also shows that His promise is universal. In Genesis
goes on to share how one of Newton’s parishioners said,
17:4 and 5 the Lord calls Abraham “father of many nations,”
“The parent-like tenderness and affection which accompa-
and in Genesis 17:6 He says, “I’ll make you into nations.”
nied his instruction made us prefer him to other preachers,
That reference is at least multicultural – “many nations.”
who on other accounts were much more generally popular.”
But if you go back to Genesis 12:3, you will see that the
A. W. Parsons said of Newton, “Others were admired, but
Lord says, “In you [Abraham], all the families of the earth
they all loved him.” That is familial.
will be blessed.” The implication is that this promise is not multicultural, it is omnicultural. Everybody on this planet is going to be impacted.
COVENANT MAGAZINE
Summer 2005
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Gospel-Driven
fight. Then look in the mirror! But the Lord promises,
Once again note that all of this is Gospel-driven. That is
“I will never stop,” and we cannot stop either.
why the Lord gives the sign of circumcision. Genesis 17:11
Playing With the Master
says, “…[circumcision] shall be a sign of the covenant
I would like you to picture in your mind the greatest
between me and you.” Essentially God is saying, “I want
performer that you know of. I think of the time I saw
you to be marked by the promise, ultimately to be marked
Itzhak Perlman play a two-hour concert without a single
by Christ crucified and risen. I want you scarred with
note in front of him. The orchestra dripped sweat and
this promise.”
Perlman was just “cruising.”
I would like to give you a challenge. Ask the people
Imagine you are at a concert like that and you cannot
around you – your spouse, children, siblings, fellow church
afford the good seats. You are way up in the balcony. In the
members, co-workers – the same question that I asked my
middle of the concert, your favorite musician suddenly stops
three children. One at a time I asked them, “Tell me the
the concert and says, “Is [insert your
most important thing I have taught you.”
name] here?” Wouldn’t you immediately
My oldest said, “Always do right.” My
feel the “gap”? You would have a huge
second oldest said, “Always do right.”
sense of awe and apoplexy. And then the
My little girl said, “Jesus loves me.”
spotlight starts turning around until it
And I thought, “Great. I have raised
hits you, and the performer says, “I knew
two Pharisees and one Christian.” Now
you were here. Would you come down
obviously, that is not true, because God
and play the rest of the concert with me?”
kept His promise even through me!
Now you would really be in for it. You
But I learned a sobering thing. In communicating the Christian faith to my children, I was not pointing them to the cross in everything I was teaching. Everlasting
The last thing I want you to remember is that this unilateral promise of power lasts through all generations. The Lord has no Plan B. In Genesis 17:7 the Lord says, “Your offspring,” and, “throughout all
know that if you came down and played it
...join the greatest, longest-standing, most multi-national movement in the history of the world – the Church.
would be like a junior higher playing Beethoven. But the living God is pleased to have people like us take up the instrument of the Gospel so that all the glory goes to His name and the world is changed universally by a Gospel-driven, familial, eternal plan. That’s incredible! That is what you need to know as you live and follow Christ, all the while
their generations.” That is until the world
seeing the gap between God’s calling
ends. But then He says, “it is an everlast-
and your condition. n
ing covenant.” Now we are beyond the end of the world. He repeats it in Genesis 17:8, “everlasting.” Genesis 17:12 goes back to creation, twelve generations. Genesis 17:13 goes back out again, “eternal.” What the Lord is essentially saying is, join the greatest, longest-standing, most multi-national movement in the history of the world – the Church. This is an adventure. Attack of the Clones? That’s nothing. How about going for the gates of Hell? Watch the movie The Lord of the Rings and you see those weak, silly, little hobbits attempting to
www.covenantseminary.edu
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Training Servants of the Triune God
INTERCESSOR the
As Covenant Seminary exists to train servants of the triune God to walk with God, to interpret and communicate God’s Word, and to lead God’s people, we recognize the importance of prayer to guide and continue the mission. While much of our training takes place in one geographic area as students relocate for study, the mission continues in the lifetime of ministry that the Lord grants as people move on from Covenant Seminary. Therefore prayer for the seminary and its mission reflects this local, national, and global scope. We are grateful for your prayers for Covenant Seminary. We hope that this prayer calendar, which can be prayed through during the summer months, will help focus your thoughts and prayers for the seminary, its students, and alumni. As the color key indicates, the dark squares share campus concerns, the medium squares O Holy Jesus, eternal and immortal Son national concerns, and the white of God and yet partaker of our flesh and squares international concerns. blood, become like unto us in all things except sin, merciful and faithful high priest and captain of our salvation, made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, fill our hearts and minds with the constant remembrance of your redeeming love, for we make this prayer in Your precious and most sacred name and by the boldness of your Holy Spirit, with whom and the Father You live and reign, one God for ever and ever. Amen. – PATRICK HENRY REARDON, The St. James Daily Devotional Guide for the Christian Year 9 (Spring 2005): 10.
SUMMER2005 Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Week 1
Praise the Lord for the many places of ministry He has prepared for recent graduates. Pray that, as they serve, they will be strengthened in their faith and boldly share the Gospel.
Pray for students taking part in intensive ministry internships this summer. Pray that they would grow in an understanding of leading and caring for other people as they grow in trusting Christ for their own lives.
Pray for the 33rd General Assembly in Chattanooga, Tenn., June 14-17, 2005. Pray for the leaders of the Presbyterian Church in America to glorify Christ in all they do and to give thanks for God’s grace as they meet around the theme of the “Year of the Ruling Elder.”
Pray that time in seminary would prepare married couples together for pastoral ministry. Pray for wisdom for planning the Family Nurture program schedule for 2005-6.
Pray for strong churches to be built up and planted in the Indianapolis, Ind., area. Praise the Lord for the congregations there reaching out to their community. Pray for the pastors serving in Indianapolis, including alumni Mike Bradham (M.Div.’99) and Roger Williams (M.Div.’98).
Pray for Access student Michael Miller (M.A.T.S.’08) and the ministry he leads for orphaned street children in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Pray that these children would be protected from gang violence and that they would grow into Christian leaders.
Praise God for the new students coming to Covenant Seminary this summer. Pray that “the peace that passes all understanding will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7).
Pray for the European Leadership Forum from June 11 to 16, 2005, in Sopron, Hungary, which will bring together European evangelical leaders from over 30 countries. Pray for Prof. Jerram Barrs and Dr. Richard Winter who will both teach. Pray for their words to glorify God and help bring revival to Europe.
As Covenant Seminary reaches the end of this fiscal year (June 30, 2005), pray for the Lord’s provision of the seminary’s financial needs in order to continue its ministryequipping mission.
Pray for Covenant Seminary’s Youth in Ministry Institute Summer Conference (June 20 to 25, 2005) which will bring together high school students from across the U.S. to see how Christ is Lord of work, play, and all of life. Pray that these young people would go back to serve their churches and communities as they live out this message.
Pray for your local church. Ask that God would move powerfully through the congregation, encouraging and strengthening His people through the teaching of His Word.
Praise the Lord for His provision of Dr. Greg Perry as a recent addition to the seminary’s regular faculty. Pray for God’s continued provision of pastor/scholars to expand the seminary faculty and serve growing needs.
“How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Rom. 10:14b). Praise God for sending out His Word.
Pray for the Doctor of Ministry students who will take time this summer to attend intensive courses at Covenant Seminary, all with a desire to better serve their congregations. Pray for their time on campus among professors and other pastors to be fruitful and a great blessing as they return to the responsibilities of church and home.
Pray for Drs. Richard Winter and Nelson Jennings. Both are focusing on cross-cultural research during their Fall 2005 sabbaticals. Pray for this research to richly inform their teaching and facilitate the furtherance of Christ’s Kingdom across racial, socio-economic, cultural, and national boundaries.
Pray for the faculty writing projects currently under way. Pray that the Lord would guide and enable the faculty in their scholarship, helping one generation tell the next of the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord. Pray for Dr. Robert Peterson as he works to complete a book on predestination and free will for P&R Publishing.
Pray for the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) board meeting which will be held June 15, 2005, in Austin, Texas. Pray for Rev. Jim Pakala, Director of Covenant Seminary’s Buswell Library and ATLA board member, to help guide the association in supporting theological libraries to benefit students both now and for years to come.
Pray for parts of our world facing serious crises that threaten to take the lives of many. Pray for relief work to be accomplished in Asian Tsunami disaster areas. Pray for Iraq, its people and government, and U.S. soldiers serving there. Pray for God’s Word to go forth in both of these areas currently enduring extreme suffering.
Praise the God who “secures justice for the poor and upholds the case of the needy” (Psalm 140:12).
Pray for Lou Best (M.Div.’04) and wife, Shirley, who have been called to plant a new PCA church in Killeen, Tex., which is the home of the Fort Hood Army base. Pray that they would be empowered by God to minister amidst the unique needs of a military community.
Pray for the May 2005 graduates as they begin a new chapter of their lives. Pray that God would use them powerfully in ministry for His glory.
Pray for Mark (M.Div.’97) and Shelly Vivian who are ministering in Australia (Westminster Presbyterian Church, Bull Creek). Pray that the light and truth of Christ would break through the secular nature of the Australians in their community. Pray for more pastors to rise up to serve in Australia.
Pray for Covenant Seminary students who are recently engaged or married. Pray that their marriages would grow in a way that demonstrates the grace of God to their families and those whom they serve.
Pray for pastors you know who are serving as solo pastors of small congregations. Pray for their peace in the midst of limited staff and many responsibilities. Thank the Lord for alumni John Gullett, Dan Gilchrist, and Charles Pettijohn, all recent graduates who have accepted calls to faithfully shepherd congregations in small towns or rural areas.
✁
Monday
Week 2
Praise
International
Week 3
Sat/Sun
National
Week 4
Campus
M.Div. Master of Divinity; M.A. Master of Arts; M.A.C. Master of Arts in Counseling; G.C. Graduate Certificate; Th.M. Master of Theology; D.Min. Doctor of Ministry
www.covenantseminary.edu
11
Training Servants of the Triune God
news
ALUMNI If you have information for Alumni News, please mail it to Covenant Magazine or e-mail Alumni News: alumni @covenantseminary.edu Tom Sidebotham (M.Div.’72) was honorably retired by the Presbytery of Central Florida in June of 2002. Prior to retirement, Tom served as a career Navy Chaplain (retired 1982) and then served two Florida churches (Covenant in Oviedo and Willow Creek in Winter Springs) for 20 years. In 2002 Tom and his wife Dottie moved closer to their daughter’s family in Naples, Fla., were he is still active in a local church, serving as worship leader, Bible teacher, and pulpit supply. Tom and Dottie’s son is a PCA Chaplain in the Army Reserves (Colorado Springs) and their daughter is teaching for a Christian School in Naples. Tom’s focus now is to aid churches and educational systems in developing effective ministry to senior adults. George Robertson (M.Div.’91, Th.M.’97) has accepted a call to serve as Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Georgia. George will begin serving the church in July 2005. He currently serves as Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Mo., where he has ministered since 1991. For more than a decade George has been an extraordinary asset to the Covenant Seminary community as he has helped seminary students prepare for ministry through internships at Covenant Presbyterian Church and served on the seminary faculty as Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology. His regular presence among the Covenant Seminary community will be missed. Norman Reed (M.Div.’94) has been called to serve as Pastor of Good Shepherd Presbyterian
COVENANT MAGAZINE
Don Bailey (M.Div.’99), began meeting August 15, 2004, in Orlando, Florida. Matt Lowe (M.Div.’96) serves as churchplanting apprentice.
Church in St. Louis, Mo., and was installed on February 20, 2005. Dr. Jack Collins, Professor of Old Testament, preached for the installation service, Daryl Madi (M.Div.’97) gave the charge to the minister, and Dr. Phil Douglass, Associate Professor of Practical Theology, gave the charge to the congregation.
Mark (M.A.’99) and Terri Ryan began serving with L’Abri Fellowship in Bowen Island, Vancouver, B.C., on May 4, 2005. They have served with L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Mass., for the past four years and now will assist in establishing the newest L’Abri branch. Prior to moving to Canada, the Ryans were able to return to their native Australia for a month-long visit to introduce their 18-monthold daughter Michelle to her grandparents.
Andrew Conrad (M.Div.’97) has accepted a call to plant a church in the Richmond, Va., area starting in Summer 2005. The church plant is sponsored by Sycamore Presbyterian in Midlothian, Va., where Andrew has served as Youth Pastor since 1997. Andrew and his wife Michelle have four children: Hanan (10), Riley (8), Clara (6), and Ethan (3).
This June Shawn Slate (M.Div.’02) will begin serving as RUF Campus Minister for the University of Virginia (U.Va.) in Charlottesville. Shawn has spent the last three years serving as Assistant Pastor of Youth Nurture and Outreach for Covenant Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Greg Thompson (M.Div.’00), who formerly served as RUF Campus Minister for U.Va., will begin pursuing full-time Ph.D. studies in theology, ethics, and culture this fall at U.Va. and will also serve as part-time Assistant Pastor for Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottsville.
Daryl Madi (M.Div.’97) became the National Director of Gateway Collegiate Ministries (formerly known as His Life) this past spring. Gateway Collegiate Ministries is a campus ministry associated with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Daryl and his wife Merry live in St. Louis, Mo., and have three children. Chris (M.Div.’98) and Carol Clark (M.A.T.S.’98), and Will (M.A.T.S., M.A.C.’00) and Kim Honeycutt would love to see people who attended seminary with them during the 2005 PCA General Assembly. If you are a classmate who is going to be in Chattanooga for the assembly and would like to join them for a reunion gathering, please e-mail the Clarks at cncclark@hotmail.com. The Clarks and Honeycutts both live in the Chattanooga, Tenn., area.
Paul Boyd (M.Div.’02) was called by the North Florida Presbytery to start a Reformed University Fellowship chapter at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla., as of June 1, 2002. On January 18, 2003, Paul was married to Rachel Pilgrim at Ortega Presbyterian Church, witnessed by groomsman Michael
Conway Community Presbyterian Church (mission), pastored by
Summer 2005
12
Graham (M.Div.’02) and ushers Justin Clement (M.Div.’03) and Jonathan Beane (M.Div.’02). Paul was ordained on October 26, 2003, at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Paul and Rachel were blessed with the birth of Paul Andrew Jr. (Drew) on May 9, 2004. George Ontko (M.Div.’02) was ordained as a transitional deacon in the Anglican Mission in America (AMiA) on January 15, 2005. The AMiA is a missionary diocese of the Province of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda. George currently serves as a nursing home chaplain and an assistant at the Anglican Church of the Resurrection in St. Louis, Mo. Candra “Candy” (Rosenburg) Penny (M.A.T.S.’02) was married to John Clifford Penny in Brampton, Ontario, on March 5, 2005. It was a cross-cultural wedding mixing U.S.-Americans and Canadians. Several of the guests were immigrant friends originally from Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. Candy continues work with the Culture ConneXions (CCX) team through SIM (Serving In Mission) among the immigrant and refugee population in the Greater Toronto area. The new couple appreciates the prayers of others as they adjust to married life and seek God’s direction for serving Him together. David Bush (M.Div.’03) graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Master of Educational Psychology (Adult Education) in December 2004. He is currently seeking a call as an Assistant Pastor of Adult Education, Discipleship, or Small Groups. David and his wife
The Covenant
FAMILY Conference
Plan your family vacation in the North Carolina mountains, surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation and immersed in delightful Bible teaching
DATE: July 25 to 29, 2005
by Covenant Seminary CO-SPONSORED BY:
professors. This conference provides an opportunity for
Covenant Theological Seminary and Ridge Haven Conference and Retreat Center
Covenant families, both parents and children, to explore God’s gracious covenant and what it means for daily living
TEACHING LEADERS:
as a family today.
Drs. Jay Sklar and David Chapman CALL 1.800.903.4044 FOR MORE INFORMATION
Michelle have been approved for adoption and are hopeful that the Lord will bless them with a child in coming months. Ryan Laughlin (M.Div.’04) was ordained and installed as Assistant Pastor of Adult Congregational Life for McLean Presbyterian Church in McLean, Va., on November 21, 2004. Dr. Bryan Chapell gave the sermon. Chris Jennings (M.Div., M.A.C.’04) began serving as Director of Children’s Ministries for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ga., on April 1, 2005. Chris is serving with Bill Douglas (M.Div.’83), Senior Pastor, and David Vosseller (M.Div.’98), Youth Pastor. William Plott (M.Div.’04) was ordained on Sunday, February 20, 2005, and serves as Assistant Pastor of North Cincinnati Community Church (PCA) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Zack Eswine, Assistant Professor of Practical Theology, delivered the sermon. This past January Cordell Schulten (M.A.T.S.’04) was invited to serve in Cambodia with a team of professors and students from Korea and the U.S. who are working to establish
www.covenantseminary.edu
a new international university in Seim Reap Province, Cambodia. Along with a proposal for the new university, to be called Angkor Global University, the team also presented a citydevelopment proposal. The project went extremely well and the provincial authorities accepted the team’s initial proposals. Cordell serves as Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies for Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, Mo.
five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Jan Entrekin, wife of Rod Entrekin (M.Div.’91), Assistant Pastor of Big Creek Presbyterian Church in Cumming, Ga., was called home to glory on Sunday, February 20, 2005. Jan is survived by her husband and four children.
Filling the Quiver Bill (M.Div.’95) and Martha Boyd celebrated the birth of their third child, Elizabeth “Betsy” Farrow, on February 20, 2005. Betsy joined big brothers William and August. Bill is the Pastor of All Saints Presbyterian Church in Austin, Tex., where he began serving in 2003 after eight years as RUF campus minister for the University of Texas.
With the Saints C. Howard Oakley (D.Min.’78), an honorably retired member of Covenant Presbytery, passed away on Wednesday, March 2, 2005. Among other pastoral roles, Howard served as Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cherry Hill, N.J., and First Reformed Church in Memphis, Tenn., and Assistant Pastor of Central Church in Memphis, Tennessee. From 1961 to 1963 Howard served as a part-time homiletics professor for Covenant Seminary and as Executive Director of National Presbyterian Missions of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. Howard was also a panelist on the television show “What’s Your Faith?” Howard is survived by his wife Beverly and their three children,
Eric (M.Div.’96) and Kelly Herrenkohl welcomed William Lopez into their family this past Spring. William was born in Guatemala on August 16, 2004, and joined the Herrenkohl family through adoption. William has a big sister and brother: Eliza and Daniel. Mark (M.Div.’98) and Tara (M.A.T.S.’99) Weathers welcomed baby boy Stephen Paul into the world on February 25, 2005. Mark serves as the
13
co-Pastor of Providence Presbyterian Church in Concord, N.C. This is the Weathers’ third child and third son. Noah Laing was born to Ken (M.Div.’01) and Dawn Harris on September 20, 2004. The Harrises spent this past Spring in St. Louis where Ken taught a course on Old Testament history for Covenant Seminary. Ken completed Ph.D. studies through the University of Liverpool this past May. Tim (M.Div.’02) and Judy Herrera joyfully announce the adoption of Daniel Timothy Felipe (born March 1, 1997), Angie Elise Katerine (born March 15, 1998), and Andres Joel Camilo (born March 25, 2000). They joined Tim, Judy, and sisters Rebekah (17) and Lindsay (15) on February 17, 2005, in Pereira, Colombia. Tim is the Associate Pastor of New Port Presbyterian Church in Washington, Mo., and is planting Redeeming Grace Fellowship in Owensville, Mo. Joab (M.Div.’04) and Rebekah Rico celebrated the birth of Isaiah Joab on December 4, 2004. The Ricos are living in Gainesville, Ga., where Joab is an intern with Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Training Servants of the Triune God
EVENTS Gatherings, Conferences Yimi Summer Conference
Fall 2005 Francis A. Schaeffer Lecture Series
ONE
Two Worlds Under One Roof
DATE: June 20 to 25, 2005
This summer Covenant Seminary’s Youth in Ministry Institute (Yimi) will bring
DATE: October 21 and 22, 2005 PLENARY SPEAKER: Bill Romanowski, author of Eyes Wide Open: Looking for God
together high school students from across
PLEASE JOIN US These events are open to the public and are offered free or for a minimal charge. To learn more about any of these events, log on to www.covenantseminary.edu or call 1.800.903.4044.
in Popular Culture
the nation to help them grow in their
This fall the Francis A. Schaeffer
view of God, themselves, others, and the
Institute is teaming up with the Youth
entire world. Students will explore a
in Ministry Institute to talk about
Fall 2005 Lifetime of Ministry Courses
Biblical understanding of one truth, one
bridging the generation gap between
Register online for any of these two- to five-day
Lord, and one Church while seeing the
teenagers and adults. This conference
ministry enrichment courses. As Lifetime of Ministry courses, these classes can be audited
implications of this teaching in everyday
is geared toward anyone working with
life. The conference will take place on
youth, including youth leaders, pastors,
the campus of Covenant Seminary and
and parents.
for a minimal fee.* Find out more at www.covenantseminary.edu.
Youth Ministry Across Culture
will include intense thinking, serious questions, fun, small group interaction, and ministry trips to learn through expe-
INSTRUCTOR: Danny Kwon,
rience. A special Youth Leader track
Youth Director for Yuong Sang Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Pa.
(staff or volunteer) will also be offered.
DATES: September 16 and 17
Special Lectures for Youth Leaders and Parents of Teens
Planning Meaningful Worship Services INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Jeffrey Heyl, Minister of Music, Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church, St. Louis
SPEAKER: Walt Mueller, Founder and President
DATES: September 16 and 17
of the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding DATES: November 11 to 12, 2005 at Covenant Seminary; Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Urban Church Planting in North America
at Central Presbyterian Church
INSTRUCTORS: Dr. Philip Douglass and Rev. Fred
TIMES AND LOCATION: Friday, 7-9:30 p.m.
Walt Mueller will serve as a guest
Harrell, Pastor of City Church of San Francisco
lecturer on the campus of Covenant
DATES: September 30 and October 1
Seminary and at Central Presbyterian
Bioethics Seminar
Church this fall, through the sponsorship
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. David Cook,
of the Youth in Ministry Institute and
Director of the Whitfield Institute and
several local churches. Walt will address
Chaplain of Green College, Oxford University
a number of topics relevant to under-
DATES: September 30 and October 1
standing today’s youth culture. *non-transcript audit
COVENANT MAGAZINE
Summer 2005
14
Sheep rest. What about Shepherds?
A conference for pastors and others who shepherd God’s people to rest and be renewed, to be equipped and encouraged, and to be further trained and sustained for a lifetime of ministry.
OCTOBER 11-12, 2005
EQUIPPING the Church Covenant Seminary’s Role in Training Lay Leaders If one were to take a picture of the seminary student body, over two thirds of the picture would include men who are training to be pastors. Who then are the rest of the people who have gathered for the photo and are not attending seminary to train for ordained pastoral ministry? These are people who desire to serve the Church as lay leaders and who are devoting a portion of their lives to becoming better trained to do so. The following article gives a snapshot of three
have been working toward will be
students who are sharpening their skills and
complete. “It is amazing to finally
deepening their knowledge of God’s Word in
reach this point by the Lord’s grace!”
order to serve the Church as equipped laity.
Patricia says. In speaking about herself, Patricia
As all Covenant Seminary students learn
comments, “I am obviously a language
together, inside and outside of the classroom, they are prepared to go out into the world to serve Christ
geek.” She speaks or reads English, French,
and His Church, in their respective capacities, together.
German, and Nomaande, the language of the Omaande. Patricia came to Covenant Seminary
God Knows Your Native Tongue
(over the course of two furloughs) to better refine
Twenty years ago Patricia Wilkendorf (M.A.E.T.’05) set
her skills in translating Scripture.
down her roots in Cameroon, Central Africa, and began
Patricia chose the Master of Arts in Exegetical
work with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Patricia set out, in
Theology (M.A.E.T) program because it focuses on Biblical
partnership with local and international colleagues, to
languages and Biblical exegesis, or more specifically on
translate the New Testament into the language of the
finding the meaning in the text in order to ensure accurate
Omaande people. But this was not an ordinary translation
translation. With a new set of skills in hand, Patricia is
exercise. The people for whom Patricia had left her native
returning to Cameroon as a full-time translation consultant
land spoke a language that had never been written down.
for mother-tongue translators in the south-central region
So the most logical place to start was with the alphabet.
of the country.
This summer Patricia is returning to Cameroon after a
Not only is the Lord using Patricia to bless the Omaande
19-month furlough. She’ll be there just in time to celebrate.
people, she is also serving as a blessing to many others
The final revisions and checks need to be completed on the
including the Gunu, Yambetta, and Yambassa people groups,
Nomaande New Testament to get it ready for publication,
helping them to have access to God’s Word in their mother
and then the original goal that Patricia and her colleagues
tongues – the languages of their hearts.
COVENANT MAGAZINE
Spring 2005
16
Equipping the Church
Rejoice and Be Glad!
Endless Theories or a Solid Framework?
It is Sunday morning at New City Fellowship in St. Louis,
During college, psychology major Kate Gerber struggled to
Mo., and Kirk Ward is introducing a new song:
sift through what she calls “endless theories” of counseling
Rejoice! Rejoice and be glad!
and psychology. “I longed to have a Biblical framework to
The kingdom is here for the poor, the weak, and the sad.
training her junior year. “I wanted to learn from Christian
Rejoice!
professors who could help me filter and process valuable
Rejoice in the Lord!
information taught by secular psychologists.”
evaluate it all,” Kate says. She began to consider seminary
By the blood of Jesus all the earth will be restored.
This May Kate will graduate from Covenant Seminary
Kirk wrote the song’s music and lyrics for the worship
with a Master of Arts in Counseling (M.A.C.). Over the
celebration in response to a sermon series being presented
past two years in the M.A.C. program, she says she has
on the beatitudes. He serves as the Music Director for New
gained a theological foundation on which to base theories
City Fellowship and is gaining more training for his work by
of personhood, change, hope, glory, and depravity that make
studying at Covenant Seminary.
up the guiding principles of counseling.
“I was interested in seminary even in high school,”
One of the seminary experiences that stands out most
Kirk says. “In college, it became clear to me that the greatest
for Kate has been her counseling practicum. Kate and a
joy I experienced in using my gifts was in service to the
group of seven other counseling students have met with
church. I came to Covenant Seminary because I wanted to
licensed counselor Diane Powell for four hours a week to
Degree Programs for NonOrdained Leadership include:* NEW
Master of Arts in Educational Ministries Master of Arts in Counseling Master of Arts in Theological Studies Master of Divinity (non-ordination track) Master of Arts in Exegetical Theology
Log on to www.covenantseminary.edu to find out more about these programs. *pastoral candidates are also able to enroll in these programs
Left (previous page): Patricia Wilkendorf (far left) and Cameroonian translation colleagues. Middle: Kirk Ward. Right: Kate Gerber
balance my undergraduate training in the more technical
discuss books, clients, counseling techniques, and more.
aspects of music with theological training. I believe that
“This time has provided me with a nurturing environment
church musicians must be well-qualified in both areas.”
in which to develop myself as a therapist,” Kate says.
Kirk is enrolled in the Master of Arts in Theological
Following graduation, Kate plans to continue to take her
Studies (M.A.T.S) program at Covenant Seminary. He says
training into a community counseling setting and hopes to
that seminary training gives him “a much stronger doctrinal
pursue further education in counseling psychology. n
foundation and Biblical framework” that he brings to every service he plans. He calls the Scripture study he engages through the seminary “fertile ground” – not only for writing music, but also for working with music volunteers and shaping a Biblical view of the life of the Church.
www.covenantseminary.edu
17
Training Servants of the Triune God
THE PSALMS AND THE
Pathway TO HEALING Facing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse
“You say that the Gospel is for broken people. Do you really mean that?” Her eyes, unable to meet mine, were firmly focused on the carpet. I was a pastor, so I couldn’t really say “No” to her question. More than that, I had seen significant redemption in my own life and witnessed it in the lives of others, so I had good reason to say, “Yes.” Yet, having just graduated from seminary and recently taken a position as an assistant pastor, which involved doing some counseling, I was not fully aware of what saying yes was going to cost – not just for me, but for this woman as well. It was months later, after many meetings, that she told me
The Silent Epidemic
that she had been sexually abused as a child. In that revela-
While in seminary, I had learned that studies published in
tion came the true test of what I said I believed, for I had
the 1990s showed that one in four women had experienced
promised her that the Gospel was for her. Was it really?
sexual abuse before the age of 18 . Several studies reported
1
that 23 percent of those women were victims of these devas-
Even as I continued to meet with this woman, I began
2
counseling other men and women who needed guidance.
tating sexual sins before they had turned eight years old.
I never advertised a “specialty” or a particular area of
And these were conservative studies that used conservative
counseling expertise. I never sought out specific types of
definitions. These numbers were news to me. One in four
cases, and I never asked, “Have you been sexually abused?”
women! And yet, even though I had grown up in the
Yet, over the course of the next several years, consistently
church, I had never even heard this topic mentioned. I had
80 percent of the people who came to me for help revealed
never heard a sermon about it. It was simply not discussed. My post-seminary experience has validated for me the
that they had suffered sexual abuse as children.
accuracy of those studies. Sexual abuse of minors happens
That was a shockingly high statistic. But what was even more shocking to me was the fact that I was not working
more often than we would like to think and, typically, it goes
with the street children of a Third World nation, nor was
unaddressed. In our churches and from our pulpits, we pro-
I working in the inner city of an urban metropolis. These
claim that the Gospel is for “broken people.” We believe
people were my parishioners: white-collar, educated,
that a person does not have to “clean himself up” first in
middle- to upper-middle-class people. Further, 95 percent
order to come to Jesus Christ. We teach that sanctification is
of them were actively involved in our church. Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
COVENANT MAGAZINE
Summer 2005
18
1
Maxine Hancock and Karen Mains, Child Sexual Abuse: A Hope For Healing (Wheaton, Ill.: Harold Shaw, 1987), 20-21.
2
David Finkelhor, “Current Information on the Scope and Nature of Child Sex Abuse,” Future of Children 4 (Summer/Fall 1994): 38-39.
The Psalms and the Pathway to Healing
for the heart and soul, not just the mind. Yet, for many of
EWAN KENNEDY (M.DIV., M.A.C.’00)
those who sit in the pew, those words do not ring true. They
Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Elgin, Ill.
have come to believe that they are too broken for the Gospel. They believe that, if they tell what happened to
I have been accustomed to call
them, the rest of us will not be able to cope. Adults who
this book, I think not inappropriately,
were victims of childhood sexual abuse carry with them a
“An Anatomy of all the Parts of the
shameful secret that continues to eat away at their hearts.
Soul;” for there is not an emotion of
The Source of Hope
which anyone can be conscious that
There is hope for survivors of sexual abuse, however, and it
is not here represented as in a mirror. Or rather, the Holy Spirit
comes, of course, from God and is expressed poignantly in
has here drawn to the life all the griefs, sorrows, fears, doubts,
the Psalms. Almost relentlessly, the Psalms invite us to
hopes, cares, perplexities, in short, all the distracting emotions
engage with God in deep and meaningful ways. They draw
with which the minds of men are wont to be agitated.
3
I knew as well, even before I learned to read Hebrew, that
us to Him through their expression of praise, they console us
the Hebrew title of the book meant “Book of Public Praises.”
with their voice of comfort, and they sometimes shock us
And yet, as these men and women came to meet with
with the intensity of their lamentation and despair.
me, over and over again they opened my eyes even further
Through their wide-ranging revelation of human emotion, the Psalms “drag” our hearts to God and to His
to the Psalms. I began to realize that I had missed something
grace, even when we do not want – or feel too unworthy –
important in the Psalter. Yes, the title meant “Book of
to be taken there. While the Psalms have this effect in a
Praise,” but there are more songs of “complaint” and “strug-
general way for most believers who read them, they contain
gle” sprinkled throughout those verses than there are songs
an especially daring invitation and promise for the survivor
of what we would term “praise.” Consequently, by overlook-
of sexual abuse: bring your past pains and present hurts to
ing this, I had missed something equally important about
God for healing.
worship: Worship was meant to consist of much more than singing happy and thankful songs. And ultimately, I had
Adult victims of childhood sexual abuse do not believe that it is safe for them to disclose their past. They were
missed something about God himself – the fact that He is
coerced into keeping a shameful secret, a secret they were
not afraid of our struggle, pain, confusion, or even our anger.
told never to tell, a secret they came to believe was too big
More than that, He wants us to bring those things to Him
and too awkward for their families or their churches to bear.
in song, and He so intended to underscore this desire for us
The hurt, pain, and damage caused by the abuse do not
that He gave us more examples of tearful and pain-filled
disappear. The roots of that pain and the reasons behind it
“praising” than he did jubilant and triumphant celebration.
are kept under lock and key by shame and denial.
To wrestle with God is worship. Bring your broken and turbulent heart with you.
Yet, in His passionate love and mercy, the God of Israel does not stand far off. As the songs of the Psalter call out across the centuries, the Lord’s message is clear: He will not allow such hiding, denial, or avoidance to come between Him and His beloved children.
If Scripture regulates worship, as we believe, then it calls
As I fumbled and stumbled along in my attempts to care for these men and women who had dared to reveal their
for something more daring, more poignant, and, yes, more
secrets to me, I began almost by instinct to point them to
costly than we would prefer to give. Again and again the
the Psalms. I desperately hoped that this would provide some
message of the Psalms re-echoes: “To wrestle with God is
hope and direction for them. After all, I had grown up in
worship. Bring your broken and turbulent heart with you.”
Scotland; I knew about the Psalter! I knew what John
3
Calvin had said about the Psalms: www.covenantseminary.edu
19
John Calvin, Commentary on the Psalms (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House,1979), xxxvi.
Training Servants of the Triune God
The Psalms and the Pathway to Healing
pathway for reaching a measure of healing: they demand
The psalmist’s words are not rocks hurled over his shoulder as he stomps away. Rather, he is coming to his Father, his God, and his redeemer for help.
an end to denial; they give us better questions to ask;
As much as we would prefer to hear “nice words,” our
they raise the bar for our relationship with God; and they
heart’s desire is for honesty. The Psalter shows that that
emphasize the steadfastness of God’s love.
which is true for us as God’s image-bearers is also true for
1) The Psalms Demand an End to Denial
our relationship with the one whose image we bear.
The Pathway to Healing
My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me continually, “Where is your God?” Ps.43:3 For the victim of childhood sexual abuse – and for all who would engage with God – the Psalms offer a fourfold
Unfortunately, the painful truth is that, in His Sovereign
When I remember God, I moan;
love, God knows that we will not easily leave the numb
When I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah.
comfort of our denial. We will not open the door to our
You hold my eyelids open;
hidden hurts until our house of cards has finally collapsed.
I am so troubled that I cannot speak. Ps.77:3-4 Why do victims of childhood sexual abuse live in denial?
In Psalm 44 we encounter the psalmist in worship that has
This happens because the victim is told not to tell, believes
reached this level of desperation: You have made us like sheep for slaughter
he or she has no one who is safe to tell, and developmentally
and have scattered us among the nations.
cannot fully process what has happened. Often a child’s only
You have sold your people for a trifle,
recourse is denial; the event is pushed away to the edges of
demanding no high price for them.
the mind as the victim tries to get on with his or her life.
You have made us the taunt of our neighbors,
But, in His love for us, God will not allow denial. In Psalm
the derision and scorn of those around us.
77, as he worships God, the psalmist tells us that God is
You have made us a byword among the nations,
causing him to face reality – and it hurts. God is holding the
a laughingstock among the peoples.
psalmist’s eyelids open! He would like to close his eyes, to
All day long my disgrace is before me,
shut out reality, to find temporary comfort in denial, but
and shame has covered my face. Ps.44:11-16
God will not let him. This is God’s unusual love. He desires
As we read this, our eyes widen, our jaws drop, and
that we face what is true about our past pains and present hurts. According to the Psalter, we can do this in a way that
a rebuke towards the speaker forms in our mouths – until
is worshipful and godly.
we realize that this is God’s Word. How would we respond if we heard these words from a fellow believer, a Sunday
Psalm 88 underscores this truth. The God-inspired
School teacher, a worship leader, or a pastor? Yet, God not
ending of this psalm is unsettling, and startlingly honest:
only inspired the psalmist to write these words as a form
“You have caused my beloved and
of worship, He also gave them to us as a guide and an
my friend to shun me; my companions have become darkness.” Ps.88:18
example. As with the psalmist, so it is with us. God will
As abrupt and shocking as this ending is, the key –
spare nothing to challenge us, to provoke an end to our
as with all psalms of struggle and complaint – is that the
self-protective denial.
psalmist is talking to God. The psalmist’s words are not rocks
2) The Psalms Give Us Better Questions to Ask
hurled over his shoulder as he stomps away. Rather, he is
As God cracks open the door to our hidden hurts, He gives
coming to his Father, his God, and his redeemer for help.
us better questions to ask. Like all facets of fallenness in
When a loved one refuses to talk to us, when a church
God’s creation, hurts unhealed do not disappear. Worse, they
member refuses to be honest, we know we are in trouble.
can often be labeled or diagnosed incorrectly. The secondary
COVENANT MAGAZINE
Summer 2005
20
Facing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse
symptoms resulting from sexual abuse will continue to recur
The Psalms also raise crucial and complicated questions
as long as their roots are untraced. As you can imagine, past
about justice, questions that may be unspoken but are never
sexual abuse can result in significant struggles such as depres-
far away: How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?
sion, self-destructive behavior, eating-disorders, substance
Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
abuse, and reckless sexual behavior. Sexual abuse may also be
Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
connected to anger, anxiety, feelings of isolation, difficulty in
Take it from the fold of your
trusting others, conflict avoidance, and avoidance of a healthy marital sexual relationship. One secular study
garment and destroy them! Ps.74:10-11
4
suggests that, unless sexual abuse is dealt with directly – as
To bring true worship and deep healing, God has given
opposed to dealing merely with the isolated side-effects – the
us better questions than we would normally ask.
victim will not know significant healing, but will continue to suffer at some level, draining his or her life of full vitality and straining the capacity of social and health services organizations to provide assistance. What is true for those in the secular world is no less true for those in the Church. Often the denial is deep, and the shameful truth is locked away just out of reach. Unless confronted with detailed descriptions of what constitutes sexual abuse, many victims of this sin would automatically answer “no” if they were asked, “Have you experienced sexual abuse?” The questions that the Psalms ask point us to the roots of
3) The Psalms Raise the Bar
our personal struggles and force us to examine them.
The Psalms begin and accompany us along a “healing path” because they raise the bar for our relationship with God.
Psalms 42-43 provide a clear example of how we can ask better questions in our worship of God. In Psalm 42:9,
To be abused sexually is to be emotionally hurt and scarred
the psalmist brings his accusatory question to God:
in ways that affect one’s vulnerability, intimacy, and trust. One’s future relationships cannot help but be affected by
I say to God, my rock:
such far-reaching devastation. Yet, the roots of relational
“Why have you forgotten me?
difficulties typically predate the sexual abuse and in some
Why do I go mourning
way “set the scene” for it. In cases of incest, for example,
because of the oppression of the enemy?” PS.42:9
the perpetrator and the victim are, by definition, members
As he continues, he brings to God a question that, while it is attributed to “my adversaries,” ultimately bears the
of the same family. In 60 percent of non-incest sexual abuse
stamp of the Adversary, Satan:
cases, the perpetrator is known to the victim in some way. The startling reality is that those who perpetrate sexual
“As with a deadly wound in my bones,
abuse prey on children whom they know will not tell. Most
my adversaries taunt me,
often, before the abuse occurs, the child lives with some
while they say to me continually,
level of emotional neglect and loneliness. Often, his or her
‘Where is your God?’” Ps.42:10
home life is harsh, cold, and rigid. Sometimes the parent-
Finally, unsatisfied with simple, surface, or obvious questions, the psalmist latches on to a better question which
child roles have been confused or twisted. Further, before the
echoes like a refrain throughout the psalm. The force of the
abuse, these children are already familiar with the dynamics
question is, “What is going on with me? What’s at the root
of fear-induced loyalty. The abuse therefore compounds the existing relational dysfunction of the child’s life.
of this struggle?” In the psalmist’s own words, he says: “Why are you cast down, O my soul,
4
and why are you in turmoil within me?” Ps.42:11
www.covenantseminary.edu
21
Smith, Pearce, Pringle, and Caplan, “Adults with a History of Child Sexual Abuse: Evaluation of a Pilot Therapy Service,” British Medical Journal 310 (May 6, 1995): 1175-1180.
Training Servants of the Triune God
The Psalms and the Pathway to Healing
psalmists cling to the steadfast love of God as the word
As we have seen in the verses already quoted, the Psalms
occurs again and again in the Psalms.
arise out of a very different relational context. In the Psalms
To the one who has known abuse, betrayal, fear, neglect,
God, the One True Father, declares, “You can talk to me about things that are difficult.” He promises, “You don’t have
and loneliness, the Psalms offer relationship with the God
to be afraid to tell me how you feel.” By inspiring the
whose love is steadfast. In the agonizing and awkward
psalmists to engage with him, God repeatedly provides us
process of working through their pain, the psalmists’ hope
with flesh and blood examples of what it means to have a
is based solidly on the steadfast love of God. This steadfast
relationship with Him – not just in our private prayer closet,
love is crucial in the Psalter, especially in the psalms of
but also in public worship.
complaint and struggle. It functions as the turning point from despair to hope (e.g., Ps. 5:7; 17:7; 31:7; 90:14). In
In His desire to know, love, and heal us, God will
many psalms, this steadfast love is the reason that the com-
follow us into our darkness:
plaint or struggle can be voiced (e.g., Ps. 25:6; 26:3; 51:1;
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
57:1). In other psalms, it is the conclusion to which the
and the light about me be night,”
psalmist clings amid the chaos of life and the consequences
even the darkness is not dark to you;
of sin (e.g., Ps. 13:5; 32:10; 36:10; 42:8; 44:26).
the night is bright as the day,
We know this to be the covenant love of God, the love
for darkness is as light with you. Psalm 139:11-12
behind His grace, the love that has bound Him to humanity
Seeing this relationship lived out in the Psalms – with
despite the sins committed between Adam’s first and today’s
the psalmist going unrebuked, unshunned, and uncorrected for uttering such words – we find ourselves owning his
last. This is the love behind God’s promise that the Gospel
prayers and saying to God ourselves, “I want to be known
is for broken people. It is His loving commitment not just to
by you intimately.”
save, but also to redeem broken people. The Scripture is
Search me, O God, and know my heart!
packed with stories of God’s commitment to redeem and
Try me and know my thoughts!
restore people who are deeply broken.
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
Helping to Put the Pieces Back Together
and lead me in the way everlasting! Ps.139:23-24
I thank God that, through my time at Covenant Theological Seminary, He gave me an education and an example, not so
...perhaps the most relentless aspect of the Psalms is their constant return to the steadfast love of God.
much that I might become a “competent” counselor, but that I also might have faith to look to Him more than to my gifts or education. God gave me hope that light can shine in darkness and that human beings can love others as they have been loved by Him. The Gospel is for those who have been sexually abused.
4) The Psalms Emphasize the Steadfastness of God’s Love
God holds out the promise of significant healing to all
Finally, perhaps the most relentless aspect of the Psalms
Whether our particular culture or social group is comfortable
is their constant return to the steadfast love of God.
with this truth or not, God, through the Psalms, invites
The Hebrew noun hesed is repeated over 130 times in the
us to a full-souled worship engagement with Himself.
His children who have sinned and been sinned against.
Psalms. Hesed is translated by using a number of different
Jesus Christ indeed has risen and continues to fly to His
words in English Bibles, including love, unfailing love, and
children with healing in His wings. “But for you who fear my
lovingkindness. But unless this noun is repeatedly translated
name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its
as steadfast love (see, for example, the English Standard
wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall”
Version) the English reader misses the repetition present
(Mal. 4:2). n
in the Hebrew, which is intended to make a point: the COVENANT MAGAZINE
Summer 2005
22
New Books by Faculty
Praying Backwards: Transform Your Prayer Life by Beginning in Jesus’ Name By Dr. Bryan Chapell, President and Professor of Practical Theology
What does it mean to offer our prayers in Jesus’ name? Though we say the words, do we really mean them? And how would the content and character of our prayers change if we did? Praying Backwards introduces believers to the transforming process of beginning our prayers in Jesus’ name – not by moving a simple phrase, but by understanding and embracing the meaning behind the phrase. (Baker; available July 2005.)
Christ-Centered Preaching, Second Edition By Dr. Bryan Chapell, President and
Grace Abounding: The Life, Books and Influence of John Bunyan
Preaching Magazine
Professor of Practical Theology
By Dr. David Calhoun, Professor of
TOP TEN
Church History
Newly updated, this second edition of Christ-centered Preaching offers additions and clarifications gleaned from 10 years of Christian preachers and students interacting with this book. Dr. Bryan Chapell said he considered this second edition of Christ-centered Preaching a “collaborative effort,” crediting his colleagues and students who have helped update this book in order to serve the next generation of preachers. (Baker; available now.)
The Pilgrim’s Progress, written by John Bunyan, is one of the most famous and well-read books of the English language. Grace Abounding, a new book by Dr. David Calhoun, delves into Bunyan’s life and considers his books and theology. The book shows how Bunyan, much more than an imprisoned tinker with time on his hands, was a key figure in British history during momentous nation-changing events. (Christian Focus Publications; available now.)
Far as the Curse Is Found: The Covenant Story of Redemption
Robert Lewis Dabney: A Southern Presbyterian Life
By Dr. Michael Williams, Professor
By Dr. Sean Lucas, Candidate
Perfecting Ourselves to Death: The Pursuit of Excellence and the Perils of Perfectionism
of Systematic Theology
Relations Coordinator and Adjunct
By Dr. Richard Winter, Professor
Professor of Church History
of Practical Theology
This new book suggests that contemporary appraisals of Dabney (1820-1898) as either Presbyterian hero or Southern partisan are too narrow. Rather, Dr. Sean Lucas claims that Dabney is better understood as one who embodied many of the contradictions and convictions of his era. Dr. Lucas provides a fascinating look at a complex, complicated, and sometimes contradictory public intellectual who continues to exert influence in Presbyterian circles today. (P&R Publishing; available now.)
The quest for perfection can be a motivating force that pushes us to achieve great things and become fuller people in Christ. It can also be a detrimental force that drives us to unhealthy patterns and obsessions. When does being good become bad? In this book, Dr. Richard Winter explores the positive and negative effects of perfectionism in our lives as well as the roots of this type of tendency. In doing so, Dr. Winter helps readers find confidence and identity in Christ and His teachings. (InterVarsity Press; available May 2005.)
The Christian faith is about the historical unfolding of God’s covenantal involvement in this world, the culmination of which is the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ. Far as the Curse Is Found is a retelling of the Biblical story of God’s unfolding covenant from creation to new creation. Readers are led to wonder anew at the redemptive work of God in our own history, in our own human flesh. (P&R Publishing; available June 2005.)
www.covenantseminary.edu
23
Hell Under Fire Co-edited by Dr. Robert Peterson, Professor of Systematic Theology, and Dr. Chris Morgan, Associate Professor of Theology, California Baptist University
This past January, Preaching magazine named Hell Under Fire, co-edited by Drs. Robert Peterson and Chris Morgan, one of the “Top Ten Books Every Pastor Should Read in 2005.” Hell Under Fire explores the Biblical topic of Hell and has sold over 3,000 copies in its first three months. The book is also a 2005 Gold Medallion finalist for the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dr. Peterson served as general editor and contributor to the book. (Zondervan; available now.)
Training Servants of the Triune God
APOLOGETICS FAILURE AND
PART 2
Or, Why it may Be Good for Us to Lose the Argument In part one of this two-part article series, Mark Ryan asked why we are reluctant to address and accept our failures in sharing the Christian faith. He defused the fear and shame associated with failure by addressing the difference between perceived and actual failure. In the following conclusion to this series, Mark shows how facing up to failure may actually have a positive role in helping us grow to be more faithful apologists. Log on to www.covenantseminary.edu, choose Online Resources, and type in “apologetics” to read this article in its entirety.
The Value of Facing up to Failure
What is it that God is seeking to accomplish in us
Our Setbacks and Failures Can Serve Us by Testing Our Faith
at the same time as He works through us to share
Although one of the primary tasks of the Christian
the good news with others? If we consider this
apologist is to defend the faith in such a way as to
question we can at least note the following aspects
encourage the presence of saving faith in others,
of our apologetic setbacks and failures. All of these aspects of
the truth of the matter is that God is often busy
failure are positive and each has the potential of producing
working to deepen and strengthen our own faith in the midst
something in us of lasting value.
of these experiences. One of the ways in which He chooses to do this is by testing our faith through exposing us to failure.
Our Setbacks and Failures Can Motivate Us to Improve at “Giving a Word Back”
Those of us familiar with the Bible should be more alert to this eventuality than we typically are. Think of the testing
An important benefit of studying failure, insofar as it relates
of such notable figures as Abraham (Gen. 22:1ff) and Job
to apologetics, is that understanding more about what
(Job 1:1ff), as well as the words of James that the testing of
failure is and why failure strikes should lead to a greater
faith produces endurance and maturity (Jas. 1:3-4). Perhaps
understanding of the conditions of success. Like the football
it is the unwritten “rule” that apologists have to be those
coach who watches videotapes of his team’s bad plays just to
of strong faith – the intellectually advanced and spiritually
catch and prevent the same mistakes being repeated again
indefatigable – that keeps many of us from seeing our failures
and again, so identifying the reasons for our failures adds a much-needed dimension to the study of apologetics. In a
1
very real sense, reflecting on today’s failures may enable us to better prepare for greater effectiveness and the securing of favorable outcomes tomorrow.
1
COVENANT MAGAZINE
Summer 2005
24
For the apologist “success” and “favorable outcomes” are not to be construed as merely “winning” the convert. Rather, these relate to the apologist’s obedience, especially in the following four areas: 1. To love and worship God; 2. To be a faithful servant-witness; 3. To be a hard worker; and 4. To maintain a proper attitude toward all. Adapted from: Kent & Barbara Hughes, “Feelings on Failure,” Leadership 8, no.2, (Spring 1987): 29.
Apologetics and Failure
MARK P. RYAN (M.A.T.S.’99)
in this light. Whatever it is, we need to jettison such
L’Abri Fellowship, Southborough, Mass.
misconceptions from our minds and open ourselves to the possibility that, when we discover ourselves to be shot
Our Setbacks and Failures Can Serve Us by Reminding Us of Our Limitations
through with failure, then it is (by grace) that God is actually accomplishing something marvelous within us, something
Perhaps most importantly of all,
that may well fit us all the more for future apologetic duties.
the failures that we experience in Our Setbacks and Failures Can Serve Us by Shaping Our Character
our work as apologists should serve to drive deep into our conscious-
In 1 Peter 3:15 the Apostle Peter not only issues the call to
ness an awareness of our own limitations and, subsequently,
engage in the ministry of apologetics, but he also spells out
the need for greater dependency upon God. As paradoxical
the necessary preparation which this calling requires.
as it may at first seem, I honestly believe that one of the
Specifically, Peter calls the church to personal holiness.
chief dangers into which Christian
According to Peter, we can only make our
apologists stumble is that of failing to
defense of the faith if we “revere
rely upon God. Much like the concept
Christ the Lord as Holy.” This
of failure itself, there is, for the apolo-
presupposes or involves two things:
gist, the constant danger of consigning
the initial recognition or reception
God to the fringes of our pursuits.
of Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives
Whether through the increase of
and the ongoing reign of Jesus Christ
academic knowledge and reputation
as Lord over our lives in terms of
or through the experience of success
personal holiness. With the charac2
and even applause, we can too easily
ter of the Christian apologist being
find ourselves with a deceptive
such an important aspect of the
sense of “being ready for anything,”
apologetic assignment, we need not
rather than with a vital sense of
go far to see that at least some of our
“being dependent upon God.”
failures are taken up and used by
What does it take for the
God to correct character flaws and
apologist relying on his or her
to deepen Christ-honoring character
own abilities to once again
traits in us.
become aware of personal limitations
Consider the Apostle Peter himself. He was a man
and the need for God Himself? Typically, such awareness
who knew and experienced failure more than once and
comes through failure. Failure is often an instrument in the
often in very acute ways. Yet Jesus did not reject Peter 3
hand of God to lead us to a renewed conviction regarding
(cf. Jn.21:15-17). Instead the Lord was committed to the
our need of Him. Of course, being made aware of one’s
continual molding and shaping of Peter’s personality.
limitations under God is humbling, yet it is also empowering.
Again and again Peter’s failures become opportunities to
For, by the grace of God, apologists, like all Christians, are
grow in character, so much so that Peter is a prime example
wisest and strongest when they are weak (1 Cor.1:26-30;
of how God perseveres with us and uses even our failures to
Phil. 4:13) and able to serve others best when they are
make us what He wants us to be. 2
Certainly the context in which Peter is speaking is replete with references to the central components of Christian character as demonstrated in daily, godly living; cf. 1 Pet.3:1-6.
3
See: Mt.14:28-31; Mt.16:1-23; Mt.17:4-6, par.Mk.9:5-7; Mt. 26:36-46, par. Mk.14:32-42; Mt. 26:69-75, par. Mk.14:66-72.
most completely hidden in Christ (Col.3:33; Eph.6:10-17). Facing up to Our Failures Casts Us and the Whole Enterprise Back onto God
Finally, I think the greatest benefit we gain from facing up to
www.covenantseminary.edu
our apologetic failures is that doing so necessarily casts the
25
Training Servants of the Triune God
Francis A. Schaeffer Institute
Sacrifice of Praise Worship Conference Wrap-Up
whole enterprise back onto the grace of God. When we are aware of the inevitability of failure (or if we are completely
More that 280 pastors and worship leaders gathered at Covenant Seminary this past February for the Sacrifice of Praise Worship Renewal Conference. Fifty churches sent both a pastor and a worship staff person.
honest, the prevalence of failure), then our apologetics can only continue in the context of the purifying and enabling grace of God. Like every other area of life in which we must come to grips with failure, so too in apologetics we are forced
The conference focused on subjects including:
back to God and to the centrality of His sovereign grace. For in apologetics no less than the rest of life, failure can remind
What is it that makes worship Biblical, Reformed, and Gospel-driven?
us that, “The eternal God is Thy refuge, and underneath are His everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:27), and that “apart from
Can a church add a new vocabulary to its heart language of worship while remaining true to its present form of expression?
[Him] we can do nothing” (Jn.15:5). Turning Stumbling Blocks into Stepping-Stones
Doubtless there are other ways that it would serve us well
Is there any hope for churches and denominations to establish long-term unity, peace, and mutual affirmation across various worship styles?
to think about failure in relation to Christian apologetics. But it is helpful to begin by simply noting that, in spite of appearances and our initial feelings, failure can have a
Many of the plenary sessions and workshops are available in the Online Resources section of the Covenant Seminary Web site. Talks available online include:
positive role to play in our growth and maturity as apologists. Not only is God always faithful and just in the way that He deals with us, but He is always in control so that His hand can be discerned in our failures as well as in our
WORSHIP AS GOSPEL RE-PRESENTATION Dr. Bryan Chapell
successes. As we address failure as a neglected reality of
MULTI-ETHNIC WORSHIP AND THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL Dr. Jonathan Seda
apologetics, we open up real potential for advancing our spiritual growth and improving as apologists in submission to God. The words of John Hunter are helpful at this point:
ANCIENT-FUTURE WORSHIP Rev. Scotty Smith
If, in spite of our failure we come to God confessing our wretchedness, and seeking His cleansing and His power, then we turn our stumbling blocks into stepping-stones. There is still the hope of joy and blessing and fruitfulness for all who will see the promise of God and accept the victory that can be theirs.
BACH, BUBBA, AND THE BLUES BROTHERS: THE SINGING SAVIOR’S MANY VOICES Dr. Reggie Kidd
4
What better response to failure can we offer than turning stumbling blocks into stepping-stones? And what greater incentive can there be, practically speaking, to embark upon the apologetic task than knowing that, under God, even our shortcomings are redeemable and our failures are valuable. Whether we are seasoned apologists or novice defenders of the faith, may God grant all of us a sense of His presence and purpose in success and failure alike. n 4
John Hunter, Limiting God (Zondervan, 1972), 92 The program was made possible through a Worship Renewal Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Mich., with funds provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.
COVENANT MAGAZINE
Summer 2005
26
The Pursuit of Excellence and the Perils of Perfectionism
I am reminded of the wonderful story of the Velveteen
continued from page 5
Rabbit, in which we meet the toys in a children’s nursery.
evaluating the pros and cons of perfectionism – the advantages
The old Skin Horse, we are told, was balding and showing
and disadvantages. Perfectionists often have a difficult time
some of his seams. He had seen many other toys come and
seeing the disadvantages of this way of coping with life. They
eventually break apart and pass on, but being old and wise he
are convinced that their way of thinking protects them from
knew about the “strange and wonderful” nursery magic.
mediocrity and prevents mistakes. They do not see clearly
“What is REAL?” asked the Velveteen Rabbit one day when
the negative consequences of self-criticism, dissatisfaction,
they were lying side by side near the nursery fender…. “Does it
broken relationships, and vulnerability to depression. When
mean having things that buzz inside you, and a stick-out handle?”
the advantages and disadvantages are carefully defined, it is
[appearance and performance] “Real isn’t how you are made,” said
usually easy to see that the costs outweigh the benefits.
the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY
Perfectionists can also take steps toward healing by recognizing all-or-nothing thought patterns,
loves you, then you become real.” “Does it
such as “I must do everything right or not at
hurt?” asked the Rabbit. “Sometimes,” said
all.” “Are the walls in this room completely
the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful.
dirty, or are there just a few dirty marks?”
“When you are Real, you don’t mind being
New habits of thinking and feeling take a
hurt.” “Does it happen all at once, like being
long time to be established in the heart.
wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?” “It
Patience is needed. It is helpful to keep a
doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin
journal of habitual thoughts and feelings.
Horse, “you become. It takes a long time.
Until we record the pattern of our neurotic
That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people
and sinful tendencies, we often do not realize how frequently they occur. As individuals seek to deal with perfectionism it is helpful to create little goals. If one’s goal is to be less of a perfectionist about appearance, then it helps to break this down into sub-goals, like not taking more than 30 minutes to get ready to go out, being willing to miss a workout, or gaining a few pounds without becoming
Old habits of thinking die hard. Insecurity, feelings of insignificance, desire to control, fear of rejection and failure...
who break easily or have sharp edges or who have to be carefully kept [Perfectionists!]. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly except to people who don’t understand.”
5
It is the love of God that surrounds and accepts us just as we are. And we also have the promise that we are being perfected by
upset. One can get wise input by reading 4
God – or sanctified – and one day we will
books and going to a counselor, but the optimum environment for change is in the context of a
be complete in perfection. For “we, who…all reflect the Lord’s
relationship with God and other people. A community or an
glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-
alternative family can be a great source of healing. If you have
increasing glory…” (2 Cor. 3:18) little by little, day by day.
never experienced acceptance and grace in your own family
One day, in glory, even our bodies will be transformed so that
of origin, then I pray that you will find a church where people
they will be like His glorious body. Until that day we groan
will accept you with your faults and imperfections. It is there
for glory (Rom. 8:23). We wait “eagerly” and “patiently” for
that the lies a perfectionist has accepted can be replaced with
that day when the Lord will return, and He will give us the perfection we long for and that He desires for us. n
the louder voice of grace and truth. We all need a safe place to take risks without fear of rejection. 4
Martin Antony and Richard Swinson, When Perfect Isn’t Good Enough: Strategies for Coping with Perfectionism (Oakland, Calif.: New Harbinger, 1998), 124-5.
5
Margery Williams Bianco, The Velveteen Rabbit (New York: Avon, 1975), 16-17.
www.covenantseminary.edu
Adapted from Perfecting Ourselves to Death by Richard Winter. Copyright (c) 2005 by Richard Winter. Used with permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515. www.ivpress.com
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Training Servants of the Triune God
news
CAMPUS For a campus calendar, log on to www.covenantseminary.edu. Perry Joins Faculty Dr. Greg Perry was appointed to Covenant Seminary’s permanent faculty this past January to serve as Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies. Dr. Perry has served as Adjunct Professor of Biblical Studies for Covenant Seminary since Fall 2003. Prior to joining the seminary faculty, Dr. Perry served for ten years in pastoral ministry and theological education in the U.S. and Australia. While teaching theology in Australia, Professor Perry helped to develop a team designed to explore church planting principles in the Australian context and train local pastors to apply those principles. He is currently a board member of Third Millennium, an organization which was created to bring theological education to second and third world countries. Dr. Perry has a heart to disciple students in creative cultural applications of the Gospel. His doctoral dissertation focuses on how Luke’s narrative helped shape Christian corporate identity as early congregations read or heard the Acts of the Apostles.
Large Mormonism Collection Donated to Buswell Library The late Rev. Wesley Walters’ (d. 1990) library of books, journals, and cassettes on Mormonism has been donated to Covenant Seminary’s Buswell Library. The Walters collection is virtually unparalleled, representing decades of research and discoveries that disproved some of Joseph Smith’s (founder of Mormonism) claims. The collection covers numerous Mormon sects, splinter groups, and other religious phenomena. Rev. Wesley Walters served as
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Pastor of Marissa Presbyterian Church in Marissa, Ill., from 1957-1990.
Faculty Itinerary
Jerram Barrs, Professor of Christianity and Contemporary Culture, in Timonium, Md., May 14 to 17, teaching for Timonium Presbyterian Church; in Sopron, Hungary, June 10 to 16, teaching for the European Leadership Forum; in Cedarville, Mich., July 2 to 9, teaching for InterVarsity Family Camp; in Liss, Hampshire, England, July 17, preaching for the International Presbyterian Church.
Seda Speaks for Graduation Rev. Dr. Jonathan Seda, Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Dover, Del., will serve as the speaker for Covenant Seminary’s graduation ceremony on May 13, 2005. The Seda family will also celebrate the graduation of daughter Michelle Seda Novenson (M.A.T.S.) and son-in-law Matt Novenson (M.Div.) on that evening.
David Calhoun, Professor of Church History, in Great Britain, June 6 to 15, leading “Our Scottish Heritage Tour” for Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah, Ga.; in Nairn, Scotland, June 15 to July 4, preaching for the Free Church.
Visiting Scholar Spends Sabbatical on Campus Dr. Paul Grabow, Associate Professor of Computer Science for Baylor University, spent his Spring 2005 sabbatical researching technology’s relationship to matters of Christian faith and practice. Among the courses Dr. Grabow teaches for Baylor University are Computers and Society and The Cultural Impact of the Computer. Teaching from Drs. Jack Collins (science and faith) and David Jones (christian ethics) helped facilitate Dr. Grabow’s sabbatical study. Dr. Grabow and his family are members of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Waco, Texas.
Donald Guthrie, Vice President for Academics, in Wichita, Kan., May 6 to 7, teaching for Evangel Presbyterian Church Men’s Retreat.
Calhoun Helps Celebrate Anniversary of Savannah Church As a part of the 250th Anniversary celebration of Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, Ga., Dr. David Calhoun has presented a written history of the congregation titled The Splendor of Grace. This book is the culmination of researching the church’s history over the
Summer 2005
David Jones, Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics, in Pittsburgh, Pa., July 1 and 2, speaking for the Westminster Confession into the 21st Century conference at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (Topic: “The Westminster Standards and the Structure of Christian Ethics”). Robert Peterson, Professor of Systematic Theology, in Collinsville, Ill., Sundays during the months of June, July, and August, preaching for Hope Presbyterian Church.
Nelson Jennings, Associate Professor of World Mission, in Chicago, Ill., June 17 to 19, for
Richard Winter, Professor of Practical Theology, in Sopron, Hungary, June 11 to 16, teaching for the European Leadership Forum; in various countries during Fall Sabbatical teaching and studying crosscultural counseling.
course of six years. Dr. Calhoun is also joining in the church’s celebration by teaching during the month of May and leading a tour of Great Britain from June 7 to 14, 2005. Learn more on the web at www.ipcsav.org.
in Chattanooga, Tenn.). Drs. Donald Guthrie and Bob Burns will lead a seminar addressing the topic of Sustaining Pastoral Excellence. For more information, log on to www.ga2005.com.
Faculty Teach at GA Dr. Bryan Chapell will lead a seminar on The Future of Expository Preaching during this summer’s General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (June 14 to 17
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American Society of Missiology meeting; in Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, portions of July and August, for sabbatical research.
Covenant magazine is published by Covenant Theological Seminary, the National Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America. The purpose of Covenant Seminary is to train servants of the triune God to walk with God, to interpret and communicate God’s Word, and to lead God’s people. Volume 20, Number 2. ©2005 Executive Editor David Wicker Managing Editor and Writer Eileen O’Gorman
Regarding the
“NEW PERSPECTIVE ON PAUL” Dear Friends,
Copy Editors Rick Matt Betty Porter Huntley Cooney
My phone has been busy with friends of Covenant Seminary wanting information on a so-called “New Perspective on Paul.” Some Church leaders have voiced very different assessments of this perspective that has
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implications for bedrock beliefs of the Presbyterian Church in America. The responsibility of Covenant Seminary in all such controversies is not
Photography Robin Dawson Ed Eubanks Middendorf Photography Joe Cogliandro
to embrace a view simply because it is historic or to reject a view simply because it is new. Our unchanging task is to ask, “What does the Bible say?” Then we must speak with clarity, charity, and courage. Clarity requires that we declare as best we can what God has said in His Word. Charity
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demands that we not caricature others’ arguments or judge them prematurely. Courage demands that we love the Bride of Christ enough to defend her
Covenant Theological Seminary 12330 Conway Road St. Louis, Missouri 63141
from doctrinal harm. I have appealed to the great minds of our godly professors to get
Tel: 314.434.4044 Fax: 314.434.4819 E-mail: covenantmagazine@covenantseminary.edu Visit Covenant Seminary on the Internet at www.covenantseminary.edu Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. PR0505-001
me “up to speed” on these issues. So, if you would like my decidedly non-technical explanation, I invite you to go to the seminary Web site (http://www.covenantseminary.edu/news/NewPerspective.asp). There I have done my best to use everyday words (well, maybe every-other-day words) to explain and defend God’s eternal truth for His people. Blessings,
Bryan Chapell
Covenant Theological Seminary 12330 Conway Road Saint Louis, Missouri 63141
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STUDENT PROFI LE
FIRST THINGS FIRST Samuel and Anna Chung Minister Among Korean Americans When visiting with the Samuel
to help these couples with their
(M.Div.’05) and Anna (M.A.E.M.’05)
unique challenges. A kidney condition
Chung family you will hear a mixture
prevented Samuel from being admitted
of Korean and English spoken. This is
into the chaplain candidate program,
one of the first indicators of their cross-
but he still desired to move in the
cultural experiences. You will also hear
direction of pastoral ministry.
about the life of an adult immigrant to
The Chungs surprised themselves
the U.S. (Samuel), a child immigrant
by choosing to come to Covenant
(Anna), and U.S.-born Korean-
Seminary. “Our family is in California,
Americans (Katherine and Caroline).
so it was strange for us to think about The Chung Family
The differences in their individual
going to seminary so far away,” Anna
stories come out in subtle ways, like their accents, but their
says. “But when we visited Covenant Seminary, saw the community
unity as a family is a picture of God’s grace to the Church.
atmosphere, and experienced the overall mission, we felt that this
The Chung family is especially in a unique position to serve Korean Churches in the U.S. They are part of First Korean
was where we needed to be,” Samuel adds. Since coming to Covenant Seminary, Samuel has been
Presbyterian Church of St. Louis and live the Korean-American
particularly impressed and encouraged by the value professors
experience with their fellow churchmen. In the midst of cultural
place on intellectual knowledge and personal spiritual growth.
and generational complexities, they have a message. “We all need
“The professors are not only concerned about what we know,
to find the basis for our identity in Christ,” Anna says. “This is
but also about our spiritual wellbeing,” Samuel says.
more important than our cultural heritage or skin color. It is not
Already Anna and Samuel are seeking the wellbeing of the
that culture is not important or is irrelevant; it is just that we need,
people at First Korean Presbyterian Church. Anna serves as the
first, to see who we are in Christ. All of the struggles of language
Christian Education Director while Samuel serves in children’s
and culture between Koreans and non-Koreans and between
ministry. The Chungs express great appreciation for the support,
generations within the Korean church need to be seen in this
love, and ministry opportunities the church has given them. Having
light of Christian identity.”
recently passed the licensure exam, Samuel is preparing to start a
An awareness of the need for Gospel ministry brought the Chungs to St. Louis and First Korean Presbyterian Church. One
one-year internship at their church following seminary graduation. As Samuel’s kidney condition has improved, military chaplaincy
month after immigrating to the U.S., Samuel joined the U.S. Army
is once again an option for him, but civilian pastoral ministry has
and also met Anna. Over the course of the next couple of years,
also become a possibility. Regardless of where the Chungs serve, they
they began their married lives together and saw the need for Gospel
will bring to others the good news of the Gospel and their unique
ministry in the military. They were particularly burdened for the
perspectives from cross-cultural and trans-national life experiences.
5,000 Koreans at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, many of whom were
In doing so, they will be able to reach into places that are out of
wives of American soldiers who had served in Korea. They desired
reach for many and bring with them the light of life in Jesus Christ. n
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Summer 2005
www.covenantseminary.edu
Training Servants of the Triune God