Competition at Seminary

It was an odd way to begin an academic career.  Almost from kindergarten, school has been a competition.  But when Dr. Guthrie addressed the incoming class at Covenant Seminary at the beginning of this past semester, the tone was markedly different.

He stood up before a room of eager incoming students and told us that our career in seminary was not about us.  It isn't about us looking good.  It isn't about us looking smart.  It isn't about having our intellectual itch scratched.  It is about the people that we would be pastoring when we leave seminary.  It is about our brothers that we will minister with.  It is about growing in our love of the Lord.

Because of these things, our experience at Covenant  is to be an experience of community.  Instead of competing with each other, we support, love, and care for each other.  The professors intentionally give us group assignments, and even finals, because it's not about us, but about the community of believers called the church.  If we do not learn this here, we may never do so.  If we don't learn this at seminary, we will do damage to our churches when we leave.

It is a lesson that is hard to learn.  Most of us at seminary have a certain type-A personality and a drive to learn.  It can be hard to take an exam and not wonder how you measure up.  It is difficult to unlearn what our educational and cultural institutions have taught us for so long.  But it is an important message.  It is something that, once grasped, will benefit others.  And that is a good thing, because, after all, it's not about me.

"Cor meum tibi offero, Domine, prompte et sincere."

The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller

Tim Keller's congregation in New York has a majority single demographic.  It is for this reason that "The Meaning of Marriage" is a book that speaks so well to an under-served demographic in the marriage resource genre.  Most books on the subject seem to focus on those already or just about to be married (like Bryan Chapell's excellent "Each for the Other*"), or focus on "biblical" courtship/dating.  Very few Christian books on a popular level, at least that I'm aware of, make a compelling case for marriage then go on to explain what a biblical marriage looks like.  Keller's book does just that and does it rather well. Like "Each for the Other," Keller's book revolves around Ephesians 5, though he focuses on verses 22 to 33.  He also goes back to creation in Genesis 2 in his exegesis of the Ephesians passage.  But before getting into the meaning and focus of Ephesians 5, he looks at much contemporary research to make a case for marriage over against cohabitation, extramarital affairs, and the prevalent "hook-up" culture of today.  He does this exceptionally well, and offers a prophetic voice against the self-centered search for the "perfect" person that so riddles our nation today.  In fact, the first chapter of the book should be required reading for any single person who is interested in marriage at some point.  (As an aside, Keller does an excellent job of recognizing that while his book focuses on marriage, there is no shame for those called to a single a life.  He includes an entire chapter dedicated to singleness). Over eight chapters, Keller addresses a range of topics concerning marriage.  From what marriage is and what it does, to pastoral help and hope for how to "make it work," Keller's experience and learning are on display throughout.  He (and his wife, Kathy) discuss topics as wide-ranging as headship, sanctification, and sex. "The Meaning of Marriage" has wide appeal.  It is useful for those who are married, those who are single, for pastors and counselors, for men and women.  It is wise and winsome, and does not pull any punches.  It certainly stands out in its ability to address single people.  It does this better than any marriage book I've yet read, though it is certainly not just written to singles.  His vision for what marriage should be, and what the church should do to support that are highlights of the book.  With "Each for the Other," it is a book that deserves to be on every married couple's bookshelf (and not just as decoration).  Would that I had read these about nine years ago.  The biblical basis and pastoral heart of these books make them so much more valuable and prophetic than the books that weigh down many a Christian bookstore shelf. Upon reading "The Meaning of Marriage," you will know better how to love your spouse, and you will understand the Gospel more fully.  Certainly a book that is worth your time.

*In contrasting these two books, "Each for the Other" addresses marriage then family.  "The Meaning of Marriage" addresses singleness then marriage.  If I had to give one to a married couple thinking of starting a family, it would be Chapell's.  If I had to give one to a single person, it would be Keller's.  If it was anyone outside of those specific circumstances, it's a real toss-up, but you can't go wrong either way.

"Cor meum tibi offero, Domine, prompte et sincere."

Each for the Other by Bryan Chapell

I read "Each for the Other" after a marriage seminar with Dr. and Mrs. Chapell.  More than I would have guessed going into the class, the seminar and this book have benefited my marriage greatly.  Perhaps other than the marriage retreat that my wife and I attended with Doug and Mary-jane Kittredge at New Life in Christ Church, this book has helped me understand how to relate to my wife in a more biblical and Christ-like fashion. This is book is divided into three sections, and revolves around a discussion of Ephesians 5:21-6:4.  Section one is about the husband's duty to love and care for his wife.  Section two is about the wife's responsibility to love and support her husband.  Section three is about how couples who use their resources to support each other function as parents and in society. Dr. Chapell does an excellent job of maintaining the biblical instructions for marriage without succumbing to an exegetically uninformed breed of chauvinism.  Both husband and wife are to relate to their spouse in love.  To  be sure, each has different roles in the marriage (the husband to enable his wife's flourishing through Christ-like leadership, the wife to support her husbands growth), but each does this in light of the love that they find in Christ. Dr. Chapell's sensitive writing and excellent examples make this book extremely helpful, and quite easy to read.  He does not skirt the culturally unpopular aspects of the Scripture, nor does he allow chauvinism and past abuses any leeway.  In the end, he shows how in a Gospel-centered marriage, instead of "headship" and "submission" leading to a dictatorial reign, it leads to place where not only both spouses, but children and society benefit as well. "Each for the Other" is a great book for married couples to read and digest.  Because it is based on sound exegesis, this book avoids easy yet ineffective prescriptions, and instead cuts straight to the underlying heart of Christian marriage.  Since the focus is on how couples relate, he does not address singles very much (see Tim Keller's "The Meaning of Marriage" for a helpful chapter on marriage for singles).  As such, I think this book is more beneficial to those already married (albeit, not unhelpful to those who are about to get married).  But for any married person, this is a very helpful and beneficial read. It certainly helped me in my marriage, and any book that points us back to Christ, what he did, and how that applies is certainly worth the time.

"Cor meum tibi offero, Domine, prompte et sincere."  

Finals Week

Things have been a bit stressful around here.  The pace of life has been relentless for the last month.  The last couple of weeks have seen a couple papers, a final project, and four final exams due in quick succession.  It has been some time since I have had to wrestle with this kind of stress.  I graduated from college in 2003 and I did not have children then.  These past few weeks have been a real learning experience in several ways.


First, and most obviously, I've learned and consolidated a lot of information during my preparation for finals.  My professors did an excellent job of choosing exam questions and assigning papers that underscored the major aspects of the lectures and readings that we had this semester.  


Secondly, I learned a lot about working in community (a big focus at the seminary).  In my beginning homiletics class, we had to write a sermon in a group of six.  The goal of this assignment was that we would teach each other, help each other understand more of the material, and to show us how to work together and compromise.  It was a good experience.  Our finished project is an interesting collection of different styles and diverse backgrounds.  Then, in my Introduction to Covenant Theology class, we took an oral exam as a group of three.  We learned to rely on and support each other, and to work for the benefit of the others in the group.  Both of these exercises help to prepare us for ministry.  In the future, as a member of a session, I must know how to work with others to lead the church.  These assignments are designed to begin to teach me these valuable skills.


Finally, I learned that my grades are not the only, or even most important thing.  There is certainly enough to do during finals that one could easily spend every waking moment studying, preparing for exams, and working on papers.  But, as a father and husband who is preparing for ministry, acing my exams while failing as a father and husband is not really preparation for ministry.  The qualification for being an elder is not academic brilliance, but faithfulness to one's calling, both as a Christian and as a husband or father (cf. 1 Timothy 3.1-7).  Not that I should be lazy and fail to work in my studies, but I should not study to the detriment of my family.  I am certainly not sure that I succeeded in living this out, but it is certainly a lesson for life in ministry that I will take out of the process.


As my first full-time semester at Covenant Theological Seminary comes to a close, I am thankful for all my professors and classmates who helped me learn these valuable lessons.  I am grateful to be at a place where teaching does not only occur in the classroom. I am thankful that the school is so focused on practical preparation for ministry and not just academic ability, while simultaneously pushing us to be scholars.  I am thankful that my family is patient with me as a learn to balance academics, family, and preparation for ministry.  Mostly, though, I'm thankful that my true worth is found in Christ, and not in my own efforts.

"Cor meum tibi offero, Domine, prompte et sincere."

Creation Regained by Albert M. Wolters

Creation Regained by Albert M. Wolters is a short, 120 page book about the creation and how the fall affects it.  The edition that I have (pictured below) is updated with a 25 page postscript that updates this work a bit. While this book is short, it does not want for depth.  Contained in its pages are a good bit of theological and philosophical terminology.  That does not mean the book is not worth the effort, but I imagine there are better primers for those new to books on Christian worldview. The book is divided into five chapters.  Chapter one answers the question, "What is a world-view?"  Chapters 2-4 concern creation, fall, and redemption, respectively.  The final chapter is on "Structure and Direction." This last chapter was, for me, the most interesting.  Wolters considers many of the structures that we encounter.  Structures are created institutions, things like family, government, education, society and the like.  These structures, in a post fall world, are not orientated in the way that should be.  The direction of these in a post fall world is not towards God and his glory, but away from God.  In other words, after the fall, all of society, all of creation, suffers under the curse.  But what is important for Wolters is the affirmation that these things, in and of themselves, are not evil.  Their orientation is wrong because fallen humans utilize them.  In redemption, these structures are being renewed.  Ultimately, at the consummation of the Kingdom, all will be renewed and glorify God.   This short, albeit slightly technical, book is a good summary of the Dutch Neo-Calvinist/Kuyperian worldview.  I would not recommend it as an introduction to the topic, but for those interested in the subject it is a worthwhile and interesting read.  He does spend a little bit too much ink in the first few chapters fighting off a Lutheran sacred/secular dichotomy, but by the last chapter the book finds it stride and considers the subject positively instead of polemically.  Perhaps that is why the final chapter is by far the best and most interesting.  All in all, a book worth reading if your interest gravitate toward this subject.

"Cor meum tibi offero, Domine, prompte et sincere."