Perseverance
23/04/14 05:16
The first two verses of Hebrews 12 are ones that I have memorized. I often quote them in worship or in a lecture when I am teaching licensed ministry students. The verses are preceded by the marvelous 11th chapter of the letter. It, too, begins with familiar words: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” The chapter then proceeds to go through an overview of the history of Israel and the things that our forebears did by faith. We heard stories of the deeds of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and a long list of other Heroes of the story of our people. The chapter could be used as the curriculum for an introduction to Biblical history. Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets—so many of the heroes of our faith are mentioned in a poetic description of the things that our ancestors have done because of their faith. They have endured great hardships, known deep grief, survived living in marginal conditions, wandered in deserts, and survived in the face of conditions under which lesser people would have succumbed.
Then we get to the 12th chapter which begins: “Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside very weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”
I use this verse in my classes, because it points toward the foundations of Christian teaching. It provides a summary and introduction to the history of our people and it speaks not only of the future that beckons, but also of the work to which we are called in the present.
I probably also quote the verse in my classes because it contains the word “curriculum” in the Latin. Often, when I begin to speak of Christian education, people quickly ask about “which curriculum should we use?” By the question they are asking about the teaching resources that they should use and often they are looking for some kind of packaged product that can be purchased and presented with minimal preparation and yet will produce huge results, often believing that if they bought just the right product then children would flock to their church.
Of course it is never that simple. There are no magic curricula available and the number of children in a church is more a product of sociology than the choices of educational resources. But it takes hours to teach those things.
I like to begin that process by seeking a Biblical answer. Since the word “curriculum” is used only once in the Latin Bible, we end up with Hebrews 12. Once there, we get a great Biblical image and begin the process of understanding that curriculum is the course that lies ahead, not a specific set of teaching resources. Discerning the course to which we are called by God is a process that requires deep commitment, careful study and extensive prayer. It is also a process for the entire community, not just one individual. If my students learn nothing else in their time with me, they learn that Christian Education is a difficult and complex process with no easy answers or magic formulas.
The word from that verse that has been playing in my mind for the past few days, however, is not curriculum, but rather “perseverance.” That is the translation of the word int he Revised Standard Version, which is what I memorized. In the King James, it is translated “patience.” In the Good News Bible it is “determination.” The Message simply says, “never quit!” The Greek could easily be translated “endurance,” as in the New English Version, but I like the concept of “perseverance.” It describes well my experiences of what is often called for in our spiritual journeys.
When we were pastors in small, rural congregations there might be seasons when we had several funerals all at once. There would be times when had multiple families facing crisis at once. There was a national farm crisis brewing during those years and the families we served were facing hard times. It was one of the first times that there was any attention paid to the stress that is heaped upon agricultural producers in an economy where they have no control over the price they are paid for the food that they grow. I am not saying that it is an easy job to be a pastor in such a setting. It is not.
But our current setting is much different. In those other churches we did occasionally have to be prepared to tap high energy for short periods of time. There were a few “all-nighters.” There were occasional times when we would become tired.
Here in this congregation, in this community, it is a way of life. The energy of a sprinter is insufficient for the course taken by our congregation. Endurance is demanded. Perseverance is demanded. We just got through a difficult Lent with one week with four deaths in the congregation. We walked together with several families in times of particular distress and need. We had an unusually high number of people who needed special attention. We had to coordinate and prioritize our work.
And it continues. The pace has not let up one little bit. There are still several families in the congregation in need of daily contact and support. There are still pockets of deep grief and loss among our people. There is much to be done. It becomes clear that the pastoral ministry is not a sprint, but a marathon and it will take all of the spiritual training and conditioning that we have done in the past to find our way through this particular “curriculum.”
Shedding the weight of sin, we run with perseverance the race that is set before us.
These days I haver been praying for perseverance more than ever.
Then we get to the 12th chapter which begins: “Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside very weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.”
I use this verse in my classes, because it points toward the foundations of Christian teaching. It provides a summary and introduction to the history of our people and it speaks not only of the future that beckons, but also of the work to which we are called in the present.
I probably also quote the verse in my classes because it contains the word “curriculum” in the Latin. Often, when I begin to speak of Christian education, people quickly ask about “which curriculum should we use?” By the question they are asking about the teaching resources that they should use and often they are looking for some kind of packaged product that can be purchased and presented with minimal preparation and yet will produce huge results, often believing that if they bought just the right product then children would flock to their church.
Of course it is never that simple. There are no magic curricula available and the number of children in a church is more a product of sociology than the choices of educational resources. But it takes hours to teach those things.
I like to begin that process by seeking a Biblical answer. Since the word “curriculum” is used only once in the Latin Bible, we end up with Hebrews 12. Once there, we get a great Biblical image and begin the process of understanding that curriculum is the course that lies ahead, not a specific set of teaching resources. Discerning the course to which we are called by God is a process that requires deep commitment, careful study and extensive prayer. It is also a process for the entire community, not just one individual. If my students learn nothing else in their time with me, they learn that Christian Education is a difficult and complex process with no easy answers or magic formulas.
The word from that verse that has been playing in my mind for the past few days, however, is not curriculum, but rather “perseverance.” That is the translation of the word int he Revised Standard Version, which is what I memorized. In the King James, it is translated “patience.” In the Good News Bible it is “determination.” The Message simply says, “never quit!” The Greek could easily be translated “endurance,” as in the New English Version, but I like the concept of “perseverance.” It describes well my experiences of what is often called for in our spiritual journeys.
When we were pastors in small, rural congregations there might be seasons when we had several funerals all at once. There would be times when had multiple families facing crisis at once. There was a national farm crisis brewing during those years and the families we served were facing hard times. It was one of the first times that there was any attention paid to the stress that is heaped upon agricultural producers in an economy where they have no control over the price they are paid for the food that they grow. I am not saying that it is an easy job to be a pastor in such a setting. It is not.
But our current setting is much different. In those other churches we did occasionally have to be prepared to tap high energy for short periods of time. There were a few “all-nighters.” There were occasional times when we would become tired.
Here in this congregation, in this community, it is a way of life. The energy of a sprinter is insufficient for the course taken by our congregation. Endurance is demanded. Perseverance is demanded. We just got through a difficult Lent with one week with four deaths in the congregation. We walked together with several families in times of particular distress and need. We had an unusually high number of people who needed special attention. We had to coordinate and prioritize our work.
And it continues. The pace has not let up one little bit. There are still several families in the congregation in need of daily contact and support. There are still pockets of deep grief and loss among our people. There is much to be done. It becomes clear that the pastoral ministry is not a sprint, but a marathon and it will take all of the spiritual training and conditioning that we have done in the past to find our way through this particular “curriculum.”
Shedding the weight of sin, we run with perseverance the race that is set before us.
These days I haver been praying for perseverance more than ever.