Today's interview is with Brian Hedges. Brian is a pastor, author, and blogger. His latest book is Active Spirituality: Grace and Effort in the Christian Life. Today, we talk with Brady about sanctification, the threat of legalism, and theological discourse.
1) There is a lot of debate today when it comes to the finer points of sanctification. Do we work with the Spirit in the process of sanctification or do we simply rest? It seems you are saying "Yes." Is that right?
Yes, we work and we rest. The either/or is a false dichotomy. Scripture draws on a rich fund of pictorial imagery in describing the Christian life. Some of these are on the active side of the spectrum (walk, fight, run); some are on the passive side (abide, rest, trust); and we need all of them.
It's easy to start proof-texting when defending our turf in the sanctification debates. On one hand, there are many passages that emphasize grace, resting in Christ, the life of faith, and the ministry of the Spirit. These remind us that holiness is on an altogether different plane than mere morality. The Christian life is what J. I. Packer once called "life supernaturalized at the motivational level." But on the other hand are the texts that call us to put off and put on, to run the race with endurance, to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, and so on. Those texts remind us that whatever the Spirit-filled life is, it doesn't involve some kind of mental or volitional switch-off, where we cease to make intentional choices and expend genuine effort. Our minds, hearts, and wills remain engaged throughout the process.
2) You write this book as a series of letters to a real person. Does this format make this topic a bit more human than a typical treatise on sanctification?
The epistolary form is as old as Scripture itself. When we read Paul's letters we don't get the sense that he is laying down abstract theological concepts. He is intensely practical and invariably leverages even the most lofty theology for the health, holiness, and unity of the church, and the advancement of the Christian mission in the world. But the real inspiration behind this format for me was C. S. Lewis. Lots of people have read The Screwtape Letters, but he also wrote Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer, which influenced my approach to this book.
3) I think a lot of Christians are afraid to ask the question, "How am I doing in my journey of spirituality?" for fear they are falling into a kind of works righteousness. What would you say to that?
The better our grasp of the gospel, the deeper we will grow in holiness.
I don't think self-examination intrinsically leads to works righteousness. The Scriptures, after all, tell us to examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). But I agree that legalism—trusting in our works for justification—is a real threat. That's one reason why we have to ground our approach to holiness in the gospel itself. The better our grasp of the gospel, the deeper we will grow in holiness. As the seventeenth century theologian John Owen once said, "Holiness is nothing but the implanting, writing, and realizing of the gospel in our souls." What we need then is not more and more introspection (in a world chockfull of "selfies," we are already too myopic), but to fix our gaze steadfastly on Christ. Holy living flows from Christocentric thinking. This is the pattern we see throughout the New Testament, as in Colossians 3, for example.
4) Do you think some of the confusion around the sanctification debate is because we've got a bad view of work itself, as if any kind of work is ignoble or distasteful?
The doctrine of sanctification is complex and requires more than 140 characters to nuance appropriately.
We are creatures of reaction and for many who were raised in a rules-oriented fundamentalism, anything smacking of law, duty, or works feels suspicious. But I'm not sure that's the only or even the main source of confusion. I'm not sure that I know the main source of confusion, but here is one factor to consider: I wonder if some of our forms for theological discourse are hindering more than helping? Twitter has its uses, but I'm not sure it's a helpful medium for disseminating theology. The doctrine of sanctification is complex and requires more than 140 characters to nuance appropriately. Blog posts have other liabilities. One liability is the speed at which posts (and posts responding to posts) are written. These mediums are front-loaded with potential for misunderstanding. Well-researched and carefully edited books are better. Some lengthy face-to-face conversations behind closed doors with open Bibles and a generous dose of brotherly love may be best of all.
5) In your view, how can pastors and church leaders adequately "provoke one another to good works" with grace?
We can take our cues from the final letter written by the Apostle Paul—2 Timothy. It was written to a pastor, largely for this purpose. As pastors, we need to fan into flame the gift of God which is in us (1:5), not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord (1:8), share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God (1:8), and follow the pattern of sound words we've received from the apostles (1:13). We should guard the good deposit entrusted to us, by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us (1:14), be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2:1), and train faithful leaders who will be able to teach others (2:2). We need to share in suffering as good soldiers of Christ Jesus (2:3). We need to think about what Paul says, depending on the Lord to give understanding (2:7). We need to always remember the resurrected Christ (2:8). We must remind the church of apostolic teaching (2:14), charge them not to quarrel about words (2:14), and do our best to present ourselves to God as approved workers with no need to be ashamed, who rightly handle the Word of Truth (2:15). As pastors we must flee sin (2:22), pursue holiness (2:22), and avoid foolish controversies (2:23). We should understand the times (3:1) and continue in what we have learned and firmly believed (3:14): the sacred, God-breathed Scriptures in all their sufficiency (3:16-17). We need to preach the Word, in season and out of season (4:1-2); reproving, rebuking, and exhorting with complete patience and teaching (4:2); while staying sober minded (4:5); and being faithful to endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfilling our ministries (4:5).
Several things strike me about this litany of exhortations. The commands are clear, even if not easy to obey. They are also fairly comprehensive, covering the whole scope of pastoral ministry from personal holiness to training leaders to the public ministry of the Word. The most striking thing is that virtually all of our failures in ministry (and we all have them) can be traced back to the neglect of one of these commands.
In other words, Scripture is sufficient. The better we follow the Bible's prescribed duties for pastors, the better we (and our people) will be equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17).
Daniel Darling is vice-president of communications for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He is the author of several books, including his latest, Activist Faith.
