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Psalm 16
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Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you." As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
(ESV)
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Theological Conceit
Friday after Holy Trinity
8 June 2012
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Our old Lutheran theologians coined the term rabies theologorum, which means "the rabies of the theologians." By it they were referring to the way in which preachers would use theology to attack each other and puff themselves up. No sooner had some minister been passed over for a theological post of some kind, than he began to attack the theology of the one in favor of whom he was passed over. This still happens today. Vain glory is a problem at all times, because it is bred into us to try to puff ourselves up and to praise ourselves. It takes the eyes of everyone from Christ and directs it to the theologians. What a disaster that is!
How easily we fall into the desire to get a leg up on the other guy, to be praised by others, to be seen as a leader or a theologian worthy of great praise from others: "Oh, look! It is so-and-so, the great theologian." Such an approach to the theological life is itself a contradiction. The very meaning of the theological life is shaped by our Lord Jesus Christ, who teaches us the last-first and the first-last shape for the theological life (Mk 9:35). True theology leads the true theologian to be self-effacing, obliging to others, and patient with everyone. The Lord, who is Himself the Word of God and thus in Himself gives us all theology, must be the model for every theologian and all theological labor.
The seeking after praise from people will lead us far afield from the One whose praise alone matters. What benefit is there in becoming an honored theologian, praised by the crowd, if by so doing you lose the praise of God (Mk 8:36)? Just as we would fear God more than people, we would also seek God's praise and honor more than human praise and honor. This is the very model followed by Christ in His own life (Jn 18:37). He sought not praise, but sought to give His life as a ransom for many (Mt 20:28). He testified to the truth of His messianic mission to the point of death, becoming the primary martyr and the One for whom, and with whom, every martyr dies. The daily martyrdom of the church's children includes the offering of ourselves up to the need of the neighbor, the treatment of him or her as superior to ourselves, and deep humility in relation to him or her. Christ offers Himself in favor of a world of people unworthy of the sacrifice. He treats us as superior to Himself, though we are not. He makes Himself last that we might become first in Him. How could we do otherwise, if He has done this for us? How could we exhibit conceit?
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Martin Luther
"When the plague of conceitedness slithers into the church or spiritual authority, it is impossible to say how noxious it is. For in the church the battle is not just about erudition, genius, beauty, power, kingdoms, and imperial authority, but whether there is life and salvation or damnation and eternal death. Therefore Paul seriously exhorts the ministers of the Word concerning this vice, saying 'If you live by the Spirit, etc.' (Gal 5:25), as though he were saying, 'If it is true that we live by the Spirit, then let us march in proper order and walk by the Spirit.' For where the Spirit is, He renews people, gives to them new affections, that is, He frees them from vain glorying, outbursts of wrath, vices, etc. and makes them humble, gentle, patient, etc. Such persons seek not their own glory, but the glory of God, they do not provoke and envy one another, but yield to one another and put the other first in honor. The opposite of this is those who desire their own glory, and provoke and envy one another. Although such persons are able to boast that they have the Spirit and that they live by the Spirit, they are deceiving themselves, are following the flesh, and are performing its works. They undergo this judgment that they do not attain the kingdom of heaven.'
"There is nothing more pestilential, and yet there is nothing more common in the church, than this detestable vice. For where God send workers into His harvest field, immediately Satan raises up His ministers, who wish to be considered in no way inferior to those who are rightly called (rite vocati sunt). Here so much controversy arises. For the unbelievers are willing to concede not even a hair's breadth to the believers, for they dream that they have conquered them by being far superior in genius, teaching, piety, and spirit (much less should the believers concede anything to the unbelievers, lest they endanger the doctrine of the faith). This is the true nature of the ministers of Satan, that among them not only do they attempt to imitate love, harmony, humility, and other fruits of the Spirit, but they also praise one another, honor one another, and claim that they themselves are the most outstanding people. Therefore they desire their conceitedness (kenodoxoi) not to be seen, and they claim to seek nothing but the glory of God and the salvation of souls. In the meantime, their greatest desire is for vain glory. They do everything so that they would be considered better than others and receive praise for themselves among all people. In summary, they consider godliness to be a source of gain (1Ti 6:5), and that the ministry of the Word was handed over to them, that through it they might become famous. And they wish to appear as though they themselves are not the authors of dissension and sectarianism."
Martin Luther, Lectures on Galatians, 6.1
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Prayer
Dear Lord, free Your church from the rabies of the theologians, whereby they use Your Word as a plaything for their own honor and glory. Lead them humbly to use Your Word for Your glory and for the eternal salvation of those who hear them. Help us all to honor others as better than ourselves and thus show Your compassion for the world in our lives. Amen.
For Mark Kreklau, who is suffering from lung cancer and an infection that the Lord Jesus Christ would send His holy angels to watch over him and bring healing
For J. R. Clairday, that he would receive strength and healing as he undergoes therapy for cancer
For Allen Anderson, newly elected President of the Rocky Mountain District of the LCMS, that God the Lord would bless and keep him in his new office
For outgoing President of the Rocky Mountain District of the LCMS, Randy Golter, that the Lord would bless him with a calling in keeping with his gifts
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Art: DÜRER, Albrecht The Adoration of the Holy Trinity (1511)
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 © Scott R. Murray, 2011
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