Please No More Comment on Knox Board Action

Posted on Saturday, October 6th, 2007 at 11:44 am

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When I was a young man I assisted my father in the ministry.  I remember one time that I received a call from a person who allowed their children to come to our church.  She was very belligerent towards me and had many complaints about the way that I was doing things.  I had much confidence as a young man, and did not take criticism well at all.  I began to defend myself, and as I listened to her I began to hear her slur her words and realized that she had been drinking.  I finally blurted out that I would not be attacked by a drunken fool.

She then called my father telling him that her children would not be coming back to church.  My very wise father, who had no formal theological education, but was a great pastor, came to see me and asked what had happened.  I told him that I had been attacked by what I was sure was an agent of Satan and that I was not going to allow that kind of thing to happen to me in the Lord’s service.

Dad didn’t ask me to apologize, didn’t ask me to do anything but simply told me that the kids would not be coming back to church and then quoted for me the first part of 2 Timothy 2:24.  He simply said, “remember Sam that the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle unto all men . . . .”

I had been to college and I knew about exegesis (I knew the word anyway) so I thought that he had taken that phrase out of context.  I looked it up and read this: 2 Timothy 2:24-26 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

I called up the lady and apologized, picked up her kids on Sunday for church and learned that there is great value in sometimes being quiet, even when your are sure you are correct.  Sometimes in reformed theology we could use a great deal more quiet.

And so with this story, I am closing down all comment on the Warren Gage, Knox Seminary Board, Coral Ridge Session matter.  While some that has been said has been helpful, over the last few days it has mostly degenerated into great strife.  I kindly ask that if you have anything else to say on this matter you say it somewhere else.  If this wish is not adhered to, I will simply close down the site.  I never imagined that my site would become what it has in the last week.  I originally opened it as a place for my students to get sermons, handouts and powerpoints from class.  It has now become an agent of strife.  I cannot bear that.  My father taught me better.

Trying to learn not to strive but dependant upon the grace of the Lord,

DrSamLam