A Weak Seminary, A Strong Seminary
Humility. It is one of the driving forces of the faculty, staff, students, and guest speakers at Southern Seminary. It is modeled for us on a daily basis. Pride and self-righteousness are shot down by a constant declaration of our state before the Cross. Because the gospel is proudly proclaimed and unequivocally upheld within our chapel meetings, classes, and interactions on campus we can not get very far in our days here without knowing who we are and Who He is. This breeds a community of prayer, worship, deep love for the Word, and service.
As one who came to seminary to learn more because I know I do not know nearly enough, I have found much of my learning through the application of the Word in the lives of these professors, leaders, and speakers. Humility is the target at which we are being aimed here at seminary. It would be far too easy to start looking at what we as students are accomplishing and allow these accomplishments to become our identity. We are studying under some of the brightest minds of this age. We read all the books, blogs, and sermon transcripts of the most popular pastors, missionaries, Christian CEOs, and worship leaders in the world. We have access to the world. We are gaining knowledge that others can not so easily obtain. I believe we have more here than we will ever fully understand. We, in a sense, have it all.
Yet...we are learning that we, in reality, have nothing unless we have Him and only Him. It is the biggest challenge to show up to this school and claim that weakness is indeed the way. Me as nothing. I am not strong enough. I am not smart enough. I am not in control. I do not know best. I am weak. I am unable. It is not a concept that this world is quick to claim. In fact, the world attempts to drown us out by shouting the opposite. To live a life entirely based on our belief that less of me equates to joy unlimited is asinine to the watching world. But we are taught to stake our lives on the foundation of this claim. Christ is our all. Christ is our joy. A fight...every day. To see this is to deny ourselves, our flesh, and this world, and to hold fast to the character, nature, and truth of our God as revealed to us in His very Word.
The implications of a seminary founded on the very Word of God, professing humility as our countenance before this world and our God, and living lives seasoned with grace that acknowledge our weakness are astronomical. To claim weakness is not the end. The end of us is Him, His strength, His goodness, His wisdom. When we understand that His ways are higher than ours, His dreams bigger, His heart willing, and His hands able…reaching the nations is possible. Impacting closed cultures is a breeze. Translating the Word is a snap of the fingers. Suddenly, our mountains are moving before our eyes because our God is seen as all-powerful, all-loving, all-good, and all-holy and all of our "accomplishments" are but dust in the wind of His mercy.
What do we do with this reminder of what true humility looks like? We walk in it everywhere. We take it with us out of these classrooms. We step off of this campus and into the world, holding tightly to what is true. We season our words with it and saturate our actions in it. We show those around us that our lives are not our own, that we are serving One who is greater, that our lives are meant to be spent serving Him because He is worthy. We tell the right story. The story of One who humbled himself to the point of death on a cross for those that are the most unworthy. The story of One who was raised to life and is seated in Heaven. The story of what sacrifice and forgiveness truly look like. We know this story because, if you are His, this is your story. Read it over and over and over again to remind yourself of your place in the gospel story. Because when we claim weakness and we show Him off to be the only strength we have, we tell the right story. Then, turn around and proclaim it with your life.
All that you read up to this point is necessary for your understanding of the depth of these next words. I attend a weak seminary, full of weak people who are unable to do anything on their own. I also attend a strong seminary, with thousands of alumni all over the world proclaiming the Gospel to the nations, church congregations, and neighborhoods. This seminary is encouraging to believers in the watching world and it is strange to the rest of the world. This seminary does not waiver on its convictions of the Word. It is taking a stand on issues and being condemned for it. It is standing in the midst of this world shouting the right story. And I get to be a part of it. Consider this my shout along with this school. The purposefulness of our God evident. I am weak. His intentions are sure. My strength will always fail. He is involved in the details. I can’t bring about change on my own volition. He has shown Himself to me through this place and we all need to shout out "How awesome are Your deeds!" just like David did all those years ago...for He is our only strength…especially in our weakness.