Good Luck?

“It is not the force of man but the love of God which alone can unite a disunited world.”

William Barclay

In many diverse church congregations, including Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican/Episcopalian traditions, March 17^th is a special day commemorating the life and ministry of Saint Patrick. Patrick is considered the “Apostle to Ireland,” and is credited with firmly establishing Christianity within that country. Little is known about Patrick, other than he was born around 385 A.D. and raised in a British Roman family. According to his autobiographical Declaration, the teenaged Patrick was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. Once there, he was made to work for six years as a shepherd, tending the flocks of his enslavers. Patrick eventually escaped and was finally able to return to his family in Britain where he fully embraced the Christian faith and sought more formal religious training. One night, in the midst of a remarkably vivid dream, Patrick reportedly heard a desperate collective cry — “the Voice of the Irish,” his former captors — begging him to return to Ireland as a Christian evangelist. Upon reflection and prayer, he resolved to do just what the dream seemingly asked of him. Patrick received his ordination and journeyed back to Ireland, this time as a free man and a bishop commissioned by the Church. He would effectively spend the rest of his life serving as a missionary, spreading the gospel and witnessing the conversion of many of the native Irish peoples. Patrick’s evangelistic endeavors led to the establishment of Ireland as the epicenter of early Western European Christianity.

What continues to capture the imagination and make Patrick’s story so incredible is his willingness to witness and minister to those who had persecuted and literally enslaved him. He had little to nothing in common with these people who had brutally stolen him from his family and home, so why did he return to them once he had escaped?

Throughout the entire storyline of Scripture, we encounter God calling His people to minister to others — to those who are “foreign,” prejudiced, or outright hostile. In the book of Genesis, we find Joseph (much like Patrick) enslaved in a strange land. Yet (also like Patrick) Joseph remains faithful throughout his captivity and eventually attains his freedom and restoration. And later in life, when he finally gets the chance to confront his brothers — the very men who sold him into servitude — how does he react? By affirming that even though they were acting in hatred towards him, “God meant if for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive” (Genesis 50:20).

Later in biblical history, we also encounter Daniel, captured and taken into Babylonian captivity as a young man. Daniel would spend his life in service to the rulers of Babylon while also interceding for the exiled Jewish people. In the midst of a decidedly ungodly culture, he served as a shining light and a faithful example of a life lived according to God’s priorities, regardless of cost. Daniel encouraged and exhorted his fellow believers with the hope of an eventual return to their homeland and the promised coming of a Son of Man, the Messiah, whose “dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14).

In the New Testament, we read about the Apostle Paul and his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, as well as his commissioning by Christ as “a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Before salvation, Paul had been imprisoned by his own transgressions, prejudices, and hatred — he had been “a slave of sin.” Now, “having been set free from sin,” Paul was given the freedom to instead become “a slave of righteousness” (Romans 6:17-18). He was called to go and spread the Gospel amongst the very people that he had previously persecuted and tortured. This marked transformation in Paul’s personal testimony shines through in his letters to the early churches. Instead of dwelling on all manner of ways that differences can lead to tension, strife, and hatred between people, Paul instead focuses on what should bring all believers together, namely unity in the saving love of Christ: “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:27-28). For it is Christ who most perfectly exemplifies ministering in love and kindness to people who can be very unloving and completely unkind. It is in Christ, both the Lion and the Lamb, that we find the courage to overlook seemingly insurmountable differences and cling to the life-giving message of hope found in God’s Word. It is in Christ that we stand together with courage and conviction to contend for the truth of salvation and the unity of the faith. In Christ, there is no room to go our separate ways and stand apart in selfishness. Rather, we give all glory to our Savior, “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27).

Why did Saint Patrick return to Ireland? Why did Joseph forgive his brothers? Why did Paul preach throughout the Greco-Roman world? It was not because the Irish people (or Joseph’s brothers, or the Jewish exiles, or the Gentiles) had merited any good luck. It was rather because they (like us) received God’s mercy and love.

Good and Kind

The famed 20th-centurty Scottish preacher, professor, and theologian William Barclay once lamented that, “So much Christianity is good but unkind.”

As believers, when we encounter such a statement our first instinct is to bristle at the idea. We might become defensive, arguing, “But on balance, look at all the good we do!” And certainly, that may be true. Our next instinct may be to fall back on what C.S. Lewis coined “chronological snobbery,” and so rationalize, “Dr. Barclay wrote those words a generation ago. We in the 21st century are much too enlightened and compassionate to be guilty of that!” Certainly, that sentiment is in (all likelihood), not true. Before we pass judgment on someone else’s critique, we should take a long, honest look at ourselves (Matthew 7:3-5). Why do we do what we do? What are the actual, inner, hidden and deep motivations of our hearts? After all, Scripture reminds us, “the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7b). Some of us unknowingly fall into the trap of legalism, dogmatically following the letter of God’s law but along the way forgetting the true intentions behind God’s word. If left unchecked, Christ warns us that legalism ultimately leads to spiritual blindness and separation from God’s own heart (John 9:40-41). On the other hand, out of fear of legalism, many of us may instead err on the side of unfettered freedom. However, the Apostle Paul confronts this overcorrection by rhetorically asking, “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!” (Romans 6:1-2). The life of a true Christian is spent neither blindly checking boxes off of a spiritual “To-Do List,” nor turning a blind eye to the sin and brokenness of the world. The call of a Christian is to “believe in the name of [God’s] Son Jesus Christ and love one another just as he commanded us” (1 John 3:23). Thus, the call of every Christian is to love.

The idea of love can be vague, encompassing so many different emotions, states of being, actions, and reactions. It very often means different things to each of us. The English language is particularly ill-equipped to describe these varieties, and often tries to lump everything from a fondness for a certain snack, (“I love popcorn!”), to a friendly, offhand compliment (“I love that sweater you’re wearing!”), to even a binding promise, (“Yes—I love you and I want to marry you!”) together into a single word. While the biblical languages are arguably better at conveying the varying degrees of affection and adoration, still, God’s Word gives us clear insight into the ultimate definition of love.

The Apostle John tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:16). It is significant that John does not then immediately say, “Love is God,” for our human conception of love is finite and falls far short of the divine definition. Instead, since God is love, we must expand our human definition to understand love as God does. “In this is love,” John tells us, “Not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). God’s love finds us first—he creates us in his image, he pursues us in spite of our sin, he continually continues to love us. In fact, God’s love is so great, so profound, so incomprehensible in its scope and breadth, that he himself, Christ the Son, demonstrates the ultimate form of love in his self-sacrificial death (John 15:13; Romans 5:8). Jesus’ love on the cross is the only thing loving enough to cover our sins.

Paul further clarifies God’s definition of love in his famous “love hymn” of 1 Corinthians. He tells us, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irascible or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a). As believers, we must affirm that the true love of God does not—in fact, cannot—be swayed, turned, broken, or lost. Before coming to salvation, our human love is corrupted by our sin and is fallible and sometimes fleeting. However, as Dr. Raymond Brown notes, divine love “will never come to an end because it is grounded in God, and God is love. Love will last as long as God lasts, forever.” Jesus explained why this God-love is essential to our new lives: “A new commandment that I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). True Christian love is the ultimate evangelistic tool. Nothing can overcome God’s love for his people, and God’s people who spread his love are an unstoppable force of witness to both the goodness and the kindness of the Gospel.

God’s Gift

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).

Merry December! If your neighborhood is anything like mine, I started seeing green wreaths mixed in with orange pumpkins on front steps, all while colorful autumn leaves still clung to tree branches. The legitimacy of “Christmas Creep” aside, we love the anticipation of something wonderful, and for many the holiday season is “the most wonderful time of the year!” Adults and children alike look forward to cherished traditions, over-indulgence in treats, and spending time with family and friends. And what is undoubtedly central to all these festivities? Presents…

Carefully wrapped presents nestled beneath a sparkling tree are beautiful, and most of us love the guessing game involved in trying to figure out what is hidden inside each box and bag. However, the whole point of gift-giving is to finally unwrap the long-awaited treasure. Paper is torn, lids are opened, and we may finally behold the secret gift contained inside.

One of my favorite verses in all of Scripture is found in the Gospel of Matthew: “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom” (Matt 27:15). Such a brief sentence, but one that perfectly encapsulates the purpose of Christ’s incarnation and the Gospel message! The older I get, the more I appreciate the relevance of this verse, not just at Easter when we specifically focus on the Cross and the Resurrection, but year-round. There is that old, childhood curiosity about secrets—what was behind the curtain, being hidden away? In this case, the curtain hid the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat, which housed the “testimony” of God’s Law. It was here that the Lord promised Moses to “speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel” (Ex 25:22) and where Aaron and subsequent high priests would enter once a year to make atonement for the entire nation. God’s Word is very clear about who may enter into God’s “holy place”: “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully” (Psalm 24:3-4). Yet Scripture is also very clear about a truth that we all know personally: “everyone has sinned, we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Rom 3:23, NLT). You nor I go through life blameless; we have all chosen our way over God’s way, and we stand unworthy to enter into God’s glorious presence. And the rightful penalty for our sin is death— “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). Our hands were dirty and our hearts defiled, and yet Christ “entered once for all into the holy places . . . by the means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Heb 9:12). Christ was—and is—the only one with perfectly clean hands and a completely pure heart. He himself bore our sins, paid our price, and bought our freedom. At Christ’s death, the temple curtain was torn apart because the barrier between a fallen humanity and the holy God had been repaired.

We hear so much talk about “the real reason for the season” and calls to “put Christ back into Christmas.” What can get lost in all of this discussion is not even so much the who, but the what of this holy-day. After all, what is the main point of Christmas? What are we really celebrating? It is the sheer incomprehensibility of the Incarnation— God the Son, the very “image of the invisible God” who from, through, and to are all things (Col 1:15; Rom 11:36). Immanuel come to dwell amongst us, “born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal 4:4-5). God’s present to us is ultimately the gift of himself—the restoration of a right relationship with him, possible because and through the atoning sacrifice of his son, Jesus (Col 1:19-20).

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Cor 9:15)

And they recognized that they had been with Jesus

In Acts chapters 2-4, we find the Apostles Peter and John in Jerusalem, healing people and preaching the Gospel. The Jewish religious leaders—the same group who had only recently called for Jesus’ death—were now confronting Christ’s disciples for following in His footsteps. What most surprised the religious leaders was how boldly these apostles preached and proclaimed their message! After all, Peter and John were just ordinary, “common men.” Until only a few years ago, they had spent their days fishing on the Sea of Galilee. How was it that they were drawing large crowds of people (crowds these religious leaders could only dream of)?  From where had they gotten their authority? What had given them such boldness? Something had changed in Peter and John—but what?

Later in the New Testament, we have the letters the Apostle Paul wrote to the people of the Corinthian church. Even though Paul suffered from a certain ailment, he did not use that suffering as an excuse to quit preaching the Gospel. Instead, Paul used his pain, along with Old Testament Scripture, as the inspiration for one of his best-known encouragements: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17; cf. Jeremiah 9:24). Paul had learned a remarkable truth: we can be at our weakest according to the world, and yet we can know that we are at our strongest according to the Word. But from where had he gotten his authority? What had given him such boldness? Something had changed in Paul—but what?

What changed for Peter, John, and Paul was not anything of their own doing. They did not suddenly get rich, famous, or well-connected. They did not just “try harder” or “do more” for the sake of personal accomplishment and to keep busy. What made all the difference in their lives was not a change in their rank or reputations, but a change in their relationships.

Peter, John, and Paul had all been with Jesus.

The assurance that comes from being with Jesus and spending time in His Word is nothing like worldly arrogance. The boldness that comes from being a child of God in no way resembles the sinful idea of being “the best” or having bragging rights. No, Christ-like confidence is a lot less like conceit and a lot more like the gentle humility of Jesus (Philippians 2:3-5). After all, we cannot save ourselves, and we cannot add to our salvation. That work has already been accomplished by God’s grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9.) As followers of Christ, we are not called to strive after our own greatness; we are called to spend time with Jesus.

Whether we feel tempted to boast in our own accomplishments or to shrink back in our own weaknesses, let us continually preach to ourselves the words of Isaiah 41:10:

“So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Celebrating 10 Years & Moving Forward on a Strong Foundation

2022 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Athens College of Ministry. Looking back, the College was founded by five trustees with a vision to create a Christian higher education institution in our local community. The College opened its doors for fall semester 2012 as the Athens School of Ministry & Worship Arts, leasing space from Watkinsville First UMC.   

There were three guiding principles during the College’s first decade. First the trustees determined that the College would be interdenominational, believing that it is God’s desire for His followers to unify around the centrality of Jesus while upholding the inerrancy of the Bible. Second, the institution worked tirelessly to forge a “hub” of Christian unity. By hosting a pair of annual conferences, a fall day of community service—ServeAthens ICN, and a yearly Pastors Appreciation event, the College has created opportunities for locals to build relationships across traditional dividing lines by seeking and serving Christ together.

The College’s third guiding principle was to become accredited. As such, the institution opened its doors under “religious exemption” granted by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC). By 2015, its programs moved from “religious exempt” status to “fully authorized” by the State. Under full authorization, the institution was allowed to rename itself Athens College of Ministry (ACMin).

Building on its GNPEC authorization, ACMin selected the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges & Schools (TRACS) as its U.S. Department of Education-approved accrediting body. In 2017 ACMin qualified for provisional accreditation status, and was awarded full accreditation in 2020. Immediately following, ACMin became accredited to offer its programs nationally via distance education—a necessary step in the wake of the pandemic.

In the same way that the Israelites of the Old Testament looked back to remember God’s strength and favor at the Red Sea, the Trustees and leadership of the College credit every success to God’s favor, His provision through the many saints who have financially supported this endeavor, and the top-quality, hard-working faculty and staff who have co-labored tirelessly to build an accredited institution with excellence.

100% of the College’s students agree or strongly agree that their courses have been of excellent quality, they have grown in their ability to disciple others into Christlikeness, and they have grown in their understanding and practice of servant leadership (2022 Annual Student Survey). ACMin students have served through numerous community agencies as a required component of their professional formation. 100% of its graduates are working in their respective areas of preparation. And in partnership with Adventures in Missions—often known as the “World Race,” headquartered in Gainesville—the College is building leaders with a global perspective.

Moving into the next decade, the College will remember its solid foundation as it seeks to expand its impact. The next significant step is to change the institutional name to “College of Athens.” The Athens College of Ministry will continue to exist as a primary division of the College, offering its undergraduate and graduate degrees in ministry, counseling, divinity, etc. A second division, the School of Transformational Leadership, will house new, upcoming degree programs designed to build future leaders in education, nursing, and other marketplace enterprises. An undergraduate leadership degree has already been approved by the State and will debut in the coming months pending TRACS approval. Through the pair of divisions—Ministry and Leadership—the College of Athens (CoA) will expand its capacity to fulfill its mission; the preparation of Christian leaders for the Church, the marketplace, and around the globe.

Under the leadership of its Campus Development Project Manager, Mr. Michael Motsinger, and working in conjunction with Smith Planning Group and ensembleD Architecture and Engineering, the College will continue the development of its campus property on Barnett Shoals Road. Having a residential campus is key to building the type of relational community that is vital to students’ personal formation. The campus will allow the College to expand its base of operations as well as provide pleasant leisure spaces for residents in the surrounding area.  

Our fervent prayer (from Psalm 90:16-17) has been and will continue to be:

May your deeds be shown to your servants,
    your splendor to their children.

May the favorof the Lord our God rest on us;
    establish the work of our hands for us—
    yes, establish the work of our hands.

To learn more about the College of Athens and its programs, visit collegeofathens.edu.

#collegeofathens #CoA