For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14, ESV)
It’s not hard to imagine the following scene: A visitor shows up at the local country club hoping to join the Saturday morning match. After sizing him up, the matchmakers politely ask, “What’s your handicap?” The stranger responds, rather emphatically, “Oh no, I am no golfer; I play when I get a chance, but there is not much to my game.”
What do we have here? I tell you what we have…we have a “Sandbagger.” We all know what a Sandbagger is. It is someone who deceives about his true nature or intent in order to lower expectations. Why would one want to lower expectations? In golf, it’s self-evident to set up a competitive advantage. In sales, it’s to increase the likelihood of attaining goals or to earn a year-end bonus. In that context, I know some very good sandbaggers.
Perhaps a good reason to sandbag is to maintain a reputation of humility. Usually, however, sandbagging is to lower expectations so we can slide through life, avoiding serious challenges. Often, I remain guilty of this very thing.
Now changing disciplines, when it comes to knowing God, how would the average person respond to the question, “Are you a theologian?” A typical answer might be: “Oh no, I am not a theologian; I go to church, I participate in a small group, I read my Bible, but I am not a theologian.”
Theology, generally speaking, is the study of God. Hence, a theologian seeks to learn about the nature of God and his ways with humanity. Therefore, in a genuine sense, everyone who follows Christ is a theologian.
We all know you do not have to be a PGA professional to be a “golfer.” Likewise, one does not require an advanced degree from a seminary to be a theologian. In light of this, I ask again, “Are you a theologian?”
Our knowledge of God is directly proportional to the time spent studying the Scriptures, praying, and learning to apply scriptural truths to our lives as revealed by the Holy Spirit.
This is not an academic pursuit. To what end, then? Scripture reveals the answer: “All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)
Our families, churches, schools, communities, and clubs need godly men and women to step up by faithfully leading those in our sphere of influence…not just leading by example but by showing with word and deed. May we learn to SPEAK to our faith first in our homes and, from there, permeate our communities.
As William Merrill wrote, “Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things; Give heart and soul and mind and strength to serve the King of kings.”
Prayer: God our Father, we pray that words may be given to us in opening our mouths boldly to proclaim the mystery of the Gospel, that we may declare it boldly, as we ought to speak.