Heart & Mind
A well-worn patch of carpet hangs in a frame at Concord Baptist Church beneath a portrait of former pastor Gardner C. Taylor. It used to cushion the floor behind the pulpit where Taylor preached God’s Word. His habit was to scuff his left foot over the rug’s thick pile before planting himself to deliver his sermon. Some folks believe Taylor was tracing the sign of the cross and thereby standing on the power of the crucified Lord. Others suggest that, like a batter waiting for the pitch, he was digging in to take his best swing. Either way, the carpet’s nap is forever matted with the impression of Taylor’s feet. Mounted on the frame is a brass plate engraved with "Footprints of the Preacher, 1955-1990."
Throughout its 149-year history, Concord Baptist has enjoyed a vibrant, community-centered ministry and tradition of positive pastor-congregation relationships in the heart of Brooklyn, N.Y. Current pastor Gary Simpson is only the 10th person to hold that position. Of predecessor Taylor, Simpson says, "He was a master preacher, an effective leader, my former boss, my friend, and a second father. I could not help but feel the pressure to live up to such a record."
Never was that challenge articulated to Simpson with simpler eloquence than on the day early in his pastorship when he encountered a parishioner replacing the sanctuary’s floor covering. The scent of freshly laid carpet filled the air, and new, red plushness padded the place where Gardner Taylor’s footprints had once been visible. Looking up, the parishioner exclaimed, "Reverend, it’s your carpet now!"
During the re-opening of our center in Flushing, Queens, on September 25, the founders of what is
Bethel Seminary of the East reminisced about establishing a presence in New York. They laid the first "carpet" 16 years ago pursuing their vision to build upon the imagination-stirring resources of New York City. But there were challenges, including moves to eight different teaching locations and transitions through seven different directors. Then 18 months ago word came from Albany that we could not enroll any more students without official state approval and accreditation. If ever a seminary site should have died, it was this New York City site.
Now, after much time and hard work, that state accreditation and approval have been achieved. Surely we build on the foundation of what has come before, but the energy and commitment that established this center will not alone propel us into the future. We must meet this remarkable opportunity with renewed vision and deeper conviction. It’s our carpet now!
As we seize this chance to prepare our next generation of leaders in this culture-rich environment, three commitments rise to the top of our priorities:
Develop a culture-transforming theology.
If theology is to serve the mission of the church, then it must grapple with, understand, and offer a mission-saturated approach that addresses the primary cultural issues right under its nose.
Let us do in our day what the writers of the Bible did in theirs. The apostle Paul developed and wrote a theology for the city of Corinth. He wrote with a very different theological emphasis to the church at Philippi. He developed a theology for Christians living
Rome and another for those living in Ephesus, Colossae, and Galatia. Each had its own nuance and emphasis. Paul’s letters to the believers in each setting first grounded them in revealed truth and then spelled out the implications with the great "therefores."
What kind of theology do we need for Flushing, Queens - the multi-cultural epicenter of New York City? What are the relational barriers between races and between economic classes? Is the Christ of our theology the high and exalted Jesus of the Bible, the powerful, sovereign Lord of the City, the breaker of racial barriers, forgiver of sins, transformer of lives, and change agent of communities? This Jesus is fully able to build His church right next to the gates of hell wherever they might exist in the boroughs. When He is present Satan flees, darkness recedes, and people are saved.
If we develop a culture-transforming theology, not only will it advance the mission of the church but it also will provide grounding for its ministers.
Hudson Taylor was a missionary statesman in China during the terrible days of the Boxer Rebellion. Hearing report after report of mission stations destroyed and missionaries massacred, Taylor remained quietly at his desk singing softly these words that he loved so dearly:
Jesus, I am resting, resting in the joy of what Thou art; I am finding out the greatness of Thy loving heart. Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee, and Thy beauty fills my soul, for by Thy transforming power Thou hast made me whole.
The joy of ministry is that the same theology we believe and proclaim sustains us in our efforts to advance the gospel.
Be even better at nurturing and building godly women and men who are secure enough to be flexible.
I believe that the most overlooked model for churches and leaders today is found in 1 Corinthians 19 and 22 where Paul writes, "Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible… I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some."
Sandwiched between these parallel profundities, Paul refers to four different groups of people:
- "To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews."
- "To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law."
- "To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law."
- "To the weak I became weak, to win the weak."
When we think like Paul, we step outside of the culture we inhabit and adapt to the culture we seek to reach. Such adaptation requires great flexibility, and practicing cultural flexibility requires a sense of personal security that goes deeper than our own culture. Anthropologists and sociologists tell us that insecure people cling and conform to the culture they claim - and we are all familiar with monuments to such insecurity: mission compounds designed to set up and preserve a slice of "home" in a foreign land, with transplanted patterns of church polity, music, and sermons designed to maintain and protect cultures of origin.
What kind of seminary prepares flexible leaders? A seminary whose staff, administrators, provosts, and teachers are themselves secure enough to face what seems threatening and learn to be truly adaptable. Let’s take a cue from Abraham, the father of the faithful:
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
- Hebrews 11:8-10
Shouldn't we all live like pilgrims and strangers rather than as settlers and citizens of this world? Settlers and citizens are the owners and possessors of the land. They aren't curious like strangers - they "know" only what they deem necessary to know. Pilgrims and strangers learn to listen well and observe carefully. They are humble because they know how little they know.
Let us continually deepen our centeredness in Christ so that we can reach cultures different from our own and different from each other - so that by all means we might win some.
Create and maintain a leadership-rich culture in which students can’t help but learn how to lead.
In his book Courageous Leaders, Bill Hybels describes what he believes is a leader’s most important function: "Leaders are at their best when they are creating a leadership culture."
Isn't that what we want to do, and must do - create a leadership-rich environment so that students at Bethel Seminary of the East cannot help but catch a vision for churches that God uses to transform culture?
If we are to shape Christ-exalting, church-growing, kingdom-advancing graduates, we must embrace these commitments and make them happen. It’s our carpet, now! Let’s go for it - for the glory of Jesus and the salvation of the lost!