Comments on: I’m Not Looking For A Hill To Die On

By: In the Blogosphere « Kingdom People

In the Blogosphere « Kingdom People — Fri, 09 May 2008 08:44:15 +0000

[...] the Blogosphere Filed under: In the Blogosphere — trevinwax @ 3:42 am Tony Kummer isn’t looking for a hill to die on, but people to die [...]

By: Todd Young

Todd Young — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:37:54 +0000

Tony,

Great post! I think this is more pervasive than many of us seminarians imagine. I see even the big guys are reading your blog!

Todd

Todd Young’s last blog post..An Illustration of Faith?

By: Chuck Lawless

Chuck Lawless — Sun, 04 May 2008 02:52:30 +0000

Tony, Seldom do I take time to respond to other blogs, but I thank God for your wisdom and honesty here. I well remember my zeal as a young preacher -- and thank God for the local church members who would not allow me to compromise truth, but who also taught me to temper zeal with love. Thanks, brother. Chuck Lawless's last blog post..Satan versus the Leader

By: Matthew Perry

Matthew Perry — Sat, 03 May 2008 23:04:46 +0000

Helpful post, Tony. This is why I believe the balance of local church ministry and seminary is a necessity, with the "local church ministry" being more equal! I have found Tim Keller's sermon that he preached at the 2004 Covenant Seminary Preaching Lectures helpful. The title is All Things Are Yours. It really helps in breaking out of the arrogance that seminary can bring without the balance of the local church! Matthew Perry's last blog post..Before You Preach (Joe Thorn)

By: Tony Kummer

Tony Kummer — Sat, 03 May 2008 20:59:41 +0000

Dr. Moore & Lee - Thanks for your encouragement. Stephen - You wrote, "We need to be like Athanasius in our doctrine, but like Barnabas in our attitude." That is a great way to look at it, thanks for the comment. Hank - I think the three issues related to your question are the 1) certainty of the doctrine, 2) my attitude in holding it, and 3) my attitude toward my church. For the first two issues I've found Dr. Mohler's article on Theological Triage very helpful. It gets more difficult to integrate the third issue of loving my church. I think the point of some of the passages I've quoted is that God is calling us to lay down our lives for people first. This is something I am learning, but am far from mastering. Sometimes I am shocked at how little we talk about loving people. I don't know of any books on my shelf titled "The Doctrine Of Loving Your Neighbor." selahV - I hope that in 27 years I am as far along as I imagine myself to be now! Thanks for your kind words and the allusion to the Derby.

By: selahV

selahV — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:38:51 +0000

Tony, you, my brother are one wise thirty-year-old minister. A little old lady in our first church told me that they thought the ministry of their little country congregation was to prepare preachers for the ministry. Ha. I still love that! We definitely got an education in humility, diversity, and sovereignty there. The average stay of pastors at that church was about 18 months. We stayed nearly 7 years. It was one of the greatest blessings of our lives. Twenty-seven years have come and gone since then. And God is still working on us. It will be so wonderful if the Lord lets me live long enough to see where you are in 27 years. From the starting gate, you're looking to be one of the favored in the race, as I see it. selahV selahV's last blog post..BANDAIDS DON'T FIX EVERYTHING

By: Brother Hank

Brother Hank — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:20:20 +0000

Tony-

Great post brother. It got me pondering upon what it looks like to defend a hill, while not being willing to ultimately “die” for it. I’m assuming you would affirm that even our “pet doctrines,” if they are worth holding, are worth defending – at lest to some extent; or else we would have no place believing them as true — And if ultimately true, and held rightly, should humble us. So then I guess my question is, can these third and forth tier doctrines be held to “in love,” and if so, how can that be done in a manner that grows us in humility, rather than pride?

Brother Hank’s last blog post..Let Not “Ichabod” Be Written On Your Pulpit

By: Lee

Lee — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:23:44 +0000

There is nothing like the ups and downs, ins and outs of serving a congregation of God's people to put things into their perspective. Lee's last blog post..The Acts 1:8 Solution

By: Stephen Jones

Stephen Jones — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:09:05 +0000

This is an excellent post, Tony, and a critical reminder to young pastors and seminarians. Paul warned his pupil Timothy to "be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wrong, with gentleness correcting those in opposition" (2 Tim. 2:24-25). We need to be like Athanasius in our doctrine, but like Barnabas in our attitude. If we pick our battles carelessly, or speak the truth without love, we will do more harm than good in the body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 13). Stephen Jones's last blog post..What should I do with all this money?

By: Russell D. Moore

Russell D. Moore — Sat, 03 May 2008 04:05:48 +0000

Tony, This post is thought-provoking and Christ-honoring. It is a much-needed word for all of us to hear. In Christ, RDM Russell D. Moore's last blog post..Southern Baptist Sexual Revolutionaries