Emergence

There are so many gifted people around, and some of those people have gifts in writing. We love introducing new Emergence bloggers to you. These folks are part of the fabric here, and this is one of the ways they contribute.

Aaron Savage has been at Emergence for a number of years now. he's one of two guys with us in the office exploring church planting as a possible vocation. If you read what's below, you'll have no doubt he's a gifted dude. Read and enjoy.  

For the past year or so, my most desperate plea before God has been for maturity.  That I would grow into a respectable man of God; strong and honest: unwilling to compromise His truth . . . wise and responsible: knowing His will and striving to live it . . . loving and holy: a man after His own heart.  Despite long hours in prayer and living in the appropriate Scripture (Proverbs, 1st and 2nd Timothy, Titus), I despaired to see little tangible progress. 
What I have only just begun to understand is although time spent alone under God’s discipline is biblical (see Lamentations 3, esp. 25-30), the growth I seek does not occur in a vacuum.  In fact, I was overlooking a major theme of Proverbs: that wisdom and maturity require either:
(1) living many years, or
(2) learning from the already wise and mature

James says that we should pray to receive wisdom (v. 1:5), but that doesn’t mean we should expect instant gratification . . . that we’ll just wake up one day, “Oh look, I’m wise!” 
One verse God constantly brought to mind on how wisdom and maturity take time was:
The glory of young men in their strength,
     but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. 
                                                Proverbs 20:19

Now this doesn’t mean that there aren’t any young people with wisdom (our college group proves the exception), and it surely doesn’t mean that older men are weak (just pick a fight with my 50 year old Martial Arts instructor).  The book of Proverbs isn’t made up of universal truth statements, but practical insights on how to please God in everyday life.
So what do you think this is?  Some useless observation?—that men lose strength over time but still grow in wisdom?  A theological nuance?—that since the fall men are born foolish and die weak?  Hardly! This is God’s exhortation!—young men seek counsel from older men; older men seek help from young men.
I’ve been familiar with this verse for a while now, but never truly knew its potency.  It has a far greater application than “wisdom takes time”.  Come Tuesday morning, however, my understanding changed dramatically.  I woke up with an anxiety-shattering peace about the sovereignty of God’s will for my life; no worry, no rush, no uncertainty . . . just a vivid clarity about my call to ministry and my vision for the next several years of my life. 
So what’s the secret?—divine revelation?—miraculous signs?—God opened a door?  Nope, none of that: just went out to lunch the day before with a man of God and spent the afternoon working on his yard.  No organized meeting, no complicated training, no prepared lesson . . . just “Hey, I’ve got a couple of questions for you” and “Good, I’ve got some dirt I need help moving.”  Simple, natural, biblical.  As Steve would say: organic.
Here’s the point: young men, go use your God-given glory to help the older men: whether it’s landscaping, working on their house, their car. . . whatever you’re good at.  For me, there’s just something about working hard under a blazing sun that’s decidedly biblical.  Use your strength as an opportunity to surround yourself with wise, godly men.
And during that, older men, impart some of your gray-haired splendor to those who need it now more than ever.  Because we have no idea how to walk in holiness, find a job, buy a house, love our wives and raise our kids, all for the glory of God.
You may not have the time to lead us through a structured seminar on manhood, but I know all of you have some projects around the house that you just can’t seem to finish by yourself.  According to Scripture, it’s the proximity that matters most.
And this isn’t just about the men:
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine.  They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.   Titus 2:3-5
Go find a younger woman to teach what is good.  Train her how to manage her household well, how to raise her children, how to cook (!), how to live a virtuous life. . . 
Older women, I know children are a full-time ministry and I know that you couldn’t possibly have time to add coaching to your already ridiculous To Do list . . . but you need to be seen!  You are called to be a visible example of biblical womanhood, of Christ-likeness. 
And here’s the beauty of it, a young woman will grow most under your guidance by serving you: working around the house, helping with the groceries, watching the children, etc.  The chance to spend some time around a godly woman is all they need, not classroom-esque teaching.
These verses were not breathed out by God for Ryan and Steve to further baby us.  Emergence doesn’t need to organize any more communities, programs, groups, or clubs to fill its young men and women with wisdom.  In Ephesians 4, we are told that the goal of church leaders is to equip saints FOR ministry (v.11-12), NOT to make a bunch of ministries FOR saints.
These verses call for us, the Church, to step it up and start seeking biblical and missional relationships, on our own.  We don’t need a Men’s Group or a Women’s Bible Study to live out this Scripture practically. 
If you’re under 30, take the initiative and find a godly older person and attach yourself to them, helping wherever you’re needed. 
If you’re over 30, make use of the strong young men and women God has blessed Emergence with and realize that their wisdom (or lack thereof) will determine the future of your church, community and culture. 
I’ll end with this thought:
And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
   and your young men shall see visions,
   and your old men shall dream dreams;
                                           (Acts 2:17)

Young men (and women), you have seen visions of your mission, spouse, children . . . and God has given you strength to fulfill them.  But as far as wisdom goes, you can read all you want about having a godly ministry, marriage and legacy; you’ll hardly know anything until you’ve seen them lived-out. 

Believe me, study the Bible for advice on all of these things, but also realize that same Bible says to find a godly older man and watch how he strives to follow Christ’s commission . . . or how he lovingly teases his wife . . . or how he plays football with his kids . . .  Otherwise, how will you know?

Older men and women, you haven’t been able to accomplish every vision you’ve seen in your youth.  They’ve become dreams, hopes for the future . . . banners for others to take up.  You may no longer have the strength to advance the kingdom spectacularly on your own, but you have the wisdom to show others how. 

You’ve walked with Christ for many years and know what it means practically to take up your cross daily.  There are many strong men and women in our church who would benefit greatly from simply spending time around you . . . and through them your dreams of furthering the gospel will be fulfilled.

I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the demographic of the strong (ages 18-34) is almost identical to that of the gray-haired (45 and up) at Emergence.  God has blessed us with a generationally diverse group of people, contrary to 90% of the churches in America.  And so, contrary to 90% of the churches in America, relationships between the strong and the wise should occur organically here at Emergence.

The oneness of Christ’s bride is not some legalistic, pie-in-the-sky, theological principle.  It’s indispensable for both those on the frontline of Christ’s mission and those who have stepped back to instruct the warriors.  What has become increasingly clear to me, and like Ryan said last week: it’s the fellowship of our brothers and sisters (young and old) that enables us to stand back up and keep preaching Jesus as Lord . . . though we face opposition, persecution and stonings.  So we will not lose heart.