Tertullian (A.D. 155-250), the early Christian historian, wrote that “Peter endured a passion like that of the Lord.” Peter’s name is mentioned roughly 200 times in the New Testament. He began his vocational career as a small business owner along with his brother Andrew and their associates, James and John. His fishing enterprise was abruptly cut short, perhaps in a mid-career sort of crisis, when he met Jesus. That encounter changed everything for Peter.Peter became one of only a handful of important eyewitnesses to the life and legacy of Jesus of Nazareth. Not only did Peter’s passion change from fishing for food to shaping and discipling men and women, but Peter’s own life was transformed—changed from the inside out. Perhaps this is precisely why Peter is so concerned with the inner-traits of a would-be leader and outlines for us the important inner-markers that are necessary to living successfully and finishing well. Peter knows about the work before the work.Luke, the medical doctor and 1st church historian, tells us that Peter was the leader, second to none, of the rapidly spreading church. It was Peter, not Paul, who first realized that the message of Jesus was intended for people outside of the Jewish faith.[1] He was a persuasive preacher par excellence; a formidable thinker about life, faith, and leadership; and a passionate defender of the faith against the criticisms and persecution that threatened the expanding church. In the end, Peter was martyred for his participation in the greatest movement the world has ever known. According to legend, he was crucified upside down. The world’s final assessment of him was that he got it all backwards.On the practical side Peter was married and his wife even accompanied him on some of his journeys.[2] Peter was a family man caring for his mother-in-law[3] and brother Andrew. He knew well the attempts of seeking to balance a life with the pressures of a small business against the competing demands from a family. Peter’s proximity to Jesus is clearly seen as he was present during many of Jesus’ major miracles, including Jesus walking on water, and what is known as the Transfiguration. Peter was witness to Jesus’ remarkable ability to perform miracles thus foreshadowing the miracles he himself would be doing later as seen in the book of Acts. Luke tells us that Peter had such power that people scrambled to stand in his literal shadow as he walked by.[4] This kind of charisma, influence, and leadership make Peter worthy of our examination. It ought to tell us something.[1] See Acts 10.[2] I Cor. 9:5; I Peter 5:13[3] Mark 1:29[4] See Acts 5 for this story.From my latest book Inside Job: Doing The Work Within The Work (Due for release June, 2015 by InterVarsity Press)
Nothing New
It would be tempting to think this is some new phenomenon, that we are the first to see such an unprecedented crisis of character. But that’s not true. This problem is sadly recorded throughout the pages of the Bible where we see men and women with undeniable promise and gifting become tripped up in unwise choices and bottom out in disgrace and dishonor.Do you remember David, the warrior poet? Instead of going to war with his men he went to bed with another man’s wife. The consequences were catastrophic. Or how about Barnabas, Paul’s companion on many of his missionary journeys? He simply could not find a way in his heart to be a team-player. The result was a tragic split in their shared leadership. And it’s not just the men. The women are there too. Two women in one of Paul’s first churches nearly split the church because of their uncontrolled tongues and poisoned hearts for each other. Then there’s Sapphira. She could not bring her husband or herself to make good choices regarding money. They fell into hoarding and so became a negative example for all, a couple of misers with their God given resources.And don’t forget Peter, that impetuous disciple who always spoke before thinking. He would definitely be an unlikely candidate to speak about character. Or would he? Interestingly enough, based on the extraordinary writings of this apostle, I’ve found that we can discover the much needed and absolutely necessary character building blocks that assure us of “never falling”[1] and will keep us from becoming “ineffective and unproductive.”[2][1] II Peter 1:10[2] II Peter 1:8 From my latest book Inside Job: Doing The Work Within The Work (Due for release June, 2015 by InterVarsity Press)
Dirty Little Secret, Part 2
Have you ever thought some of those things to yourself? Those phrases are the whisperings of the bitch-goddess:“I did it all, all by myself.”“Look at what I have become.”“It’s all mine.”J.B. Phillips, author and translator of the Bible, wrote in “The Danger of Success” -
“I was in a state of some excitement throughout 1955. My work was intrinsically exciting. My health was excellent; my future prospects were rosier than my wildest dreams could suggest; applause, honor and appreciation met me everywhere I went. I was well aware of the dangers of sudden wealth and took some severe measures to make sure that, although comfortable, I should never be rich. I was not nearly so aware of the dangers of success. The subtle corrosion of character, the unconscious changing of values and the secret monstrous growth of a vastly inflated idea of myself seeped slowly into me. Vaguely I was aware of this and, like some frightful parody of St. Augustine, I prayed, ‘Lord, make me humble, but not yet.’ I can still savor the sweet and gorgeous taste of it all: the warm admiration, the sense of power, of overwhelming ability, of boundless energy and never-failing enthusiasm. It is very plain to me now why my one-man kingdom of power and glory had to stop.”
One-man and one-woman kingdoms “of power and glory.” That’s the danger. That kind of success can lead us to that place where we forget who it is that is behind whatever strength and wealth we have achieved. It’s not that success is inherently wrong. It’s that we have allowed it to rival God and God will share His worship with no one and no thing. Maybe the term “bitch-goddess of success” just might need to resurface in our world to remind us of the threat. For God is a jealous God. And we have become unfaithful spouses.But guess what? It doesn’t have to be this way.Here’s the good news. I believe you can climb that ladder of success to live and finish well. Now does this indicate we’re going to have to define exactly what “success” and “finishing well” means? Yes, and that’s a part of what this book is about. In fact, much of what is presented here will be a redefinition of such words and phrases.And here’s the hard news: It’s going to take work, something called “the work before the work.”In the opening story, I shared with you about the celebrated Chinese woodcarver. What set him apart from all the rest was his decision to first do the work before the work. Had he skipped this crucial step it’s likely he would have been like any other wood carver. But he didn’t, and in the wake of that choice widespread enduring success and a sterling reputation followed. From my latest book Inside Job: Doing The Work Within The Work (Due for release June, 2015 by InterVarsity Press)