Not just a good slogan, “humble orthodoxy” is a life’s calling to pursue Jesus Christ in grace and truth. Joshua Harris, author most recently of Dug Down Deep: Unearthing What I Believe and Why It Matters, has made “humble orthodoxy” a hallmark of his ministry as senior pastor of Covenant Life Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. I corresponded with Harris to ask where else does he see such an attitude in action? What practices help develop it? And what can we do if our church looks more like dysfunctional Corinth than Acts 2:42-47?
What are some encouraging examples you see of “humble orthodoxy” in action?
I define humble orthodoxy as a strong commitment to the unchangeable truths of God’s word and the gospel, matched by an attitude toward others shaped by gospel grace. So I see that all over the place. I think The Gospel Coalition is a great example of a commitment to biblical truth combined with a humble, gentle spirit on secondary matters of disagreement. In the council meetings themselves, you’ve got many men coming from many different perspectives on social action, church polity, eschatology, spiritual gifts, and yet we’re learning from each other and respecting each others viewpoints. When I was at Southern Seminary recently I was so impressed with the students there and how they embodied a passion for sound doctrine but also the Savior’s gentleness and mercy toward sinners. And I’ve seen it in congregations from many different denominations and church-planting movements.
Do you find any personal practices especially helpful in developing a spirit of “humble orthodoxy”?
A consistent focus on the gospel of grace is key. If I truly believe that I’m saved by grace alone through faith alone in the substitutionary death and the resurrection of Christ—and not my practice, my knowledge, my rightness, my methods—then I won’t attack others when they differ. At any point that I begin to find a source of identity and joy in those things that is separate from joy in my union with Christ, I’ll be tempted to be self-righteous and judgmental towards others.
How would you counsel pastors leading churches filled with contention and divisiveness to foster unity and peace in the Spirit?
There is no easy answer here. I think you have to preach the gospel of grace so radically that people actually abandon their security in other “counterfeit gods.” It’s those other idols (even good things) that creates the disunity. In our church for example we have to consistently talk about different educational models—public, private, and homeschool—and speak about the unity we have in the gospel. You have to attack the specific idols of your church with the humbling, pride-smashing message of the cross. I would also counsel an abundance of prayer—in private and with members of the church. There’s nothing like praying with others to remind you of your common dependence and need for grace.
What pros and cons do you see with new media for promoting humility and doctrinal fidelity?
I thank God for the way websites, blogs, and services like Twitter and Youtube can point to and provide rich doctrinal resources. It’s incredible how quickly I can access teaching from world-class pastors and scholars. It’s so helpful to get clear, orthodox perspectives on various issues and topics instantly from trusted sources. I’m not sure what we did 15 years ago. Wait for a conference or book? Order a tape through the mail? So on the fidelity front I think the new media is a generally a great help. On the humility front there are many pitfalls. For example, we can forget we’re dealing with real human beings when we fire off a critical remark or comment online. We can also be motivated by a desire for attention more than a desire to shed light on an issue. As rapper Lecrae puts it in a song, we can get caught up with worrying about “our space” on the internet and turn it into another proud battle over influence and followership. But really it’s not too complicated. We just need to apply unchanging biblical truth and principles for speech and communication to the new media. I know I only benefit from making my use of the new media more prayerful and being “slow to blog, slow to tweet, and slow to become angry over incendiary commenters on Justin Taylor’s site.”
Is there enough evidence for us to believe the Gospels?
In an age of faith deconstruction and skepticism about the Bible’s authority, it’s common to hear claims that the Gospels are unreliable propaganda. And if the Gospels are shown to be historically unreliable, the whole foundation of Christianity begins to crumble.
