He Must Increase, I Must Decrease By Terry Powell Here I am, writing a Christian book for the first time. I have already assaulted the writing profession and the secular public, so why not now the religious folk. I have no credentials, except one. I am a Christian. Jesus said, "let the little children come unto me," so, here I am-childlike, trusting, loyal, and dependent. Doesn't really sound like credentials, does it? He said His Grace would be sufficient. Maybe I have no business writing any book, Christian or otherwise. I am by nature and training a poor excuse for a scholar, a confession which would release a load of guilt from the stubborn hearts of many so-called scholars today. Generally, I have more respect for the old scholars, who if they err, err on the side of caution. I am cautiously skeptical of the new ones. I often wonder if the primary qualification for modern scholarship is a worship of the human intellect, particularly one's own. Modern scholar-ship also seems to demand an affection for the security of tenure, the comfort of the great ideological think tank, the popularity of survey psychology, and the prideful intolerance for anyone who does not embrace your personal world view; and lest we forget, an over-whelming allegiance to relativism. Since I am no scholar, I am automatically disqualified as a theologian. I have never met one in person so I cannot attest to what one would look like. But contrary to the masses, I can and do read what they write which makes me fairly familiar with what they sound like. They sound like they know more than they really know. Many of the theologians I have read consistently avoid answering my questions. They offer multiple choice speculations, or play word games with what I already know. I am nearly convinced that their theories and opinions are not much better than ours. Modern day theologians, particularly the liberal ones, often ramble on and on and march a copyrighted circle around their favorite issue while singing the same verse thirty-nine times. Some dance around like politicians, drinking the new wine of political correctness, succeeding only in convincing us that politics is their true ambition. Rather than save mankind, they prefer to govern it. Their opinions are generally inconclusive and noncommittal and serve well to buy a little time for the devil. Jesus referred to them as "wolves in sheep's clothing." And I have noticed that some of the more liberal ones cozy up to the devil and become his accomplices. Oops! I should not have mentioned the devil and liberalism in the same sentence. Now I have gone and done it. I have offended the many modern day theologians who do not believe the devil exists. Do not expect an apology. What I really am by nature is a rebel. And the worst kind of rebel-a brazen fundamental Christian rebel who takes the Bible at face value and believes that the Spirit within me will not allow me to misinterpret it, or wander to the left or the right. I will be happy to trade you my three thousand pages of titillating liberal theology for an old dog eared copy of Mother Goose; and I will trade you a congregation of modern day theologians for a righteous grandmother to read it to me. But, do not get me wrong, my measly opinion of scholars and theologians is of far less value than their scholarly efforts. Despite their defects and de-ficiencies, we need scholars and theologians; maybe not as much as we need plumbers; but they, like plumbers, poke and prod and help us to separate things out, and clear the air, and keep things moving along slowly and gradually. Still, it is hard to have patience with them. They are always an aggravation and a costly inconvenience when you need one, whether it be a scholar, a theologian, or a plumber. It is clear to me that Jesus prefers plumbers.
About the Author: Terry Powell invested over thirty five years of his life into education. First as a teacher/coach, later as an administrator, eventually retiring in 2007. In his own words, "I spent most of that time running away from God's call on my life", which he now knows is that of a bible teacher. In 1999, Terry grew tired of running and reluctantly submitted to God's unmistakeable voice. What began as an intimidating duty was soon transformed into a never ending joy. This writing is an extension of his teaching at First Baptist Church and the Milton YMCA, both in Thomasville, Georgia. His random, rambling style of writing reminds one of an ol' milk cow grazing on a cool spring morning. Somehow, despite all his wandering about, he always seems to end up back at the barn with his belly full. If you are brave enough to read on... you just might get a belly full yourself.