Memeified Theology - David Pendergrass

I am confident we have all heard something in ministry that takes a profound doctrine, and condenses it into something digestible in pop culture. These quippy… “meme-ified” statements have become viral over the last decade or so. This isn’t to say that quippy statements, that only “scratch the surface” of the sentiment expressed, are a modern convention. It just seems that, with the advent of “modern memes,” information that should be nuanced (so that the reader has a better grasp of the subject matter) is simply expressed quickly, to get it out there with less characters.

Something that has been working around in my head recently is how our witness needs to be carefully considered. I have the tendency to get overly defensive on a number of topics. It happens suddenly, and I must be considerate of who I am talking to – and Who I am representing. When thinking of how “theology memes” play into our witness, we should be extra aware of what we let loose from our lips. Let’s take this short expression as an working example:

“Work as if it is all up to you, pray as if it is all up to God.”

Whether it is attributable to Augustine, Ignatius or John Wesley: What do we think of this? Good? Incomplete? Useful? Some combination? Like any quick, quippy, “tweetable” statement – it’s not bad. It is just incomplete. The sentiment it expresses is not – necessarily – unbiblical. And it is tempting to pull these one-liners out in sermons… in counseling… in lessons… or in conversation. It is something quick to insert to try and drive a desired point home.

As church leaders (whether pastors, elders, or lay-leaders) we should be careful dropping these pithy statements, leaving them, and walking away. Those in our congregations who are still drinking “spiritual milk,” will often find these platitudes initially helpful… but eventually confusing. “What is the it in this sentence referring to?” their inner-monologue may wonder. We all have ministry memories where those who listen to our sermons or lessons don’t follow-up that inner-monologue with a question… and stew on their uncertainty. 

This quote, as admitted above, is not a bad quote. But let’s take a moment to unpack it better!

Work as if it is all up to you…  

We need to be productive in this life. Work is not a part of the Fall. Adam and Eve were to be fruitful, to multiply, and to care for the Garden. Additionally, God has shown us (since Genesis) that He will take care of His people. He has also shown, and commanded, that we work as active (moral) agents in this world. We are not to sit back… relax… and just let the world pass us by. With these things in mind, we truly can work as if it is up to us … while recognizing that is the LORD Who works through us (Phil. 2:13).

Pray as if it is all up to God.

Prayer is a powerful weapon that the LORD gives us (Eph. 6:18), and we must wield it accordingly. If we believe this, then our prayer must be powerfully prayed – to a powerful God. Our prayers should not be overly dramatic… or full of filler words. Like Jesus says in the Gospels we need to make sure that our prayers are less about us – and more about Him. In a recent preaching seminar, Dr. Steve Lawson warned pastors about “using idle words.” Remember also, don’t pray big prayers if you don’t believe that a big God is listening. Not just hearing, but listening. If we are working hard in life to glorify Him, and to be obedient… then we must equally turn to the LORD in powerful prayer, asking that He turn our hearts (our innermost being) to Him more truly.

When we consider using these kinds of quotes, we should remember these words of “the Greeks” in John 12: “sir, we would see Jesus.” This should be the driving force behind our own ministries: we would show them Jesus… we would show them God. And while that quote is a good reminder, there is a verse comes to mind.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God Who is working in you both to will and to work according to His good purpose.  (Phil. 2:12b-13)

Often the Christian will stop in verse 12. Such a pause seems to reflect the mindset of the first half of the quote above. “Work hard to be a good Christian.” Don’t catch yourself idle in the faith. But we must remember that the Paul doesn’t end his thought there! We work hard to be obedient to the LORD, wrestling with our own sanctification in life … because He (the LORD God Almighty) is working in us to that end. We don’t achieve that goal by “the sweat of our brow.”

When we think about this quote, or ones like it, we must remember that God’s Word should be on the forefront of our ministry… the foundation of our calling. As shepherds we must remember that no idle word should come from our mouths. If we are willing to say it before our congregation, we should be ready and able to defend it. If we “nail our colors” to the inspired Word of God, we can rest easy that we are in a defendable position.

With all these things considered, that quote is a powerful reminder to the Reformed community that prayer truly does matter. While at the same time, we must be out there doing the work of evangelism, discipleship, teaching, and preaching. We must be doing it now! Not later! Always, as Paul reminds us, done through the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. Amen?