Contemporary Applications of Humility from Teachings of the New Testament

A review essay of two books on biblical humility by Michelle Vondey.

 

Two books: both on humility, both using the Bible as a framework, both of interest to those who study humility academically and who take the need for humility seriously in their vocation. Though similar in topic, the books differ in intended audience and style. This review evaluates both Farley’s (2011) and Feldmeier’s (2014) work on humility.

Farley’s work [William P. Farley, Gospel-Powered Humility (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 2011), 199 pages, ISBN 9781596382404] is aimed at those working in Christian ministry, in particular preachers, but also anyone wanting to share the gospel with others. Farley asserts in the preface that God designed the gospel to promote humility, and the gospel should be preached with the goal of humbling sinners. It is not just sinners who need humbling, however, but believers themselves must also allow the gospel to humble them before they can expect or hope to bear spiritual fruit. He argues that humility is the chief virtue, out of which all other virtues flow. Using church history and the first three chapters of Romans, Farley shows how humility is a necessary condition for sinners to come to repentance and for the gospel to bear fruit in people’s lives. The last chapters of the book apply Farley’s thesis to ministry specifically, and discusses why ministry workers fail to preach God’s wrath and judgment for sin and how they should model humility in their own lives in order to cultivate humility in others.

Farley does not pull any punches, in that he criticizes the lack of sermons preached on God’s wrath and judgment on sin for the reason why believers do not bear fruit. Instead of preaching to convict people of sin, ministers often, he claims, preach to raise people’s self-esteem. Furthermore, Farley argues, the reason why believers lack intimacy with God is due to their lack of humility. Although they believe they are humble, arrogance and pride not only block their ability to find intimacy with God and with others, but also prevent them from bearing spiritual fruit.

Farley explains where humility leads believers in their spiritual walk and maturity with God. He also shows where believers end up who do not embrace humility as a virtue. Examining the first three chapters of Romans, Farley argues that Paul starts with the “bad news” of God’s wrath for two and half chapters. It is only in the latter part of chapter 3, Farley says, that Paul shares the “good news” of the gospel. Emphasizing that Paul focused more on the bad news than he did on the good news, Farley concludes that it is imperative that believers start with the bad news of the gospel (judgment for sin) when evangelizing others, so that unbelievers understand why they must repent. Only with an understanding of their own sinfulness and the need for repentance will sinners be able to humble themselves to fully accept the good news of Jesus’s atoning sacrifice.

Farley is no fool. He recognizes that Christian believers may reject the notion of humility being a prerequisite to salvation. Nevertheless, Farley persists in trying to convince readers why humility is essential. He also delineates how individuals experience the wrath of God in their lives. Part two covers the ways in which the gospel humbles, and part three shows how workers in Christian ministry can avoid the temptation to pragmatism in their ministries due to their fear of others’ reactions to the gospel message. Farley encourages believers to stay faithful to God’s message of judgment (first) and God’s redemptive plan (second).

Feldmeier’s audience [Reinhard Feldmeier, Power, Humility, Service: A New Testament Ethic (Waco, TX: Baylor Press, 2014), 155 pages, ISBN 9781481300254] is the general reader who has an interest in power from a biblical perspective, and in humility as the antidote to the insidious forms that power can take. He begins the book with a provocative “prelude,” in which he relates the narrative of the devil’s attempts to seduce Jesus away from his God-given mission. He juxtaposes the devil’s power with the divine power and demonstrates through explication of the Gospels the struggle that persists between the forces of evil and good. Feldmeier’s thesis is that as a result of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross, and his subsequent resurrection, power in the world changed hands. Believers have been empowered by this new reality for service in the world. In just four short chapters, Feldmeier reflects on the nature of power and how it can be used for good by human beings, through service both in communities and by the political state. The basis for service is humility, and he examines the writings of the New Testament for a holistic perspective on power, service, and humility.

Feldmeier begins with an historical overview of the notion of power and religion, showing how ancient notions of power create a dichotomy between gods and humans, in particular as power relates to the rule of law. Rulers are powerful; the ruled are powerless. In both the Old and New Testaments, God is seen as all-powerful, and yet, Jesus, Son of God, takes on a form of powerlessness in order to overcome the power of evil in the world. Indeed, the New Testament repeatedly teaches that Almighty God is powerful because of the love that he pours out on his people. Thus, his people become powerful only to the degree they love others. Christian believers love others through service.

Jesus is very clear in his teaching that loving others requires his disciples to serve. He reminds them that rulers “lord over” the people, but to be great (and by extension, powerful), believers must be servants first. His followers continue to share this ethic—both Paul and Peter teach the community of believers to love and serve. Furthermore, both apostles warn believers not to feel self-important when serving and run the risk of cultivating pride. Because although truly humble behavior results in a divine grace of power, it is all too easy in the struggle between evil and good for believers to be drawn away to the arrogant form of power that subjugates another human being. Feldmeier is clear: “puffing one’s self up” results in a destruction of human relationships and binds the hand of God to work in both humans’ lives. Pride and arrogance leave no room for personal development into the image of Christ. Feldmeier leaves his readers with a final thought on power. Because of Jesus’s willingness to humble himself and give up his divine power in order that God’s relationship with human beings might be restored, believers in this act of grace are obligated to live out a similar reality. It is because of the Spirit’s empowerment at work in believers’ lives that they are able to serve others in love and humility. And as a result of believers’ acts of love, they, too, share in the divine power.

Both Farley and Feldmeier recognize that humility is an essential virtue for the Christian believer. Whether ordained or lay workers, believers are called to share the good news of Jesus’s sacrifice for all people. In word or in deed, believers must be committed to live out the virtue of humility to be effective. Although written for a different audience and taking a different approach, both books have something to teach readers. Farley is more prescriptive, giving readers a clear mandate for evangelization. Feldmeier is more reflective; thus, readers will infer more about how they should respond. Farley’s book is more conversational; Feldmeier’s work is more academic in tone. A potential negative for some readers of Farley’s book will be his gender exclusive language; although women are included in his mandate, preachers are apparently only men. The academic nature of Feldmeier’s work tends toward more inclusive language, in part because he does not address the audience directly. Either book could be a helpful resource for preachers (women or men) and others who want to address the problem of sin and its solution.

Reviewed by Michelle Vondey

Publisher’s page for Gospel-Powered Humility: http://www.prpbooks.com/book/gospel-powered-humility

Publisher’s page for Power, Service, Humility: http://www.baylorpress.com/Book/402/Power,_Service,_Humility.html