A Little Interview
I
don't know about the States (the West), but the name of Doctor Bruce
Little seems to be pretty well-known in the former USSR. We have some
books by him available here. I had heard about his coming regularly to
conferences in the Crimea, and one day a friend of mine, who is a
pastor, had asked me to send an E-mail to Dr. Little. This is how we
first met on the modem crossroads and sidewalks. And Dr. Little was the
first one to whom I suggested sharing his thoughts with us and our site
visitors. Here are his thoughts.
Q: Would you tell us about yourself. Your name seems well-known
in the former USSR. But what are you doing in general and which of your
fields of activities brings you the most satisfaction and which, do you
think, brings most satisfaction to the Lord?
A: I live in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with my wife Nancy. I teach
part-time at a Christian college and at a Seminary as well as pastor a
small evangelical church of about 200 people. Educationally, I have two
Master degrees (one in Apologetics, one in Religion) a Doctor of
Ministry and am a Ph.D. candidate in the field of Philosophy of
Religion. My pastoral ministry spans more than 30 years and I have been
at my current church for 18 years. Here my ministry encompasses a wide
variety of involvement including a rather extensive counseling
ministry. Presently, a majority of my time is spent teaching, studying
and counseling (I also do some writing). For the last four years I have
been traveling to Ukraine where I have lectured in a number of
universities and college. As a divergence from all of the academic,
speaking, and pastoral responsibilities, I attempt to run four miles a
day, five or six times a week. Having grown up on a small farm in
Northern New England, I still love working with the land and being
outdoors. For myself, I think that I enjoy teaching/lecturing most of
all. I find it fulfilling and I think it is my most effective means of
ministering for the Lord. While not my first line of ministry, I also
find counseling very rewarding, although very time consuming. It is
always an encouragement to help people work through the difficulties of
life..
Q: You are a pastor in America. You know at least something of
pastoral ministry in Russia (Ukraine, Belarus?). What do you think, is
different in the "job description" of pastors and which of the
differences may be the differences that are caused by human deviations
from the Biblical view of the pastor's duties?
A: Of course there are differences in how the pastorate in America in
contradistinction to Ukraine, Belarus and other former Soviet countries
is understood. I think that the difference is, to a large degree,
because of the differences in the respective cultural environments. In
America where there is great prosperity, there tends to be more
emphasis on building new buildings and creating new programs. The
ministry tends to be very professional. Whereas, I think in the former
Soviet Union, the emphasis points more to the personal needs of people
and helping them come to terms living a within the framework of a
biblical world view. Especially as that world view must be lived out in
all of life in a semi-hostile culture. I wonder, however, if maybe the
spirit of America may be shaping even the role of the pastor in your
country in these days.. In America, the spirit of pragmatism too often
has more influence than the Spirit of Christ. Pragmatism, in subtle
forms can be found in methods as well as the message in evangelical
churches in America. While I am also concerned that people hear the
Gospel, it seems to me that we must be careful that we do not
indiscriminately use the methods of the world in this high calling of
making Christ known. As I understand Scripture, a pastor is to be an
example of the flock both in life style and ministry. He is to occupy
himself with prayer, the study of the Word and proclamation of the
Truth (I Tim. 4:12-16). I think his ministry will only be as effective
as his commitment is deep and godliness is mandated, not just
recommended. For such a life one must pay close attention to his
personal life and his doctrine. The pastor-teacher is God's gift to His
Church (Eph. 4:11,12). Therefore, the pastor is God's under shepherd
and he is not to lord over the flock of God. Neither is he to be
motivated by financial gain to do the work of ministry (I Peter 5:1-5).
Furthermore, Paul tells us that the Church is the pillar and ground of
the Truth (I Tim. 3:15). In light of this, I understand the function of
the pastor is to preach the Word in season and out of season (II Tim.
4:2). We must remember at all times that the Church is both the
guardian and proclaimer of God's Truth. This Truth is to be lived and
proclaimed with love and grace.
Q: You deal with apologetics a lot. The one book by you that I
have is almost mathematically proving God's existence and the
reliability of the Bible. When I read C. S. Lewis' 'Miracles', I had
thought: "How can you stay a non-beliver after having thought this
through?" What's the purpose of your logical proofs? Logic and sound
sense is a thing that could greatly help all believers and
non-believers (I remember C. S. Lewis' regrets in 'The Lion, the Witch
and the Wardrobe': Why don't they teach children logic?) But we cannot
win people to Christ with mere logic. So, what is the place of logic in
our preaching, our prayers, our sharing the good news?
A: Yes, I am an apologist by training and conviction. I agree that we
can not win men to Christ by the power of logic. Salvation is a work of
the Holy Spirit. But I do find apologetics beneficial as sort of a
pre-evangelism effort. We are to demonstrate not only that it is
rational to believe in God, but that God is there and salvation in
Christ is the only true way to God. It is not enough to simply teach
that it is rational to believe in God. Some things can be rational, but
not true. As Christians, we are to stress the truth of Christianity as
well as the fact that it is rational. Apologetics helps us to answer
questions from the unbeliever and also to demonstrate that other world
views do not stand the test for truth. So, I see the work of
apologetics in two areas: (1) We use apologetics to make a case for the
truth claims of Christianity. (2) We use apologetics to demonstrate
other world views do not adequately explain the realities of life and
death.
Lets not forget, when we talk to people about Christ, we are asking
them to place their eternal destiny in the Christ of the Gospel. Surely
they must have some understanding of who Christ is and why Christ and
not some other figure is the way of salvation. We all know that it is
not faith that saves us, it is the object of our faith. Therefore an
understanding of something of Christ seems to me to be essential for
salvation. But, let us make no mistake about it, without the ministry
of the Holy Spirit, even good arguments are ineffective It is not an
either/or, but a both/and (both the Holy Spirit and apologetics) that
God calls us to in our witness of Christ (I Pet. 3:15; Phil. 1:7).
Furthermore, I think that it is important for Christians to know not
only what they believe, but why they believe what they believe.
Therefore, I think that there is a role for apologetics even to
Christians. In this role, apologetics deepens the Christian's
commitment to Truth because through apologetics they sense a greater
confidence in the message they proclaim. - Freedom in Christ is the
logical conclusion from Christ's words and works. Why do so many
Christians enjoy being "slaves of men" then? How can we spread this
"good infection" of freedom that alone may save both non-believers and
believers from slavery to their teachers, creeds and sins?
Freedom in Christ as I understand it, is freedom from the law of sin
and death (Romans 8:1-3) which ruled my being before salvation. This
freedom in Christ enables the Christian to live out his life with
Christ where Christ alone is Lord. This freedom brings me to the place
where Christ is Lord of all my life, not just in certain areas and not
on just certain days of the week. This life of freedom operates only
under the principle of grace and the power of the Holy Spirit. Legalism
(whether it is salvation by works or spirituality by works) is counter
to the Christian life. While teachers are profitable and creeds help us
to understand how the Church historically has believed, it is the
individual before God who is responsible for what he believes and how
he lives. Christ has made us free and it is unwise as well as
unprofitable to return to any form of bondage. Slaves of Christ alone
is that to which the Christian is called. In this state, we are free to
walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh (Gal. 5:16-26).
This is a message of grace. Some think that to teach freedom of this
nature is to encourage people to live as they please. But this is
wrong. We are warned not to use our freedom as a covering for
maliciousness (I Pet.2:16). Furthermore, grace teaches us to deny
ungodliness and worldly lust and live soberly, righteously and godly in
this present world (Ti. 2:11,12). So, I think the message of grace and
freedom properly understood, leads to a life pleasing to God. That some
may abuse such Truth, is poor reason for failing to continue to teach
the Truth.
Interview by Yuri Smirnov
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