In my previous column, I explored some concerns regarding the impact of what I referred to as the “grumpy young men” (GYM) syndrome. I once shared many of their attributes, a desire to be TR (“truly Reformed” according to one’s own definition of what it means to be Reformed), a lack of humility toward those who disagree with one’s theological convictions, and a lack of charity to one’s fellow elders.

In the previous column, I focused on the symptoms of this syndrome. In this column I will offer some suggestions regarding a cure. I have found some of these suggestions very effective in correcting my own ways.

Get a non-Reformed friend. The Reformed, Christian life can become a bit isolated. Often we only associate with like-minded people. There is great benefit to expanding your world a bit by striking up a relationship with a non-Reformed Christian. Getting to know seriously committed Christians who don’t share your convictions is a great way to increase your humility and charity toward others.

Fellowship with fellow elders. My experience has been that church courts are rushed occasions involving primarily a business-like tone. The goal seems to be to complete the agenda and get home. This type of environment is not conducive to getting to know your fellow elders and building relationships of mutual respect and trust. Therefore, it is a great idea for sessions and presbyteries to consider creating social time for their members outside of the normal meetings of the church courts. These social occasions will allow you to get to know the men with whom you serve and perhaps meet their spouses and children. Knowing each other as comrades will lead to more efficient and God-glorifying church court meetings and also more satisfying labor in the ministry.

Get a sense of the spectrum. When I first became pastor of a church, someone remarked to me, “Oh, that’s the liberal church.” I once shared this perception of the congregation with a new member who had come from a non-Reformed background. He was dumbfounded with the meaning of such a statement. To him the word “liberal” meant that a church denied the inspiration of Scripture or the resurrection of Jesus. He could not fathom how it could apply to a conservative Reformed congregation.

My point is that because we are so small and located so far on the right end of the conservative evangelical/Reformed spectrum, we begin to create sub-classifications within our little universe that are utterly absurd when we get a glimpse of the wider spectrum of Christianity. This type of dynamic often happens in small subcultures like ours. You begin to define everything in the tight little band of your own world. We need to resist such navel gazing because it can lead to us dividing over the silliest matters. We can’t allow ourselves to be consumed with rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Instead we need to be about our Father’s business.

Keep Jesus and the gospel at the center. Reformed theology is great. I love it. I love it because it is centered on Jesus Christ and His glorious good news. I also love singing the Psalms, but not as much as I love Jesus and His gospel. I am not trying to create a false dichotomy here, but what I am trying to do is to encourage you to keep the tail from wagging the dog. Denominations often meet their demise when important but ancillary doctrines become the center, and the center becomes the ancillary. We must never make this error. We must always ask ourselves, “Are we keeping Jesus and the gospel in the center?”

As I assess our denomination I am filled with great hope. I see great potential in our pastoral ranks. I see men of conviction. I see capable men. I see trained ministers and theologians. But all of these qualities were present in the Pharisees, and they utterly missed the boat.

I don’t see Pharisees in our ranks, but we need to know the dangers. The key to success is seeing Jesus and following Him. Like all other ailments of the Christian pilgrimage, GYM syndrome finds its cure in the person and work of Jesus Christ: “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith” (Phil. 3:8-9, NIV). That is God’s Word in your world.

—Anthony Selvaggio