On the Death of a Mentor in the Faith

There have been many tributes to Gregg Strawbridge online.

I’d like to take a different approach here.

What urgency does Pastor Gregg Strawbridge’s death bring to mind for us, as Christians, and as church leaders?

 

1. Our mortality.

Gregg’s death was sudden.  He had heart issues years earlier and was more health conscious when I was closer to him 5-7 years ago.  He was a regular at the gym for years.  I believe our health choices make some difference, but God calls us home on HIS time.  We cannot delay it by being more health conscious.  This is not an argument to be slack as stewards of our bodies.  Gregg was at the GYM when he died.  But if it is God’s time for us, then it is His time.  They say we tend to over-estimate how much we can accomplish in a year, but under-estimate how much we can accomplish in 5 years.  I would add that God may take us home at year 3, so we need to hold our plans and earthly goals loosely.  Pastors should have as one of their long term aims in ministry, to help their people think biblically about the death of loved ones, and to prepare them for their own death.

 

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; ¹⁴ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15).

 

 

2. Our rising leaders.

Gregg was passionately motivated to train new leaders for the ministry.  At our council meeting three months ago, he gathered for a picture with (by my count) 12 ministerial students, SIX of whom are now CREC pastors.  He trained and mentored these men virtually single-handedly – what a fruitful ministry!

 

“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

 

 

3. Our unity 

Gregg was immersed in theological debates.

Infant baptism with James White.  Federal Vision, between James Jordan and Douglas Wilson.

Sometimes he asserted his views, regarding post-millennialism, and paedo-baptism.

Sometimes he called for unity among differences – “we don’t have to divide over this!”

He was always expositional and conciliatory, which was a real blessing to the church.

 

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ² with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, ³ endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:1-6).

 

Whatever your church background, consider these three things.

They are deeply important to our spiritual life together.