Jason B. Alligood (PhD Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary) is an assistant professor of theology at Cedarville University. Before his time as a full-time professor, Jason was a pastor in various capacities for twenty-seven years, the last of which was as the teaching pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Peoria, IL. Jason has been married to Amber since 1997, and they have three grown children, all happily married, and three grandchildren. He is the Author of Raised in Splendor.
Finding Resilience in Glory: Key Takeaways from Dr. Jason Alligood’s Interview
In this episode of "Fueled Pastoral Resilience," Dr. Raphael Mnkandhla had a rich and insightful conversation with Dr. Jason Alligood, author of "Raised in Splendor." Their discussion centered on the critical doctrines of glorification and how they intersect with and bolster pastoral resilience. Here are the key takeaways:
Dr. Jason Alligood's Background and Journey:
Years in Ministry: Dr. Alligood has been involved in various ministry roles for 27 years, including youth, associate, family, and preaching pastor positions.
Academic Role: Currently, he serves as an assistant professor of theology at Cedarville University, continuing to pastor students and impact lives through teaching.
Family Man: Married to Amber for many years with three grown children and several grandchildren, he understands the importance of family support in ministry.
Recent Challenges: He and his family have recently navigated his wife's battle with cancer, providing a real-life context for their discussions on suffering and hope.
Essentials for Pastoral Resilience (Dr. Alligood's Perspective):
Godly Elders: Being surrounded by supportive, godly elders is essential for encouragement and accountability.
Theological Belief: Truly believing the theology one teaches, especially in times of testing, is crucial.
Rest and Avoiding Guilt: Recognizing the importance of rest and not feeling guilty about taking time off is vital for long-term sustainability.
Sabbaticals: Instituting sabbaticals, like the seven-year model used at his former church, provides necessary breaks for reflection and rejuvenation.
Delegation: Effective delegation helps prevent burnout and allows pastors to focus on their primary responsibilities.
Personal Time in the Word and Prayer: Ensuring personal time in the Word and prayer, separate from sermon preparation, is critical for spiritual health.
The Doctrine of Glorification:
Final Stage of Salvation: Glorification is defined as the final stage of salvation, conforming us to the image of Christ.
Union with Christ's Human Nature: We are united to Christ in his human nature, experiencing glorification as he was resurrected.
1 John 3 Significance: 1 John 3 is a key passage, emphasizing that when we see Him, we will be like Him.
Not Grounded in Sanctification: Our glorification is grounded in our justification, not in our sanctification.
Missing Piece in Theological Discussion: Dr. Alligood noted a missing piece in much literature on glorification, which prompted his book, "Raised in Splendor."
Heavenly Mindedness for Earthly Good:
Importance of Eschatological Mindset: Developing an eschatological mindset helps us be of earthly good.
Beatific Vision: The treasure of seeing the triune God in the beatific vision provides motivation and hope.
Hope as Confident Certainty: Hope is defined as a confident certainty that God will glorify us.
Sanctification as Result: Sanctification is a result of hope in glorification, not the other way around.
Pitfalls of a Deficient Doctrine of Glorification:
Nearsightedness in Ministry: Failing to focus on glorification leads to nearsightedness in ministry.
Missing the Big Picture: We may miss the broader scope of God's plan and our ultimate destination.
Turnovers in Ministry: Without the end zone in mind (glorification), we might experience many "turnovers" or failures.
Settling for Fading Crowns: Trying to obtain earthly glory instead of the unfading crown of glory.
Giving Up Easily: A short-sighted view can lead to giving up on people struggling with sin, failing to see their potential glorification.
Short-Sightedness: Short-sightedness will lead one to give up on people easily, give up on their own sanctification, as well as the ministry God has given them.
Glorification as Sustaining Hope:
Treasure in God, Not Just Circumstances: Shifting the treasure from temporal circumstances (e.g., wife's health) to God's goodness.
Dying is Gain: Remembering that "to die is gain" helps in navigating difficult and uncertain times.
Working Out Eternal Weight of Glory: Light and momentary afflictions are working out an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4).
Resting in God: Our souls long for rest, which is ultimately found in resting in God, the eternal shalom and peace.
Encouragements for Pastors:
Press into Hope: Keep the hope of glorification out in front as a reviving source of encouragement.
Longing for Rest: Recognize that the longing for rest will only be fully realized in eternal rest with God.
Letting God's People Minister: Allow the church to support and minister in times of difficulty.
Key Quotes:
"It's a nearsightedness in our pastoral ministry to not appeal to the blessing of the blessed vision, to see the beauty of the triune God in the face of Jesus Christ."
"Our hearts long for rest, but we'll never achieve rest until we're resting in God."
"Being surrounded by godly elders has been one of the keys for me."
Overall Takeaway:
Dr. Alligood's insights highlight the profound importance of understanding and embracing the doctrine of glorification. This understanding provides vital hope and resilience for pastors, guiding them through trials and motivating them to persevere with an eternal perspective. Embracing heavenly-mindedness enables greater earthly good and provides a powerful foundation for enduring ministry challenges.1
Notes generated from transcript by Gemini
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