A Teacher to Follow

State of the Church: The Celtic Revival (30)

For if you are busily occupied with mind and hand in all of these things, you will have no leisure for vain, wandering, or wicked thoughts; but, as though ever at a new beginning, you will gather for yourself those fruits which you shall enjoy for ever, and you will deserve the name of a single-minded man, and outstanding merchant of the eternal kingdom.

  – Columbanus, Letter to an Anonymous Monk

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

  – James 3.1

In his own words
In this final installment of our series on the “State of the Church”, I’m going to allow Columbanus to speak for himself at length. For in this letter, probably from Bobbio in Italy, to one of the monks, perhaps back in Gaul, he shows why he and the other Irishmen exiled with him were such a thorn in the flesh for the clergy of Gaul. Here is Columbanus, reminding his friend, of the things he lived and taught:

“Then conquer the battle and the brutal, I mean the lusts and the taint of pride. Be helpful in humbleness and most lowly in authority, trained in character, exacting in your own affairs, unconcerned in those of others, pure in friendship, shrewd in cunning, hard in times of ease, easy in times of hardness, versatile in even circumstances, even in versatile ones, joyful in sorrow, sorrowful in joy, a dissenter where necessary, agreeing about truth, serious in pleasures, kindly in griefs, strong in trials, weak in quarrellings; slow to anger, swift to learn, slow also to speak, as St. James says, equally swift to hear; efficient in your progress, tardy in your revenge, careful in word, ready in work; friendly to the upright, rough to the dishonorable, gentle to the weak, firm to the stubborn, correct to the proud, humble to the low; ever sober, ever chaste, ever modest, patient to the point of enthusiasm, never covetous, ever generous, if not in money, then in spirit; timely in fasting, timely in watching, discreet in duty, purposeful in study, unmoved in turmoil, glad in suffering, valiant in the cause of truth, timorous in time of strife; submissive to the good, unconquerable by evil, agreeable in almsgiving, unwearied in love, just in all things; respectful to the worthy, merciful to the poor; mindful of benefits, unmindful of wrongs; a lover of moderate men, undesirous of riches, a leveller of high spirits, ready to confess your thoughts, obedient to your seniors, setting the pace for your juniors, equaling your equals…though weary, yet unfailing; at once weeping and rejoicing for zeal and hope; ever fearing for the end, though making a sure advance.”

Read through the literature from this period, especially that which focuses on the great lights of the Celtic Revival, and examples of these exhortations can be found here and there among those great saints. The leaders of the Celtic churches in Ireland, Scotland, and Northern Britain were exemplary in all these ways and more. It’s no wonder they were hated by the settled pastors and church officials of Europe, and loved by the people who flocked from all over to join them.

Columbanus concluded his letter: “Let this be your model, beloved boy and dear secretary; if you be such, you shall be most blessed; for you will be the same through good times and bad, ready for all things, coping with each, restraining your conduct, nourishing qualities that should grow, destroying those that should wither, smoothing the rough places, rough-hewing the defective ones; ever concerned, ever growing, ever making increase, ever aiming at the lofty, ever running to the mark; ever longing for heavenly things, ever thirsting for things divine.”

Teaching and life
“There is my teaching…”

And, according to his biographer, the monk Jonas, that was Columbanus’ life as well.

The Celtic Revival would continue for another hundred years or so following the death of Columbanus in 615. It stands as one of the great movements of God’s Spirit in Church history. From the beginning, the example of leaders like Patrick, Sechnall, Brigid, Coemgen, Brendan, Colum Cille, and Columbanus set a standard which generations of church leaders after them emulated and passed on to their students and successors.

Churches are only as strong as the leaders they choose to follow. Where leaders of character, conviction, courage, and clarity of vision are shepherding the flocks, great growth in the Lord and progress of the Kingdom can occur. 

Pray that God will ever provide His Church with such leaders, and that they will lead us into revival, renewal, and awakening in our lifetime.

For Reflection
1. How does this letter lead you to think about some ways you can pray for the leaders of your church?

2. How does Columbanus’ teaching challenge you in your own walk with and work for the Lord?

Psalm 28.8, 9
Angel’s Story: O Jesus, I Have Promised
Our strength are You, O Savior, our strong defense and sure.
Anointed with Your favor, we rest in You secure.
Save us, and bless us, Jesus, upon us turn Your face.
With shepherd’s care, LORD, keep us forever in Your grace.

T. M. Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

For a good complementary study to this, check out Pray for Your Church. It’s free in The Ailbe Bookstore. And download our ReThinking Church Appraisal Tool by clicking here. And to refresh and deepen your time in God’s Word, order a copy of The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart while you’re there.

Other columns of interest: This week: Our ReVision series on “The Church” raises questions all church leaders must answer. Our Read Moore podcast has begun a new series of readings from our book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. The focus of our Scriptorium daily study is on “Matthew: The Coming of the Kingdom.” Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.