Train naked

Ever since I started comparing my journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ to the life of a Jedi, I have been enamored with the verb “train” (training, trained) as it appears in scripture. I assume this is because of the obvious Jedi context. The training of a Jedi is a mysterious journey, undertaken by a student (padawan), and facilitated by life itself, and the living out of the mission of the Jedi (guardians of peace and justice). The “training” is guided by a master Jedi, who has himself been trained, by another before him (ie. Mentoring). So I envision my training as a disciple of Jesus much the same way, and the training I offer to those coming up behind me.

Recently I was intrigued by a passage in Hebrews, and when I dug in deeper, I found this word again “train”. I decided to keep digging, because that is what a disciple of Jesus does with the Word, especially when there is time on his hands.
Note: The Bible is like picking your nose… you gotta dig deep, and you have to rub it of on someone else!

The word train appears in Hebrews 5:11 - 6:3… feel free to crack open your bible and follow along (in the voice of Strong Bad). The author of Hebrews is rebuking the readers for not progressing in their faith. They are not equipped to deal with the teaching he wants to provide for them, almost as if they are too spiritually immature. Apparently it is their own fault. As a pastor, this is a passion of mine – to see people take responsibility for their own discipleship! If you think that going to church is how you are discipled (trained to be like Jesus)… think again!

“…But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” (V. 14, italics mine)

You and I can equip ourselves for advanced teaching of scripture by training ourselves! Constant study and use of scripture trains us.

This word “trains” is the Greek word “Gumnazo”, ( goom-nad'-zo). It means essentially to train naked… Weird? Not really…

1. to exercise naked (in a palaestra or school of athletics)
2. to exercise vigorously, in any way, either the body or the mind

As you may have already heard, athletics of this era (like the Olympics), were all done in the nude. Competitors performed un-hindered (Heb. 12) by clothing. Not that I am recommending you do this today (especially not in ice hockey), it just helps to understand what the author was referring to. The author of Hebrews could have used another word but he chose this one… interesting. Consider that you and I can exercise with the Word of God in a devoted and un-hindered way, as if we were preparing for an Olympic event! What a challenge! Notice that this training prepares us to hear the Word (say on Sunday), it does not result from hearing preaching. The responsibility to train like this is mine alone – it’s not the pastor’s fault if I’m not growing!

I own a bible that used to belong to an elderly woman of God who died a couple years ago. Just seeing her scribbled notes tells me that she took responsibility to train personally. It’s almost like this approach has skipped a generation in the church. The next generation of disciples must bring it back! Train naked!


Note:
This Greek word (Gumnazo) is also the same word used by Paul in 1 Tim 4: 7-8. He urges Timothy to train himself to be godly in this same way.