I don't know Sam Storms and I don't didn't know much about his theology. But he seems to be a bit eclectic and since I'm accused of being odd, I thoroughly enjoyed and identified with his post explaining his position, i.e., "I am a Calvinistic, charismatic, complementarian, Christian hedonist." I wish I could write as well as he does.
To help you figure me out, I'll copy his position and then note if I disagree (or simply do not understand) via italics. I'll also add a little emphasis where I really agree via bold.
(1) I am a Calvinist (all five points, by the way). I hardly think this needs much explanation, and I refer you to my book, Chosen for Life: The Case for Divine Election (Crossway, 2007). There are several related issues that bear mentioning:
a. On the issue of the order of the divine decrees, I am an Infralapsarian (see Chosen for Life, pp. 213-19). I think I'm Supralapsarianism ... I think ... but I vacillate.
b. I believe that all those dying in infancy are elect (on my website, http://www.samstorms.com/, a defense can be found in Theological Studies, Controversial Issues).
c. I believe that regeneration, or the new birth, precedes and is the cause/source of saving faith. In other words, we are born again in order that we may believe, not the other way around.
d. In view of the present controversy, it is important that I affirm my belief in the forensic nature of justification in which the righteousness of Christ (often called his active and passive obedience) is imputed to the believer through faith alone.
(2) I am a Charismatic. When asked if I am "charismatic" I typically respond by saying, "Tell me what you mean by the term and I'll tell you if I'm one." More times than not, what people have in mind is far and away different from what I believe. So let me simply identify several relevant issues.
a. I believe that all spiritual gifts are valid today and that nothing in Scripture suggests otherwise. My chapter in the book Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? Four Views (Zondervan) is the most extensive answer I've given to this question. Also, my book The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Gifts (Regal) provides an answer to the question of how such gifts operate in church life today.
b. I believe that baptism in the Spirit occurs at conversion for all Christians (again, check out the two articles on the website in Theological Studies, Controversial Issues). This sets me apart from classical Pentecostalism and much of the contemporary charismatic movement.
c. Although I do pray in tongues (daily), I do not believe that this or any other spiritual gift is designed by God for all Christians. Every Christian has at least one gift while no Christian (at least, none I know) has every gift (nor should they). I see the gifts of the Spirit (at least of the nature in 1 Co 12) as slightly different. I don't think that we don't "have" them. I think that we "use" them and in that sense, all are available to every believer as the Holy Spirit directs.
d. I believe healing is in the atonement in the same way I believe all spiritual and physical blessings are in the atonement. Were it not for the death and resurrection of Christ we would have nothing but the eternal damnation that we deserve. But not all such blessings are experienced in their fullness until the consummation of all things in the New Heaven and New Earth. This would certainly be true of the healing of the body. I tend to disagree but possibly merely to counter the notion that Pentecostals/Charismatics that they can claim healing in the same way the claim "salvation". This one needs more discussion/thought.
d. Although I do believe God heals today, I do not believe that the so-called "Health and Wealth and/or Prosperity Gospel" is in any sense a "gospel" and I ask all Christians to cease referring to it in such terms. Call it a "movement" or "philosophy" or even a "theology", but stop calling it a gospel! The same applies to what typically is called "The Word of Faith" movement, in much of which I struggle to find the presence of true, biblical "faith".
e. I believe in both (1) the finality, sufficiency, and authority of Scripture, on the one hand, and (2) the validity of revelatory gifts such as prophecy and word of knowledge, on the other. And no, the latter (2) is not a threat to the former (1).
(3) I am a Complementarian. I've written briefly on this issue at my website. The relevant material can be found in Theological Studies. A few words of clarification are in order.
a. If I am to err, I choose to err on the side of flexibility and freedom. In other words, I hesitate to restrict women from any form of ministry that does not have explicit biblical sanction.
b. As I read the New Testament, it appears that Paul and others restrict women from serving in what I call senior governmental authority, which would include the office of Senior Pastor (i.e., that individual or pastoral office responsible for the regular, authoritative exposition of Scripture) and Elder (or Bishop, depending on which term you prefer). Therefore, I believe a woman can serve as a deacon or worship leader or counselor or any other expression of Christian ministry that does not violate Paul's injunction against women exercising authority over men (1 Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).
(4) I am a Christian Hedonist. Simply put, I believe it is impossible for us to desire pleasure too much, and that the pleasure we cannot desire too much is pleasure in God and all that he is for us in Jesus. For more on this, I direct you to my books, Pleasures Evermore: The Life-Changing Power of Enjoying God (NavPress) and One Thing: Developing a Passion for the Beauty of God (Christian Focus). If you want a shorter explanation, visit my website and you will see a brief article on the Home page titled, "What is Christian Hedonism?"
(5) I am an Amillennialist. This is a huge topic on which I am currently writing a book. So I'll limit myself here to only a few specifics. Although I have to admit that I easily lapse into Historic Premillennialism.
a. One of the primary reasons I am not a Premillennialist (neither Historic nor Dispensational) is because of what I read in the NT concerning the Second Coming of Christ.
To be a Premillennialist of any sort, you must believe that physical death and the curse on the natural creation will continue to exist beyond the time of Christ's return. You must believe that the New Heavens and New Earth will not be introduced until 1,000 years subsequent to the return of Christ. You must believe that unbelieving men and women will still have the opportunity to come to saving faith in Christ for at least 1,000 years subsequent to his return. To be a Premillennialist, you must believe that unbelievers will not be finally resurrected until at least 1,000 years subsequent to Christ's return and that unbelievers will not be finally judged and cast into eternal punishment until at least 1,000 years subsequent to Christ's return.
But my reading of what happens at the Second Coming of Christ indicates that then, and not 1,000 years later, physical death is swallowed up in the victory of Christ, never again to exert its power; the natural creation is delivered fully and finally from its bondage to sin; the New Heavens and New Earth are inaugurated; all opportunity for salvation of the lost comes to an end; and both the final resurrection and final judgment of all mankind occur.
b. I find no biblical support for a pre-tribulation rapture, Christian Zionism, a distinction between Israel and the Church, or a future seven year period known as the Great Tribulation.
c. I believe Matthew 24:1-35; Mark 13:1-31; and Luke 21:5-33 (otherwise known as the Olivet Discourse) refer to events that transpired in the first century, beginning with the exaltation of Christ and consummating with the destruction in 70 a.d. of both the city of Jerusalem and its Temple.
As I said, I hope to finish a book on eschatology sometime in 2008, but in the meantime you may read several articles in defense of these beliefs, available on my website under Theological Studies, Eschatology.
(6) I am a Baptist (or, "baptistic", as some prefer). If you've recovered from (5), and I suspect many of you haven't, let me turn briefly to another broad subject and focus on several important items (rest assured, of course, that being baptistic would entail far more than simply what I mention below).
a. I believe only those who are able to provide a credible testimony of personal faith in Jesus Christ should be baptized (immersed) in water.
b. I believe that a local church should be governed by a plurality of Elders, of which the Senior Pastor is one. I see no biblical basis for a church being led by a single Elder or Pastor. (No, this does not make me a Presbyterian, although I once served as interim pastor for three years in such a church.)
c. I believe that Jesus Christ is spiritually (and therefore, really, but not physically) present in the elements of the Eucharist and that the elements are more than merely a symbol of his body and blood. They are (one of) the sacramental means by which the sanctifying (but not saving) grace of Christ is mediated to the believer. For more on this, check out the two articles titled, "What Happens in the Eucharist?" on my website, Theological Studies, Miscellaneous Topics. I really want to say yes but I don't think I could prove it.
(7) I am a . . . I needed a seventh point to satisfy those who are obsessed with biblical numerology ("6" will never do, or so they tell me), so here is a brief list of other, often contentious, issues. (You can find articles on each of these issues on my website under Theological Studies, Controversial Issues.)
a. I believe that Open Theism is heretical.
b. I believe that eternal punishment in Hell is conscious and unending.
c. I believe that the NT leaves open the possibility for some form of apostolic ministry today (although without the Scripture-writing authority of the original company).
d. I believe Christians can be demonized (note, I did not say demon-possessed).
e. I do not believe the NT mandates that Christians "tithe" 10% of their income but I do believe in generous, sacrificial, proportionate giving that often times, depending on one's wealth, ought to exceed 10%.
f. While affirming the historicity of Adam and Eve as the first humans and parents of our race, I tentatively embrace the theory of an old earth and old universe. (I've not written anything on this, but may have to.) I don't follow that one so I'll disagree just so I don't seem too agreeable.
Please don't take this as a place to argue for or against the above points but I'd love to hear where you stand on those that you either strongly align to or disagree with. Please tell me your position without trying to sell anything. I'd love to hear from you.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
5 points of criticism
Well unfortunately, unlike the Five Points of Calvinism (TULIP), Mark Dever's Five Points of Criticism doesn't really make for a good acronym (DSAPO).
- Directly, not indirectly
- Seriously, not humorously
- As if it's important, not casually
- Privately, not publicly
- Out of love for them, not to express your feeling or frustration
Technorati Tags: judging
pope converts to christianity
Pope Benedict began reading Augustine as as part of the Vatican's call for all Catholics to read some of the great Catholic theologians such as Thomas Aquinas, Johann Eck, Karl Rahner, and Mel Gibson. Through that however the unexpected has happened, Pope Benedict has converted to Christianity!
Get the full story at TBNN.
Technorati Tags: humor
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
sowing the kingdom is liberating
I like this Christopher Wright quote by Matt Adair.
Life itself, in all its fullness and eternity, lies in knowing and loving God (cf. Deuteronomy 30:19-20; John 17:3). For this we were created, and anything less is short of the glory of God. 'The chief end of man,' as the Westminster Confession so succinctly and biblically expressed it, 'is to glorify God and enjoy him forever' - which encapsulates the supreme task and blessing of what it means to know God, and thereby to be fully human. Accordingly, insofar as our missional engagement is a matter of making God known, it is by that very fact also a matter of bringing blessing and good to people, for 'the LORD is good.' Mission is not the imposition of yet another religious bondage upon an already overburdened humanity. It is the sharing of the liberating knowledge of the one true living God, 'in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life.'
Technorati Tags: Kingdom of God
scared of canada
Warning ... these videos are graphic. They are Public Service Announcements in Canada. I don't know about you but they made me want to stay out of Canada.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
get the story right - it's about the kingdom
I love what John Armstrong writes regarding Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
Armstrong proffers that the stories of Jesus in the Gospels must inform how we understand what Jesus is doing in the present age. So what did Jesus speak regarding the Kingdom? I hate to copy nearly his entire article but it is just too good.
GOD LOVES PEOPLE EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SINFUL
The way in which Jesus announced the kingdom was intended to primarily promote joy, not fear. The coming of the kingdom is a consequence of the love of God for people because "God is love." God desires that all people come to this event; even those previously excluded or considered outsiders. Those who will initially benefit from this kingdom will be "the lost sheep of the house of Israel," but the benefits will not stop there at all.
Consider the parable of the generous employer in Matthew 20:1-16. The "surprising twist" here is that the payment practices of the owner are shocking, unexpected in every way. In fact, if we read the story honestly we tend to think this is not right. The punch line of this story occurs when those who began work early in the day complain that those who came late in the day were paid the same wages. The workers who served all day were complaining about what all good religious people tend to complain about-how can tax-collectors and sinners be a part of God's reign? Why should Torah-observant Jews be put on the same level as these outcasts and lawless folks who had no relationship to the covenant? Jesus' response is to highlight the owner's unbelievable generosity.
It seems clear to me that this parable was addressed to good religious people who had a bad attitude about God's generous response toward the wicked. The point is repeated by the later evangelists who use this story to refer to the admission of Gentiles, the new "latecomers," into the kingdom of Jesus and his Church.
The fact that God loves all people, even the most sinful and the obvious religious outcasts, is very powerfully illustrated in several other parables; e.g. the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32), the lost sheep (Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:4-7), the two debtors (Luke 7:41-43), the lost coin (Luke 15:8-9), the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the wicked tenants (Mark 12:1-11; Matthew 21:33-44; Luke 20:9-18), the Pharisee and the tax-collector (Luke 19:9-14).
...
Any human barrier we construct that hinders people from joining us in worshiping the one God and Father of us all, namely those who seek God's kingdom in Jesus Christ, is a scandal. Indeed it is a great heresy. I hear so much talk today among conservative Christians about heresies, but almost never do I hear them consider that this is a real heresy, whether it appears among Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox Christians.
GOD'S REIGN IS NOW AT HAND DESPITE OUTWARD APPEARANCES TO THE CONTRARY
The announcement that the reign of God was near was met with two kinds of response. Some people were filled with joy and hope, and thus received the kingdom with faith. Others were led to scorn. How could God bring in his glorious kingdom through this carpenter from Nazareth, a backwoods place if there ever was one? There are at least six parables that illustrate this point but I will focus only on one, the parable of the mustard seed (Mark 4:30-32; Matthew 13:31-32; Luke 13:18-19).
Jesus seems to be saying that the reign of God will begin in a small and inconspicuous way but the ultimate impact will be universal and huge. Just as the tiny mustard seed can produce a large and life-giving tree, or as a little leaven leavens an entire batch of dough, so Jesus' activities will produce cosmic results that will be beyond the imagination of even his most devoted followers.
The parable of the sower (Mark 4:3-8) illustrates this same point, or so it seems to me. The surprising twist here is that the sower is not very interested in how he scatters his seed but that it be widely scattered. Only a small portion of the seed sown will produce a harvest, but what a great harvest it will be. The crop that comes in will be thirty, sixty, and a hundred fold in size. Though moderns can picture an immense harvest from a small amount of seed no one in the first century could have even conceived of such a thing.
The same truth is brought out in the two parables about prayer in Luke 11:5-9 and Luke 18:1-8. Those who persist will find that God will vindicate his people by his reign. Will not the righteous judge, in contrast to the wicked judge in the story, bring about his universal reign of justice, even quickly? Despite appearances, God's reign is coming and will someday be openly revealed to all.
CONCLUSION
The reign of God has already come and is coming in fullness and glory. Those who pursue it with their whole heart are those who know that God loves sinful people and that sinners matter deeply to God. They are also a people who realize that God's reign is advancing throughout the earth, right now, even while they sleep, even when things seem quite to the contrary. They are a people of unbounded hope because they know that the righteous judge will do right. They also know that his will is being done on earth as well as in heaven.
Jesus came to make that which was wrong right, to bring the victory of Yahweh. He began a redemptive process, through his death and resurrection, which will culminate in the final manifestation of his kingdom at the end of this age. We are living in the already part of this kingdom. The not yet, or the final expansion and expression of that kingdom, is still to come. This should fuel optimism in an age of Western moral confusion and growing pessimism. The story is not over. The final chapter will yet be written and it will be glorious when it is.
Armstrong proffers that the stories of Jesus in the Gospels must inform how we understand what Jesus is doing in the present age. So what did Jesus speak regarding the Kingdom? I hate to copy nearly his entire article but it is just too good.
GOD LOVES PEOPLE EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SINFUL
The way in which Jesus announced the kingdom was intended to primarily promote joy, not fear. The coming of the kingdom is a consequence of the love of God for people because "God is love." God desires that all people come to this event; even those previously excluded or considered outsiders. Those who will initially benefit from this kingdom will be "the lost sheep of the house of Israel," but the benefits will not stop there at all.
Consider the parable of the generous employer in Matthew 20:1-16. The "surprising twist" here is that the payment practices of the owner are shocking, unexpected in every way. In fact, if we read the story honestly we tend to think this is not right. The punch line of this story occurs when those who began work early in the day complain that those who came late in the day were paid the same wages. The workers who served all day were complaining about what all good religious people tend to complain about-how can tax-collectors and sinners be a part of God's reign? Why should Torah-observant Jews be put on the same level as these outcasts and lawless folks who had no relationship to the covenant? Jesus' response is to highlight the owner's unbelievable generosity.
It seems clear to me that this parable was addressed to good religious people who had a bad attitude about God's generous response toward the wicked. The point is repeated by the later evangelists who use this story to refer to the admission of Gentiles, the new "latecomers," into the kingdom of Jesus and his Church.
The fact that God loves all people, even the most sinful and the obvious religious outcasts, is very powerfully illustrated in several other parables; e.g. the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32), the lost sheep (Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:4-7), the two debtors (Luke 7:41-43), the lost coin (Luke 15:8-9), the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the wicked tenants (Mark 12:1-11; Matthew 21:33-44; Luke 20:9-18), the Pharisee and the tax-collector (Luke 19:9-14).
...
Any human barrier we construct that hinders people from joining us in worshiping the one God and Father of us all, namely those who seek God's kingdom in Jesus Christ, is a scandal. Indeed it is a great heresy. I hear so much talk today among conservative Christians about heresies, but almost never do I hear them consider that this is a real heresy, whether it appears among Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox Christians.
GOD'S REIGN IS NOW AT HAND DESPITE OUTWARD APPEARANCES TO THE CONTRARY
The announcement that the reign of God was near was met with two kinds of response. Some people were filled with joy and hope, and thus received the kingdom with faith. Others were led to scorn. How could God bring in his glorious kingdom through this carpenter from Nazareth, a backwoods place if there ever was one? There are at least six parables that illustrate this point but I will focus only on one, the parable of the mustard seed (Mark 4:30-32; Matthew 13:31-32; Luke 13:18-19).
Jesus seems to be saying that the reign of God will begin in a small and inconspicuous way but the ultimate impact will be universal and huge. Just as the tiny mustard seed can produce a large and life-giving tree, or as a little leaven leavens an entire batch of dough, so Jesus' activities will produce cosmic results that will be beyond the imagination of even his most devoted followers.
The parable of the sower (Mark 4:3-8) illustrates this same point, or so it seems to me. The surprising twist here is that the sower is not very interested in how he scatters his seed but that it be widely scattered. Only a small portion of the seed sown will produce a harvest, but what a great harvest it will be. The crop that comes in will be thirty, sixty, and a hundred fold in size. Though moderns can picture an immense harvest from a small amount of seed no one in the first century could have even conceived of such a thing.
The same truth is brought out in the two parables about prayer in Luke 11:5-9 and Luke 18:1-8. Those who persist will find that God will vindicate his people by his reign. Will not the righteous judge, in contrast to the wicked judge in the story, bring about his universal reign of justice, even quickly? Despite appearances, God's reign is coming and will someday be openly revealed to all.
CONCLUSION
The reign of God has already come and is coming in fullness and glory. Those who pursue it with their whole heart are those who know that God loves sinful people and that sinners matter deeply to God. They are also a people who realize that God's reign is advancing throughout the earth, right now, even while they sleep, even when things seem quite to the contrary. They are a people of unbounded hope because they know that the righteous judge will do right. They also know that his will is being done on earth as well as in heaven.
Technorati Tags: Kingdom of God
centricity
Gary Rohrmayer writes about church-centric versus mission-centric equipping. He uses Rick Warren's concentric circle model to add another layer - "commissioned". Here is Warren's model with Rohrmayer's addition at the end.- Community: Those living around your church who never, or occasionally, attend.
- Crowd: Those who attend your church regularly but are not members.
- Congregation: Those who are committed to both Christ and membership in your church family.
- Committed: Those members who are serious about growing to spiritual maturity.
- Core: Those members who actively serve in ministry and mission in your church.
- Commissioned: Those members who are sent out of the church as missionaries, church planters, pastors and change agents in our cultural.
Technorati Tags: discipleship, ecclesiology
take me lord
Take my heart, I lay it down
At the feet of you whose crowned
Take my life, I’m letting go
I lift it up to You who’s throned
And I will worship You, Lord
Only You, Lord
And I will bow down before You
Only You Lord
Take my fret, take my fear
All I have, I’m leaving here
Be all my hopes, be all my dreams
Be all my delights, be my everything
And it’s just you and me here now
Only you and me here now
You should see the view
When it’s only You
David Crowder
Only You
At the feet of you whose crowned
Take my life, I’m letting go
I lift it up to You who’s throned
And I will worship You, Lord
Only You, Lord
And I will bow down before You
Only You Lord
Take my fret, take my fear
All I have, I’m leaving here
Be all my hopes, be all my dreams
Be all my delights, be my everything
And it’s just you and me here now
Only you and me here now
You should see the view
When it’s only You
David Crowder
Only You
the gospel and the kingdom
We never “get beyond the gospel” in our Christian life to something more “advanced.” The gospel is not the first “step” in a “stairway” of truths, rather, it is more like the “hub” in a “wheel” of truth. The gospel is not just the A-B-C’s of Christianity, but it is the A to Z of Christianity. The gospel is not just the minimum required doctrine necessary to enter the kingdom, but the way we make all progress in the kingdom. - Tim Keller
But what is the Gospel? John Fonville offers this:
Well certainly that is Scriptural. As I commented in the past regarding Mark Dever's wonderful description of the Gospel, it's hard to bring something so awesome and all encompassing down to a simple sentence or even paragraph. Missing in the above is the why of the Good News, that is that we, as rebel sinners, are doomed to an eternity of suffering without it. I like however that it included (unlike Dever's) a phrase addressing the Kingdom. I'll repeat it for emphasis!
He presently is reigning as King and Head of His church! That has real meaning in our lives today. The Kingdom of God is here. That turns our whole worldview upside down - if you get it. Or to use the Bible word, repent.
Acts 28.23-28; When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
“‘Go to this people, and say,
You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
It hasn't changed today. The Gospel is Good News. It is about our King and His Kingdom. It was central to Jesus' message. He repeated it when He reappeared after the crucifixion. Paul proclaimed it through the end of his ministry. In two thousand years, little has changed. Many, even within the Church, deny (or fail to understand) the reality of the Kingdom.
How could we have missed communicating this message. As John Calvin states:
HT:PC (thanks Peter - very helpful)
But what is the Gospel? John Fonville offers this:
In brief, the gospel is a joyful announcement (Lk. 2:10) about Christ, that He is the Son of God (Jn. 1:1, 18; 20:28; Rom. 9:5; Col. 1:15-19; 2:9; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:3, 8; 1 Jn. 5:20; 2 Pet. 1:1) and became man for us (Matt. 1:23; Lk 2:10-11; Jn. 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Philip. 2:7-8; 1 Pet. 1:20; 1 John 1:1-2), that he died for us (1 Cor. 15:3b; Rom. 3:25-26; 1 Peter 2:24), was buried (1 Cor. 15:4a) and was raised for us (Matt. 28:1-10; Mk. 16:1-8; Lk. 24:1-12; Jn. 20:1-10; Acts 2:24-32; 1 Cor. 15:3-4), that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve and then to more than five hundred brothers at one time (1 Cor. 15:3-8), that He has ascended to Heaven (Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:9-11; 2:34; Philip. 2:9-11) where He is now seated at the right hand of God and been established as Lord over all things (Eph. 1:20-21; Heb. 1:3; 10:12). He presently is reigning as King and Head of His church (Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18; Matt. 28:18; John 5:22-23) and will one day come again to judge the living and the dead (John 5:22, 27; Acts 1:11; Acts 10:42; 2 Tim. 4:1; 1 Pet. 4:5).
Well certainly that is Scriptural. As I commented in the past regarding Mark Dever's wonderful description of the Gospel, it's hard to bring something so awesome and all encompassing down to a simple sentence or even paragraph. Missing in the above is the why of the Good News, that is that we, as rebel sinners, are doomed to an eternity of suffering without it. I like however that it included (unlike Dever's) a phrase addressing the Kingdom. I'll repeat it for emphasis!
He presently is reigning as King and Head of His church! That has real meaning in our lives today. The Kingdom of God is here. That turns our whole worldview upside down - if you get it. Or to use the Bible word, repent.
Acts 28.23-28; When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
“‘Go to this people, and say,
You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.
For this people's heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
It hasn't changed today. The Gospel is Good News. It is about our King and His Kingdom. It was central to Jesus' message. He repeated it when He reappeared after the crucifixion. Paul proclaimed it through the end of his ministry. In two thousand years, little has changed. Many, even within the Church, deny (or fail to understand) the reality of the Kingdom.
How could we have missed communicating this message. As John Calvin states:
There is nothing more notable or glorious in the church than the ministry of the Gospel.
HT:PC (thanks Peter - very helpful)
Technorati Tags: Kingdom of God
young evangelicals
Tom Brokaw did a short piece on the Emerging Church. It focusses on Pine Ridge Church planted by Tadd Grandstaff.
I like Grandstaff's comment:
In regard to homosexuality he rightly states that we don't have to bash or preach against homosexuals. The problem for me is how that plays out. One person in his community commented that homosexuality was a "personal issue set aside from any kind of church issue." That's that's just plain wrong. Sin is sin and in a community of believers we must stir each other on to righteousness. I think this is possible without "bashing" but to deny the right place of the Church to deal with sin and discipline is wrong.
I like Grandstaff's comment:
Let's stop focussing on what we are not about and start focussing on what we are about.
In regard to homosexuality he rightly states that we don't have to bash or preach against homosexuals. The problem for me is how that plays out. One person in his community commented that homosexuality was a "personal issue set aside from any kind of church issue." That's that's just plain wrong. Sin is sin and in a community of believers we must stir each other on to righteousness. I think this is possible without "bashing" but to deny the right place of the Church to deal with sin and discipline is wrong.
Technorati Tags: Emerging Church
knowing god
Wayne Grudem on knowing God:
HT:JH
Thus, we may know something about God's love, power, wisdom, and so forth. But we can never know his love completely or exhaustively. We can never know his power exhaustively. We can never know his wisdom exhaustively, and so forth. In order to know any single thing about God exhaustively we would have to know it as he himself knows it. That is, we would have to know it in its relationship to everything else about God and in its relationship to everything else about creation throughout all eternity! We can only exclaim with David, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it" (Ps. 139:6).
This doctrine of God's incomprehensibility has much positive application for our own lives. It means that we will never be able to know "too much" about God, for we will never run out of things to learn about him, and we will thus never tire in delighting in the discovery of more and more of his excellence and of the greatness of his works.
HT:JH
Monday, December 03, 2007
what is enough?
Paul writes in Galatians 1.6-9; I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Regarding Paul's statement Francis Schaeffer writes:
But being involved in a Church, saying you are a citizen of Christendom, naming the name of Christ, etc. is also not enough.
When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ but he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ - Lk 13.25-27
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. - Mt 25.1-13
Being a citizen of Christendom or a member of a church is not enough either. Jesus gave a parable which applies to those today who merely use the name Christ in the midst of church and culture:
Schaeffer asks the question "What Is Enough? What is enough to please God?" and then answers it.
Regarding Paul's statement Francis Schaeffer writes:
In one of the strongest statements in the Word of God outside of the teaching of Jesus Himself, Paul insists that the name Christ is not enough. The Judaizers had a gospel, but it was “another gospel.” Just as the worshipers of the golden calf had another god — another god under the name God — here is another Christ under the name Christ and another gospel under the name gospel. This passage reminds us of the time Moses in his anger after he saw the golden calf threw down the tables and broke them. Paul confronted the churches of Galatia and said, “Because this ‘gospel’ is ‘ another gospel,’ it is no gospel. Because it is not the gospel which accurately reveals the character of God and Christ, those who teach it are accursed.” The Judaizers’ gospel misrepresented God’s character just as thoroughly as had the golden calf. With the golden calf, God’s character became wrapped up with Canaanite worship. With the other “gospel,” it became wrapped up with the humanistic worship which surrounded the Jews throughout the Mediterranean world — worship that allowed a man to come into the presence of God on the basis of his own works.
To say the words Christ or Jesus or gospel does not help anybody. The Lord Jesus taught that many “christs” would come. The words must contain the content God Himself has given about who Christ is, what Christ has done, and therefore what the gospel is.
But being involved in a Church, saying you are a citizen of Christendom, naming the name of Christ, etc. is also not enough.
When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ but he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ - Lk 13.25-27
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. - Mt 25.1-13
Being a citizen of Christendom or a member of a church is not enough either. Jesus gave a parable which applies to those today who merely use the name Christ in the midst of church and culture:
Schaeffer asks the question "What Is Enough? What is enough to please God?" and then answers it.
Jesus did not ask the woman at the well to do anything until He had told her the content of who He was as the Old Testament-prophesied Christ (John 4:26-29). Though a citizen of Samaria, she well understood this part of the content of the Old Testament. She said to Christ: “I know that when the Messiah comes, who is called Christ, he will tell us all things.” His answer was explicit: “I who speak with thee am he.” Christ thus identified Himself; He drew attention to His person, to who He is. It was at this point that she believed and passed the information on to everyone in her town, and they later worshiped Jesus as “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).
We should also notice that Christ did not ask Nicodemus to believe until He identified who He was in a way that Nicodemus, as a ruler of the Jews, would have understood (John 3:13).
John, in his first letter, gives a test for discerning true spirits and prophets from false ones.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world. By this know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. (1 John 4:1-3)
The spirits and prophets are to be tested by whether they confess that Jesus “is come in the flesh,” a confession that has two elements of content. It affirms both that Jesus existed before and also that He has come in the flesh. In other words, spirits and prophets must acknowledge both Jesus’ preexistence and His incarnation. How are we, then, to test the spirits and the prophets? A strong emotion? All experience? There is only one way: on the basis of the content God has given.
John’s test was not new. The Jews who read his letter would have been reminded of a test God had given in the Pentateuch:
Whatsoever thing I commanded you, observe to do it; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them, thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams. (Deut. 12:32 – 13:3)
God commanded the people to kill any prophet who sought to lead them away from the true God. And how were they to identify him? Just as in 1 John 1:1-10: did he adhere to the content and commandments God had already given in Scripture? It made no difference whether that prophet gave a “prophecy” which came true or worked a miracle. It made no difference if the prophet gave rise to strong emotions within. If he contradicted the content of God’s revelation, he was a false prophet.
But while giving these negative commands, both 1 John and Deuteronomy confront us with what is enough to please God. What is enough is believing the content that can be known on the basis of God’s revelation of Himself, that which He has revealed in space-time history, that which can be truly and reasonably comprehended from the Scripture.
I need to know God truly in His self-revealed existence and character. I need to know the real Christ in His person and finished work. I need a right relationship with the God who is really there. In short, I need a right relationship with Christ as my Savior and with the living God as my God.
Nothing short of this is enough.
Technorati Tags: Kingdom of God
Sunday, December 02, 2007
woe - the kingdom
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. - Mt 23.13
I will not list those that fit this category. They are popular and their teachings prevalent. But woe to them. They happily teach that the Kingdom is some future state. They deny its existence. They teach that it is merely the eschatological restoration of Israel. They imagine it is simply a life in heaven after death. They reduce it to social work. All are wrong.
Knowledge is more than intellectual perception; it is spiritual possession resting on revelation (R. Bultmann, TDNT 1:700).
The authority given to Peter is grounded in revelation. It is spiritual knowledge and it was shared. Many "Church" leaders today have never experience the Kingdom and they deny it to those they shepherd.
Woe to them. Repent - the Kingdom of God is at hand.
I will not list those that fit this category. They are popular and their teachings prevalent. But woe to them. They happily teach that the Kingdom is some future state. They deny its existence. They teach that it is merely the eschatological restoration of Israel. They imagine it is simply a life in heaven after death. They reduce it to social work. All are wrong.
Knowledge is more than intellectual perception; it is spiritual possession resting on revelation (R. Bultmann, TDNT 1:700).
The authority given to Peter is grounded in revelation. It is spiritual knowledge and it was shared. Many "Church" leaders today have never experience the Kingdom and they deny it to those they shepherd.
Woe to them. Repent - the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Technorati Tags: Kingdom of God
Saturday, December 01, 2007
a seeking god
In His teaching about the Kingdom, Jesus introduces a new concept; that is that God is the seeking God. In doing so He wasn't bringing new theoretical truth about God. As George Eldon Ladd writes;
We see this unfortunate mindset too often in the Evangelical world. It seems that many think God has left His written Word and a hand full of guys with big brains to interpret it for the rest of us. Very, very sad.
Francis Schaefer often wrote that we serve a God who interacts in space-time history. He rightly understood that God has moved, is moving, and will continue to move redemptively. With Jesus we see an extraordinary interaction - the messianic salvation was present! The Kingdom of God had come near! God has taken the initiative to seek out and to save the lost sinner! To redeem from darkness into the light!
With the breaking in of His Kingdom, God has shown Himself to be a seeking God. Jesus came to minister to sinners. He does not deny sin nor make light of guilt. But rather than condemn, He meets them at their point of need and restores what was lost. Somehow evangelicals are often missing the mark by constant focus on our faults. In response to that, it seems many are over-looking our spiritual guilt and confusing the work of the Kingdom as only restoring physical and emotional brokenness. Both are wrong. We were all morally guilty but rather than condemnation and rules, the Kingdom brings good news which restores our whole being and brings freedom.
So here, now, we find that God is a seeking God. He searches for the sheep that strays. He seeks the coin that gets lost. He welcomes home the prodigal son.
Mt 22.1-14 - And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Many who consider themselves Christians are guilty of rejecting the invitation to the feast. They have no grasp of the Gospel - the GOOD NEWS. They argue for cessationism. They claim the Kingdom is future only. They fight for truth at the expense of love. They have become the modern day Pharisees and cannot see themselves even as they diligently study Scripture for more and more law. Sadly, these will be destroyed.
Then the invitation is extended to loiterers in the streets. What?!?! How can this be? How can these strange folks be invited to the wedding feast? Look at them. They do nothing to see that they are unworthy and to even dress properly. Both good and bad flood in. I imagine that just as the group that rejected the original invitation held these guys in disdain, so also this crowd in the feast are now holding the others in disdain.
Notice - the Kingdom did not wipe out sin and sinners. In fact, not only were they invited in, but it was those that rejected this notion who were wiped out.
But then the King comes. And when He does, all is sorted out.
My friends, the Kingdom of God may be compared to this.
Blogger after blogger condemn the wedding and those that take up the invitation. Sad. They are blinded and cannot see that they are not even getting into the party and are about to be destroyed.
Blogger after blogger celebrate that they got into the dance. They think everyone can get in. And worse, they gain no real understanding of their sin and need for repentance - ultimately to their destruction as well.
Many are called, but few are chosen. Be humbled. God is seeking.
God is one who is to be experienced, not a teaching to be imparted. ... In one sense the God of Judaism was not the God of the Old Testament. The God of the prophets was constantly active in history both to judge and to save his people; the God of Judaism had withdrawn from the evil world and was no longer redemptively working in history.
We see this unfortunate mindset too often in the Evangelical world. It seems that many think God has left His written Word and a hand full of guys with big brains to interpret it for the rest of us. Very, very sad.
Francis Schaefer often wrote that we serve a God who interacts in space-time history. He rightly understood that God has moved, is moving, and will continue to move redemptively. With Jesus we see an extraordinary interaction - the messianic salvation was present! The Kingdom of God had come near! God has taken the initiative to seek out and to save the lost sinner! To redeem from darkness into the light!
With the breaking in of His Kingdom, God has shown Himself to be a seeking God. Jesus came to minister to sinners. He does not deny sin nor make light of guilt. But rather than condemn, He meets them at their point of need and restores what was lost. Somehow evangelicals are often missing the mark by constant focus on our faults. In response to that, it seems many are over-looking our spiritual guilt and confusing the work of the Kingdom as only restoring physical and emotional brokenness. Both are wrong. We were all morally guilty but rather than condemnation and rules, the Kingdom brings good news which restores our whole being and brings freedom.
So here, now, we find that God is a seeking God. He searches for the sheep that strays. He seeks the coin that gets lost. He welcomes home the prodigal son.
Mt 22.1-14 - And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Many who consider themselves Christians are guilty of rejecting the invitation to the feast. They have no grasp of the Gospel - the GOOD NEWS. They argue for cessationism. They claim the Kingdom is future only. They fight for truth at the expense of love. They have become the modern day Pharisees and cannot see themselves even as they diligently study Scripture for more and more law. Sadly, these will be destroyed.
Then the invitation is extended to loiterers in the streets. What?!?! How can this be? How can these strange folks be invited to the wedding feast? Look at them. They do nothing to see that they are unworthy and to even dress properly. Both good and bad flood in. I imagine that just as the group that rejected the original invitation held these guys in disdain, so also this crowd in the feast are now holding the others in disdain.
Notice - the Kingdom did not wipe out sin and sinners. In fact, not only were they invited in, but it was those that rejected this notion who were wiped out.
But then the King comes. And when He does, all is sorted out.
My friends, the Kingdom of God may be compared to this.
Blogger after blogger condemn the wedding and those that take up the invitation. Sad. They are blinded and cannot see that they are not even getting into the party and are about to be destroyed.
Blogger after blogger celebrate that they got into the dance. They think everyone can get in. And worse, they gain no real understanding of their sin and need for repentance - ultimately to their destruction as well.
Many are called, but few are chosen. Be humbled. God is seeking.
Technorati Tags: Kingdom of God
pastor swap
Since moving back to the US I've been amazed (not in a positive why) at the kind of programming found on television. A particular oddity are those "swap" shows where people switch families, jobs, whatever. Well it has finally happened, ABC will air "Pastor Swap" this Monday.
From my friends at TBNN ...
Pastor Swap, Only on ABC
Tune in Monday, December 3rd, at 9:00 pm ET for the premier episode of Pastor Swap, Only on ABC.
This week see what happens when Pastor Walker of Living Tree Full Gospel Congregation in South Carolina swaps congregations with Bishop Melanie Robe of the Seattle Diocese.
Bios are given below.
Living Tree Full Gospel Congregation: For the Living Tree congregation of South Carolina, life revolves around the men's outdoor events of hunting, fishing, and eating. Spending over 75% of their yearly budget on four wheelers, shotguns, and fishing tackle, Living Tree members (38 in total) dedicate almost all of their time to the Men's Fellowship, while treating wives and children like second class citizens. In this church, what Pastor Walker says goes. Mrs. Walker secretly complains that the women in the church have to stay home and do house work while the men spend days in the woods "vacationing." There is barely any quality time between family members, not to mention a lack of fellowship between the women, except over the phone. When she's not scrubbing floors or making dresses for her daughters, Mrs. Walker (36) spends her hobby time planning her husband's favorite meals or changing the diapers of any of her three grandkids. Pastor Walker forces all the male members of his congregation to mimic his lifestyle or leave.
Seattle Episcopal Diocese: At the Seattle Diocese in Washington, the Reverend Bishop Melanie Robe resides in an eco-village with her life partner Selena Mable. The congregation seeks ways to recycle their own waste. Bishop Robe loves her eco-village and all the people living there. She's dedicated to saving the planet, and her congregation's eco-conscious practices include not using toilet paper and recycling their urine to cultivate the church plants. Selena is a sensitive, artistic teenager, and she's been given complete autonomy in her open partnership with Bishop Robe. But all is not peace and love at the eco-village; Adam and Steve, two new members, have problems agreeing on which brand of organic fertilizer to use in the West Greenhouse.
From my friends at TBNN ...
Pastor Swap, Only on ABC
Tune in Monday, December 3rd, at 9:00 pm ET for the premier episode of Pastor Swap, Only on ABC.
This week see what happens when Pastor Walker of Living Tree Full Gospel Congregation in South Carolina swaps congregations with Bishop Melanie Robe of the Seattle Diocese.
Bios are given below.
Living Tree Full Gospel Congregation: For the Living Tree congregation of South Carolina, life revolves around the men's outdoor events of hunting, fishing, and eating. Spending over 75% of their yearly budget on four wheelers, shotguns, and fishing tackle, Living Tree members (38 in total) dedicate almost all of their time to the Men's Fellowship, while treating wives and children like second class citizens. In this church, what Pastor Walker says goes. Mrs. Walker secretly complains that the women in the church have to stay home and do house work while the men spend days in the woods "vacationing." There is barely any quality time between family members, not to mention a lack of fellowship between the women, except over the phone. When she's not scrubbing floors or making dresses for her daughters, Mrs. Walker (36) spends her hobby time planning her husband's favorite meals or changing the diapers of any of her three grandkids. Pastor Walker forces all the male members of his congregation to mimic his lifestyle or leave.
Seattle Episcopal Diocese: At the Seattle Diocese in Washington, the Reverend Bishop Melanie Robe resides in an eco-village with her life partner Selena Mable. The congregation seeks ways to recycle their own waste. Bishop Robe loves her eco-village and all the people living there. She's dedicated to saving the planet, and her congregation's eco-conscious practices include not using toilet paper and recycling their urine to cultivate the church plants. Selena is a sensitive, artistic teenager, and she's been given complete autonomy in her open partnership with Bishop Robe. But all is not peace and love at the eco-village; Adam and Steve, two new members, have problems agreeing on which brand of organic fertilizer to use in the West Greenhouse.
Technorati Tags: ecclesiology, humor
Friday, November 30, 2007
god's pay scale
Human reckoning is: a day's work is a day's pay; God's reckoning is: an hour's work, a day's pay. The former is merit and reward; the latter is grace. - George Eldon Ladd based on Mt 20.1ff.
Technorati Tags: Kingdom of God
bad vicar
Hey, if you are sensitive about language, don't watch ... but otherwise, this was funny.
HT:JB (like Jonathan, I liked the "At least leave a quid for the upkeep")
HT:JB (like Jonathan, I liked the "At least leave a quid for the upkeep")
Technorati Tags: ecclesiology, humor
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