Eschatology Today

Inaugurated Eschatology: (n.) The wonderful already-but-not-yet tension and reality of redemption. Read the theological reflections of Pastor Jay and others around him below. This is a great place to dialog about the beauties of the Gospel!

Can Baptists claim the adjective 'Reformed'?

Some say no. These are folks (usually with their starched, ironed, white, cotton britches a bit too tight) from Presbyterian, Christian Reformed, or other denominations/traditions that stem quite directly from Calvin's swiss reformation tradition. They claim the term Reformed should be used only for people like them, that claim a confessional history within the 17th century Reformed confessions like Westminster, Heidelburg, and the like. Part of this tradition is that they affirm paedo (infant) baptism.

Now the term Reformed is commonly used to describe evangelical Christians who affirm the doctrines of grace (the 5 points of Calvinism, TULIP). So, one can be baptistic, charismatic, dispensational, Anglican, or other permutations, and be Calvinistic in their view of soteriology (how we get saved).

Here is what I think we should do. 1)Affirm that there is a Big R Reformed tradition that describes the confessional traditions that stem directly from the Swiss reformation. 2) But, still use a little r reformed title for those who believe in the overall soteriology and God centered theology that was part of the early reformation movements.

To rebut a bit with my starchy Reformed friends, baptists are actually an offshoot of English Puritanism, not necessarily the anabaptist tradition. Anabaptist (Zwingli and friends) did have a strong contradistinction from the magisterial reformers (Luther, Calvin). But the modern baptist tradition is very much a child of the magisterial tradition, with certain tweeks - one being its view of discontinuity in the covenants to the point that the sign and seal of the covenant post-dates conversion (water baptism) rather than predates it (circumcision a la OT, Gen 17 style). There is a lot more to be said there, but that will suffice for now.

So, I am a reformed baptist...and that is a viable and necessary title. For those of you who want a monopoly on the term Reformed, give me a break. Stop trying to be the opposite of a fundamentalist pietistic baptist. Just pursue the Biblical truth from a non-reactive, positive posture. Amen.

Check out the Academic Earth link on this site!

Academic Earth is a huge resource of video lectures from all fields from A List schools, including syllabi and such. Great favorites link.

Between Two Worlds

Posted using ShareThis

The Bride of Christ Part 2

Here are some oft used questions or objections to a local church centric Christian life:

1) I'm part of the church, the invisible universal church. Why is it so important to be a part of the visible, local church?
A: Definition: the invisible church is the eternal church from God's perspective, the elect. The visible church is the present day church from our perspective, those professing faith in covenant community. The invisible, universal church is important to think about, but is a totally abstract concept without any relevance apart from where it is made concrete, manifested, expressed; namely, the local church. In fact,the Bible almost always speaks of specific, organized groups of Christians gathered together as the church in the NT.

2) Why do I need to commit to one church in particular? As long as a church is within certain parameters, why can't I go to several to get fresh experiences, to take advantage of differing strengths and opportunities, or to be a part of friendships I have that are at different churches?
A: The church is the New Covenant fulfillment of Israel, and thus works on the principle of the covenant: which is a love based and promise based relationship between man and God that is spiritually, physically, socially, and legally exclusive. This logic also defines our human relationships: marriage and church (both of which are illustrations of each other in the Bible). To church hop is analogous to polygamy or even infidelity or non-committal recreational dating.

3) So, what makes a genuine local church?
A: Calvin and the 6 Johns (Knox, Willock, Winram, Spottiswoods, Douglas, Row) 1560: where there is the preaching of the word, the administration of the sacraments, and church discipline that is actually, rightly, and consistently administered. These three things will protect, affirm, and proclaim the true gospel in a voluntary community of professing Christians who meet together regularly.

4) What is not the church?
A: A building, a systematic confession only, schools, missions agencies, denominations, para-church agencies, etc.

5) So, what are the above?
A: The kingdom -- a more broad term that represents the places God's rule comes to bear upon the world in concrete expression. The church is a subset of the kingdom and the pivot point of the kingdom, but not to be interchangeable with the kingdom (Contra Scot McKnight, thank you very little).

6) But, I thought it's about a personal relationship with Jesus that's most important?
A: Personal but not private; individual but also corporate; unmediated but also shared; your confession amidst the univocal chorus of those around you and those throughout history; the priesthood of every believer under the authority of shepherds uniquely chosen to guide you.

The Bride of Christ Part 1

There is a fundamental problem in how most people view the church. This can be expanded into whole books and I will post some recommendations on full book treatments. But, here is where the problem starts I think .

1. People don't think much about the church. They have no eccesiology. They have no conviction.

2. People have been wounded by the church, or at least disappointed by it.

3. We are part of an autonomy loving, self oriented, immediate gratification culture today.

The consequences:
1. Stop going.

2. We taste test, like shopping at Costco where we can have a full meal by quilting together all the sample foods.

3. We shop, park for a while, get easily disappointed or impatient, leave, shop, park for a while, and on, and on...

4. Or, we can use Biblical criteria, plug in, stay in, invest, enjoy God and his people.

Here is the aim of this blog series:

Thinking: you think Biblically about the church:i.e., ecclesiology.

Emotion: You love the church and want to be in fellowship with her & begin the redemption of a broken relationship and learn to be hopeful but also patient and gracious with the church.

Acting: you invest your life in the local church, holistically (time, energy, and materially).

More Book Recs from Jay

The Enduring Community
Brian Habig & Les Newsom
This is a great resource for learning about the importance, role, and blessing of the local church. This is a quick read, but will very likely change the way you think about "church".

Get it on Amazon.com!

Stop Dating the Church
Joshua Harris
Another great book on the priority of the church. He addresses this "church dating" phenomenon that is especially tangible here in Wheaton--the city with the most churches per capita. If you're looking for a good, biblical defense for finding a church and sticking with it, this is your book.

Get it on Amazon.com!

Labels: books

The Bride of Christ: Intro

I was asked to start blogging about the necessity and centrality of the church. So, we now will begin a multi entry blogophany on ecclesiology wherein I will summarize my notes from a series I did in the fall of 2005. I would love interraction on these.

Receiving Criticism

It is one thing to think Biblically about godly ways to offer criticsm to others, out of love and for their good, but it is quite another thing to receive criticism when the means by which it comes is totally out of your hands. Sometimes it comes via a winsome and humble servant of stinging good news, but good news nonetheless. At at other times the messenger is distracting in their approach, causing you to cringe in the pain of the rebuke without being able to focus on the reason for the rebuke. But, I think thre are some helpful principles to think about that help us in our need to take criticism well, even when it may be offered sinfully and/or when it is simply wrong.

1. Trust in God's sovereignty. For some reason, God is orchestrating the exchange. It may be a test, to have you really exercise patience, forebearance, and grace with a rude and critical person. Or, the Lord may be telling you that you have a sin in your life that you need to repent of, and this dude or dudette is his messenger. Even if the dude or dudette is offering it out of bad motives or in a sinful manner, they still might be God's messenger of truth. Even Paul, in Philippians 1, said he was happy that Christ was proclaimed, even if the preachers were doing it out of rivalry and conceit.

2. If the manner in which criticism comes is hurtful, ask God to help you submit to the content. If the criticism came in a note or letter, have someone who is Biblically wise and knows you well read it and think with you about its veracity. Give them permission to be totally honest. It may lead to a really good conversation that your friend wished he could have with you but felt crunchy bringing it up. No one wants to he having a pleasant time of fellowship and suddenly say: hey Dexter, I love you but you are seriously arrogant, or have bad breath, or are stingy with your money. So, be open to the truth of a critical comment, even if it is offered by a punk.

3. Don't allow yourself to get offended by a friend who offers you some criticism. Like I said, criticism is always hard to receive. A good friend knows that and finds no pleasure in offering it. In fact, it is usually love and loyalty that lead them to break the silence and talk to you. Like the above, ask God to protect you from your insecurity and sensitivity and to allow you to see the truth of criticism. If the friend misread you or is overly biased by something, your cool head will allow you to explain yourself and, if need be, disagree with that friend but in a manner in which you make plain your continued love and respect for them, and your future openess to have your mind changed on the matter as the Lord searches your heart and reveals sin.

4. Good criticism goes to the back story. That is, it goes beyond behavior to the heart and any background event, history, family pattern that molded your heart. However, not all criticism givers knows how to go there. But, you should. If you agree that there are sinful or unwise patterns in your life, you should ask yourself the question: what is in my heart that causes this? Ask the Lord to reveal the back story. The solution is the same, Jesus. And, sometimes you just have to ask Jesus to change you without knowing the depth of your heart. But, it helps to at least consider the heart/back story.

5. Earmark the criticism and make it a real priority to seek Spirit empowered change, for Christ's glory. Don't accept it and go on. In fact, that is not really repentance. Repentance is evidenced in change. So, if the criticism is true, repent!

6. If the criticism is not of a moral value, but is something that rubs the critiquer the wrong way yet really isn't unwise or immoral, then do your best to live in such a way that blesses that person. Don't be stubborn and make a point. In as much as it is not moral, then don't do it or say it, at least around that person. Types of humor, media preference, language, creation enjoyment, etc fall into this category.

7. Take your time in thinking and praying over the criticism. Don't trust yourself to accept it or deny it immediately. Tell the person you will consider what they said, and then do that. Time and process help a lot in receiving a rebuke.

8. Praise God that he shows us our sin! Praise him that he reveals things in our lives so we stop doing them, thereby stopping activities or habits which hurt others, ourselves, and which lessen God's glory in our lives. So, don't avoid criticism. Invite it. How it comes also teaches you about how you should offer it, by positive and negative examples. God is so good that his grace not only forgives us but continues to grow us into Christ like people. And, many a time this grace comes by one person telling another person where their life falls short of the gospel, or is unwise, or is questionable. Praise God!

Graeme Goldsworthy, Prayer And The Knowledge Of God

Here is the book I mentioned on Sunday, teasing out the issues of how God is totally sovereign over all things and our need to pray to Him, and ask of him in true relationship with Him. I recommend it highly!

Click here to check it out on Amazon!

Labels: books, prayer