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!

Self Deprecation, A Good PR Move, and the Emergent Church Could Learn A Thing About It

Self deprecation can go too far and be a fruit of insecurity. It often is. But, it can also be a way of showing the world you realize that you are a fallen sinner, that you have idiosyncrasies, and that you therefore don't take yourself too seriously. Amidst our real hubris, up-tightness at times, and taking ourselves too seriously in some corners, I feel like the neo-Calvinist, young Reformed crowed is helpfully self deprecating. We know we are odd and we poke fun at ourselves when we see exaggerations of character and even belief. I think that helps our image, because there is so much one can find at fault in our ethos that has not been managed well in decades past.

So, yesterday I watched the first part of a "discussion" between my friend Kevin DeYoung, Josh Harris's twin younger brothers (the neo Calvinist guys) and Tony Jones and Scot McKnight (emergent/emergent friendly). I heard it was a train wreck. So far it has been awkward but I assume the big crash is yet to happen. I will watch the rest sometime today.

Here are some impressions.

I feel like there would be a lot more openness on our part (our = young Reformed types) if we saw a little bit more laid backness in the emergent community. It is a bit ironic because one would think that they would be the organic, laid back, easy-come-easy-go types. In my experience, they are not. I have found this to be the case with the right brained community in general: actors, visual artists, creative culture types in general. Yes, they hate suits, formality, boxes, most bourgeois tradition, but oh how the bohemians can dish out some serious uptight! I know,I am a Bobo and my mother was an artist. I have a lot of dear friends in this community. So, I have noticed quite a bit of taking oneself way too seriously, in the neo-bohemian Christian movement we often refer to as Emergent. I know that if one of them were to read this, which they probably are not, they would quickly retort: look dude, if you were so maligned and marginalized, you'd be pretty uptight and sensitive,too. But look, the Reformed community has had its fair share of maligning and marginalization over the years...like from most of evangelicalism (which ironically both confessional Reformed folk and emergent folk find themselves in tension with). Over the years I think we realized that we did have foibles, we did take ourselves too seriously, we divorced truth from love too often, we made doctrine into an end and not a means to worship Christ faithfully. So, in turn, I think we got the gospel and we responded, though imperfectly, in some measure of humility which itself then turned into good natured self mocking (see plethora of articles, YouTube, self deprecating conversations among the YRR, etc).

In the video of this "conversation" between confessional and emergent Christians, I found that they talked past each other a lot, even though they are all quite smart and should have seen that. I think a relational mist had taken over. I wonder if this mist would dissipate a bit, at least on our end, if we saw the emergent types chill out a bit. I admit that I am often uneasy around self defined artsy and non-conformist Christians who are disenfranchised with evangelicalism, not least neo-Calvinism, I think because I can almost feel their hostility, that they are ready to pounce or flee at the most minor mention of an area we disagree on. I wonder if they can learn from us a bit, dare I say, that if they are to live healthily and see clearly their own convictions, it would help to acknowledge that there are some real flaws in their ethos, if nothing else, some laughable idiosyncrasies, that sometimes they overstate themselves to make a point or just to razz some uptight Reformed people, that there are some things they are going to grow out of and look back on with rolled eyes, and that they would feel a lot better if they just chilled out a bit.

Not only would it help them, but it would open doors of conversation with us wherein we just might be able to talk about truth and love each other - at the same time!! And then maybe - just maybe - point each other to the truths of Scripture where both sides can be conformed to it, not to a man made agenda.

Should You Get a PhD? or Smart Grad Schoolers: Now, Why Do You Want that PhD?

Some wise thoughts by Carl Trueman

http://theologica.blogspot.com/2009/07/truemans-speech-to-those-thinking-about.html

The Pastor-Like Life: In Review

Well, my month long series entitled "The Pastor-Like Life" concluded this past Sunday. The themes we covered were: preaching, community caring, leadership, and suffering. My overall sense of the response was twofold: 1) appreciation/blessing and 2)dissonance and further question. My response to the response? Thankfulness. Yes, even for the latter reaction.

Preaching should be Biblical. But, Biblical not only refers to content (a text of Scripture) but ethos as well, the rhetorical affect of God's inspired word. The word teaches, reproves, rebukes, and trains (2 Tim 3.16ff) indeed. But, then there is the instrumentality issue. How does the word do this? Obviously the power of the Spirit, but again I ask: by what means? Sometimes by clear and straightforward propositional assertion that creates categories of truth and affirmation in our minds. But, sometimes by getting you off balance emotionally, forcing you to ask more questions than you came with. However, then it invites you back into the text and ultimately back into God himself, not only for answers (at least pedantically understood) but also simple confidence and assurance that God is God and he is good and loving and in control. Put another way, sometimes Biblical preaching just gets you to trust the Lord more, regardless of how finely your thinking was shaped doctrinally. You never want to divorce doctrine and personal growth, but both are not always in full balance or highly definable at the moment of exhortation.

So, I think the series taught people about what pastors are called to. I think they will hopefully have a more Biblical set of expectations for us and pray for us more accurately and faithfully. I think College Church realizes more deeply that they are all ministers of the gospel in some fashion and will begin to live that out more. But, for many people, they are left with: huh, I haven't totally got my mind around what Jay (and Scripture really) was after, but I stand intrigued and desirous to learn more. If that is the case, then I am quite thankful and I think God was glorified. If that was the case, then people are now in the process of true growth as followers of Jesus.