The "Center" of Paul's Theology

Here is something to ponder, if you have the occasion to meditate on it. I have begun a series in 2 Timothy, and on Sunday I tried (emphasis on tried!) to convey a sense of what is at the "center," the middle, the focus, of Paul's writing. Here is a summary by Gordon Fee that is worth pondering (and there is a lot to ponder, as it is very concise):
"Through the death and resurrection of his Son Jesus, our Lord, a gracious and loving God has effected eschatological salvation for his new covenant people, the church, who now, as they await Christ's coming, live the life of the future by the power of the [Holy] Spirit." (God's Empowering Presence, p. 12).
I realize for many (muself included) that is too dense to digest. Think about it, though. Ponder it. In Christ, we live the life of the future (the life of 'the age to come' in Paul's epistles, also called "eternal life" or just "life" in John's gospel; also called the life of the kingdom of God/heaven in Matthew and Mark). And it is life lived in the church--and it is life lived in the fallen world ("this present age").
Like I said, a lot to think about.

New Blog to Follow

While there are several blogs that I occasionally look up, just to see what is of interest there, from bloggers whom I often find insightful, here is a blog that has had a lot of interesting stuff from a variety of sources--including some good Christ-centered reflection on "secular" sources. It is the blog of David Murray, a Scotsman who teaches at the Puritan Reformed Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI.
Much of what he blogs about has to do with leadership, or with pastoral ministry. But a good deal of it is for everyone. Check it out.

What does a Christian write for the Harvard Business Review?

Here's what--based on a graduation speech to the Harvard Business School class of 2010. A bit lengthy, but well worth a read. Incidentally, David Brooks commented on this in the New York Times, also a very worthwhile read (and much shorter!).

"How-to" and "What-to" Preaching

I've had several conversations in the last few days about why at our church (and other gospel-centered churches) preachers do not tell congregations, very specifically, what to or what not to do (or how to, or not to, do something). Here is why.
Let me use the example of offensive language (since I used a marginally offensive word in a sermon recently, as I was told :)). Say I preached a sermon with this title: "Words That Should Never Come out of a Christian's Mouth." And I produced a list of the kinds of language Christians should never use, all with biblical quotations to back up why this or that word or phrase is inappropriate or downright evil. I might even go on to say how bad people are who use such language, and they ought to watch out, for, referring to James 3:6, the tongue is "set on fire by hell itself."
Such a sermon would have one of two consequences in those who heard it:
First, there would be those who are not in the habit of using such words. They would hear this sermon, and think to themselves, "I got that box checked. I don't use such language. Whew! I must be a good Christian." In other words, it would produce a Pharisee.
Second, there would be those who are in the habit of using such language. They would hear the sermon and say to themselves, "Man, I just can't do it. I might as well give up. I'm never going to be able to stop swearing. I must be a horrible Christian. Maybe I'm not a Christian at all." In other words, it would produce a drop-out.
Pharisees and drop outs. Neither group would be affected at all by the gospel. The Pharisee is self-righteous, and sees no need for the gospel. The drop-out is crushed, and sees no hope in the gospel. I have not, therefore, preached the gospel at all, no matter how "practical" my sermon, no matter how easily I can go to work on Monday and "apply" it to my life.
But there is another reason why we don't preach sermons whose main points are "how-to" or "what-to." It is because when God's Word gives God's commandments, they are never such as can be directly "applied" on Monday morning, to our complete satisfaction. God never commands us things like, "don't leave home without kissing your wife as you go out the door." That would be doable, so that if I did that consistently I would have reason to feel self-righteous. No, God gives us big commandments like, "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her." Kissing my wife every time I go out the door may be a good thing, and may be consistent with that commandment, but the commandment is much, much too big for me to ever feel like, "I got that box checked off! I must be a good husband!"
That's why we always preach the gospel. That's why we never preach God's commandments without a strong dose of the gospel (by which our righteousness, our boasting, is found in Christ and him alone because he died and rose again). God's commandments are so big that they deal not with externals, but with our hearts. And our hearts are so warped that nothing short of the gospel of Jesus' death and resurrection has any hope of giving us any assurance, or of giving us hope that we might ever change for the better--or make progress toward keeping God's big commandments. For we always need gospel forgiveness, and gospel change. And that is what, above all, we preach.

At the Center of the Church Is a Well

Here's another book I have been reading. I was initially especially intrigued because the author was on my floor, over 20 years ago, when I was a Resident Asistant in college--though I'm sure he doesn't remember.
In one of the chapters he gives the image of the church as a ranch. But whereas we often think of the pastures of a ranch surrounded by fences--to keep the cattle in, as well as the neighbor's cattle out--perhaps a giant ranch is more to the point. On huge ranches it is impractical to build fences. Instead, the rancher digs a well. The cattle, if they don't want to die, will naturally stay close to the well.
As I read that, I thought of the woman at the well in John 4. She came to the well becaue that is where there is water. Jesus went to the well, because he had better water than was in the well--and he had it for people who needed it most.
The church, too, has the living water of the gospel. It is for people who need it--including those inside the church, and those outside the church. Those who know the water will stay close, if they are wise. But the well should also draw those who don't know the water yet--like the Samaritan woman. The fences should not be necessary to keep those who know the water in--and should not be in the way of those on the outside who want to come and taste the water.
I found that a different, and helpful, way to look at the church and the gospel the church offers.

Calling All Men

Recently Rick Phillips came out with a book on biblical masculinity, titled The Masculine Mandate. That seems to be a popular topic, though sometimes what is put forward is more testoneronal than biblical. That said, I haven't yet read it--but I have read this summary, and it has convinced me that I need to read the book. Hope you will find the same thing.

PCRT 2010

Over the past week or so I have been listening to the audio CD's of this year's Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology. The theme is "These Last Days: A Christian View of History." It is, not surprisingly, excellent (though I've only listened to the first two sessions so far). What is the history and future of the world God made? How is Christ the key player in that history and future? What is the role of human culture in that history? How does human culture interact with God's redemptive work in Christ, and his church? Where do we find ourselves in the grand purposes of God for the world he made? It is excellent stuff. I'll be glad to lend it to you--it will give you good stuff to listen to on your commute (that's where I mostly listen to it, if not in the office). If you can afford it, order your own from www.alliancenet.org. Unfortunately, it is not (yet?) available for download (someone ought to put a bug in their ear about that, really!).

I've been reading a good book the last week or so--am almost done with it. One of the many, many trends in our day among evangelicals is to leave the "institutional" church, and to get together with a few friends for fellowship instead. While that is an extreme response to the challenges of the church (and one which, incidentally, Christ the Head of the Church does NOT commend in the Bible), we all know that being a member of Christ's church--particularly a local church--has its moments.
This is a book that, while it adresses the extreme of leaving the organized church altogether, also positively gives a wonderful vision for not only tolerating, but loving Christ's Church--and our local church. If you'd like to borrow if, please do (I should be done reading it by next week).
By the way, this book is not scholarly--you won't get bogged down by it.