I've still been thinking and lurking-reading the continuing "Strange Fire" and John Macarthur controversy. I do look forward to reading the book when it becomes available in this country at some point. But the issue Macarthur has with "charismatic" worship does deserve careful thought. Do the songs we sing and love potentially deceive and lead us astray? Or in fact do they bring us close to the Throne of Grace and a living encounter with the Risen Son of God?
There are two scenarios I can think of in my church experience. The more reformed/functional cessationist settings were my home church in Dunstable when Stanley Jebb had taken it out of the charismatic movement and essentially banned all choruses. We sang hymns and raising of hands was not approved (and tongues were most certainly forbidden!). The other reformed/functional cessationist situation was when I lived in Bristol and attended the SGM church for 2 years - and most of their SGM songs were "cross-centered".
The other scenario of course has been the charismatic churches I have attended, and the glorious conferences that seek to teach the whole gospel - Cross through to ascension and glorification and outpoured Holy Spirit. Now cessationists would shudder I am sure at the examples I present - but if you can ignore the raised arms and upturned faces to heaven - hear the words!
I love particularly;
"You have overcome the grave, Your glory fills the highest place - what can seperate me now? You tore the veil, You made a way when You said that it is done!!".
And this amazing one; "Worthy is the Lamb! Seated on the Throne! I crown You now with many crowns - You reign victorious! High and lifted up - Jesus Son of God! The Darling of Heaven crucified - worthy is the Lamb".
How much more Gospel-filled can you get?! Because the fact is - the Son of God isn't hanging on a cross broken and dying. So what is the point of "kneeling at the old rugged cross"? Of course we will be forever grateful for His sacrifice, but like Pilgrim in John Bunyan's classic - that is where our burdens roll away! We are then free to stand and march on towards the Celestial City knowing that one day we will see Him face to face!
I would just add a final video which I think strikes powerfully at the heart of this "charismatic/cessationist" controversy. It is by Noel Tredinnick - the Music Director at All Souls Church Langham Place (neither person nor church could be called charismatic in any way!). But Tredinnick was speaking about worship in particular - the wonderful "Prom Praise" concerts held yearly at the Royal Albert Hall in London. And he said this (the video is below);
"Now worship is two-way. Our hearts are being lifted through the music to Christ. We are adoring Him - we are singing our praise to the living Saviour. That is one way - the arrow is going up. But at the same time there is that moment, where God comes down if you like. The veil of His robe fills the temple - His Presence. There is a sense of His holiness where God is coming down into our midst - and that is a very exciting moment to behold".
I would suggest that is the issue. Cessationists want to (as it seems) put God in heaven and leave Him there. And to suggest that He is not only willing but eager to come down and reside among His people seems to shock and horrify them. That's nothing new - it was apparent throughout revivals through the centuries. There have ALWAYS been the rigid prayer meetings continuing to meet weekly to pray for revival, even though outside and around them God is saving souls by the thousands. It is that eagerness to see God come - I think - which perhaps leads some charismatics to embrace experience that is of the flesh.
But that is no excuse to change one's theology and limit God to what He can and cannot do - as Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones said quite rightly - the greatest sin of the evangelical church and all that is wrong with "Strange Fire". As this post was touching on worship - it seems appropriate to end with another version of "The Power of the Cross" sung by Chris Bowater at the (also charismatic) Bible Week - "Grapevine".
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
A Word of Balance!
I am concious that John Macarthur and his "Strange Fire" conference has provoked me back into blogging thoughts but that I may have become guilty of becoming a "charismatic Macarthur" - i.e. I hate his absolute, judgemental and unloving language (and always have done since the days I read "Charismatic Chaos" in Dunstable).
I was determined therefore thanks to yet another sleepless night to expose myself to Macarthur's broader ministry and thoughts - of which I know not a great deal. I found this video during a conference where Phil Johnson interviews Macarthur on a few points:
Points of agreement:
1. The New International Version (in relation to Macarthur being invited to write an NIV Study Bible)
PJ: It is (NIV) not your favourite translation?
Macarthur: It is NOT my favourite translation. The question is ... does anyone reading the NIV actually care what it (the text) means?!
I wince at (again) Macarthur's broad suggestion that all NIV readers are ... less than theological (although I confess to laughing). I too dislike the NIV and prefer (and always have) the KJV or the NASB!
2. Mark Driscoll and his comments/book on marriage and sex.
I've never made any secret of being less than a fan of Mark Driscoll. I have no doubt his unique ministry is spreading the gospel and reaching the lost in his way. I just hate his macho-school-bullish-rude attitude and behaviour. His recent publicity stunt at appearing at the "Strange Fire" conference less than impressed me either. I thought it hilarious that security (he claimed) confiscated his books, but was again shocked he distorted the truth seemingly. But also his views on the Song of Solomon and marriage - disturb me.
PJ: You didn't make any recent comment about Mark Driscoll's recent book "Real Marriage" - do you want to?
Macarthur: Commercialism. There is such a beautiful dignity to the way the Scripture speaks of marriage, such a precious veiled way in which even the intimacies of marriage are alluded to in Scripture. That maintains it's intimacy and personal nature and beauty without painting it in commonly used pornographic laungage. I think these are things that shouldn't be said, don't need to be said and pander to interests in the part of people. The last thing you would ever want for the people who gather before you to hear the Word of God is to have their minds filled with your sort of uncouth, unclean speech and images that go with it.
There I COMPLETELY agree! That is the way I was brought up under Dr Stanley Jebb. That's the way I was raised to view marriage as beautifully portrayed by my parents.
Another fascinating Q and A session I found from the Shepherds Conference focuses around John Macarthur, Al Mohler and Ligon Duncan's preference for using a pen to prepare a sermon rather than a computer! As a geek - I stand convicted (not that I prepare sermons!).
I was determined therefore thanks to yet another sleepless night to expose myself to Macarthur's broader ministry and thoughts - of which I know not a great deal. I found this video during a conference where Phil Johnson interviews Macarthur on a few points:
Points of agreement:
1. The New International Version (in relation to Macarthur being invited to write an NIV Study Bible)
PJ: It is (NIV) not your favourite translation?
Macarthur: It is NOT my favourite translation. The question is ... does anyone reading the NIV actually care what it (the text) means?!
I wince at (again) Macarthur's broad suggestion that all NIV readers are ... less than theological (although I confess to laughing). I too dislike the NIV and prefer (and always have) the KJV or the NASB!
2. Mark Driscoll and his comments/book on marriage and sex.
I've never made any secret of being less than a fan of Mark Driscoll. I have no doubt his unique ministry is spreading the gospel and reaching the lost in his way. I just hate his macho-school-bullish-rude attitude and behaviour. His recent publicity stunt at appearing at the "Strange Fire" conference less than impressed me either. I thought it hilarious that security (he claimed) confiscated his books, but was again shocked he distorted the truth seemingly. But also his views on the Song of Solomon and marriage - disturb me.
PJ: You didn't make any recent comment about Mark Driscoll's recent book "Real Marriage" - do you want to?
Macarthur: Commercialism. There is such a beautiful dignity to the way the Scripture speaks of marriage, such a precious veiled way in which even the intimacies of marriage are alluded to in Scripture. That maintains it's intimacy and personal nature and beauty without painting it in commonly used pornographic laungage. I think these are things that shouldn't be said, don't need to be said and pander to interests in the part of people. The last thing you would ever want for the people who gather before you to hear the Word of God is to have their minds filled with your sort of uncouth, unclean speech and images that go with it.
There I COMPLETELY agree! That is the way I was brought up under Dr Stanley Jebb. That's the way I was raised to view marriage as beautifully portrayed by my parents.
Another fascinating Q and A session I found from the Shepherds Conference focuses around John Macarthur, Al Mohler and Ligon Duncan's preference for using a pen to prepare a sermon rather than a computer! As a geek - I stand convicted (not that I prepare sermons!).
Monday, October 21, 2013
Excellent Robust Answer to John Macarthur - by Andrew Wilson
I was really pleased to see this robust answer to Macarthur and his "Strange Fire" silliness by one of Newfrontiers (sorry I don't know which "sphere" Wilson fits in these days!) brightest and best theologians - Andrew Wilson from Eastbourne.
Here's the article:
"Unfriendly Fire"
Following my response to the cessationist arguments put forward at Strange Fire, here are three further comments about the content of the conference, after having reflected a bit more on the whole thing.
In no particular order:
“Creeds and confessions.” In his final session, John MacArthur made the extraordinary statement that cessationism is delineated in the “creeds and confessions” of the church. Well: no it isn’t. It’s delineated in some of the Reformed confessions, including Westminster (as Kevin DeYoung explains here), and there are good historical reasons, given the nature of medieval and early modern Catholicism, for the caution expressed by the early Reformers towards miraculous claims. But you won’t find it in any of the creeds: the biblical creeds, Irenaeus’ rule, either version of the Nicene creed, the Chalcedonian definition, the Athanasian creed, the Apostles’ creed, or (as far as I know) any ecumenical creed at any point in the first millennium of Christianity. So while MacArthur’s statement gives the impression of an ecclesiastical consensus stretching from the first to twentieth centuries, what he is actually referring to is a collection of sixteenth and seventeenth century affirmations - as valuable as they certainly are! - amongst Reformed Protestants. By all means, say that Calvinists have generally been cessationist, but don’t imply that the entire church has.
90% of Charismatics aren’t Christians. I have no idea where this number comes from - research, intuition, the clear blue sky - but it is nowhere substantiated, extremely judgmental (what on earth entitles anyone to say that of professing Jesus-followers they have never met?), and strangely self-referential (since a huge number of those who reject miraculous gifts today are not Christians either. I feel certain Richard Dawkins does, for example). It is also a terrible way to argue: it is quite possible that 90% of paedobaptists are Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, but I’m sure MacArthur wouldn’t accept that as an argument against paedobaptism. This silliness needs to be called out for what it is.
Babies and bathwater. One of the dangers of responding to a conference like Strange Fire, ironically, is that its very extremism makes it easy to throw the baby out with the bathwater - which is precisely what John MacArthur himself does with charismatic gifts. Yet when we peel away the inflammatory remarks, unfair representations and (in my view) arrogant judgments which have been made, there remains an important kernel of truth to what MacArthur and others are saying. There is a lot of nonsense in the global charismatic movement. Leaders within it, myself included, do not speak out against much of it with the clarity and courage needed to identify the true from the false. The exegetical foundations for various charismatic practices are much shakier than many believe (the silly link from “they were accused of drunkenness at Pentecost” to “and therefore that legitimates any bizarro practice I feel like engaging in” being an obvious, and sadly frequent, example). The prosperity gospel is a genuine threat to biblical Christianity, and is also much more closely embedded in the global charismatic movement than many of us in the UK realise. It is common to attribute babbling, blessed thoughts and psychosomatic, temporary physical improvement to the Holy Spirit, without discernment or appropriate reflection. And so on. MacArthur and others have, sadly, thrown very valuable babies out with the dirty bathwater during this conference; let the rest of us not copy his example by ignoring the valid and important points he and others have made, or (which would be equally damaging) tarring all cessationists with the same brush.
In many ways, it’s been a sad week for evangelicalism. But if we respond wisely, as many have, there are plenty of ways in which the fire of God will increase, rather than diminish, in our midst. “And the God who answers by fire - he is God” (1 Kings 18:24).
Here's the article:
"Unfriendly Fire"
Following my response to the cessationist arguments put forward at Strange Fire, here are three further comments about the content of the conference, after having reflected a bit more on the whole thing.
In no particular order:
“Creeds and confessions.” In his final session, John MacArthur made the extraordinary statement that cessationism is delineated in the “creeds and confessions” of the church. Well: no it isn’t. It’s delineated in some of the Reformed confessions, including Westminster (as Kevin DeYoung explains here), and there are good historical reasons, given the nature of medieval and early modern Catholicism, for the caution expressed by the early Reformers towards miraculous claims. But you won’t find it in any of the creeds: the biblical creeds, Irenaeus’ rule, either version of the Nicene creed, the Chalcedonian definition, the Athanasian creed, the Apostles’ creed, or (as far as I know) any ecumenical creed at any point in the first millennium of Christianity. So while MacArthur’s statement gives the impression of an ecclesiastical consensus stretching from the first to twentieth centuries, what he is actually referring to is a collection of sixteenth and seventeenth century affirmations - as valuable as they certainly are! - amongst Reformed Protestants. By all means, say that Calvinists have generally been cessationist, but don’t imply that the entire church has.
90% of Charismatics aren’t Christians. I have no idea where this number comes from - research, intuition, the clear blue sky - but it is nowhere substantiated, extremely judgmental (what on earth entitles anyone to say that of professing Jesus-followers they have never met?), and strangely self-referential (since a huge number of those who reject miraculous gifts today are not Christians either. I feel certain Richard Dawkins does, for example). It is also a terrible way to argue: it is quite possible that 90% of paedobaptists are Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox, but I’m sure MacArthur wouldn’t accept that as an argument against paedobaptism. This silliness needs to be called out for what it is.
Babies and bathwater. One of the dangers of responding to a conference like Strange Fire, ironically, is that its very extremism makes it easy to throw the baby out with the bathwater - which is precisely what John MacArthur himself does with charismatic gifts. Yet when we peel away the inflammatory remarks, unfair representations and (in my view) arrogant judgments which have been made, there remains an important kernel of truth to what MacArthur and others are saying. There is a lot of nonsense in the global charismatic movement. Leaders within it, myself included, do not speak out against much of it with the clarity and courage needed to identify the true from the false. The exegetical foundations for various charismatic practices are much shakier than many believe (the silly link from “they were accused of drunkenness at Pentecost” to “and therefore that legitimates any bizarro practice I feel like engaging in” being an obvious, and sadly frequent, example). The prosperity gospel is a genuine threat to biblical Christianity, and is also much more closely embedded in the global charismatic movement than many of us in the UK realise. It is common to attribute babbling, blessed thoughts and psychosomatic, temporary physical improvement to the Holy Spirit, without discernment or appropriate reflection. And so on. MacArthur and others have, sadly, thrown very valuable babies out with the dirty bathwater during this conference; let the rest of us not copy his example by ignoring the valid and important points he and others have made, or (which would be equally damaging) tarring all cessationists with the same brush.
In many ways, it’s been a sad week for evangelicalism. But if we respond wisely, as many have, there are plenty of ways in which the fire of God will increase, rather than diminish, in our midst. “And the God who answers by fire - he is God” (1 Kings 18:24).
"This Movement (Charismatic) has Diminished Music" - John Macarthur
One of the aspects of the "Strange Fire" conference that slightly staggered me and infuriated me was the utter lack of logic and consistency reported by men who proudly call themselves "men of the Word" - and indeed near the end of Macarthur's final session seems to proudly liken himself to Timothy "guarding divine revelation". What do I mean by that? Macarthur made many blunt and straightforward statements that many of his "spin doctor" fans sought to water down. To be fair to Macarthur (and I respect him for it, as much as I find his sheer arrogance dislikable) - he didn't seek to do so.
And he stated rather proudly he doesn't care about offending people. So I feel little shame in joining the right and proper robust responses against him.
He stated charismatics are, in his eyes, unsaved - and he stuck by it. But even he seemed to flounder a little when confronting issues such as the fact that equally credible and respected theologians such as John Piper or Wayne Grudem would not agree with his hyper-cessationist, anti-charismatic views. Adrian Warnock reported from the Q and A session in the conference that he seemed to bluster;
"With John Piper, that is a complete anomaly. That is just so off everything else about him ... Even Wayne Grudem. I look at this as an anomaly [in his theology]. I don’t know and don’t need to know where this impulse comes from".
The thrust of Macarthur's argument too about worship seems highly inconsistent. His spin-doctor fans on Twitter seem to claim "of course he is not throwing the entire baby out with the bathwater" - apparently Macarthur likes Stuart Townend's "The Power of the Cross". Whether he does or doesn't, or maybe doesn't realise Townend comes from Newfrontiers flagship church "Church of Christ the King" in Brighton - he is clear on his views of charismatic worship offering to the church universal. Challies reports;
"MacArthur disagrees with this opinion. He is convinced that the contemporary style of music in the charismatic movement is the entry point of false doctrine into our churches. A church rooted in historical doctrine and hymns will be reluctant to embrace this music. This movement has diminished music by taking it out of the area of the mind and reduces it to feelings of the flesh".
There are thousands of songs from charismatic songwriters I could quote but as "the Power of the Cross" was cited - let's focus on that;
I love this song because it particularly highlights and preaches the power of the complete gospel. And if Macarthur maybe would claim that this song from Townend is an "anomoly" like he sees Piper and Grudem's more charismatic pneumatology - I would rather counter that I think (I don't know - I haven't heard a testimony of how he wrote it) but actually Stuart Townend's charismatic experience and encounters with God indeed aided and inspired him to see the glorious gospel in it's entirety!
A key example of this is - to me - the baptism of the Holy Spirit (and for clarity's sake - I remain Lloyd-Jonesian in my understanding of this). Macarthur presumably would class this among other "demonic" doctrines. But I loved the way that Terry Virgo at Stoneleigh Bible Week 2000 drew the vital paralell between the ascension of Jesus the risen Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. For those with no time to hear the clip - here's what Terry said;
"Every person filled with the Holy Spirit is a proof and demonstration that Jesus Christ is not a corpse in some hidden cave in the Middle East. Every Christian filled with the Holy Spirit is proof that He ascended on high ... only resurrected, ascended Messiah's can give the Holy Spirit. Dead corpses aren't very good at it. It is a demonstration He is alive! It is His coronation gift!".
I would counter Macarthur's vitriol that the charismatic movement has spread in such entirety because it is "offering the world what it wants" - rather I think the charismatic movement is reminded the church what real life in the New Covenant is. Of course I would not claim, as some charismatics do, that reformed evangelicals are "dry, dead and dusty" (although some are). Neither would I claim that ALL charismatic churches are "alive, exciting and in right relationship with the risen Christ".
I actually believe that many charismatic movements and streams have become dry, flabby and complacent. Back in the 1970s and 80s there was much talk of "building a house for God". House churches thrived and there was a passion to relive New Covenant life. There are many charismatic (so-called) churches I visit and one can almost predict what "gift" will be manifested. And this complacency has no-doubt fuelled Macarthur and other anti-charismatic views.
Suddenly (thanks to people like Mark Driscoll - well-intended as he is) the focus has become "mission" - and the endless buzz word is "mission". If your church is not "missional" then you should be ashamed of yourself - we are led to believe. Many charismatic churches have seemed to have forgotten that true life in the Spirit and an enjoyment of the Presence of God naturally leads to a passion for the lost.
As John Piper said;
"Mission exists because worship doesn't".
Oh that many of us could remember the words of Terry Virgo at Stoneleigh Bible Week 1998 - we are a "dwelling place for God in the Spirit". Oh for churches springing up (or being revived truly) across the UK. Less of the silly counterfeit and more of reality!!
And he stated rather proudly he doesn't care about offending people. So I feel little shame in joining the right and proper robust responses against him.
He stated charismatics are, in his eyes, unsaved - and he stuck by it. But even he seemed to flounder a little when confronting issues such as the fact that equally credible and respected theologians such as John Piper or Wayne Grudem would not agree with his hyper-cessationist, anti-charismatic views. Adrian Warnock reported from the Q and A session in the conference that he seemed to bluster;
"With John Piper, that is a complete anomaly. That is just so off everything else about him ... Even Wayne Grudem. I look at this as an anomaly [in his theology]. I don’t know and don’t need to know where this impulse comes from".
The thrust of Macarthur's argument too about worship seems highly inconsistent. His spin-doctor fans on Twitter seem to claim "of course he is not throwing the entire baby out with the bathwater" - apparently Macarthur likes Stuart Townend's "The Power of the Cross". Whether he does or doesn't, or maybe doesn't realise Townend comes from Newfrontiers flagship church "Church of Christ the King" in Brighton - he is clear on his views of charismatic worship offering to the church universal. Challies reports;
"MacArthur disagrees with this opinion. He is convinced that the contemporary style of music in the charismatic movement is the entry point of false doctrine into our churches. A church rooted in historical doctrine and hymns will be reluctant to embrace this music. This movement has diminished music by taking it out of the area of the mind and reduces it to feelings of the flesh".
There are thousands of songs from charismatic songwriters I could quote but as "the Power of the Cross" was cited - let's focus on that;
I love this song because it particularly highlights and preaches the power of the complete gospel. And if Macarthur maybe would claim that this song from Townend is an "anomoly" like he sees Piper and Grudem's more charismatic pneumatology - I would rather counter that I think (I don't know - I haven't heard a testimony of how he wrote it) but actually Stuart Townend's charismatic experience and encounters with God indeed aided and inspired him to see the glorious gospel in it's entirety!
A key example of this is - to me - the baptism of the Holy Spirit (and for clarity's sake - I remain Lloyd-Jonesian in my understanding of this). Macarthur presumably would class this among other "demonic" doctrines. But I loved the way that Terry Virgo at Stoneleigh Bible Week 2000 drew the vital paralell between the ascension of Jesus the risen Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. For those with no time to hear the clip - here's what Terry said;
"Every person filled with the Holy Spirit is a proof and demonstration that Jesus Christ is not a corpse in some hidden cave in the Middle East. Every Christian filled with the Holy Spirit is proof that He ascended on high ... only resurrected, ascended Messiah's can give the Holy Spirit. Dead corpses aren't very good at it. It is a demonstration He is alive! It is His coronation gift!".
I would counter Macarthur's vitriol that the charismatic movement has spread in such entirety because it is "offering the world what it wants" - rather I think the charismatic movement is reminded the church what real life in the New Covenant is. Of course I would not claim, as some charismatics do, that reformed evangelicals are "dry, dead and dusty" (although some are). Neither would I claim that ALL charismatic churches are "alive, exciting and in right relationship with the risen Christ".
I actually believe that many charismatic movements and streams have become dry, flabby and complacent. Back in the 1970s and 80s there was much talk of "building a house for God". House churches thrived and there was a passion to relive New Covenant life. There are many charismatic (so-called) churches I visit and one can almost predict what "gift" will be manifested. And this complacency has no-doubt fuelled Macarthur and other anti-charismatic views.
Suddenly (thanks to people like Mark Driscoll - well-intended as he is) the focus has become "mission" - and the endless buzz word is "mission". If your church is not "missional" then you should be ashamed of yourself - we are led to believe. Many charismatic churches have seemed to have forgotten that true life in the Spirit and an enjoyment of the Presence of God naturally leads to a passion for the lost.
As John Piper said;
"Mission exists because worship doesn't".
Oh that many of us could remember the words of Terry Virgo at Stoneleigh Bible Week 1998 - we are a "dwelling place for God in the Spirit". Oh for churches springing up (or being revived truly) across the UK. Less of the silly counterfeit and more of reality!!
Sunday, October 20, 2013
An Endless Optimistic/Oft Disappointed Charismatic is Grateful for Strange Fire!
I've been reflecting on and following some of the Twitter feed discussing John Macarthur's "Strange Fire" conference and I am actually becoming increasingly grateful both personally and as a church observer for what it has done. I think initially I was furious and thought "Here we go again" - re-living his influence on my beloved home church in Dunstable and the anti-charismatic spirit it brought.
But what it has done has made me reflect and remember why I AM an unashamed charismatic and STILL believe and hope and look for the encounters and interventions of God by His Spirit that the Word of God promises. I do bitterly regret the last few years of being "prone to wander" from God and His church but my hope and longing for Him has remained unchanged. I am aware that many of John Macarthur's spirit would immediately discount anything I have to say - "Well he's a backslider - and therefore probably unsaved anyway!". But the benefit to being on the outside of accepted church circles is that you can say what you like and not fear the consequences of being "excommunicated"! (I'm not sure if the double jeopardy legal principle applies to excommunication - I hope so).
A Small Testimony:
As I said in my previous post on "Strange Fire" I have been charismatic in theology and experience since I was baptised in the Holy Spirit back in 1999. But if I am honest I would say that while my theology and belief hasn't changed (if anything increased in longing) my experience hasn't been that much measured up to what many charismatics claim, believe or experience today. My beliefs and theology were built upon by much reading of many books after the senior pastor Dr Stanley Jebb changed his theology and thus the church's.
It wasn't long into my reading that a biographical sermon of John Piper's on Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones led me primarily to his glorious book "Joy Unspeakable" and then more broadly into the whole published works of the Doctor and his remarkable ministry (still take pride of place in my library!). I should add I still find it remarkable that my pastor Dr Jebb actually sat under Dr Lloyd-Jones for some time as part of his fatherly ministry to younger pastors - and I didn't seize on the link or pick up interest in Dr Lloyd-Jones over 18 years of being under Dr Jebb's ministry.
I heard balanced reformed/charismatics like Dr Ern Baxter (who rapidly became my number one hero!) and taught that a "tension" MUST be held between Word and Spirit. I think this explains my initial excitement when I first encountered C J Mahaney and PDI (now SGM) as well as of course my ongoing love and appreciation for Terry Virgo and Newfrontiers ("Fundamentally we are a Word and Spirit movement" - Terry Virgo, Brighton 2009). To go to Stoneleigh Bible Week in 1999 and 2000 and finally in 2001 was a taste of heaven itself almost! Heavenly worship and singing, the spiritual gifts in evidence and awesome preaching - a demonstration if you will of Ern Baxter's fervent belief that it WAS possible to experience God in all His fullness as the Word of God lays out!
Seeking More:
Throughout my life I have sought to look for and hunger for more, and have had the opportunity to go to many conferences or hear great or renowned men and women of God. For example I went with my dear friend Pete Day to the Word, Spirit and Power Conference at Westminster Chapel in London in 2001. We heard and saw Dr R T Kendall (a man I already hugely respected) but also Paul Cain - a famous (now infamous) prophet who had links back to the Kansas City Prophet movement. I had heard his prophecies were acutely accurate and so I was fascinated, open and hungry to see him.
Was I impressed? If I'm honest - not particularly. I couldn't say in integrity any of his prophecies were as I had heard. Did that make me discount the gift of prophecy? No. Of course now it is well known that Paul Cain has fallen into sin - and for many that discounts him and his gift. Does it mean any of his prophecies were not true? No. It just means that Paul Cain was and is a human being and "prone to wander".
Through that conference we heard that Rodney Howard-Browne (of Toronto Blessing fame) was coming to speak at Westminster Chapel at R T Kendall's invitation. So me and my dad went down. Our church "missed" the Toronto Blessing due to Stanley Jebb's views on it - and I was eager to see if there was anything in it!
Was I impressed? Again not particularly. I wasn't "slain in the Spirit". At one point Rodney got us all to join hands and sing some sort of "silly" song and people at the end of our pew did fall - hence I "almost" did! It didn't bother or impress me, but neither did it make me discount the present moving of the Holy Spirit and the fact that some have been touched powerfully by God through Rodney's ministry.
Probably the most powerful visit I did make was a few years back, when I travelled alone to Hong Kong and to the very FIRST (and as yet only!) "Glory and Grace Conference" hosted by the incredible Rob Rufus and City Church International. I did encounter God powerfully, became over-awed by the true glory of the gospel and the power of the Cross and His resurrection and what that meant for me personally (far more in that one week than I had attending a Sovereign Grace ministries "cross-obsessed" church for 2 years!)
Strange Fire?:
These initial experiences made me hunger to know more of God, alongside reading the Bible about promises such as from 1 Corinthians 14:24 and 25;
"But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you".
To me this is one of the clearest Scriptural indicators of the potential power of the prophetic gift. I admit I have not seen unbelievers convicted by much of modern prophecy today. But just because I have not seen or experienced it, does NOT take away from the Word of God! And one of my greatest frustrations with the cessationist viewpoint outlined by what seems like the WHOLE of the "Strange Fire" conference is exactly this;
Demonstration of excess and spurious means the genuine is not present or real.
RUBBISH! How can these men who so-called claim they honour and value the Word of God really discount entire portions of Scripture just by the presence of excess? I look forward to hearing the DVD strreams of "Strange Fire" but I am supremely unimpressed by Tim Challies summaries of the complete lack of exposition - particularly by alleged-"excellent" Bible teacher John Macarthur himself.
It seems appropriate to end this reflection by re-quoting Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones;
"The greatest sin of the evangelical church is to put God into a box and tell Him what He can and cannot do".
That is the only "Strange Fire" I see - but I remain grateful to Macarthur et al for re-stirring a passion within me to seek God through His Holy Spirit. I have sorely missed Him these past two years!
Reformed and Charismatic from Terry Virgo on Vimeo.
But what it has done has made me reflect and remember why I AM an unashamed charismatic and STILL believe and hope and look for the encounters and interventions of God by His Spirit that the Word of God promises. I do bitterly regret the last few years of being "prone to wander" from God and His church but my hope and longing for Him has remained unchanged. I am aware that many of John Macarthur's spirit would immediately discount anything I have to say - "Well he's a backslider - and therefore probably unsaved anyway!". But the benefit to being on the outside of accepted church circles is that you can say what you like and not fear the consequences of being "excommunicated"! (I'm not sure if the double jeopardy legal principle applies to excommunication - I hope so).
A Small Testimony:
As I said in my previous post on "Strange Fire" I have been charismatic in theology and experience since I was baptised in the Holy Spirit back in 1999. But if I am honest I would say that while my theology and belief hasn't changed (if anything increased in longing) my experience hasn't been that much measured up to what many charismatics claim, believe or experience today. My beliefs and theology were built upon by much reading of many books after the senior pastor Dr Stanley Jebb changed his theology and thus the church's.
It wasn't long into my reading that a biographical sermon of John Piper's on Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones led me primarily to his glorious book "Joy Unspeakable" and then more broadly into the whole published works of the Doctor and his remarkable ministry (still take pride of place in my library!). I should add I still find it remarkable that my pastor Dr Jebb actually sat under Dr Lloyd-Jones for some time as part of his fatherly ministry to younger pastors - and I didn't seize on the link or pick up interest in Dr Lloyd-Jones over 18 years of being under Dr Jebb's ministry.
I heard balanced reformed/charismatics like Dr Ern Baxter (who rapidly became my number one hero!) and taught that a "tension" MUST be held between Word and Spirit. I think this explains my initial excitement when I first encountered C J Mahaney and PDI (now SGM) as well as of course my ongoing love and appreciation for Terry Virgo and Newfrontiers ("Fundamentally we are a Word and Spirit movement" - Terry Virgo, Brighton 2009). To go to Stoneleigh Bible Week in 1999 and 2000 and finally in 2001 was a taste of heaven itself almost! Heavenly worship and singing, the spiritual gifts in evidence and awesome preaching - a demonstration if you will of Ern Baxter's fervent belief that it WAS possible to experience God in all His fullness as the Word of God lays out!
Seeking More:
Throughout my life I have sought to look for and hunger for more, and have had the opportunity to go to many conferences or hear great or renowned men and women of God. For example I went with my dear friend Pete Day to the Word, Spirit and Power Conference at Westminster Chapel in London in 2001. We heard and saw Dr R T Kendall (a man I already hugely respected) but also Paul Cain - a famous (now infamous) prophet who had links back to the Kansas City Prophet movement. I had heard his prophecies were acutely accurate and so I was fascinated, open and hungry to see him.
Was I impressed? If I'm honest - not particularly. I couldn't say in integrity any of his prophecies were as I had heard. Did that make me discount the gift of prophecy? No. Of course now it is well known that Paul Cain has fallen into sin - and for many that discounts him and his gift. Does it mean any of his prophecies were not true? No. It just means that Paul Cain was and is a human being and "prone to wander".
Through that conference we heard that Rodney Howard-Browne (of Toronto Blessing fame) was coming to speak at Westminster Chapel at R T Kendall's invitation. So me and my dad went down. Our church "missed" the Toronto Blessing due to Stanley Jebb's views on it - and I was eager to see if there was anything in it!
Was I impressed? Again not particularly. I wasn't "slain in the Spirit". At one point Rodney got us all to join hands and sing some sort of "silly" song and people at the end of our pew did fall - hence I "almost" did! It didn't bother or impress me, but neither did it make me discount the present moving of the Holy Spirit and the fact that some have been touched powerfully by God through Rodney's ministry.
Probably the most powerful visit I did make was a few years back, when I travelled alone to Hong Kong and to the very FIRST (and as yet only!) "Glory and Grace Conference" hosted by the incredible Rob Rufus and City Church International. I did encounter God powerfully, became over-awed by the true glory of the gospel and the power of the Cross and His resurrection and what that meant for me personally (far more in that one week than I had attending a Sovereign Grace ministries "cross-obsessed" church for 2 years!)
Strange Fire?:
These initial experiences made me hunger to know more of God, alongside reading the Bible about promises such as from 1 Corinthians 14:24 and 25;
"But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you".
To me this is one of the clearest Scriptural indicators of the potential power of the prophetic gift. I admit I have not seen unbelievers convicted by much of modern prophecy today. But just because I have not seen or experienced it, does NOT take away from the Word of God! And one of my greatest frustrations with the cessationist viewpoint outlined by what seems like the WHOLE of the "Strange Fire" conference is exactly this;
Demonstration of excess and spurious means the genuine is not present or real.
RUBBISH! How can these men who so-called claim they honour and value the Word of God really discount entire portions of Scripture just by the presence of excess? I look forward to hearing the DVD strreams of "Strange Fire" but I am supremely unimpressed by Tim Challies summaries of the complete lack of exposition - particularly by alleged-"excellent" Bible teacher John Macarthur himself.
It seems appropriate to end this reflection by re-quoting Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones;
"The greatest sin of the evangelical church is to put God into a box and tell Him what He can and cannot do".
That is the only "Strange Fire" I see - but I remain grateful to Macarthur et al for re-stirring a passion within me to seek God through His Holy Spirit. I have sorely missed Him these past two years!
Reformed and Charismatic from Terry Virgo on Vimeo.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
A (?)Backslider Sorta Grateful to John Macarthur
I realised when logging onto this blog that first and foremost it has been too long since I took pen to paper (because I had forgotten the password). And I was staggered at how long my personal "dark night of the soul" had stretched to. I have been through two years of intense personal difficulty and professional difficulty - this has had an inevitable impact on my personal life and health.
For the last few months I have been experiencing chest pain and high blood pressure. My cardiologist explained why. The body's "fight or flight" mechanism releases adrenaline into your body to enable you to respond appropriately to what is worrying you. However if you are facing "chronic stressors" as I was at work through initially bullying and then professional questioning - and there is no let-up, then the adrenaline begins to convert and change and this leads to blocking of coronary arteries (as is the case with me).
There have been other horrid symptoms too but that is for another time and another testimony. What I CAN testify to is that while God has seemed remarkably absent, I am here, I am alive and I still fervently believe in Him - so it must be due to "grace that has brought us safe thus far".
I would not say I am "back to normal" with belief and relationships with God, and certainly not normal relationships with His church (thanks to SGM and my experiences there). But I am getting there! And as John Piper said - if you are even facing in the right direction, that is testament to grace. I thought my first blog would be a testimony to what I have experienced. But John Macarthur intervened - by organising his "Strange Fire" conference
Background with Macarthur:
I should explain my history with John Macarthur. I was baptised in the Holy Spirit in 1999 just after going away to university in Birmingham UK. A leading pastor called Nick Cuthbert (who at the time led Riverside Church) preached on this subject and asked; "Have you received?". Although I had accepted fully the gospel 10 years earlier, I concluded I had no encounter or experience of the Holy Spirit and my faith was mainly cerebral and legalistic. I was supremely blessed (although didn't fall over), my relationship with God soared, my quiet times became alive, my experience of "sins forgiven and conscience cleansed" was awesome. Unfortunately (my timing always sucked) I went home to my church where I grew up - and almost at the same point my senior pastor Dr Stanley Jebb released a "booklet" announcing that although he had always taught the baptism of the Holy Spirit as I had heard it in Birmingham - he had now changed his mind and taught it was "all received at conversion".
I therefore had three years while at university to examine and come to terms with what I had experienced against what I read in the Word of God - and of course had plenty of teachers of the Bible to help and aid me. Notably Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Terry Virgo (who most key - made the link between the ascended Christ and His gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit) and so on. John Macarthur - his book "Charismatic Chaos" was circulated widely by Stanley Jebb and his elders as "proof" of the dangers of the charismatic movement which he was dragging my church from. Hence I read the book several times.
But I must confess - the "excesses" which Macarthur ranted against, intrigued me all the more into what God in His divine sovereignity could do in His church. Accounts of prophecies from respected Dr Jack Hayford, for example.
So really I have John Macarthur and his rantings and "anti-everything" theology for increasing my interest into the Holy Spirit, His Person, His actions and His behaviour and moving across the scope of church history!
Leaving "Charismatic Chaos" aside, I have watched as an observer seeing the "Reformed/Charismatic" dichotomy gain some degree of notoriety in the Christian church. Most mainly I have to note - thanks to C J Mahaney and Sovereign Grace Ministries in the USA. In 2005 I wrote a post commenting on C J Mahaney being invited to speak at John Macarthur's church. Many were excited by this and thought that Mahaney was bridging gaps between a vehement anti-charismatic and reformed/charismatic circles. Indeed one SGM pastor suggested to people close to me that; "Oh I think John Macarthur is mellowing".
I suggest "Strange Fire" suggests this SGM pastor was deluded.
I am further strengthened in that belief by my suggestion back in 2005 that C J Mahaney and SGM were downgrading the importance of the Holy Spirit in their circles - in part due to a desire to be well thought of by reformed evangelical "big dogs" such as Macarthur himself or R C Sproul. It seems thanks to posts by SGM such as the removal of and belief in the "apostolic team" and the baptism in the Holy Spirit - that suggestion was proved right. I don't claim it to be prophecy by the way! Just a hunch.
"Strange Fire" conference:
So the conference itself is mid-stream and I am unsurprised or persuaded by what is coming out. My following of the conference has been mainly due to Twitter, the live-stream (when at home) or Tim Challies usual remarkable summaries.
A response to the conference requires a seperate post - but the main statement by John Macarthur that has particularly grieved me is concerning worship. Now it should be stated that there is a whole host of Macarthur "spin doctors" who rush to "clarify" Macarthur's statements while he speaks and say "of course he didn't mean that". But Adrian Warnock was quite right to note that Macarthur himself gave no "clarifications of the kind. So what did Macarthur actually say about "worship"?
He said:
"The charismatic movement continually dishonors God in its false forms of worship".
His following comments go on to show that (admirably) Macarthur believes what he says. The charismatic movement has NOTHING to add to the corporate worship of the church and anything beneficial added is in spite of the charismatic movement - not because of it. I find this comment utterly incomprehensible.
I remember having a heated discussion with on of the elders of my home church in Dunstable UK after Stanley Jebb had left. He (like the rest of the elders) had followed Dr Jebb suit on cessationist beliefs. But he conceded that one vital thing that the charismatic movement HAD contributed to the life of the church universal - was worship. He admitted that many of the charismatic songs were biblically-based and a wonderful addition to church history. I remember many of them today;
"Jesus we enthrone You, we proclaim You as King - standing here in the midst of us we raise You up in our praise".
And to recent song-writers, many of whom come from unashamedly charismatic backgrounds and churches - such as Stuart Townend writing "In Christ Alone" or "The Power of the Cross" - all it seem fall under John Macarthur's axe.
Charismatics! We have grown flabby! We have taken for granted the experience of the Spirit that our forefathers fought. It seems that Macarthur is fighting again to condemn all - and that must be addressed in a later post. The reformed/charismatic tension has grown lazy and we have begun to focus on mission instead of continuing seeking of the Spirit in our gatherings. "Mission" has become the watchword! Yet does not John Piper state;
"Mission exists - because worship does not"?
I am grateful to Macarthur - he has awakened my fighting spirit. Time to think, engage and argue once again!
For the last few months I have been experiencing chest pain and high blood pressure. My cardiologist explained why. The body's "fight or flight" mechanism releases adrenaline into your body to enable you to respond appropriately to what is worrying you. However if you are facing "chronic stressors" as I was at work through initially bullying and then professional questioning - and there is no let-up, then the adrenaline begins to convert and change and this leads to blocking of coronary arteries (as is the case with me).
There have been other horrid symptoms too but that is for another time and another testimony. What I CAN testify to is that while God has seemed remarkably absent, I am here, I am alive and I still fervently believe in Him - so it must be due to "grace that has brought us safe thus far".
I would not say I am "back to normal" with belief and relationships with God, and certainly not normal relationships with His church (thanks to SGM and my experiences there). But I am getting there! And as John Piper said - if you are even facing in the right direction, that is testament to grace. I thought my first blog would be a testimony to what I have experienced. But John Macarthur intervened - by organising his "Strange Fire" conference
Background with Macarthur:
I should explain my history with John Macarthur. I was baptised in the Holy Spirit in 1999 just after going away to university in Birmingham UK. A leading pastor called Nick Cuthbert (who at the time led Riverside Church) preached on this subject and asked; "Have you received?". Although I had accepted fully the gospel 10 years earlier, I concluded I had no encounter or experience of the Holy Spirit and my faith was mainly cerebral and legalistic. I was supremely blessed (although didn't fall over), my relationship with God soared, my quiet times became alive, my experience of "sins forgiven and conscience cleansed" was awesome. Unfortunately (my timing always sucked) I went home to my church where I grew up - and almost at the same point my senior pastor Dr Stanley Jebb released a "booklet" announcing that although he had always taught the baptism of the Holy Spirit as I had heard it in Birmingham - he had now changed his mind and taught it was "all received at conversion".
I therefore had three years while at university to examine and come to terms with what I had experienced against what I read in the Word of God - and of course had plenty of teachers of the Bible to help and aid me. Notably Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Terry Virgo (who most key - made the link between the ascended Christ and His gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit) and so on. John Macarthur - his book "Charismatic Chaos" was circulated widely by Stanley Jebb and his elders as "proof" of the dangers of the charismatic movement which he was dragging my church from. Hence I read the book several times.
But I must confess - the "excesses" which Macarthur ranted against, intrigued me all the more into what God in His divine sovereignity could do in His church. Accounts of prophecies from respected Dr Jack Hayford, for example.
So really I have John Macarthur and his rantings and "anti-everything" theology for increasing my interest into the Holy Spirit, His Person, His actions and His behaviour and moving across the scope of church history!
Leaving "Charismatic Chaos" aside, I have watched as an observer seeing the "Reformed/Charismatic" dichotomy gain some degree of notoriety in the Christian church. Most mainly I have to note - thanks to C J Mahaney and Sovereign Grace Ministries in the USA. In 2005 I wrote a post commenting on C J Mahaney being invited to speak at John Macarthur's church. Many were excited by this and thought that Mahaney was bridging gaps between a vehement anti-charismatic and reformed/charismatic circles. Indeed one SGM pastor suggested to people close to me that; "Oh I think John Macarthur is mellowing".
I suggest "Strange Fire" suggests this SGM pastor was deluded.
I am further strengthened in that belief by my suggestion back in 2005 that C J Mahaney and SGM were downgrading the importance of the Holy Spirit in their circles - in part due to a desire to be well thought of by reformed evangelical "big dogs" such as Macarthur himself or R C Sproul. It seems thanks to posts by SGM such as the removal of and belief in the "apostolic team" and the baptism in the Holy Spirit - that suggestion was proved right. I don't claim it to be prophecy by the way! Just a hunch.
"Strange Fire" conference:
So the conference itself is mid-stream and I am unsurprised or persuaded by what is coming out. My following of the conference has been mainly due to Twitter, the live-stream (when at home) or Tim Challies usual remarkable summaries.
A response to the conference requires a seperate post - but the main statement by John Macarthur that has particularly grieved me is concerning worship. Now it should be stated that there is a whole host of Macarthur "spin doctors" who rush to "clarify" Macarthur's statements while he speaks and say "of course he didn't mean that". But Adrian Warnock was quite right to note that Macarthur himself gave no "clarifications of the kind. So what did Macarthur actually say about "worship"?
He said:
"The charismatic movement continually dishonors God in its false forms of worship".
His following comments go on to show that (admirably) Macarthur believes what he says. The charismatic movement has NOTHING to add to the corporate worship of the church and anything beneficial added is in spite of the charismatic movement - not because of it. I find this comment utterly incomprehensible.
I remember having a heated discussion with on of the elders of my home church in Dunstable UK after Stanley Jebb had left. He (like the rest of the elders) had followed Dr Jebb suit on cessationist beliefs. But he conceded that one vital thing that the charismatic movement HAD contributed to the life of the church universal - was worship. He admitted that many of the charismatic songs were biblically-based and a wonderful addition to church history. I remember many of them today;
"Jesus we enthrone You, we proclaim You as King - standing here in the midst of us we raise You up in our praise".
And to recent song-writers, many of whom come from unashamedly charismatic backgrounds and churches - such as Stuart Townend writing "In Christ Alone" or "The Power of the Cross" - all it seem fall under John Macarthur's axe.
Charismatics! We have grown flabby! We have taken for granted the experience of the Spirit that our forefathers fought. It seems that Macarthur is fighting again to condemn all - and that must be addressed in a later post. The reformed/charismatic tension has grown lazy and we have begun to focus on mission instead of continuing seeking of the Spirit in our gatherings. "Mission" has become the watchword! Yet does not John Piper state;
"Mission exists - because worship does not"?
I am grateful to Macarthur - he has awakened my fighting spirit. Time to think, engage and argue once again!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Re-Visiting Terry Virgo at 2011 Brighton Conference!
I have just returned from a wonderful holiday break in my "spiritual" home in Brighton on the south coast of the UK. What a fab city - no better way to end a day than walking along the coast watching the sun set. One of the greatest things I have missed is the oft-annual conference organised by Newfrontiers. It's easy to take these things for granted until they are gone!
It was a good encouragement to re-visit Terry's final session last year closing the conference "on a high";
It was a good encouragement to re-visit Terry's final session last year closing the conference "on a high";
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Recent Personal Publications
I always knew when growing up that getting published was a privilege and never a right. The Christian book market was rapidly saturated with some good books and some not so. My ambition was to become a reader and collector of books that interested me - and I was partially successful in this while at university.
Post-qualification, my nursing practice began to centre around critical care nursing for paediatric patients both in intensive care and in accident and emergency departments. That grew to include Emergency Planning and Resilience looking at how governments could handle a health crisis such as the spread of a pandemic virus that could threaten the well-being of a nation. I am and remain a firm believer in the importance of vaccines playing a role in this. So it is of little surprise that my first publication was concerning this.
1. "Achieving high level HCW immunisation levels without a mandatory campaign".
I am extremely fortunate and forever grateful that my Chief Nursing Officer Michelle Mcloughlin and my Lead Public Health Consultant (who works at our strategic health authority) Dr Helen Carter agreed to help me as expert co-authors.
2. "Aiming for Flu Immunity in All".
The most recent article has just been published as the result of an interview I held with the editor of the Nursing Times (UK's most famous nursing publication) this year about conducting flu vaccine campaigns. The interview covers some of what have and will always be the high points of my career - such as meeting and being able to immunise the Chief Executive Officer of the NHS - Sir David Nicholson. And also being supported and encouraged by the incredibly talented CEO of my home hospital - Sarah-Jane Marsh - an incredible woman and role model.
What's next? I have no idea - but I remain an avid reader and learner, and am keen that whatever I achieve in life - it is dedicated to improving and benefiting the well-being of patients.
Post-qualification, my nursing practice began to centre around critical care nursing for paediatric patients both in intensive care and in accident and emergency departments. That grew to include Emergency Planning and Resilience looking at how governments could handle a health crisis such as the spread of a pandemic virus that could threaten the well-being of a nation. I am and remain a firm believer in the importance of vaccines playing a role in this. So it is of little surprise that my first publication was concerning this.
1. "Achieving high level HCW immunisation levels without a mandatory campaign".
I am extremely fortunate and forever grateful that my Chief Nursing Officer Michelle Mcloughlin and my Lead Public Health Consultant (who works at our strategic health authority) Dr Helen Carter agreed to help me as expert co-authors.
2. "Aiming for Flu Immunity in All".
The most recent article has just been published as the result of an interview I held with the editor of the Nursing Times (UK's most famous nursing publication) this year about conducting flu vaccine campaigns. The interview covers some of what have and will always be the high points of my career - such as meeting and being able to immunise the Chief Executive Officer of the NHS - Sir David Nicholson. And also being supported and encouraged by the incredibly talented CEO of my home hospital - Sarah-Jane Marsh - an incredible woman and role model.
What's next? I have no idea - but I remain an avid reader and learner, and am keen that whatever I achieve in life - it is dedicated to improving and benefiting the well-being of patients.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Sovereign Grace Ministries, C J Mahaney and Where Are We Now?
I thought it time to post an update on my current thinking on SGM, their problems and the leadership issues that continue to beset them. Brent Detwiler - exiled former apostle/leader - continues to faithfully (and one must admire his dogged determination to hold them to the facts of history) call SGM to account. C J Mahaney and his elite close band seem to do all they can to evade honest response and engage in dubious behaviour such as rapidly transferring church membership (breaking previous teaching that church membership was a life-long commitment) and suddenly a Louisville church plant is planned.I admit first and foremost I have lost a great deal of interest in the back and forth of the politics. The SGM critics (and they are many) are keeping up their commentary and criticism. The C J Mahaney stronghold are doing their admirable best to ignore the critique, rebuff it and move forward relentlessly and presumably "hope it blows over". And for my own sanity - I realised I had to let SGM go to a degree. By the grace of God I sorted out my personal excommunication with the local leaders and was hugely encouraged by personal promises from the local UK leaders that they did not and would not engage in the authoritarian practices seen in the USA under the Mahaney regime. My family seem safe - and that is all that matters to me.
But decisions seem to be forcing their way forward and SGM are being forced/moved into outlining their polity. A number of years back (2005) I predicted/prophesied that C J Mahaney's schmoozing of Reformed Big Dogs he admired/worshipped (such as John MacArthur) would result in a downgrade of the Holy Spirit in SGM. This has happened. I am reliably informed that while they claim to be "continuationist" (i.e. pay lip service to believing the Holy Spirit may move and distribute gifts) that there is very little manifestation of His power and presence in many churches. I AM encouraged however to hear of key SGM churches that are actively seeking to restore this - such as Covenant Life Church and Grace Church, Bristol.
Brent himself seemed to confirm my suspicions from years back with a post concerning the downgrade of the Holy Spirit and their view on apostles. Now apostles is an interesting subject. It's not liked or believed in among conservative reformed circles. They ceased allegedly with the closing of the canon of Scripture (a view I do not believe in). However this presents a problem for C J Mahaney and SGM. If they believe and toe this line - then C J Mahaney is nothing more than a leader of a para-church organisation with no authority over the churches belonging to SGM.
So Brent argues rightly - that SGM and Mahaney MUST teach a polity of apostolic authority to maintain that hold over their local churches - and continue to exercise a process of what I hear is called; "Shanking". Or in UK terms; "Greasley-ing". Scary. So we shall see. And continue to observe from a safe, interested and caring perspective.
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Mis-Quoting the Doctor (Again)
I came across this blog (HT: Tim Challies) written by one of the pastors at John Macarthur's church. Rather unsurprisingly he quotes from some of Dr Lloyd-Jones writing seeking to rebuff the continuationist/charismatic view that Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones believed in the charismatic gifts - especially that of prophecy.
Busenitz uses the sermons of Dr Lloyd-Jones from "Christian Unity". And on first reading, the quote does seem to be definitive;
"A prophet was a person to whom truth was imparted by the Holy Spirit. . . . A revelation or message or some insight into truth came to them, and, filled with the Spirit, they were able to make utterances which were of benefit and profit to the Church. Surely it is clear that this again was temporary, and for this good reason, that in those early days of the Church there were no New Testament Scriptures, the Truth had not yet been expounded in written words".
And this is true - Dr Lloyd-Jones did indeed argue in several places that he felt the office (or gift) of the prophet (according to Ephesians 4) was a temporary gift that had ceased. He also argued that the apostle had ceased as per the evangelist (I wonder how Macarthur and his pastors would deal with that fact).
But this writer is either ignorant or is deliberately ignoring Dr Lloyd-Jones other teaching on the gift of prophecy. I refer to his magnum opus - the series on Romans and in particularly chapter 12; "according to prophecy let us prophesy". Consider these quotes by Dr Lloyd-Jones;
"What then is the gift of prophecy? Well I would define it as a direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. What for? It's purpose is to give a word from God or the word of God to the church ... What is the difference between prophecy on the one hand and preaching and teaching on the other? Because there is a difference. And I would say that the difference can be put in one word - immediacy".
That is all well and good, the cessationists may say. But that still doesn't make Dr Lloyd-Jones a continuationist. No - and I'm not claiming he was. My issue is with a cessationist writer claiming the Doctor was cessationist. Later in the message, in fact, Dr Lloyd-Jones said he actually prophesied;
"A preacher and teacher may also be a prophet. I have no doubt at all about this. I say it again to the glory of God, I think I know a little about this. I think I know something of what it is to be preaching or teaching and suddenly to find myself prophesying".
Now it is important to add he went on to add caveats of safety - for example, he firmly taught he did not believe a Christian could prophesy at will and he absolutely did not believe prophecy should include the "for-telling of events". His passion was that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was key in the life of the believer and spiritual gifts flowed from that encounter with God.
"I say again, that my position is that I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a separate, distinct, unique experience. It may be accompanied by remarkable gifts; it may simply manifest the "regular" gifts to a heightened degree. It is not for us to say that none of these things can happen. Anything is possible in the sovereignty of the Spirit".
And that is the point. Dr Lloyd-Jones was not a "classic charismatic" and I am not claiming as such. But I am objecting to cessationists such as this man posting a blog and ignoring/being ignorant of the wider and broader scope of Dr Lloyd-Jones teaching. I think it demonstrates the danger of the "celebrity pastor" question - one man being elevated to a position so that groups have to fight over which position he actually defends. It is a good reminder to honestly approach Scripture and see what it teaches while thanking God for the servants of the Ephesians 4 ministries that He gives.
Busenitz uses the sermons of Dr Lloyd-Jones from "Christian Unity". And on first reading, the quote does seem to be definitive;"A prophet was a person to whom truth was imparted by the Holy Spirit. . . . A revelation or message or some insight into truth came to them, and, filled with the Spirit, they were able to make utterances which were of benefit and profit to the Church. Surely it is clear that this again was temporary, and for this good reason, that in those early days of the Church there were no New Testament Scriptures, the Truth had not yet been expounded in written words".
And this is true - Dr Lloyd-Jones did indeed argue in several places that he felt the office (or gift) of the prophet (according to Ephesians 4) was a temporary gift that had ceased. He also argued that the apostle had ceased as per the evangelist (I wonder how Macarthur and his pastors would deal with that fact).
But this writer is either ignorant or is deliberately ignoring Dr Lloyd-Jones other teaching on the gift of prophecy. I refer to his magnum opus - the series on Romans and in particularly chapter 12; "according to prophecy let us prophesy". Consider these quotes by Dr Lloyd-Jones;
"What then is the gift of prophecy? Well I would define it as a direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. What for? It's purpose is to give a word from God or the word of God to the church ... What is the difference between prophecy on the one hand and preaching and teaching on the other? Because there is a difference. And I would say that the difference can be put in one word - immediacy".
That is all well and good, the cessationists may say. But that still doesn't make Dr Lloyd-Jones a continuationist. No - and I'm not claiming he was. My issue is with a cessationist writer claiming the Doctor was cessationist. Later in the message, in fact, Dr Lloyd-Jones said he actually prophesied;
"A preacher and teacher may also be a prophet. I have no doubt at all about this. I say it again to the glory of God, I think I know a little about this. I think I know something of what it is to be preaching or teaching and suddenly to find myself prophesying".
Now it is important to add he went on to add caveats of safety - for example, he firmly taught he did not believe a Christian could prophesy at will and he absolutely did not believe prophecy should include the "for-telling of events". His passion was that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was key in the life of the believer and spiritual gifts flowed from that encounter with God.
"I say again, that my position is that I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a separate, distinct, unique experience. It may be accompanied by remarkable gifts; it may simply manifest the "regular" gifts to a heightened degree. It is not for us to say that none of these things can happen. Anything is possible in the sovereignty of the Spirit".
And that is the point. Dr Lloyd-Jones was not a "classic charismatic" and I am not claiming as such. But I am objecting to cessationists such as this man posting a blog and ignoring/being ignorant of the wider and broader scope of Dr Lloyd-Jones teaching. I think it demonstrates the danger of the "celebrity pastor" question - one man being elevated to a position so that groups have to fight over which position he actually defends. It is a good reminder to honestly approach Scripture and see what it teaches while thanking God for the servants of the Ephesians 4 ministries that He gives.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Brent Detwiler and Reality in Church
Dear oh dear.
I don't really know what to think anymore with Brent vs C J Mahaney/SGM. But one of my concerns with the huge fees paid out to Ambassadors of Reconciliation (for what really is quite a shoddy report) and now this - where is the glory to God? And what does the watching world think I wonder as SGM ups ship and moves to Kentucky?
Here's Brent's latest blog post;
My Appeal to the SGM Pastors for a Church Court in Order to Avoid a Civil Court.
The sum total is that this incredibly focused and driven man is mustering his forces and seems intent on taking C J Mahaney and SGM before a civil magistrate for "damages". How grieving must this be to God? I am sure SGM-supporters would place the blame solely at Brent's door - but let us not forget that the closest C J got to an apology was retracted angrily at the SGM Pastors conference.
On another note I was deeply saddened to read about the suicide/allegations of the Voice of the Martyrs CEO. Having experienced sexual abuse myself in our church private school, I do know how desperation can lead to suicide. Nothing upsets me more than hearing people claim; "Suicide is the most selfish thing someone can do". The occasional times I have contemplated suicide, it is when desperation and the sickening ache of fear makes it seem as if there is no other way out. And true - at times, the only thing that does keep me from popping those pills is the guilt of what it would do to my family and loved ones. So my heart aches for all those involved.
My point is this - I think God is allowing His church to go through a time of transparency when it is impossible to hide the truth from the watching world. It concerns me when people like a Mahaney or Harvey try and pretend "all's well" - when it isn't. Let's admit it - we are human and no better than anyone. But it is the message of the gospel that makes the difference and leads us on.
I don't really know what to think anymore with Brent vs C J Mahaney/SGM. But one of my concerns with the huge fees paid out to Ambassadors of Reconciliation (for what really is quite a shoddy report) and now this - where is the glory to God? And what does the watching world think I wonder as SGM ups ship and moves to Kentucky?
Here's Brent's latest blog post;
My Appeal to the SGM Pastors for a Church Court in Order to Avoid a Civil Court.
The sum total is that this incredibly focused and driven man is mustering his forces and seems intent on taking C J Mahaney and SGM before a civil magistrate for "damages". How grieving must this be to God? I am sure SGM-supporters would place the blame solely at Brent's door - but let us not forget that the closest C J got to an apology was retracted angrily at the SGM Pastors conference.
On another note I was deeply saddened to read about the suicide/allegations of the Voice of the Martyrs CEO. Having experienced sexual abuse myself in our church private school, I do know how desperation can lead to suicide. Nothing upsets me more than hearing people claim; "Suicide is the most selfish thing someone can do". The occasional times I have contemplated suicide, it is when desperation and the sickening ache of fear makes it seem as if there is no other way out. And true - at times, the only thing that does keep me from popping those pills is the guilt of what it would do to my family and loved ones. So my heart aches for all those involved.
My point is this - I think God is allowing His church to go through a time of transparency when it is impossible to hide the truth from the watching world. It concerns me when people like a Mahaney or Harvey try and pretend "all's well" - when it isn't. Let's admit it - we are human and no better than anyone. But it is the message of the gospel that makes the difference and leads us on.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Unchanging Truth in a Time of Change
I think one of the reasons why the SGM drama/crisis affected me among so many others is that it has shaken our faith mainly in church leadership but also has caused us to evaluate what we really believe. My church history background has been based in based in reformed/charismatic evangelicalism that emphasized most of our problems were sin-related. We were also taught to respect and honour our leaders. In both situations - my faith in our leadership was shaken.
In Dunstable, Stanley - our senior pastor - made a major shift in his theology on the Holy Spirit and such a change unfortunately coincided with my baptism in the Holy Spirit. However God worked this together for good - and I had to dig deep into the Word of God and such teachers as Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Terry Virgo who led me to see the glorious truth.
In SGM, my history and subsequent observation of C J Mahaney and Dave Harvey's behaviour as revealed by Brent Detwiler shook my faith again. But I am believing that God is working this together for good and is leading me step by step away from this sin-focused obsession and step by step into His glorious grace.
I was running on the treadmill at the gym today and by chance (I run my iPhone on shuffle) a wonderful old chorus of Dave Fellingham's came on (squashed in between Steps and Lady Gaga);
"At Your feet we fall, mighty risen Lord,
As we come before Your throne to worship You.
By Your Spirit's power You now draw our hearts,
And we hear Your voice in triumph ringing clear.
I am He that liveth, that liveth and was dead,
Behold I am alive forever more.
There we see You stand, mighty risen Lord,
Clothed in garments pure and holy, shining bright.
Eyes of flashing fire, feet like burnished bronze,
And the sound of many waters is Your voice.
Like the shining sun in its noonday strength,
We now see the glory of Your wondrous face.
Once that face was marred, but now You're glorified,
And Your words like a two-edged sword have mighty power".
An amazing song! But it was a tremendous reminder of the unchanging nature of the living God. I've been spending time tonight re-visiting the past promises, dreams and visions that God has been so favourable to grant me (nothing compared to a man like Rob Rufus - but still - I am BLESSED!). For example, I was amazed to have completely forgotten these few dreams;
"Terry Virgo and Angels Snipers!!" - a dream I had back in 2009.
"Dreams, dreams, dreams!!" - documenting some of the key dreams I have had in my life - one back in 2001 about a call to "ministry", one involving a tidal wave of glory speeding towards Brighton in 2006 (that I shared with Terry Virgo) and another about walking in a field of corn with my dear friend Pete Day.
A reminder - a glorious one at that - of the power of children prophesying - "your daughters shall prophesy!".
"The tide is turning" - a prophetic promise from Terry Virgo back at the glorious Brighton conference in 2007 - is still true I think. But tides ... who can predict when they reach fullness? I found this quote from Jim Goll;
"When God seems silent, there are several things you can do. 1. Stick with what you already know.What was the last thing the Lord said to you or told you to do? Have you done it? Why should He tell you something new until you have completed what He has already revealed?".
In Dunstable, Stanley - our senior pastor - made a major shift in his theology on the Holy Spirit and such a change unfortunately coincided with my baptism in the Holy Spirit. However God worked this together for good - and I had to dig deep into the Word of God and such teachers as Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Terry Virgo who led me to see the glorious truth.
In SGM, my history and subsequent observation of C J Mahaney and Dave Harvey's behaviour as revealed by Brent Detwiler shook my faith again. But I am believing that God is working this together for good and is leading me step by step away from this sin-focused obsession and step by step into His glorious grace.
I was running on the treadmill at the gym today and by chance (I run my iPhone on shuffle) a wonderful old chorus of Dave Fellingham's came on (squashed in between Steps and Lady Gaga);
"At Your feet we fall, mighty risen Lord,
As we come before Your throne to worship You.
By Your Spirit's power You now draw our hearts,
And we hear Your voice in triumph ringing clear.
I am He that liveth, that liveth and was dead,
Behold I am alive forever more.
There we see You stand, mighty risen Lord,
Clothed in garments pure and holy, shining bright.
Eyes of flashing fire, feet like burnished bronze,
And the sound of many waters is Your voice.
Like the shining sun in its noonday strength,
We now see the glory of Your wondrous face.
Once that face was marred, but now You're glorified,
And Your words like a two-edged sword have mighty power".
An amazing song! But it was a tremendous reminder of the unchanging nature of the living God. I've been spending time tonight re-visiting the past promises, dreams and visions that God has been so favourable to grant me (nothing compared to a man like Rob Rufus - but still - I am BLESSED!). For example, I was amazed to have completely forgotten these few dreams;
"Terry Virgo and Angels Snipers!!" - a dream I had back in 2009.
"Dreams, dreams, dreams!!" - documenting some of the key dreams I have had in my life - one back in 2001 about a call to "ministry", one involving a tidal wave of glory speeding towards Brighton in 2006 (that I shared with Terry Virgo) and another about walking in a field of corn with my dear friend Pete Day.
A reminder - a glorious one at that - of the power of children prophesying - "your daughters shall prophesy!".
"The tide is turning" - a prophetic promise from Terry Virgo back at the glorious Brighton conference in 2007 - is still true I think. But tides ... who can predict when they reach fullness? I found this quote from Jim Goll;
"When God seems silent, there are several things you can do. 1. Stick with what you already know.What was the last thing the Lord said to you or told you to do? Have you done it? Why should He tell you something new until you have completed what He has already revealed?".
Saturday, April 21, 2012
"The Neglected Resurrection" by Matthew Barrett
This is a really good post and needs to be heard now more than ever:
"Too often in our churches the resurrection of Christ is a doctrine of secondary importance. It is neglected and forgotten until Easter comes around each year. The same disregard for the resurrection is seen in how we share the gospel. Christians tend to share the gospel as if Jesus died on the cross and that is the end of the story. We make a zip line from the crucifixion to "repent and believe," contrary to the example Peter sets for us in Acts 2:22-24 and 4:26. The cross is central to our salvation, but what God accomplished there is incomplete unless the tomb is empty on Sunday morning. Therefore, the resurrection of Christ is vital "for us and our salvation" (to borrow from the Nicene Creed). But how exactly?
Our Regeneration Is Grounded in the Resurrection of Christ
Have you ever read the resurrection narratives and said, "Praise God! Because Christ has risen I am born again!" I know I haven't. But if we truly understand the implications of Christ's resurrection for our salvation, the new birth would be the first place to turn. Scripture teaches that our new birth---God's supernatural, monergistic act whereby the Spirit makes us a new creature in Christ, replacing our heart of stone with a heart of flesh---is only possible because Jesus is risen. Consider two passages. According to Peter, God has "caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Pet 1:3). The same God who raised Christ from the grave has also raised us from spiritual death to spiritual life. And the apostle Paul says that while we were dead in our trespasses and sins, God, being rich in mercy, "made us alive together with Christ" and "raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:5-6; cf. Col 3:1). Because God has raised Christ from the dead, he can make us alive together with Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ's resurrection life is the very basis and means by which we are born again.
Our Justification Is Grounded in the Resurrection of Christ
Those who believe in the God who raised Christ from the dead are counted righteous. As Paul says in Romans 4:23-25, like Abraham we are counted righteous, for we believe in him "who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." By raising Jesus from the dead, God approved the work of Christ on the cross for our sins. God declared his Son's work complete! The penalty for our sin has been paid, and no guilt remains. As Wayne Grudem explains: When the Father in essence said to Christ, "All the penalty for sins has been paid and I find you not guilty but righteous in my sight," he was thereby making the declaration that would also apply to us once we trusted in Christ for salvation. In this way Christ's resurrection also gave final proof that he had earned our justification (Systematic Theology). Jonathan Edwards also states the matter precisely: For if Christ were not risen, it would be evidence that God was not yet satisfied for [our] sins. Now the resurrection is God declaring his satisfaction; he thereby declared that it was enough; Christ was thereby released from his work; Christ, as he was Mediator, is thereby justified (Miscellanies, Vol. 13, 227). In other words, if God did not raise Christ from the dead, he would essentially be saying, "I am not satisfied with your atoning work on behalf of sinners." If this were the case, we would still be dead in our sins, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:17. And if we are still dead in our sins then we stand guilty before a holy God, unjustified and condemned. It is hard to improve upon the words of Martyn Lloyd-Jones: If it is not a fact that Christ literally rose from the grave, then you are still guilty before God. Your punishment has not been borne, yours sins have not been dealt with, you are yet in your sins. It matters that much: without the Resurrection you have no standing at all (The Assurance of Our Salvation, 492).
Our Sanctification Is Grounded in the Resurrection of Christ
In Romans 6, Paul explains that we can "walk in newness of life" because Christ was raised from the dead. We are not to continue in sin, for how, as Paul asked, "can we who died to sin still live in it?" We have been baptized into the death of Christ so that "just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:3-4). But Paul is not finished. He has much more to say about the resurrection and our sanctification. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:5-12). Paul's last two sentences are especially powerful. As Christians, we are united to Christ. Christ died to sin, and so also must we consider ourselves dead to sin. But Christ also came back to life. The life he lives he lives to God. Therefore, as those who are in Christ, we are alive to God. No longer are we to walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Our old, unbelieving, sinful, condemned self has been crucified with Christ. And now that we are new creatures, we are no longer enslaved to sin, but by the power of the Spirit are able to walk in this newness of life. None of this, however, is possible if Christ remains in the tomb. His resurrection is our victory over the reign of sin. Only because he has risen do we have the assurance, the confidence, and the ability to now walk in godliness. In this light, therefore, Paul's admonition is all the more convicting: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory (Col 3:1-4).
The Climax of Redemptive History
Richard Gaffin once wrote that not only is the resurrection of Christ the pivotal factor in Paul's soteriology, the "climax of the redemptive history of Christ," but it is also that "from which the individual believer's experience of redemption derives in its specific and distinguishing character and in all aspects of its inexhaustible fullness" (Resurrection and Redemption, 135). I couldn't agree more. If we miss the importance of Christ's resurrection for our salvation, then we have, as Sinclair Ferguson observes, misunderstood the gospel, severing our salvation from the lordship of Christ (Resurrection and Redemption, 6). How unthinkable this must be for the Christian who, as Calvin explains, believes that "our whole salvation and all its parts are comprehended in Christ" (Institutes II.16.19).
Matthew Barrett (Ph.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the founder and executive editor of Credo Magazine. Barrett has contributed book reviews and articles to various academic journals. He is married to Elizabeth and they have two daughters, Cassandra and Georgia. He is a member of Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.
"Too often in our churches the resurrection of Christ is a doctrine of secondary importance. It is neglected and forgotten until Easter comes around each year. The same disregard for the resurrection is seen in how we share the gospel. Christians tend to share the gospel as if Jesus died on the cross and that is the end of the story. We make a zip line from the crucifixion to "repent and believe," contrary to the example Peter sets for us in Acts 2:22-24 and 4:26. The cross is central to our salvation, but what God accomplished there is incomplete unless the tomb is empty on Sunday morning. Therefore, the resurrection of Christ is vital "for us and our salvation" (to borrow from the Nicene Creed). But how exactly?
Our Regeneration Is Grounded in the Resurrection of Christ
Have you ever read the resurrection narratives and said, "Praise God! Because Christ has risen I am born again!" I know I haven't. But if we truly understand the implications of Christ's resurrection for our salvation, the new birth would be the first place to turn. Scripture teaches that our new birth---God's supernatural, monergistic act whereby the Spirit makes us a new creature in Christ, replacing our heart of stone with a heart of flesh---is only possible because Jesus is risen. Consider two passages. According to Peter, God has "caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Pet 1:3). The same God who raised Christ from the grave has also raised us from spiritual death to spiritual life. And the apostle Paul says that while we were dead in our trespasses and sins, God, being rich in mercy, "made us alive together with Christ" and "raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:5-6; cf. Col 3:1). Because God has raised Christ from the dead, he can make us alive together with Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Christ's resurrection life is the very basis and means by which we are born again.
Our Justification Is Grounded in the Resurrection of Christ
Those who believe in the God who raised Christ from the dead are counted righteous. As Paul says in Romans 4:23-25, like Abraham we are counted righteous, for we believe in him "who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." By raising Jesus from the dead, God approved the work of Christ on the cross for our sins. God declared his Son's work complete! The penalty for our sin has been paid, and no guilt remains. As Wayne Grudem explains: When the Father in essence said to Christ, "All the penalty for sins has been paid and I find you not guilty but righteous in my sight," he was thereby making the declaration that would also apply to us once we trusted in Christ for salvation. In this way Christ's resurrection also gave final proof that he had earned our justification (Systematic Theology). Jonathan Edwards also states the matter precisely: For if Christ were not risen, it would be evidence that God was not yet satisfied for [our] sins. Now the resurrection is God declaring his satisfaction; he thereby declared that it was enough; Christ was thereby released from his work; Christ, as he was Mediator, is thereby justified (Miscellanies, Vol. 13, 227). In other words, if God did not raise Christ from the dead, he would essentially be saying, "I am not satisfied with your atoning work on behalf of sinners." If this were the case, we would still be dead in our sins, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:17. And if we are still dead in our sins then we stand guilty before a holy God, unjustified and condemned. It is hard to improve upon the words of Martyn Lloyd-Jones: If it is not a fact that Christ literally rose from the grave, then you are still guilty before God. Your punishment has not been borne, yours sins have not been dealt with, you are yet in your sins. It matters that much: without the Resurrection you have no standing at all (The Assurance of Our Salvation, 492).
Our Sanctification Is Grounded in the Resurrection of Christ
In Romans 6, Paul explains that we can "walk in newness of life" because Christ was raised from the dead. We are not to continue in sin, for how, as Paul asked, "can we who died to sin still live in it?" We have been baptized into the death of Christ so that "just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:3-4). But Paul is not finished. He has much more to say about the resurrection and our sanctification. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:5-12). Paul's last two sentences are especially powerful. As Christians, we are united to Christ. Christ died to sin, and so also must we consider ourselves dead to sin. But Christ also came back to life. The life he lives he lives to God. Therefore, as those who are in Christ, we are alive to God. No longer are we to walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Our old, unbelieving, sinful, condemned self has been crucified with Christ. And now that we are new creatures, we are no longer enslaved to sin, but by the power of the Spirit are able to walk in this newness of life. None of this, however, is possible if Christ remains in the tomb. His resurrection is our victory over the reign of sin. Only because he has risen do we have the assurance, the confidence, and the ability to now walk in godliness. In this light, therefore, Paul's admonition is all the more convicting: If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory (Col 3:1-4).
The Climax of Redemptive History
Richard Gaffin once wrote that not only is the resurrection of Christ the pivotal factor in Paul's soteriology, the "climax of the redemptive history of Christ," but it is also that "from which the individual believer's experience of redemption derives in its specific and distinguishing character and in all aspects of its inexhaustible fullness" (Resurrection and Redemption, 135). I couldn't agree more. If we miss the importance of Christ's resurrection for our salvation, then we have, as Sinclair Ferguson observes, misunderstood the gospel, severing our salvation from the lordship of Christ (Resurrection and Redemption, 6). How unthinkable this must be for the Christian who, as Calvin explains, believes that "our whole salvation and all its parts are comprehended in Christ" (Institutes II.16.19).
Matthew Barrett (Ph.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the founder and executive editor of Credo Magazine. Barrett has contributed book reviews and articles to various academic journals. He is married to Elizabeth and they have two daughters, Cassandra and Georgia. He is a member of Clifton Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.
This is No Thaw - This is Spring I tell you!
I am enjoying the first day off of my "new attitude" and have been re-visiting the glorious resources that are out there on the internet for free. Who would have thought that we can listen to sermons preached on the other side of the world so quickly!?
I have been looking around the old websites I used to visit so regularly - starting off by looking at "the state of the nation" - what Christian conferences are still around and boy, are there a few! I feel ashamed I have not been more aware. More of that later. But I was re-encouraged by a quote of Terry Virgo's in his final Firstline at last years final "Together on a Mission";
"From the original formation of Newfrontiers we have believed that God still pours out His Spirit and that the New Testament model of Spirit-filled churches, established on apostolic foundations and committed to world mission, remains plan A. We have never been content with a cessationist perspective that expects the church to try advancing without God’s manifest presence".
This is ALL about His manifest Presence. Without Him - we are nothing.
And I have been listening to Rob Rufus speak to his leaders in Hong Kong on; "Charisma and Leadership";
Part 1: The Power of Influence - How to Develop Charisma. Rob Rufus from City Church on Vimeo.
I have been looking around the old websites I used to visit so regularly - starting off by looking at "the state of the nation" - what Christian conferences are still around and boy, are there a few! I feel ashamed I have not been more aware. More of that later. But I was re-encouraged by a quote of Terry Virgo's in his final Firstline at last years final "Together on a Mission";
"From the original formation of Newfrontiers we have believed that God still pours out His Spirit and that the New Testament model of Spirit-filled churches, established on apostolic foundations and committed to world mission, remains plan A. We have never been content with a cessationist perspective that expects the church to try advancing without God’s manifest presence".
This is ALL about His manifest Presence. Without Him - we are nothing.
And I have been listening to Rob Rufus speak to his leaders in Hong Kong on; "Charisma and Leadership";
Part 1: The Power of Influence - How to Develop Charisma. Rob Rufus from City Church on Vimeo.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Time for a NEW Beginning ... !
These past few weeks have been difficult ones for me personally. I've become aware of some traits in my life that need dealing with. I've neglected this blog quite a bit and have been throwing myself 100% into my work - which I adore. I love working for an employer like Birmingham Children's Hospital and are so grateful for heroes like my CEO and Chief Nurse who have given me opportunities I am so fortunate to have!
But I have contemplated that I have almost allowed my identity to become my work. It has got to the point where my body has actually physically given up and I have had to have some time off work (which I HATE!). But I am hoping this time off will be a good thing and will help me to make necessary adjustments and be an even better employee and all-round person.
But what I have noticed with this blog is that virtually since July last year it has almost become entirely devoted to SGM and their problems with C J Mahaney. This has been a negative issue and one that still seems unresolved. My interest in it is tied up of course with my very unfortunate experience with them and the fact my family still go. But it isn't a subject that is going to awake my passion! I think of heroes like Terry Virgo and Rob Rufus and Ern Baxter who point us to keeping our faith on fire for the Church!
So tonight I brought two Kindle edition books which I am very excited to dip into - "Invading the Impossible" (which I helped the Hong Kong church transcribe) a few years ago and Rob and Ryan's NEWEST book; "Living Grace: How Grace Affects your Whole Life". It is my hope that this enforced time off work will help me to remember Kingdom truths that used to set me on fire!
Disappointment in not seeing a coming to reality of the things I have (and still) believe in may have quenched the fire of hope. But I still believe it can be re-inflamed by reading glorious things like these two books! Here's the book being launched at City Church International;
Here's my favourite quote from Rob's chapter on the "Grace-Hating Spirit";
"People are hesitant to preach a radical Gospel of Grace but have you ever thought how radical the law is? Those who preach a mixture of law and grace are actually just compromisers. If you are going to preach the law, do it properly! The full extent of the law requires you cut off your hand if it is causing you to sin! When religious zealots fly planes into towers in the name of their gods, they are being absolutely faithful to the law! Under the law, we should kill anyone who doesn't keep it. In fact if you read the law properly you will see that if your kids don't keep the law, then you must stone your own children.
The reason why people say grace is radical is because they have never heard the law being taught properly".
But I have contemplated that I have almost allowed my identity to become my work. It has got to the point where my body has actually physically given up and I have had to have some time off work (which I HATE!). But I am hoping this time off will be a good thing and will help me to make necessary adjustments and be an even better employee and all-round person.
But what I have noticed with this blog is that virtually since July last year it has almost become entirely devoted to SGM and their problems with C J Mahaney. This has been a negative issue and one that still seems unresolved. My interest in it is tied up of course with my very unfortunate experience with them and the fact my family still go. But it isn't a subject that is going to awake my passion! I think of heroes like Terry Virgo and Rob Rufus and Ern Baxter who point us to keeping our faith on fire for the Church!
So tonight I brought two Kindle edition books which I am very excited to dip into - "Invading the Impossible" (which I helped the Hong Kong church transcribe) a few years ago and Rob and Ryan's NEWEST book; "Living Grace: How Grace Affects your Whole Life". It is my hope that this enforced time off work will help me to remember Kingdom truths that used to set me on fire!
Disappointment in not seeing a coming to reality of the things I have (and still) believe in may have quenched the fire of hope. But I still believe it can be re-inflamed by reading glorious things like these two books! Here's the book being launched at City Church International;
Here's my favourite quote from Rob's chapter on the "Grace-Hating Spirit";
"People are hesitant to preach a radical Gospel of Grace but have you ever thought how radical the law is? Those who preach a mixture of law and grace are actually just compromisers. If you are going to preach the law, do it properly! The full extent of the law requires you cut off your hand if it is causing you to sin! When religious zealots fly planes into towers in the name of their gods, they are being absolutely faithful to the law! Under the law, we should kill anyone who doesn't keep it. In fact if you read the law properly you will see that if your kids don't keep the law, then you must stone your own children.
The reason why people say grace is radical is because they have never heard the law being taught properly".
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Ambassadors of Reconciliation Report on SGM Out
So the report we have all been waiting for is out, and available (I've downloaded the file in case it gets "removed" later!);
Here (40 pages worth).
Once again this point stuck out to me;
"We observed that this lack of declaring God’s grace to people is a weakness of people
throughout SGM, including leaders and members. Although the name of the organization is
Sovereign Grace Ministries, and grace and forgiveness are often preached and taught, there
does not seem to be a similar emphasis on the teaching and practice of declaring God’s grace".
throughout SGM, including leaders and members. Although the name of the organization is
Sovereign Grace Ministries, and grace and forgiveness are often preached and taught, there
does not seem to be a similar emphasis on the teaching and practice of declaring God’s grace".
The response has been mixed (unsurprisingly). I don't think the AoR team were ever going to make all happy. My hope is that with the changes in SGM - their move to Kentucky and so on, God will work out His purpose and that His kingdom WILL come despite mankind. Even more so I pray that the "Survivors" of SGM will find a measure of peace despite the wrong done them.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Thy Kingdom Come!!
I am in the middle of composing a blog about some thoughts about my current thinking on church, organised religion, denominations, movements and so on. Many old friends and colleagues of mine have declared themselves agnostics or even atheists through difficulties that they have been through (similar to mine) with the church. Yet I remain agonizingly stuck - still. God will not let go of me (because I cannot and refuse to believe that I am maintaining hold of Him).
At times of uncertainity we need to look at that which is unshakable. And those truths are better expressed by no man - no hero - of mine better than Dr Ern Baxter. I've found a precious video that has merged one of my favourite sermons of Ern into song - "Thy Kingdom Come" - and it brings into light, life and worship THE moment of all time (not Calvary, not the Tomb, but the Resurrection, the Ascension and the Enthronement of Jesus Christ).
Here it is! The Lord strong and mighty! The Lord strong and mighty in battle!
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Reflections on the Church in Great Britain
Some may remember Mark Driscoll's (the ex-head of Acts 24 ministries) comments made in an interview on the state of the church in the UK - my home country. The comments were less than complimentary. I was encouraged to read that D A Carson had reflections of his own on Driscoll's comments and they are helpful - brave is the man who takes on Carson's intellect!;
(1) Mark correctly observes the low state of genuine Christian confessionalism in the UK. Still, it varies considerably (as it does in the United States, though with lower figures over there). There's a ring around London in which close to 10 percent of the people go to church, many of them evangelicals; the percentage in Northern Ireland is higher, though falling. By contrast, in Yorkshire the percentage that goes to church once a month or more is 0.9 percent; evangelicals account for only 0.4 percent. Both figures are still falling. This is comparable to the state of affairs in, say, Japan.
(2) The phenomenon of the state church colors much of what is going on. Whether we like it or not, in England itself (the situation is different in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) the Church of England is the source of most heterodoxy and of much of the orthodoxy, as well as of everything in between. It has produced men like Don Cupitt and men like Dick Lucas. Exactly what courage looks like for the most orthodox evangelicals in that world is a bit different from what courage looks like in the leadership of the independent churches: their temptations are different, their sufferings are different. Although I have found cowardice in both circles, I have found remarkable courage in both circles, and the proportion of each has not been very different from what I've found on this side of the Atlantic.
(3) As for young men with both courage and national reach: I suppose I'd start with Richard Cunningham, currently director of UCCF. He has preached fearlessly in most of the universities and colleges in the UK, and is training others to do so; he has been lampooned in the press, faced court cases over the UCCF stance on homosexuality, and attracted newspaper headlines. Then there's Vaughan Roberts, rector of St Ebbe's, Oxford, in constant demand for his Bible teaching around the country. I could name many more. In Scotland one thinks of men like Willie Philip (and he's not the only one). Similar names could be mentioned in Wales and Northern Ireland.
(4) More important yet, the last few years in England have seen the invention and growth of the regional Gospel Partnerships. In my view, these are among the most exciting things going on in England at the moment. They bring together Church of England ministers and Independent ministers who are passionate about the gospel, who see the decline, and who are crossing many kinds of denominational and cultural divides to plant churches (regardless of whether the new churches turn out to be Anglican or Free), and raise up a new generation of preachers. They are broadly Reformed. They are annoying the mere traditionalists on both sides of the denominational divide; they are certainly angering some bishops; but they press on. In the North West Partnership, for example, they've planted about 30 churches in the last eight years, and the pace is accelerating. That may seem a day of small things, but compared with what was there ten years ago, this is pretty significant, especially as their efforts are beginning to multiply. Elsewhere, one church in London has about 17 plants currently underway, all led by young men. The minister at St Helen's-Bishopsgate, William Taylor, was formerly an officer in the British Army: there is not a wimpy bone in his body. The amount of flak he takes on is remarkable.
(5) But there is a bigger issue. We must not equate courage with success, or even youth with success. We must avoid ever leaving the impression that these equations are valid. I have spent too much time in places like Japan, or in parts of the Muslim world, where courage is not measured on the world stage, where a single convert is reckoned a mighty trophy of grace. I am grateful beyond words for the multiplication of churches in Acts 29, but I am no less grateful for Baptist ministers like my Dad, men who labored very hard and saw very little fruit for decades in French Canada, many of whom went to prison (their sentences totaled eight years between 1950 and 1952). I find no ground for concluding that the missionaries in Japan in the 20th century were less godly, less courageous, less faithful, than the missionaries in (what became) South Korea, with its congregations of tens of thousands. At the final Great Assize, God will take into account not only all that was and is, but also what might have been under different circumstances (Matt 11:20ff). Just as the widow who gave her mite may be reckoned to have given more than many multi-millionaires, so, I suspect, some ministers in Japan, or Yorkshire, will receive greater praise on that last day than those who served faithfully in a corner of the world where there was more fruit. Moreover, the measure of faithful service is sometimes explicitly tied in Scripture not to the quantity of fruit, measured in numbers, but to such virtues as self-control, measured by the use of one's tongue (James 3:1-6).
(6) Even where some ministries are wavering, it takes rare discernment to sort out when there should be sharp rebuke and when there should be encouragement. Probably there needs to be more of whichever of these two polarities we are least comfortable with! But I would not want to forget that the Jesus who can denounce hypocritical religious leaders in Matthew 22 is also the one of whom it is said, "He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope" (Matt 12:19-21)---in fulfillment of one of the suffering servant passages. My read is that in some of the most challenging places of the world for gospel advance, godly encouragement is part of the great need of the day.
"In light of my friend Mark Driscoll's recent comments about pastoral ministry in Great Britain, I wanted to share a few of my own reflections on the diverse ministries that have prospered, or floundered, there. Between 1972 and 1996, I spent nine full years there, scattered over that range of years; and since then, I have been in the UK between two and six times every year. I am neither boasting nor complaining; I'm merely establishing that my knowledge of the country is not entirely superficial. I have no reason to doubt Mark's sincere concern for the gospel in the UK and for young ministers there. Nevertheless, you might be interested in hearing another perspective.
(1) Mark correctly observes the low state of genuine Christian confessionalism in the UK. Still, it varies considerably (as it does in the United States, though with lower figures over there). There's a ring around London in which close to 10 percent of the people go to church, many of them evangelicals; the percentage in Northern Ireland is higher, though falling. By contrast, in Yorkshire the percentage that goes to church once a month or more is 0.9 percent; evangelicals account for only 0.4 percent. Both figures are still falling. This is comparable to the state of affairs in, say, Japan.
(2) The phenomenon of the state church colors much of what is going on. Whether we like it or not, in England itself (the situation is different in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) the Church of England is the source of most heterodoxy and of much of the orthodoxy, as well as of everything in between. It has produced men like Don Cupitt and men like Dick Lucas. Exactly what courage looks like for the most orthodox evangelicals in that world is a bit different from what courage looks like in the leadership of the independent churches: their temptations are different, their sufferings are different. Although I have found cowardice in both circles, I have found remarkable courage in both circles, and the proportion of each has not been very different from what I've found on this side of the Atlantic.
(3) As for young men with both courage and national reach: I suppose I'd start with Richard Cunningham, currently director of UCCF. He has preached fearlessly in most of the universities and colleges in the UK, and is training others to do so; he has been lampooned in the press, faced court cases over the UCCF stance on homosexuality, and attracted newspaper headlines. Then there's Vaughan Roberts, rector of St Ebbe's, Oxford, in constant demand for his Bible teaching around the country. I could name many more. In Scotland one thinks of men like Willie Philip (and he's not the only one). Similar names could be mentioned in Wales and Northern Ireland.
(4) More important yet, the last few years in England have seen the invention and growth of the regional Gospel Partnerships. In my view, these are among the most exciting things going on in England at the moment. They bring together Church of England ministers and Independent ministers who are passionate about the gospel, who see the decline, and who are crossing many kinds of denominational and cultural divides to plant churches (regardless of whether the new churches turn out to be Anglican or Free), and raise up a new generation of preachers. They are broadly Reformed. They are annoying the mere traditionalists on both sides of the denominational divide; they are certainly angering some bishops; but they press on. In the North West Partnership, for example, they've planted about 30 churches in the last eight years, and the pace is accelerating. That may seem a day of small things, but compared with what was there ten years ago, this is pretty significant, especially as their efforts are beginning to multiply. Elsewhere, one church in London has about 17 plants currently underway, all led by young men. The minister at St Helen's-Bishopsgate, William Taylor, was formerly an officer in the British Army: there is not a wimpy bone in his body. The amount of flak he takes on is remarkable.
(5) But there is a bigger issue. We must not equate courage with success, or even youth with success. We must avoid ever leaving the impression that these equations are valid. I have spent too much time in places like Japan, or in parts of the Muslim world, where courage is not measured on the world stage, where a single convert is reckoned a mighty trophy of grace. I am grateful beyond words for the multiplication of churches in Acts 29, but I am no less grateful for Baptist ministers like my Dad, men who labored very hard and saw very little fruit for decades in French Canada, many of whom went to prison (their sentences totaled eight years between 1950 and 1952). I find no ground for concluding that the missionaries in Japan in the 20th century were less godly, less courageous, less faithful, than the missionaries in (what became) South Korea, with its congregations of tens of thousands. At the final Great Assize, God will take into account not only all that was and is, but also what might have been under different circumstances (Matt 11:20ff). Just as the widow who gave her mite may be reckoned to have given more than many multi-millionaires, so, I suspect, some ministers in Japan, or Yorkshire, will receive greater praise on that last day than those who served faithfully in a corner of the world where there was more fruit. Moreover, the measure of faithful service is sometimes explicitly tied in Scripture not to the quantity of fruit, measured in numbers, but to such virtues as self-control, measured by the use of one's tongue (James 3:1-6).
(6) Even where some ministries are wavering, it takes rare discernment to sort out when there should be sharp rebuke and when there should be encouragement. Probably there needs to be more of whichever of these two polarities we are least comfortable with! But I would not want to forget that the Jesus who can denounce hypocritical religious leaders in Matthew 22 is also the one of whom it is said, "He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope" (Matt 12:19-21)---in fulfillment of one of the suffering servant passages. My read is that in some of the most challenging places of the world for gospel advance, godly encouragement is part of the great need of the day.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Times of Shaking?
I've been feeling this personally for a few months but it seems it's happening in the organised religious world as well. Interesting times. I have made no secret of my just-tolerance of Mark Driscoll and some of his mannerisms - but I saw this via some of the SGM blogs I read.
Mark Driscoll: "Recently, I sensed that not all was well in Acts 29 ... Together, we decided, in light of all the complexity we’re facing, that the best thing for Acts 29 going forward would be for Matt Chandler to assume the presidency, move the network offices to Dallas, and select his Acts 29 staff".
Mark Driscoll: "Recently, I sensed that not all was well in Acts 29 ... Together, we decided, in light of all the complexity we’re facing, that the best thing for Acts 29 going forward would be for Matt Chandler to assume the presidency, move the network offices to Dallas, and select his Acts 29 staff".
But that's not all;
Don Carson and Tim Keller (heads of the Gospel Coalition) announced:
"Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle has recently announced he is stepping down from the Council of The Gospel Coalition. Mark let us know in advance of his intentions, part of a major reorganization of his priorities and a changing of the guard in Acts 29. We are saddened by his departure but understand that all busy people must establish priorities".
I think these are good times. I grew up into a "celebrity-pastor" culture that built men onto pedestals that they could not stay on. The loudest shouts on the internet at present divide between the "Mahaney" fans, the "Driscoll" fans etc supporting theirs - and on the other side, those who have been hurt by the effects of the ripples of such ministries.
I still sit as an observer - wondering what's happening to the Gospel (true) message and it's true impact for the lost?
Monday, March 26, 2012
Something is Wrong ... Wrong ... Wrong
When you begin to read blog posts like this;
And then you find a whole net devoted to "Ex Christians" - with 3,155 and growing followers.
What in the world is going on? Are movements of churches like SGM and hyper-Calvinists like C J Mahaney or John Piper to blame for these bruised and hurting people? Or were they never truly Christians in the first place (as many of these dear souls are being accused of)?
I am thinking - thinking and aching - aching. Surely now more than ever we need a revival of grace and glory of proportions that Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones spoke of.
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