Many Decisions Made

We did it! After two weeks of discussing baptism, we had an altar call and everyone present is now a Baptist, well, sort of and sort of not. Seriously though, we are moving on and will be discussing the second part of chapter 16 in Pilgrim Theology which deals with the Lord's Supper. So come ready to discuss pp.374-386 on Tuesday, February 11th.

On an entirely different note and to prove that even "Baptists" can learn a thing or two from others, I can't recommend this message on antinomianism and neonomianism with more enthusiasm. It is a "must" watch/listen.

Ana the Baptism Chapter

With so much good conversation about baptism on 1.28, we will continue with the topic on 2.4.14. So it will be a re-read Pilgrim Theology, chapter 16. If this doesn't wet your thirst enough, may I suggest some good theology from Baptist John Bunyan. Some of that can be found here.

Your Own Personal Jesus

“While evangelicals talk a lot about truth, their witness, worship, and spirituality seem in many ways more like their Mormon, New Age, and liberal nemeses than anything like historical Christianity” (Horton, Christless Christianity), 161.

This is so, according to Horton, because we have become functional Gnostics (2nd century heretics!). We are our own authorities and what we feel or experience personally is “true” as long as we are sincere about it.

We had some good discussion about this today that included the need to not overreact into rationalism and ignore the fact that God is personal and therefore personally involved in this world. Jesus is personal, but he is not whoever I want him to be.

Enjoy the video of the man in black covering the Depeche Mode song. The video is a mix and not the actual Cash video.

Week Three (NEXT WEEK OFF)

*We will NOT be meeting on Tuesday, October 12th. So be ready to discuss chapter 4 on Tuesday the 19th.

Horton pegs Osteen as the arch-prophet of legalism light, the perfect fit with the sinlessness we learned about in chapter 2. “We don’t have any real rules, we just need to love God and love our neighbor”—as if that were not law (Matthew 22) and as if that was within our reach as people characterized by NOT doing what is good and righteous (Romans 3)! Hopelessness and powerlessness will be the outcome of such religion given that it is void of a legitimate gospel.
While it is easy to throw stones at Mr. Million Dollar Smile, a sober listen to scores of evangelical sermons that assume the gospel and merely moralize with “biblical principles” (read laws) remind us that judgment should begin at home. Let’s call for and demand (of ourselves and others) that the gospel not be assumed, but proclaimed with clarity. For then and only then should the many important imperatives be proclaimed. In other words, everything needs to be deliberately grounded in the gospel (e.g. Romans 1-11/12-16; Ephesians 1-3/4-6).

Here is a helpful excerpt designed to help us to not assume the gospel. My favorite diagnostic question is “Could you have preached that sermon if Christ had not died on the cross?”

Here is also a good video follow up from Mike himself.

Hang in there with the reading and keep showing up for good conversation.

For those who wanted the MacArthur critique of Schuller, here it is in pictures:




Pat

Week 2--Finney, ER, and Saying We Have No Sin

Good discussion was had this morning regarding chapter 2 of CC which aimed at the disappearance of sin. The chapter was a bit laborious for some, but don't lose heart. The content is well worth it.

Some of my notes from today are attached if you are interested.

I can't recommend the White Horse Inn enough so give it a listen. Here's the link.

Go forth and don't be a pelagian like Finney!

Pat

Notes:
“To Hell with Sin: When ‘Being a Good Person’ Excuses Everything” (Wall Street Journal, 1999), 35. Horton then says “Isn’t it slightly odd when the world has to complain that the churches are no longer talking about sin?” (35).

Given that this matter of ignoring sin occupies the central spot in the chapter, here’s an exercise for us in the form of two questions:

What happens when the church stops talking about sin?
1. The biblical gospel is doomed to irrelevance (Christ died for our sins 1 Cor. 15:3).
2. The church will stop proclaiming the gospel.
3. The church will resort to redefining biblical truths (Jesus, His birth, His death, His resurrection). I say this because things like atonement and reconciliation don’t really make sense and they are not important. Jesus will be the example and the life coach. His death will model sacrifice and love for people as good as you and me , His resurrection will be inspiration for overcoming obstacles or the like.
4. The church may grow (in the short run at least).
5. The church will raise a generation of moral therapeutic deists.
6. We have prostituted the name Christian.
7. The church is doomed to irrelevance (illustrated by the ER video, at least until they ruin it at the end!).
What is a reasonable response from us given this silence about sin and therefore the gospel age?
1. Recognize how big the problem truly is.
2. Know about sin biblically.
3. Know the gospel.
4. Teach about sin and teach the gospel.
5. Be unashamed of the gospel which demands that sin be talked about and understood.
6. Know something about history so when we are acting like Pelagius, we will at least know it.
7. Be a church that seeks to be clear and faithful.
8. Train others.

Week 1--Launch

9.21.10 saw the launch of a new theology for breakfast men's group. Our initial text is Christless Christianity by Mike Horton which is one of my favorite books in recent years. So much of it strikes a central gospel nerve and is greatly convicting for evangelicalism. A great supplement to the reading is the White Horse Inn podcast. Start with 9.19.10 show. Search itunes or find it here.

Chapter two is on tap for next week. Come ready to discuss and interact with the text and where it hits home. The size of the group may call for a bit more structure, but it should be fun. I'll bring the coffee.