Live from New York, its…Thoughts on Thursday (On “Excellence”)?

Well, I just wrapped up my half-week in New York attending the Dwell Conference, and I hope to post some thoughts and refelctions from that time. In the meantime, here is a excellent and challenging quote I just read off of Tullian Tchividjian’s blog (someone I saw at the Conference, but didn’t happen to connect with, unfortunately - as I have been really enjoying his blog lately.  You should check it out here).  

This quote comes from a longer quote dealing with the question of “Educational Excellence” in our American Educational system.  I found it extremely challenging and provocative, especially as we, the church, need to think very long and hard about what it will take to gain an influential hearing with the world around us.   As always, thoughts, comments and other provocations are greatly welcomed and encouraged.

“If the evangelical church is to have any meaningful voice in the circles of elite global influence, then it will need to do more than address its latent anti-intellectualism. It will have to make the life of the mind a spiritual responsibility of faithful apprenticeship to Jesus.”

Thoughts on Thursday: Gospel-Centered Scandal

Today’s thought & quote comes from Miroslov Volf. I’ve recently begun reading his book Exclusion & Embrace and am being challenged greatly by many of the things he writes.

This thought has to do with the scandal of the cross, against the backdrop of the world as we know and often experience it - less than perfect!

After reading the quote, tell me: What do you think?

Is self-donation a viable expression of the Gospel? If so, how should we identify with the concept of self-donation, when in this life we will experience more exploitation, than reciprocity?

“A genuinely Christian reflection on social issues must be rooted in the self-giving love of the divine Trinity as manifested on the cross of Christ; all the central themes of such reflection will have to be thought through from the perspective of the self-giving love of God…

“Would not a world of reciprocal self-donation…be a ‘world that which none better can be conceived’ because it would be a world of perfect love? The response is good, provided the condition of reciprocity is fulfilled. But one of the reasons we can conceive of a much better world than the one we inhabit is that the condition of reciprocity is so rarely fulfilled. Self-giving is not met with self-giving, but with exploitation & brutality…

“The ultimate scandal of the cross is the all too frequent failure of self-donation to bear positive fruit: you give yourself for the other - and violence does not stop but destroys you; you sacrifice your life - and stabilize the power of the perpetrator. Though self-donation often issues in the joy of reciprocity, it must reckon with the pain of failure and violence. When violence strikes, the very act of self-donation becomes a cry before the dark face of God. This dark face confronting the act of self-donation is a scandal.”

- Miroslav Volf, Exclusion & Embrace, 25-26.

Thoughts on Thursday: What makes the Gospel, gospel?

I have regrettably not been posting with much frequency lately. I am happy to get back into a groove with yet another Thought on Thursday.

This thought comes from a book I’ve recently finished: The Future of Justification: A Response to N.T. Wright by John Piper. Let me recommend this book to you if you are at all interested in the fairly recent debate regarding the Christian of Justification, especially if you are the least bit curious about N.T. Wright. I have been reading several of his books, and I must confess that I sometimes have a hard time following his thoughts.

But let me also say, that I have benefited greatly from Wright’s writing, thoughts and even parts of his theology - the man is brilliant and if you take your faith and theology seriously, you would do well to expose yourself to some of his insights. And John Piper would echo this thought. This book is is no way an attach on the man himself, or even an outright denial of everything Wright has put forth; Piper actually speaks fairly highly of Wright. Piper’s contribution comes in critiquing the few areas where Wright’s theology could be considered dangerous, particularly with the topic of personal justification of sinners in Christ.

Here’s a quote, and today’s thought:

Why should a guilty sinner who has committed treason against Jesus consider it good news when he hears the announcement taht this Jesus has been raised from the dead with absolute sovereign rights over all human beings? If Wright answers, ‘Because the narration of the events of the cross and resurrection are included in the heralding of the King,’ the sinner will say, ‘What good is that for me? How can that help me? Why does that provide hope for me or any sinner?’ If the gospel has no answer for this sinner, the mere facts of the death and resurrection of Jesus are not good news. But if the gospel has an answer, it would have to be a message about how the rebel against God can be saved - indeed how he can be right with God and become part of the covenant people…We are ’saved’ through the gospel…and the gospel is the message that Christ died ‘for our sins,’ (I Corinthians 15:1-3). It is precisely the personal ‘for our sins’ that makes the heralding of the historic facts good news. And Paul is eager to make explicit that this ‘for our sins’ is good news because by it we are ’saved.’ this is at the heart of what makes the gospel gospel, and not just an effect of the gospel.

- The Future of Justification: A Response to N.T. Wright,

by John Piper (Crossway, 2007), 89.

For further reading, you brave interested souls:

N.T. Wright addresses some of this criticism in an article, “The Cross and Its Caricatures”. If you’re worried that he denies substitutionary atonement, read this, especially pages 9 and following.

What did Jesus really mean?

I’m tired of hearing myself, as well as others, ask the above question as an attempt to soften the blow of what the Bible often tells us to do.

Case in point:  How many of us would actually do this?

Could it be that there actually is a way to live that is counter-cultural - that cuts across our unevaluated biases that we possess?

Maybe Jesus was on to something, and we would be wise to take Him at His word.

Fellas: what keeps us from doing this ourselves?  Thoughts, comments or other provocations…please.

Public Service Announcement: Helping a brother out

I rarely will do this…but a friend of mine has asked for some help in getting support for his cause. Go here and then leave a comment saying something to the effect of “Keep it”.Thanks for your help on this matter! 

Thoughts on Thursday: Good Therapy!

Mad TV Bob Newhart Skit

This is just hilarious! Had to share it…

It does provide for an interesting commentary on  how we may deal with sins and patterns in our lives.

What do you guys think?  Besides just being funny, could this be good advice to listen to when dealing with sin and our sanctification?

Monday Stuff

Here are some links to recent articles and posts I have found interesting over this past week on the web:

Tim Challies reviews Bart Ehrman’s new book God’s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question—Why We Suffer.  Worth checking out (especially if you won’t read Ehrman’s book on its own).  I always find Tim’s reviews helpful.  Plus his sight The Discerning Reader is a great site and resource.

Graeme Goldsworthy lectures at Southern Seminary on the necessity and application of Biblical Theology - both in the seminary and the pulpit. (I admit, I have not listened to these yet, but I plan to this week). [Thanks to Justin Taylor for the link].

There’s an interesting post on how to assess and interview potential missional community leaders, thanks to Drew Goodmason of Kaleo Church in San Diego (Acts 29).  I find Drew’s thoughts extremely insightful as a would be church planter in the somewhat foreseeable future.

This was actually a very insightful and helpful post from Zen Habits, on Emotional Intelligence. I usually think I am emotionally aware of myself and everyone else around me.  Time and experience continues to prove me wrong.  These little things help from time to time.

Oh yeah…and Tim Keller’s newest new book.  No, not this book, but this one.

Review: Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll

Let me commend to everyone who reads this blog the book Vintage Jesus by Mark Driscoll and co-Authored with Gerry Breshears. I have mentioned it in some previous posts (here), but want to take the time to give you all a brief synopsis, and my take on why I think it would be worth your time reading. First, my synopsis.

This book does a fantastic job at doing systematic theology regarding the person and work of Jesus Christ with the typical, everyday skeptic or new Christian in mind - and that is invaluable! After having just taken a seminary class on the subject (Christ and Salvation), I must say that I was hard pressed to select one of the many books we had to read as a good resource to put in the hands of somebody either questioning Christianity or recently brought into the family of God regarding this important, and sometimes daunting, subject.

Driscoll’s book does an excellent job, first identifying the major questions and point of discussion. The book is oriented around 12 key questions; they are:

Chapter 1 Is Jesus the Only God?

Chapter 2 How Human Was Jesus?

Chapter 3 How Did People Know Jesus Was Coming?

Chapter 4 Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?

Chapter 5 Why Did Jesus’ Mom Need to Be a Virgin?

Chapter 6 What Did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?

Chapter 7 Did Jesus Rise from Death?

Chapter 8 Where Is Jesus Today?

Chapter 9 Why Should We Worship Jesus?

Chapter 10 What Makes Jesus Superior to Other Saviors?

Chapter 11 What Difference Has Jesus Made in History?

Chapter 12 What Will Jesus Do upon His Return?

Each chapter then discusses the controversy (or controversies) surrounding these questions, both in their historical and contemporary setting. Spread throughout the chapters are various quotes or insights that are pulled from not only the Christian tradition, but from pop culture and other religions. Driscoll then does an excellent job pointing to scripture and what the Bible says regarding these questions and various interpretations, or problems, we may have. Dr. Breshears then concludes each chapter with a most helpful FAQ that probes into a handful of subquestions that fall under each larger question. This format makes this a great resource for 99% of the people who would be interested and who walk through the doors of your church, or favorite local coffee shop or pub.

Now, some people may be put off by one of two things, or perhaps, both: 1) Systematic Theology, or 2) Mark Driscoll. First, regarding the Systematic Theology. I know its en vogue to question or downplay the significance of Sys. Theology these days in favor of Biblical Theology, but that really is a shame. I am personally of the opinion that we vitally need both. We need our Biblical Theology to help inform our Systematic Theology, and we need our Systematic Theology to help understand our Biblical Theology. That being said, this book is a welcome Systematics book which keeps the story of Scripture alive and in view, while being relevant and thorough in probing the subject of Christology.

Now, for those put off by the fact that its Mark Driscoll, let me say that there are several Driscoll-isms that come through in this book, and you may not like that. I would encourage you to still read this book and ask: “Does this book communicate the truths of Christ’s person and work in a way that is true to Scripture, honoring to God, edifying to believers, and accessible to non-believers?” I think for anytime we find ourselves criticizing another brother for his personality or style, if we can slow down to consider those questions, we would be better served than making quick conclusions. I believe that Driscoll comes out on top regarding all of those questions.

I wanted to read Vintage Jesus for a very selfish reason (And no, its not because I like reading everything Driscoll puts out - even though I do!): I wanted to understand how to communicate theology in a way that is faithful to scripture and engaging to non-Christians. Having read Vintage Jesus, I can say that I have a somewhat better understanding of how to do so, and for that, I am grateful. This is why I commend this book to you - whoever you are!

Whether you are a believer wanting to be challenged and strengthened in understanding the person and work of Jesus Christ, or a a seminarian looking to be challenged in how to communicate the truths of Scripture, or a non-Christian questioning how any rational human being could believe in such a story that centers on this one person, your time will be well served by reading this book.

My personally favorite part of this book is the section Driscoll deals with the fact that “Jesus was a dude.” Great stuff - funny, insightful and challenging. The book is scattered with great content communicated in witty ways. I again, highly recommend this book to you.

Leadership Maxims

During a week-long class on Pastoral Leadership taught by Harry Reeder, III of Briarwood Presbyterian Church down in Birmingham, AL, I was challenged and encouraged to begin to use maxims - short, memorable sayings - in order to communicate various principles of leadership.

Here is my running list (at least the start of my list).  Do any of you out there have a few of your own you’d probably add? Leave me a comment:

1. Pack your big rocks first.

2. Character counts - then Content, Competency.

3. Never take counsel from your fears.

4. Be strong in grace, not for grace.

5. Leaders are not know-it-alls, but they are learners.

6. We are born imitators - find models & mentors.

7. Form follows function, then you fill what you form!

8. Push decision making down (as far as possible).

9. Trust the people & the processes.

10. Start out as a Team, not as Loyal Opposition.

11. Don’t expect a baby without the labor pains.

12. Convert your negative situations into positive experiences - step up & lead.

13. Don’t handle spiritual problems functionally or functional problems spiritually.

14. Good leadership learns from the past, contextualizes in the present, & effects change for the future.

15. Have a plurality of unified individuals around you (i.e.Team).

16. Most overnight successes were 20 years in the making

Great Art and Transcendent Beauty

Sigur Ros - GlósóliThis is what music and art is supposed to do. Capture beauty and imagination in a way that transcends words (at least words we readily understand).After watching this, I can’t think of how to describe this song or this band. I admit, I teared up (a little). A friend mentioned this video to me last night and he expressed this question, “What would it be like for some of our corporate worship as the church to capture some of this same sense of awe, wonder, and beauty that Sigur Ros elicits with their music, and this video wonderfully captures?”I have not got the first clue how to answer that question…but I want to ponder it. Until then, enjoy, and listen to more Sigur Ros!