Category Archives: Mission

Driscoll, D. A. Carson, and more Driscoll

Posted on by
4

Today Justin Tapp e-mailed me a New York Times article on Mark Driscoll that no one seemed to be blogging about. The article, “Who Would Jesus Smack Down?,” was very interesting, although I do not think the author understands Calvinism, church discipline, or John Calvin I appreciated the article and was surprised to find it published in the NY Times.

Also Mark Driscoll posted a video interview with D. A. Carson at The Resurgence, concerning Carson’s book Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson. The video is available here. I really enjoyed the interview and hope to have the book read before school starts back up. Carson’s dad was a church planter and pastor in Quebec where we are hoping to plant churches as well and so the interview was very encouraging.

The Incarnation: Miracle, Majesty, and Mission

Posted on by
Reply

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

I want to briefly look at the incarnation from a slightly different perspective this Christmas and I hope that it is a benefit to you, particularly in the way you understand and live out the missio Dei. It will help if you understand one of the central presuppositions to my theological method. In his work, According to Plan, Graeme Goldsworthy, commenting on Genesis 1, explains, “There is no suggestion of a self-evident standard of goodness and harmony outside of God . . . God, who is the source of both, must define them by setting forth an arrangement that is the expression of his goodness and harmony” (93). When God declares the creation to be good He is in fact declaring its conformity to and expression of His intrinsic goodness. As such I would understand all theological study, from hamartiology to ecclesiology, to be a study of the attributes of God, as He has seen fit to reveal them. For example, by studying soteriology we can see the sovereignty and gracious disposition of God. With that said my primary concern here is to briefly examine what the incarnation reveals about the character of God, particularly as it pertains to the missio Dei.

The incarnation demonstrates the unmatched sovereignty of God as He brings His plans to fruition and His purposes to pass (Genesis 3:15; Micah 5:2; Acts 4:24-28).

The incarnation demonstrates the humility of God (Philippians 2:5-11) lest we read this verse and think that humility is merely a character trait of Christ and not the entire Trinitarian community it is important to note the definitive other centeredness of God; God the Father has given Christ “a name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:9), God the Son glorified God the Father (John 17:1-5), and it is through God the Spirit that we worship God the Father and the Son (Philippians 3:3).

The incarnation demonstrates the immeasurable and lavish grace of God (Ephesians 1:4-15). Concomitant with grace is God’s longsuffering patience (I Timothy 1:15-16).

The incarnation demonstrates that God is a relational being; this is seen in both Christ’s numerous prayers to the Father (Mark 1:35; 6:46; 14:32ff.) and in His relationship with His disciples, family, and friends (John 2:2, 11, 12; 11:1-44).

The incarnation defines the missio Dei as Christ declares, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21; see also Luke 19:10; John 13:31-32; 17:1-5). This is a profound statement and one that has not received due consideration at that. Just as God the Father has sent Christ so He also sends His Church. This is a clarion call for the modern church to rethink both its theology and methodology. Indeed, it is a call to not only an incarnational Christology but an incarnational ecclesiology/missiology as well!

There are those who would argue against such an incarnational ecclesiology claiming that it diminishes the theological significance of the incarnation of Christ. Would we say the same thing of Paul? Would we argue that II Corinthians 5:18-21 diminishes reconciliation? Not in the least. Rather, we would rejoice that just as “in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself” now, as ambassadors, as representatives, as mediators sent on behalf of Christ, God is “making his appeal through us.” Do you grasp the significance of the incarnation and an incarnational ecclesiology as it pertains to our ministry of reconciliation? Christ who, “in his body of flesh by his death” reconciled us to God (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:21-22) now sends the church so that through her God may make His appeal. In the same way the church incarnates, gives flesh to, the sufferings of Christ as Paul both exclaims (Colossians 1:24-29) and promises (Romans 8:17; II Corinthians 1:5; Philippians 1:29-30) and the author of Hebrews exhorts (Hebrews 13:11-14). In the same way we see that Epaphroditus gives flesh to the service and love of the church at Philippi (Philippians 2:25-30).

So let us rejoice at the incarnation and rejoice even more that God has not left the world without a physical witness but that He continues to make His appeal and reveal Christ’s sufferings through His church, whom He has sent just as He sent His Son.

The Gravity of Gospel Ministry

Posted on by
6

Today I had the privilege of attending the ordination council of a close friend. I have been to ordination services before and I have had friends who have been ordained; however, this was completely unique among those experiences. Unlike other ordination services I was deeply impressed as this ordination conveyed the sobriety with which one must approach gospel ministry.

Providence Community Church is committed to preserving the purity of the ministry and as such the interview was profoundly thorough. The elders of Providence Community Church, along with a pastor of another local church and a professor from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, conducted the interview. Recognizing that the local church exists beyond the congregation at Providence they invited these other ordained men, from other likeminded local churches, to take part in the interview to maintain the purity of the body of Christ in Lexington as well. Furthermore, they invited the church to attend as the congregation also needs to recognize and endorse this man’s calling to gospel ministry, which is why I was able to be there.

I cannot overemphasize the thoroughness of the interview process. It was thorough, extremely thorough, to the point that it required nearly five hours to complete. It began as he shared his testimony and calling to gospel ministry from there it proceeded to his doctrinal defense. He was required to type a defense of the church’s doctrinal statement in advance, a rather lengthy defense at that, and submit it to the ordained men who would be conducting the interview. The questions ranged from various worldview and missiological implications to his understanding of the filioque clause and kenosis. I even remembered one point where Augustine was quoted in Latin.

The local church benefits from such attention to detail and thoroughness in maintaining a pure ministry. The church also benefits by networking and expecting accountability from other local likeminded churches. Moreover, the kindhearted and deeply theological nature of this interview was a profound benefit to the church as well; it was as if they were able to attend a weekend seminary course in systematic theology. In contrast to pop Christianity where theology is downplayed, and often outright demised, these events have been a refreshing encouragement, which I hope takes root in other churches as well.

2008-10-06 The Brief

Posted on by
7
Culture
Missiology
  • Early last month Dr. David Sills, of SBTS, posted a fantastic article, entitled “The Brain Drain,” in which he looks at contemporary evangelicalism and how our desire to prepare missionaries has taught missions well but failed to model it and is in some sense counterproductive. From the article:

    • It is amazing to me that the most eloquent Bible expositors and scholars who exegete so beautifully the missionary journeys of Paul have often never been on one themselves. . . . They model a ministry that talks about the nations but does not walk among the nations.

    The brightest and best aspire to follow and emulate these godly teachers, preachers, Bible scholars, and theologians who unfortunately do not model missions as a worthy life investment. As much as young people want it to, missions does not seem to fit into any responsible, biblical expression of ministry because none of the leaders or inner circle members is missions focused in anything but talk. After a time of confused struggling, young people pack away their passion for missions as misguided zeal.

    I would love for you to read this article and then share your thoughts.

Theology