If you're a Reformed Christian i would highly recommend you read this work by Iain. H Murray. It is very easy to fall into unbiblical extremes and Charles Spurgeon was well aware of this during his preaching ministry.
I love this quote by Murray, "The final conclusion has to be that when Calvinism ceases to be evangelistic, when it becomes more concerned with theory than with the salvation of men and women, when acceptance of doctrine seems to become more important than acceptance of Christ, then it is a system going to seed and it will invariably lose its attractive power."
Sell a shirt and read this short book. Spurgeon V. Hyper-Calvinism: The Battle for Gospel Preaching.
10 comments:
CK, is this the exact quote, or are you missing some words?
MT
MT,
I am pretty sure (after double checking my book source) that this is his exact quote.
He is not trying to make a distinction between theology and faith.
He is simply saying that we ought to have our priorities straight. Evangelism is the central purpose of the church today.
Spurgeon spent much of his life refuting Hyper-Calvinism and Arminianism. He understood the role sound doctrine and theology play in the Christian life. He just believed true Calvinism promotes biblical evangelism...When that ceases to happen; when we're just out there debating fellow Christians we have some problems that need to be fixed.
Spurgeon is a great example to me as a young pastor.
CK,
It is just that the statement "then it is a system going to seed and it will invariably lose its attractive power" didn't sound like proper wording, but after I have read it a few times, it does.
I am going to buy this book and start reading as soon as it comes. As you know, the tendency is to run from Arminianism to Calvinism, with usually some being spent as a hyper-Calvinist. Packer's "Evangelism and the sovereignty of God" is one book that helped me get back to embracing Romans 10 in addition to Romans 9.
I also have a friend that has been burned by a hyper and this book, not ironically about the greatest Baptist preacher of all time, would help him to understand things better.
I have been following what you have been doing here as well as over at Expository Thoughts...not to puff you up, but your studies stand in stark contrast to the of your predecessor. Have you read Riley's blog lately? He seems to have embraced evolutionism as well as radical environmentalism.
MT,
I agree with you. I am trying to live and preach more like Spurgeon...I want to remain God-centered, Bible-saturated, theology-driven, but not at the exclusion of evangelism.
I stopped reading Riley's blog because it saddened me too much. I've been told he is VERY VERY smart. Sometimes the most gifted brains rely too heavily on reason and depart from the centrality of the cross.
I am grateful i am not super rich or super smart. I have a hard enough time remaining wholly dependent on God and His Word even with my limited abilities, etc.
Andrea, Evelyn, and Jude sends there warm regards.
CK
CK,
The question I have is...about a person like Riley. He IS very smart, or so it seems, in at least the worldly way.
How do we reconcile a person who was once at the cross, but now seems to be so departed and embracing of things counter to the cross i.e. evolution, liberalism, etc.? He is embracing things that seem to be at the opposite end of the spectrum...
I know we aren't saved BY our theology...thank the Lord. But when someone jettisons what is considered orthodox to the Christian faith in many ways, how do we / should we view the person? Yes, I'll say it...it makes me wonder if he ever was / is a believer.
I don't read everything on his blog...but lately, his writings aren't even in line with who he was. Yes, it is sad.
And what I believe is even more sad is that the current crop of teens at FBC were very heavily influenced by Riley...as I am seeing / hearing it now, even down to the junior high level. I am thankful that Joe was never exposed to Riley's way of thinking. I am also thankful that the little time we were at FBC in the youth group, that Joe was exposed to you and your ministry.
Our departure from YG was because of a difference we had with how some parents allowed their children to think / act...NOT with anything you did / said. I hope you know this. We did not do a good job of preparing Joe for what happens every day in public school. We won't make that same mistake for the rest of the children.
We are easing into YG up here. The youth pastor is a godly man that will not compromise; not unlike you. He has a thriving ministry that is mission focused...they are in the middle of their third mission trip in three weeks: two to Canada (work projects) and one to rural Kentucky (Harlen county for a VBS). But even in light of that they have their struggles...teens, like everyone else, are sinners. I would love to intro you two sometime.
Leslie and I still believe that God will honor what you are trying to do...just be steadfast and long suffering. A teen ministry focused on the Bible will be hard coming along in the material / worldly focused center of Hamilton county. Just don't give up.
MT,
I would rather not comment directly on Riley's situation because of his past connection to FBC.
I would say regardless of who we're talking about if someone does not embrace the biblical gospel (which includes a non-negotiable body of objective truth) they are not saved.
Apostates start off believing and obeying and then later reject the truth.
Apostasy is not possible for true Christians yet the author of Hebrews warns us of it. We can't lose our salvation but we can depart from the faith. True Christians ult. persevere to the end (Phil. 1:6).
Blessings in Christ,
Caleb
Phil Johnson wrote,
Scot McKnight's Christianity Today article on the major streams of influence within the Emerging movement acknowledged that the political drift of the movement is leftward. Most Emerging Christians are fed up with the evangelical movement's thirty-five year dalliance with Republican-party politics.
OK, let me say first of all that I have great sympathy with the concern they are expressing. For more than twenty-five years, I have been I've been voicing disapproval of the way right-wing political activism often seems to eclipse gospel ministry on the agenda of some churches and evangelical organizations. Some in the religious right seem to think the primary duty of the church in secular society is political lobbying. Evangelical politicians have displayed a frightening willingness to compromise spiritual principles, forge partnerships with unbelievers, and shift the focus of their message away from the gospel in favor of more broadly-appealing moral and political themes. Some seem willing to take whatever pragmatic means are necessary in order to influence the vote—as if the advancement of Christ's kingdom depended on the American electoral process..... see pyro for full article.
As if there are only two options...left and liberal or right and conservative. How about up and Christian?
BTW, I appreciate your position about Riley...you are showing great self control and even respect. You are a better man than I...
MT,
Great quote. "As if there are only two options...left and liberal or right and conservative. How about up and Christian?"
I have some concerns over Riley's doctrinal shifts. I believe his influence though in the lives of our teens is not very strong thus i don't see a pressing need to combat his theology.
It appears to me he's on a theological journey right now. I pray he finds the Biblical center.
In Christ
CK
Post a Comment