The Radical Nature of a Quiet Life

Living coram deo, before the Father, might mean being Gladys Aylward, going overseas to save orphans, or being Corrie ten Boom, living a quiet life until social upheaval pushes you to bold resistance, or being Mrs. Jones, who no one has ever heard of, but who blessed those around her with her singular focus on doing all things as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23) until she died a quiet death after living a quiet life. She may have followed the Lord by doing the radical things she was called to -adoption, perhaps, church planting, education (all things that are part of my life) -but she did them because she was called to do them… not because she felt compelled by a loud and lofty guilt trip.

In the rush of lofty aspirations that surround me, being content to  live faithfully in that simple way, serving in the niche the Lord has called me to serve, may be the most radical decision I could make.

So I still get to be a bit of a radical millennial in my own right.

David VanDrunen responds to “Kingdoms Apart”… a book engaging Two Kingdoms Theology. “Separating ‘x’ as a moral issue from ‘x’ as a concrete political policy issue constitutes precisely the kind of surreal religious secularizing dualism that permitted numerous German and Dutch citizens to cooperate with German National Socialism” [i.e., the Nazis]. (93)” Presumably this was not what the editor had in mind when he spoke of Kingdoms Apart’s “cordial” engagement with the “two kingdoms perspective.
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David VanDrunen responds to “Kingdoms Apart”… a book engaging Two Kingdoms Theology.

“Separating ‘x’ as a moral issue from ‘x’ as a concrete political policy issue constitutes precisely the kind of surreal religious secularizing dualism that permitted numerous German and Dutch citizens to cooperate with German National Socialism” [i.e., the Nazis]. (93)”

Presumably this was not what the editor had in mind when he spoke of Kingdoms Apart’s “cordial” engagement with the “two kingdoms perspective.

If there is a weakness in the book, it relates to the author’s insistence upon the “prophet, priest, king” model of leadership. “Some leaders are primarily prophets, uniquely gifted to declare truth. Some leaders are primarily priests, uniquely gifted to shepherd people to wholeness and maturity. And some leaders are primarily kings, specifically gifted to provide clear direction.” While I appreciate how this grid distinguishes different gifts and different forms of leadership, I see it as a grid imposed upon Scripture rather than one that is carefully drawn from Scripture. It goes beyond what Scripture teaches to insist, “All three types of leaders are necessary and essential.” Still, though this grid is present throughout the book’s second half, there is much to learn even without adopting it.

- Tim Challies on

Creature of the Word

Glad I am not the only one who doesn’t like the way the offices of Christ (prophet, priest, and king) are applied to “leaders” or “pastors” or everything under the sun.

(Source: soundgecko.com)

Are Metro-Evangelicals Right?

Article summary:

Andy Crouch (or his headline writer) coined the catchy term ‘metro-evangelicals’ to describe the growing urban resurgence within American evangelicalism. In a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, Crouch explains that pastors like Tim Keller and Mark Driscoll see cities as the beachhead of a new evangelization.

(Source: mereorthodoxy.com)

What is the Mission of the Church? Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom and the Great Commission AuthorKevin DeYoung & Greg GilbertNarratorAdam VernerRuntime8.9 Hrs. – UnabridgedPublisherchristianaudio “Christians today define mission more broadly and variably than ever before. Are we, as the body of Christ, headed in the same direction or are we on divergent missions? Some argue that the mission of the Church is to confront injustice and alleviate suffering, doing more to express God’s love for the world. Others are concerned that the church is in danger of losing its God-centeredness and thereby emphasize the proclamation of the gospel. It appears as though misunderstanding of mission persists. Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert believe there is a lot that evangelicals can agree on if only we employ the right categories and build our theology of mission from the same biblical building blocks. Explaining key concepts like kingdom, gospel, and social justice, DeYoung and Gilbert help us to get on the same page—united by a common cause—and launch us forward into the true mission of the church.” Get it FREE!
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What is the Mission of the Church?

Making Sense of Social Justice, Shalom and the Great Commission

AuthorKevin DeYoung & Greg GilbertNarratorAdam VernerRuntime8.9 Hrs. – UnabridgedPublisherchristianaudio

“Christians today define mission more broadly and variably than ever before. Are we, as the body of Christ, headed in the same direction or are we on divergent missions?

Some argue that the mission of the Church is to confront injustice and alleviate suffering, doing more to express God’s love for the world. Others are concerned that the church is in danger of losing its God-centeredness and thereby emphasize the proclamation of the gospel. It appears as though misunderstanding of mission persists.

Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert believe there is a lot that evangelicals can agree on if only we employ the right categories and build our theology of mission from the same biblical building blocks. Explaining key concepts like kingdom, gospel, and social justice, DeYoung and Gilbert help us to get on the same page—united by a common cause—and launch us forward into the true mission of the church.”

Get it FREE!

I am not a huge fan of Tim Keller but this is a great quote [16:22-19:00]

“Christians tend to be consumers. Christians tend to say they have no loyalty to a particular church, they don’t see it as a family. If you are apart of a family you don’t pickup and leave every year because you don’t like the turkey at Thanksgiving…

Christians think of themselves more as customers more than they do as brothers and sisters, as family members… They don’t see themselves as ministry providers but as ministry consumers. They go to wherever they can get fed the most, which is somewhat of a euphemism. Under which we basically go to where our felt needs are met the most.”

The Headship of Christ The Christ the Center panel had the privilege of discoursing with the Rev. Dr. Craig Troxel about ecclesiology, especially as it is grounded in the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rev. Troxel is pastor of Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, IL. The discussion focused on the threefold office of Christ (munus triplex Christi) as prophet, priest, and king and how that connects with the doctrine, worship, and government of the church. The group also considered the relationship of the church to the kingdom of God and the church and mission. Links Ministerial Training Institute (MTI) of the OPC John R. Muether and Danny E. Olinger, eds., Confident of Better Things A. Craig Troxel, What is Man? Stuart Robinson, The Church of God as an Essential Element of the Gospel James Bannerman, The Church of Christ (Volume 1, Volume 2) Popout Original audio source (ctc250.mp3)
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The Headship of Christ

The Christ the Center panel had the privilege of discoursing with the Rev. Dr. Craig Troxel about ecclesiology, especially as it is grounded in the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rev. Troxel is pastor of Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, IL. The discussion focused on the threefold office of Christ (munus triplex Christi) as prophet, priest, and king and how that connects with the doctrine, worship, and government of the church. The group also considered the relationship of the church to the kingdom of God and the church and mission.

Links

Popout
Original audio source (ctc250.mp3)
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