My reflections on what is the core message of the Gospel certainly relates to the discussion on the Together for the Gospel click here. As a follow up to my BLOG, today I spent some time reading in John 17 and also reading some materials on John Wesley. I figured it would be good for a Reformed guy to see the other side up close.
It only reinforced my previous BLOG -- that across all camps, there is a remarkable degree of unanimity on the core truths of the Gospel . Wesley preached wonderful sermons -- clearer than most I have heard in our day. They were pointed, Gospel focused, heart searching. That does not mean I agree with Wesley's theology -- but my differences with him are intramural disputes. If only our least theologically driven were as clear as Wesley on the Gospel.
That is where my heart does not settle easily. I morph intramural disputes into wars for the "truth" and draw lines that place brothers and sisters into the enemy camp. Much of that is my pride -- the desire to be right. Or I go into a "whatever" mode and I do not discuss the differences -- the phrase I hear is "theology divides". Convictions are not the enemy of unity and honor -- pride is.
I think we are at a time when the battle lines are around the Gospel itself. It does not really matter what your view is on the end of the age -- the tribulation, the millenium -- or on church government. That does not mean we should not engage in discussion of those. But where we must position ourselves is with "mere christianity" and how that distinguishes us from all other "gospels." That is where the battle lines rest.
I also read Francis Schaeffer's classic appeal today: The Mark of the Christian. In it he calls for believers in the true Gospel to show true love to those with whom we differ. Dr Schaeffer lived through some ugly church fights and it tempted him to abandon the faith. Here he pleads for truth loving believers to show honor to other believers when we engage in debate with them.
I know a pastor who works hard at this. My friends who have served with him say that when he led his pastoral staff in critiquing a book, they started by pointing out God's grace in the author -- and they did it for a long time! It was not two minutes of seeing grace followed by two hours of critique -- it was thoughtful consideration of grace in the other before critique was offered.
The word of God needs to be spread in Catholic churches and schools, because it's mostly man-made tradition, so we need to spread the gospel to them so they'll learn the whole truth, not just some and not have to rely on the church's opinions. I was too brought up Catholic, but now I'm evangelized.
Posted by: Maribel | July 04, 2006 at 09:27 AM