And it keeps going on . . .

I think the best way to get hits on your BLOG is to come into a controversy.  It's like moths drawn to light -- but actually it is more like drawn to heat.  So, a few more days of observing and reflecting and here is my final post re: Driscoll.

First, my entire point has not been to justify his words -- but to go about this biblically.  I do not think Tim Challies original post was highly critical -- but the response was due to the words he excerpted. And people simply responded to the excerpt.  And my response was to the response to  . . .  oh well, you understand.

Second, there is "letter of the law" biblical and there is "Gospel" biblical.  Oh yes, "the book is public so the critique may be public" sounds like a lawyer speaking.  Technically that is true -- but I think Gospel requirements exceed the law.  This is a brother for whom Christ died.  When Paul critiques his opponents in Philippians he did so with tears.  Another example of Gospel solutions is Philemon -- the solution offered by Paul could not have been discovered anywhere in the Torah -- but it thoroughly fulfills the Torah and goes way beyond it because of the Gospel. I think Gospel obligation calls us to do everything in our power to protect someone's good name and to speak to them personally before we go public with criticism.

Third, I would observe that the history of the church reveals that the established and middle class churches of the world rarely honor or value the pioneers.  Not many pastors would have seen the potential for a new church among the urban avant-garde and not many would have put up with the radical stuff Driscoll describes entirely apart from his language.  We did not appreciate William Carey or Hudson Taylor either.  Then again, Paul had his critics all his life because of where he went with the Gospel.  My question to myself is this: do I encourage boldness and give it wisdom or do I clip the wings of the bold because I am afraid?  I will pray for my brother to grow in godliness and wisdom.

Fourth, I found myself praying on my walk yesterday -- "Oh Lord, forgive me for my indifference to the lost and my love of comfort. Lord, open doors for the Gospel."  I do not think selfish indifference to the Gospel mission in the name of "keeping pure" is a virtue.  That is the excuse I use.  "I do not want to be polluted."  In reality, it is simply indifference and that is sin.  I think I would find my "safe zone" threatened if one of the inner-city Seattle folks showed up dressed in Goth and wanted to be part of our church.  In reality, I want to be effective and comfortable and maybe that is not possible. Pastors: how many of you can name one unbelieving family/couple/individual you have met in your community (outside of them coming to church) -- and you have had in your home in the last year?

Fifth, there was another example of someone whose ministry of evangelism was bold and apostolic -- his name was Francis Schaeffer.  He was criticized all his life for going to movies and studying art and listening to music.  But he and Edith opened their home to all kinds of people and had a platform for ministry to some very troubled people.

Finally, I will say that I would be very careful in handing his book to someone.  I would certainly not give it to most ladies I know. I would not give it to teenagers.  I would probably give it to some dads and tell them there are some great sections in it to consider and use to reflect on how they lead their families. 

But I am also going to seek to speak directly to the folks involved, if God so opens the door. That would seem to be a Gospel obligation.

Comments

[DanD]

Amen.
I find real joy in seeing God at work. Everytime He works in those I don't understand or have questions about He underscores the gospel again to me--who do I think I am that He would work in me?

Yet the fact that He uses bent and crooked sticks to draw His straight lines gives me such hope that He will work in and through me. What wondrous love is this that He loves me? Glorious love beyond understanding. Thank you Father!

May He make me as bold as Mark D. and as thoughtful as Mark L. so that I can serve Him and others with joy.