Piper has a wonderful gift of being able to convey the Christian's passion in biblical manner.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
What Topic Is Worth Debating?
I was recently turned on by a friend to a set of articles and blogs in Pulpit Magazine about Mark Driscoll and his use of "cutting language" and "crass humor". While the articles raise some thought-provoking concerns, I must ask the question: Does it really matter and is it worth debating?
For reference, here are the articles:
Grunge Christianity?
The Rape of Solomon's Song
Tim Challies has even gotten into the fray.
I pose to you the question that really matters: Is Mark Driscoll (or any other preacher who may have a radical style) preaching Christ and Him crucified?
Isn't that the question the really matters? If the answer to that question is a resounding "Yes!" then should not every preacher of the Word whose desire is to see His sheep called praise God for using simple men to glorify His Son? If the answer is "No!" then the men who are raising these questions are sounding the wrong alarm.
I have personally listened to a number of Mark Driscoll's messages and have yet to hear Christ exalted and man abased as the overarching theme of his messages and ministry. He praises men like Joel Osteen and Rick Warren - both of which are men who mislead the masses to a man-centered salvation by choice. It's not his style that bothers me but rather his substance. I hope that I'm totally wrong about Pastor Driscoll.
Christian, many of you are probably thinking the same thing I am when I see these debates that are not centered on the Gospel: "Does this debate really matter? It's just confusing me." When you are tossed to and fro with these debates and articles, don't waste your time trying to find what side you are on but rather redeem the time for Christ. Challenge yourself to ask the question, from where do I hear the Savior's voice? If you do that, you will mature in Christ and will find comfort amongst the troubled waters that these fruitless debates raise.
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. - Eph4:14-16
For reference, here are the articles:
Grunge Christianity?
The Rape of Solomon's Song
Tim Challies has even gotten into the fray.
I pose to you the question that really matters: Is Mark Driscoll (or any other preacher who may have a radical style) preaching Christ and Him crucified?
Isn't that the question the really matters? If the answer to that question is a resounding "Yes!" then should not every preacher of the Word whose desire is to see His sheep called praise God for using simple men to glorify His Son? If the answer is "No!" then the men who are raising these questions are sounding the wrong alarm.
I have personally listened to a number of Mark Driscoll's messages and have yet to hear Christ exalted and man abased as the overarching theme of his messages and ministry. He praises men like Joel Osteen and Rick Warren - both of which are men who mislead the masses to a man-centered salvation by choice. It's not his style that bothers me but rather his substance. I hope that I'm totally wrong about Pastor Driscoll.
Christian, many of you are probably thinking the same thing I am when I see these debates that are not centered on the Gospel: "Does this debate really matter? It's just confusing me." When you are tossed to and fro with these debates and articles, don't waste your time trying to find what side you are on but rather redeem the time for Christ. Challenge yourself to ask the question, from where do I hear the Savior's voice? If you do that, you will mature in Christ and will find comfort amongst the troubled waters that these fruitless debates raise.
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. - Eph4:14-16
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Looking Back...
"And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." - 1Tim 4:18
Soon after the Lord, in His grace, showed me my utter sinfulness and need for Christ's atoning work, He blessed me with the protection and counsel of fellow believers who were also zealous in the faith. The early zeal was dampened by the reality of indwelling sin yet a new life was still birthed and growing. It was not long after that I began to ask the question, "If none of my friends were Christians, would I still be one?"
Not knowing that my security was entirely in the sovereign hand of God, I was fearful to lose the Christ that I had come to know. I was terrified that the preservation of my faith and newfound joy was tied to those around me. Showing His mercy, He allowed me to walk that lonely valley for 3 years. Looking back at those years, I learned a simple lesson...
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." - Phil 1:6
The Lord has proven that He will never leave nor forsake His children whom He has chosen in the Beloved.
Christian, depend on your Saviour's mercy, rejoice in His promises and look to His faithfulness. If you have been so blessed to see that nothing you have done, are doing and will do earns God's favor but that rather He is pleased in His own Son whom the Spirit has allowed you to see, then your security is Christ's steadfast love not in your strength of faith.
Soon after the Lord, in His grace, showed me my utter sinfulness and need for Christ's atoning work, He blessed me with the protection and counsel of fellow believers who were also zealous in the faith. The early zeal was dampened by the reality of indwelling sin yet a new life was still birthed and growing. It was not long after that I began to ask the question, "If none of my friends were Christians, would I still be one?"
Not knowing that my security was entirely in the sovereign hand of God, I was fearful to lose the Christ that I had come to know. I was terrified that the preservation of my faith and newfound joy was tied to those around me. Showing His mercy, He allowed me to walk that lonely valley for 3 years. Looking back at those years, I learned a simple lesson...
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." - Phil 1:6
The Lord has proven that He will never leave nor forsake His children whom He has chosen in the Beloved.
Christian, depend on your Saviour's mercy, rejoice in His promises and look to His faithfulness. If you have been so blessed to see that nothing you have done, are doing and will do earns God's favor but that rather He is pleased in His own Son whom the Spirit has allowed you to see, then your security is Christ's steadfast love not in your strength of faith.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Is Joel Osteen My "Christian Brother"? - Response
This is an update to a previous post.
I was hopeful to get a response from Pastor Driscoll telling me that I misunderstood him and that he does not really think that Joel Osteen is a true gospel preacher. Sadly, I did not get a response. I know that I'm insignificant and my email was way at the bottom of the list but I was hopeful nonetheless to get a response. I was hoping for a glimmer of hope that some of the new and upcoming preachers would stand firm on the gospel and would call out the wolves in sheep's clothing so as not to cloud the lines between truth and error.
I was also hopeful to hear a wonderful message from Pastor Driscoll at the Gospel Coalition Conference last week. I just listened to the message online and found my answer in another statement he made:
"I was talking to Rick Warren - I've said this before, some of you may have heard it - and he's an evangelical. So, I talk to him (back to my earlier point). And he was nice and he talked about Jesus. And he helped me. I appreciate that. And he said..." - Mark Driscoll's message on 2Tim 2:14-26 at about 46:07 into the message.
What was so disappointing about the message was not just the accolades given to Rick Warren (who does not preach God's sovereign grace but rather man's work), but that the work of Christ was not preached in the text.
"I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright" - Jer 8:6
I am deeply saddened for our generation because the wolves preaching the works of man disguised in a Christian message (i.e. Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, etc.) are now being lauded by today's popular preachers in our own circles. May God have mercy on us by not taking the lamp of truth away!
P.S. If you have never done so, I recommend downloading and listening to some Osteen and Warren messages. I challenge you to find Christ preached and Him crucified and man's work placed in the proper biblical context of God's total sovereignty and man's utter depravity.
I was hopeful to get a response from Pastor Driscoll telling me that I misunderstood him and that he does not really think that Joel Osteen is a true gospel preacher. Sadly, I did not get a response. I know that I'm insignificant and my email was way at the bottom of the list but I was hopeful nonetheless to get a response. I was hoping for a glimmer of hope that some of the new and upcoming preachers would stand firm on the gospel and would call out the wolves in sheep's clothing so as not to cloud the lines between truth and error.
I was also hopeful to hear a wonderful message from Pastor Driscoll at the Gospel Coalition Conference last week. I just listened to the message online and found my answer in another statement he made:
"I was talking to Rick Warren - I've said this before, some of you may have heard it - and he's an evangelical. So, I talk to him (back to my earlier point). And he was nice and he talked about Jesus. And he helped me. I appreciate that. And he said..." - Mark Driscoll's message on 2Tim 2:14-26 at about 46:07 into the message.
What was so disappointing about the message was not just the accolades given to Rick Warren (who does not preach God's sovereign grace but rather man's work), but that the work of Christ was not preached in the text.
"I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright" - Jer 8:6
I am deeply saddened for our generation because the wolves preaching the works of man disguised in a Christian message (i.e. Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, etc.) are now being lauded by today's popular preachers in our own circles. May God have mercy on us by not taking the lamp of truth away!
P.S. If you have never done so, I recommend downloading and listening to some Osteen and Warren messages. I challenge you to find Christ preached and Him crucified and man's work placed in the proper biblical context of God's total sovereignty and man's utter depravity.
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