I just started a new teaching series at my church based on some of John Eldredge’s teachings called Becoming Fully Alive. I would call it Waking the Dead, but there were some objections on our team about endorsing a book that heavily. Anyway, I taught the first night last night and thought it turned out pretty well. It is here, if you want more details.
I start my first teaching series for the church as a whole this Wednesday. It is some of the themes from John Eldredge’s Waking the Dead and some of my own thoughts mixed in as well. I really like what Eldredge says about the heart and what he points to in the Bible about the heart.
I wonder sometimes that I never saw it myself. It really is apparent that God wants us to have full lives. That’s not very surprising. The surprising thing is that He wants to do it through our hearts. I grew up in the church very suspicious of my heart. It was the source of all those things that were bad in my life (like emotions). The Bible shows something fairly contrary to that, though. Hopefully, I’ll post more about it as I prepare for the lessons.
I have read this book recently and have been amazed by it. On the one hand, the pictures of the Trinity, our path of redemption and the amazing beauty portrayed in the book are overwhelming. On the other hand, the controversy surrounding it is baffling and maybe more interesting than the book itself.
I read the book without trying to break it down theologically. I just read it to experience it. It didn’t hit any of my alarms, which might be a miracle, sense I am pretty critical. Having reflected on it, there are things that I wonder about. For example, there is no mention of Satan. The idea of punishment leads me to believe that, if the book were true, that God never punishes. Yet we have examples all through the Bible, from the flood to God hardening Pharoah’s heart. So while I do see some things I question, I didn’t have any worries about recommending it to others (which I apparently don’t need to do since so many are already reading it).
What I wasn’t expecting was the adamant reaction of others to the book. I have heard claims tat it is anti-church, universalistic, anti-heirarchical, and monarchianistic. I really didn’t think that this book would shake so many trees.
So having thought through the book have decided to read it through again with my magnifier out. I can’t promise that I will see ay more in it than before, but I am going to give it a shot, just to dignify a response to some of the criticism.
I would say that I read the book first as a… book. That is to say, not the Bible or a theological treatise. I kind of hate to ruin it as a book because others want to try to make it something it doesn’t claim to be, but for unity’s sake, here I go.
So I have been blogging about this for a while. Christians are just annoying. They are rude, sometimes pedantic and occasionally stupid. So why not me. I mean, this mostly started with the word “missional”. What is missional? It’s a made up word that means following the mission of the church. What that mission is depends on who you talk to, btw.
So today I heard the response from the leader of the Episcopal Churchin America to the statement issued from GAFCON (Could there be a worse name for a meeting?). It is evasive and equivocating and just plain annoying. In other words, perfect for this post. Her response:
“Much of the Anglican world must be lamenting the latest emission from GAFCON. Anglicanism has always been broader than some find comfortable. This statement does not represent the end of Anglicanism, merely another chapter in a centuries-old struggle for dominance by those who consider themselves the only true believers. Anglicans will continue to worship God in their churches, serve the hungry and needy in their communities, and build missional relationships with others across the globe, despite the desire of a few leaders to narrow the influence of the gospel. We look forward to the opportunities of the Lambeth Conference for constructive conversation, inspired prayer, and relational encounters.”
That’s right, he refers to the statement as an “emission” which, since it doesn’t come from a car, can only mean flatulence. She does however throw in the word “missional”. Forget the thought that she thinks a “few leaders” is actually the majority of the leaders in the Anglican Communion, let’s focus on words.
Emission -
1 a: an act or instance of emitting : emanation barchaic : publication c: a putting into circulation2 a: something sent forth by emitting: as (1): electromagnetic radiation from an antenna or a celestial body (2)usually plural : substances discharged into the air (as by a smokestack or an automobile engine) b: effluvium
Missional -
adopting the posture, thinking, behaviors, and practices of a missionary in order to engage others with the gospel message.
So for the sake of me being annoying, I submit a new word for Christians.
Emissional -
Radiating the part of the gospel that is completely true and right, but offends some people who don’t want to hear the truth and in fact try to cover up the truth when it reveals things they don’t like to admit. This word will surely become very useful in the present church, especially in America, where the gospel has been corrupted by so many. Just look back a couple of posts to the Obama/Dobson debacle. Use it in a sentence - Obama, in an emissional statement about his faith in the role of government, clearly believes the the place of government is not to endorse any one faith.
I am really excited about the future of epistemology in the church.
I have just stumbled upon a new site and group that I am really loving called - Deadly Viper. It takes a bit to capture my attention but they definitely have. How is the best part of it.
1. Their site looks amazing. I know all the common wisdom about judging a book by its cover, but I just disagree. Good design equals confidence, and these guys get that.
2. They are committed to radical grace and radical integrity. Enough said.
3. They are … quirky… and that is enough to make them remarkable (thanks Seth Godin).
Nest week they start a series on the S word. I can’t wait to hear how they tackle it. I highly recommend it.
Recent Comments