Comments on: Reflections on the Church in Great Britain http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/29/reflections-on-the-church-in-great-britain/ Tue, 21 May 2013 14:32:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Gary http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/29/reflections-on-the-church-in-great-britain/#comment-26605 Gary Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:29:26 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=14989#comment-26605 Sorry, but no, it's not. We each don't get to define vital theological terms the way we want to. Sorry, but no, it's not. We each don't get to define vital theological terms the way we want to.

]]> By: Gary http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/29/reflections-on-the-church-in-great-britain/#comment-26604 Gary Thu, 29 Mar 2012 19:25:00 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=14989#comment-26604 LOL...what a joke. It's an excuse as old as time. Whenever you get caught saying something stupid, just cry "I was misquoted. It was taken out of context." Poor Mark, he's always misquoted, always taken out of context and just so darned misunderstood. LOL...what a joke. It's an excuse as old as time. Whenever you get caught saying something stupid, just cry "I was misquoted. It was taken out of context." Poor Mark, he's always misquoted, always taken out of context and just so darned misunderstood.

]]> By: Weekly Recap: 2.4.12 | Marturo http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/29/reflections-on-the-church-in-great-britain/#comment-23815 Weekly Recap: 2.4.12 | Marturo Sun, 04 Mar 2012 21:15:02 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=14989#comment-23815 [...] In light of Driscoll’s recent comments: Reflections on the Church in Great Britain j.mp/y81Frs [...] [...] In light of Driscoll’s recent comments: Reflections on the Church in Great Britain j.mp/y81Frs [...]

]]> By: Mark Driscoll’s “Message to Brits”: A Response | Actavallis http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/29/reflections-on-the-church-in-great-britain/#comment-22557 Mark Driscoll’s “Message to Brits”: A Response | Actavallis Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:13:55 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=14989#comment-22557 [...] for Brits. I would firstly point to Don Carson’s response to Mark Driscoll titled Reflections on the Church in Great Britain. He, with far more eloquence and concision than I could muster, has given a point by point response [...] [...] for Brits. I would firstly point to Don Carson’s response to Mark Driscoll titled Reflections on the Church in Great Britain. He, with far more eloquence and concision than I could muster, has given a point by point response [...]

]]> By: Latest Links | blog of dan http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/29/reflections-on-the-church-in-great-britain/#comment-21493 Latest Links | blog of dan Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:01:59 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=14989#comment-21493 [...] Reflections on the Church in Great Britain [...] [...] Reflections on the Church in Great Britain [...]

]]> By: From Fanboy to Frustrated: A Plea To Mark Driscoll - disciplesnow.org http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/29/reflections-on-the-church-in-great-britain/#comment-21475 From Fanboy to Frustrated: A Plea To Mark Driscoll - disciplesnow.org Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:18:59 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=14989#comment-21475 [...] the truth.” What does he base this statement on? It’s not clear, and D.A. Carson has contested this [...] [...] the truth.” What does he base this statement on? It’s not clear, and D.A. Carson has contested this [...]

]]> By: From Fanboy to Frustrated: A Plea To Mark Driscoll | Christ and Pop Culture http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/29/reflections-on-the-church-in-great-britain/#comment-21457 From Fanboy to Frustrated: A Plea To Mark Driscoll | Christ and Pop Culture Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:18:34 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=14989#comment-21457 [...] the truth.” What does he base this statement on? It’s not clear, and D.A. Carson has contested this [...] [...] the truth.” What does he base this statement on? It’s not clear, and D.A. Carson has contested this [...]

]]> By: Charles Twombly http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/29/reflections-on-the-church-in-great-britain/#comment-21355 Charles Twombly Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:27:15 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=14989#comment-21355 Paul, helpful words here. My own attempt could probably use some of the qualifications you add. Paul, helpful words here. My own attempt could probably use some of the qualifications you add.

]]> By: Charles Twombly http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/29/reflections-on-the-church-in-great-britain/#comment-21354 Charles Twombly Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:10:07 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=14989#comment-21354 Strange to say Tom Wright "isn't really a pastor." In the Anglican communion, a bishop is the chief pastor of his diocese; he's not "merely" an administrator. There are scores of notable preachers among the bishops over the years. On top of that, Wright was at one time the chaplain of Worcester College at Oxford (a real job!)and then became dean of Lichfield Cathedral, a job as much pastoral as administrative. In addition, I doubt that few who have heard Tom Wright preach failed to see what a powerful and persuasive proclaimer of the gospel he is. This discussion seems to be dealing with the irresolvable tension between "pure church" folks and "wheat and tares" folks. The New Testament reflects both views. The Apostle Paul embodies both strands: on the one hand, he can tolerate those in Corinth who seem to believe the resurrection has already taken place; on the other hand, he can have a brother tossed out for gross immorality and others cursed for "preaching another gospel." There's elasticity, but it's far from infinite. Elsewhere in the NT,there are mixed congregations with strong lines drawn in extreme cases (as in the Johannine letters). The offenders in John's epistles separate themselves; the Elder says they were never really "insiders" to begin with. He identifies "outsiders" as those who don't acknowledge "the Son" and who don't love the brethren. I'm sorry I've failed to get anyone to engage my point (elsewhere in this thread) that the C of E has clearly "produced" an amazing share of preachers, biblical scholars, and theologians who have enriched the whole body of Christ. It would be hard to find another denomination (evangelical or mixed) that can equal the impact of Stott,Packer, Lewis, Sayers, Wright, Thiselton, Bauckham,McGrath, and so many more on the Church Universal. I don't think this is mere coincidence. There must be something in the faith and prayer of Ecclesia Anglicana that causes so many to rise to great heights with such devotion and depth. In the parables of the kingdom in Matthew 13, the amazing leavening power of God is often invisible to the very end. Let God (and his angels) be the sorter; those who try to do his job for him often end up in groups where constant strife and division take place. Too many think of themselves as Mr Valiant-for-the-Truth and end up getting shot or shooting others with "friendly fire." The Anglican Communion has its own strife, of course, but up until recently the strong tendency has been to stay together, just as the strong tendency of many Reformed groups has been to split into smaller and smaller divisions, often separating from those just as conservative and "orthodox" on most points as they. Strange to say Tom Wright "isn't really a pastor." In the Anglican communion, a bishop is the chief pastor of his diocese; he's not "merely" an administrator. There are scores of notable preachers among the bishops over the years. On top of that, Wright was at one time the chaplain of Worcester College at Oxford (a real job!)and then became dean of Lichfield Cathedral, a job as much pastoral as administrative. In addition, I doubt that few who have heard Tom Wright preach failed to see what a powerful and persuasive proclaimer of the gospel he is.

This discussion seems to be dealing with the irresolvable tension between "pure church" folks and "wheat and tares" folks. The New Testament reflects both views. The Apostle Paul embodies both strands: on the one hand, he can tolerate those in Corinth who seem to believe the resurrection has already taken place; on the other hand, he can have a brother tossed out for gross immorality and others cursed for "preaching another gospel." There's elasticity, but it's far from infinite.

Elsewhere in the NT,there are mixed congregations with strong lines drawn in extreme cases (as in the Johannine letters). The offenders in John's epistles separate themselves; the Elder says they were never really "insiders" to begin with. He identifies "outsiders" as those who don't acknowledge "the Son" and who don't love the brethren.

I'm sorry I've failed to get anyone to engage my point (elsewhere in this thread) that the C of E has clearly "produced" an amazing share of preachers, biblical scholars, and theologians who have enriched the whole body of Christ. It would be hard to find another denomination (evangelical or mixed) that can equal the impact of Stott,Packer, Lewis, Sayers, Wright, Thiselton, Bauckham,McGrath, and so many more on the Church Universal. I don't think this is mere coincidence. There must be something in the faith and prayer of Ecclesia Anglicana that causes so many to rise to great heights with such devotion and depth.

In the parables of the kingdom in Matthew 13, the amazing leavening power of God is often invisible to the very end. Let God (and his angels) be the sorter; those who try to do his job for him often end up in groups where constant strife and division take place. Too many think of themselves as Mr Valiant-for-the-Truth and end up getting shot or shooting others with "friendly fire." The Anglican Communion has its own strife, of course, but up until recently the strong tendency has been to stay together, just as the strong tendency of many Reformed groups has been to split into smaller and smaller divisions, often separating from those just as conservative and "orthodox" on most points as they.

]]> By: SeekTruthFromFacts http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/01/29/reflections-on-the-church-in-great-britain/#comment-21350 SeekTruthFromFacts Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:10:50 +0000 http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/?p=14989#comment-21350 Tom Wright isn't really a pastor, he a scholar. He's been a good a bishop, but hasn't really got any experience of running a church. I don't think either Carson or Driscoll were thinking about theologians. Tom Wright isn't really a pastor, he a scholar. He's been a good a bishop, but hasn't really got any experience of running a church. I don't think either Carson or Driscoll were thinking about theologians.

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