The Gospel Coalition

From Joe Thorn:

I believe even more commonly, theology is neglected. It is found to be unnecessary and irrelevant. Some seem to eschew it because of the its abuse by others, or fear of division in the church, and also because in recent history the local church has not exactly been the model of theological exercise and enrichment. We think of theologians as scholars working in the academy, not preachers in the pulpit. Of course, it was not always this way. Throughout history our brightest theologians have occupied the pulpit and pastored God’s people. Examples like Augustine, Calvin, Owen, Edwards, and Spurgeon should show us a better and more biblical way.

Even among those who say theology is important, it is often likened to the foundation of a building. Theology is the foundation upon which everything else is built. It’s a good illustration, but like the foundation of most houses, once the house is built people live in their homes without ever thinking about the poured cement. There is no practical interaction with the foundation. Experientially, it is an invisible element that is given little to no attention.

I believe a better illustration is that of a sailboat. Our theology is the sail. It is high and lifted up, not to be admired, but to catch the wind and find power outside of itself to move the boat. The sails are always visible and in constant use. The boat is the church. Without the sail all in the boat perish slowly. Without the boat people drown quickly.

“Our theology is the sail… to catch the wind and find power outside of itself to move the boat.”  Recently had a heartbreaking conversation with a person where had they understood this their life would be drastically different.

I remember when helmet laws were a topic of debate in the U.S.  There were all kinds of excuses given for why such laws should not be required, ranging from “I don’t like wearing them” to “It takes away my freedom” to “Helmets cost too much.”

After college, I worked with a wonderful non-profit organization that helped people recover from traumatic brain injury.   I met very wonderful people, full of potential, who were adjusting from serious life and ability-altering injuries.  Some of them would have been spared had they worn helmets.

This morning, I happened on this advert and thought it was a good reminder of why helmets are important.

Why this advert on a site called “Pure Church”?  Simple: Many who crash without helmets don’t get to pose for public service announcements; they go to an eternity without God, without Christ, and without hope.

Please, whether it’s law or not, put on the helmet.  Make sure your child wears their helmet as well.

Sinclair Ferguson quoting Thomas Brooks in the latest edition of the 9Marks eJournal on hell:

Oh, but this word eternity, eternity, eternity; this word everlasting, everlasting, everlasting; this word forever, forever, forever, will even break the hearts of the damned in ten thousand pieces…Impenitent sinners in Hell shall have end without end, death without death, night without day, mourning without mirth, sorrow without solace, and bondage without liberty. The damned shall live as long in Hell as God himself shall live in heaven.

Makes me want to weep… and preach.

Article from CNN.  (HT: Z)

Also…

Beginning with Moses–a great site on biblical theology–gets a new look and relaunch today.

Yesterday, my wife and I celebrated 19 years of marriage.  We’ve nearly been together longer than we were apart.  And without question, when my wife said “I do” on August 31, 1991, my life was indescribably and immeasurably blessed and beautified.  She has made me better in every way possible–and she didn’t have much to work with!

As we celebrated over dinner last night, we realized that our 19 years, by God’s grace, has been two decades of steady and growing love for each other.  I love her now more than I ever did.  And incredibly, she feels the same about me.  I don’t deserve her, and I’m all the more grateful for her.

I also realized that the first day of our twentieth year would be radically different from our previous 19 years.  Starting September 1st, my wife has decreed that we would eat healthy, tasteless foods rather than really good stuff.  She’s doing it because she loves me.  She’s doing it because she loves me.  She’s doing it because she loves me.  And I’m gonna like it.  I’m gonna like it.  I’m gonna like it.

Despite the new diet, my beloved is the greatest good that’s ever happened to me.

Dane Ortlund compiles a list of one-sentence answers from a number of Christian leaders.  See here.

That’s the subject of the latest edition of the 9Marks eJournal.

It seems that’s how we preachers and Christians often think, talk, and feel about God’s grace in salvation.

We sometimes seem to be saying to sinners, “You see, God has made it easy for you. Just believe.”

Or, “It’s not what you do. Christ has done it for you. Just repent and accept Christ.”

Fair enough.  True enough.  But that’s not all.  And when that sentiment sounds easy to us, we’re left befuddled and bedraggled by the many hard places and thorny challenges of following Jesus.  When it gets hard, we ask, “What’s happening?”  And what we’re really saying is “I thought grace made this Christian thing easy.”

We can intimate that salvation through Christ is easy. But it’s not. It was neither easily purchased for us, nor is it easily obtained, nor is it easily kept.

The Purchase.  Christ purchased our salvation with His own blood. The agony of Gethsemane was eclipsed by great groanings of Golgotha. The pleadings in the garden gave way to the great cries of the cross. Our salvation comes at infinite cost to the Son of God.  He suffered holy wrath against the sins of the entire world.  It was not easily purchased.

Obtaining.  Nor is it easily obtained. Does not the Lord himself say straight and narrow is the way and there are few who find it?  Camels go through the eye of a needle more easily than rich men enter the kingdom of God. There is taking up the cross and dying with Christ. All this happens by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, but it is not easily obtained. It is costly to follow Jesus.

Maintaining.  Nor is it easily maintained. All those who would live godly lives shall suffer persecution. They hated Jesus and they hate those who follow. People will think they’ve done a good thing when they have slain the Lord’s servants. The flesh will war against the Spirit. Sin will deceive and tempt. The enemy sets snares. The world sings its siren song.  Many will not love the truth and will turn back.

Only those who overcome, who persevere in faith until the end, will receive the Reward. We are kept by God’s power through faith. Our inheritance is preserved for us in heaven. But, forgive me, this is not easy. This is not achieved while rolling over again and again on our beds, while drinking in the poisons of sinful entertainments, or giving ourselves to unrighteousness. The one we serve is our master–whether mammon, sin, or Christ. We serve Christ by His grace through faith and in the power of His indwelling Spirit. He is our holiness with which we will see God. But persevering until the end is not easy.

We were never told it would be easy. Much to the contrary. We take the kingdom by force. We wage war in the power of Christ. We put to death the misdeeds of the flesh. We gouge out and cut off. We deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow daily. We do not shrink back from death and persecution and starvation and the enemy’s assaults. We stand. And doing all, we stand.

And as we do, in Christ, we are more than conquerors.  For He is our Captain, a Shield, our Defender, our Advocate, and our Victory. We are assured of all that God promises us in Christ. It is by grace alone through faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone. But it is not easy.  Press on toward the high calling; discipline your body; persevere until the end; run to win the crown.  You won’t lose in Christ, even if it’s not easy.

I’ve been surprised at the number of times I’ve been asked “Why do you participate in The Gospel Coalition?”  Honestly, I thought it would be self-evident.  But for some folks it’s not.  Sometimes the question has to do with a more fundamental question: “What is The Gospel Coalition?”  That’s a fair question.  Sometimes the concern is “Is this a good use of a  pastor’s time?  Why this rather than something else?”  Also a fair question.

Maybe the best way to illustrate why I think The Gospel Coalition is both good and effective use of time is to point you to this conversation between Francis Chan, Mark Driscoll, and Joshua Harris.  The iron-sharpening in this conversation is, for me at least, representative of what happens in so much of our time together and our discussions. This is a fabulous example of brothers and fellow laborers in the harvest pressing in on each other in love, accountability, and joy.

What’s Next for Francis Chan? Conversation with Mark Driscoll and Joshua Harris from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

It used to be that the ride was one of the most important things about a car.  You purchased a vehicle because “it handled well” or provided a comfortable ride.

Now… I guess some people purchase vehicles for their pixel-power.  The new luxury automobile is really an automultimediamobile.  Exhibit A:

Of course, I’m just playa hatin’.  If I could get one of these with a driver for the price of say… a Ford Fiesta–I’d be in one!  But I guess for a man who doesn’t own a cell phone and whose laptop is the size of a drive-in theater, this would be a bit beyond my tech grade.

But can’t you see me pulling up to someone’s car, operating my car windows with an iPad, then texting: “Pardon me, but do you have any Gray Poupon?”

HT: The Apple Blog