The Gospel Coalition

These links are provided by Marc Cortez.

How the Gospel Makes Us Generous and Content with Our Money

Like the junior high boy who wonders how “far is too far” with his girlfriend, we are quickly caught up in questions about how rich is too rich, how poor is too poor, and the like. Where is the line? Do I feel guilty for having too much? Do the kids have enough? What does “enough” even mean? Should I feel guilty about not giving as much as so and so? If I give more, does that mean I am more spiritual? The hamster wheel of comparison, propelled by our spring-loaded legalism, keeps spinning unto exhaustion. We are all tempted to be prideful about what we give or feel guilty about what we don’t. Neither response befits the gospel, which crushes pride and erases guilt.

Winnie the Pooh’s Long March to Cultural Dominance

How did Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, et al transform from introspective children’s literary characters to brand ambassadors for everything from paper dolls to bandages? Here, a timeline of key moments in Winnie the Pooh’s long march to cultural domination

WSJ, How Christians Warmed to Harry Potter

The hysteria has largely died down, and not many religious leaders asked their flocks to avoid the final movie, which opens today. Potter observers cite a few possible reasons for the waning concern, including a natural desire to move on to other entertainment issues, but also an interest in the themes that unfolded.

Jason Hood, The End of Church Planting?

A look at whether churches should expand through a missionary model rather than relying on professional entrepreneurial pastors to plant churches

And, Mashable offers The Complete Guide to Google+

We bring before you, O Lord,
the troubles and perils of people and nations,
the sighing of prisoners and captives,
the sorrows of the bereaved,
the necessities of strangers,
the helplessness of the weak,
the despondency of the weary,
the failing powers of the aged.
O Lord, draw near to each;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

- Anselm of Canterbury

O God, make speed to save us.

We have sinned, O Lord, we have sinned, spare our sins,

And save us; Thou who guidedst Noah over the flood waves,

Hear us; Who with Thy word recalledst Jonah from the abyss;

Deliver us; Who stretchedst forth Thy hand to Peter as he sank, help us,

O Christ Son of God, Thou didst the marvelous things of the Lord with our fathers, be favourable in our days also;

Stretch forth Thy hand from on high.

Deliver us, O Christ.

Hear us, O Christ.

-Stowe Missal, 9th Century A.D.

HT – Mike Neglia

The video below is a panel discussion from The Gospel Coalition with Matt Chandler, Kevin DeYoung, Jonathan Leeman, and Trevin Wax. The conversation centers on the Great Commission and the mission of the local church.

Gospel, Mission, and the Church from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

Topics discussed:

• The Gospel: Creation/Fall/Redemption/Restoration vs. God/Man/Christ/Response
• The centrality of the cross in our gospel presentations
• Confusing the gospel and its implications or the fall and its implications
• 9Marks and Acts 29: Two camps in dialogue
• Mission of the church and the meaning of “missional”
• How our cultural contexts form the way we react to “missional”
• Taking care in not overwhelming people with mission
• The role of the church in mercy ministries
• How local churches are staying cross-centered while engaged in mercy ministry
• Should a pastor have a defensive or offensive posture when it comes to the gospel and mission?

Here are a few thought-provoking quotes:

Matt Chandler: “The atoning work of Christ is the gravitational pull on the mission and the gospel. If you tell the meta-narrative without the atoning work of Christ, you are no longer telling the meta-narrative.”

Jonathan Leeman: “Our entire lives are the backdrop for speaking gospel words.”

Trevin Wax: “We are suspicious of anything that sounds like it could be used as theological cover to not get engaged in mission.”

Kevin DeYoung:”Our mission is to make disciples of Christ as servants of people; our mission is not to serve people as disciples of Christ.”

Matt Chandler: “Our fundamental posture is offensive in nature. I want my fundamental posture, standing firm on the Word of God, to be: We have a saving, delivering God who is going to save others in this city.“

These links are provided by Marc Cortez.

1. Mark Galli, The Most Risky Profession: Why you need to pray desperately for your pastor

2. Should parents lose custody of their obese children?

3. Get Religion, Are You Now or Have You Ever Been a Lutheran? - An interesting look at how the media covers religion in politics.

4. Kevin DeYoung, The What and Why of Hyper-Calvinism

5. Why do some Americanisms irritate people?

6. Bob Hyatt, Church: Top Ten Signs You Might Want to Keep Looking

7. Jesus would be a Hufflepuff

Today’s post is contributed by Aaron Armstrong, who blogs at Blogging Theologically.

“Have you ever read The Shack?” a pastor once asked me. At the time my wife, Emily, and I had experienced the loss of what would have been our second child and Emily’s near-death due to complications with the miscarriage, and this pastor—a very sweet, loving man—had come to offer us counsel and support.

“I have,” I replied, trying (and largely failing) not to cringe. “There’s nothing there that’s going to be of much encouragement.” As we talked, I explained my feelings on the book, my understanding of God’s purposes in suffering and how He had spent the previous year preparing me theologically to understand it experientially. One of the ways He did that was through my mentors—specifically the dead ones.

But let me back up for a moment. I became a Christian in 2005, back when everyone was still trying to do “church for people who aren’t into church.” I’d been a voracious reader my entire life to that point, so naturally I continued that trend by starting to read Christian books, picking up titles by authors such as Erwin McManus, Donald Miller and a few others who were popular at the time. These books were enjoyable, but just something felt… missing. It wasn’t that the quality of their writing was bad (Donald Miller, for example, is a frighteningly gifted writer) or that there wasn’t anything at all thought-provoking. But as I look back, I realize that there simply wasn’t enough “meat” there to satisfy this intellectual hunger I had. As time went on this feeling intensified.

Then, for reasons I still cannot explain, one day, I picked up a copy of 18 Words by J.I. Packer. And I was blown away as I read page after page of rich, helpful, practical theology. “This is what I’ve been looking for,” I thought. I didn’t realize there was better yet to come.

Reading Packer led me into reading some of his contemporaries, like John Stott and the late Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and present day pastors and authors including Mark Driscoll, John Piper and D.A. Carson. But I wanted to go deeper still, and so I began to investigate some of the men who influenced them—men like John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon and J.C. Ryle. And reading their works, I experienced a rich blend of theology and doxology that I’ve not seen in even the best of today’s authors.

While I’ve learned much about the sovereignty and majesty of God from Calvin and the centrality of holiness from Ryle, it’s from Spurgeon I’ve learned the most. I’m gaining a greater understanding of the absolute necessity of having a mind set on “the things above” (Col. 3:2). Spurgeon’s heavenly-mindedness allowed him to persevere in the ministry in spite of unbearable criticism, deep depression and serious illness. Were his focus on anything but his heavenly citizenship and were he waiting for anything other than Christ his Savior, I don’t know that he would have been able to continue. In all likelihood, the burden of his responsibilities combined with the cruelty of his detractors would have crushed him.

And his example allowed me to come through the trial of losing a child and nearly losing my wife not with a battered spirit, but with a hope resting firmly in assurance that Christ’s kingdom will come and He will make all things right as He ushers in the New Heavens and the New Earth.

This is something that no modern day popular level book has been able to provide, even the best ones. There are many very good and God-honoring books being published today, but the newest works are not always the ones we need. And my fear is that if we, pastors and laity alike, neglect the works of the past—if we take for granted Calvin, Spurgeon, Luther, Ryle, Augustine and so many others—we will become spiritually anemic. We might have emotional experiences, but even the best experiences will leave us feeling empty. We might gain some knowledge, but it may not go beyond our heads.

That’s why we need the insights and experiences of the saints who have come before us. Their experiences and insights offer us opportunities for deep, heart-felt, mind-renewing, life-transforming worship. From their lives, we can see how the gospel at work in and through them to the glory and praise of God. That their writings continue to stand the test of time is itself a gift from God. Let’s gratefully accept the gift.

To help you get started, here are a few books I’d recommend:

All of Grace by CH Spurgeon

Holiness by J.C. Ryle

Abide in Christ by Andrew Murray

Spurgeon: A New Biography by Arnold Dallimore

Aaron Armstrong works as a professional writer and serves as an itinerate preacher in Southern Ontario. He also blogs daily at Blogging Theologically, where his two e-books, Contending and Lessons from Nehemiah, are now available. Aaron and his wife, Emily, have two children and worship and serve at Harvest Bible Chapel in London, Ontario.

Rest – A Four Letter Word?

Eleven years ago, I wrote about an observed hurry, in which we have lost our bearings, our sense of proportion. “Unavailable” seems a word from the past, going the way of cursive writing. But of course, with the aid of technology, it is more severe. We have the capacity to always be on, and if we let technology and social networks continue to influence our lives, we might forget how to shut down. And all of this is leaving us rather thin.

One biblical model for how to work out disagreement suggests that we should go first to the individual….This makes sense in a local context. But what about in the context of social media where the world and local are changed incontrovertibly. I think the principles can still be applied but i’m still thinking through how this might work when we live in an age when the influence of a single Christian leaders runs into the millions and where the responses can occur in real-time.

Her network is effective because it both supports and challenges her. Deb’s relationships help her gain influence, broaden her expertise, learn new skills, and find purpose and balance. Deb values and nurtures them. “Make friends so that you have friends when you need friends” is her motto.

Today’s post is contributed by Derek Ouellette, who blogs at Covenant of Love.

Over the years of blogging I have learned through trial and error many Christ-honoring principles. In this brief testimonial, I offer four. I have no doubt that if I were to write this article again, four completely different principles would emerge.

Principle #1: Nobody likes somebody who writes against everybody.

When I think back to my first attempt at blogging four years ago, I’m actually quite ashamed. It was as though I had an axe to grind. Blogging became my vent, my release, my grinding mill. I convinced myself that I was blogging to “explore” theology, but in short order my posts began to take aim at every view I had come to reject. At the same time I wondered why I had virtually no visitors to my blog. I let all of my friends know about it, but none of them ever seem to have visited more than once.

Today, I am not surprised that I had so few visitors back then and that nobody ever left a comment. Axe-grinding requires a heavy hand, and it’s the same when blogging with an axe. Exclamation marks [!], CAPLOCKS, as well as bold and underlined words and sentences were all common features of my blog. I thought I had an important message to get out, so I added emphases as often as I could. But for the reader, this translated into a lack of substance. I remember reading somewhere that, like 24-hour cable newscasters, we compensate for the unworthiness of our meanings by being emphatic! Ouch. If everything is emphasized, nothing is. I felt I had an important message to get out, but no one was listening because I was saying it too loudly.

Principle #2: Less is more.

Seeking a fresh start, I opened a new blog and named it Covenant of Love (inspired by N.T. Wright’s book, Climax of the Covenant and Deuteronomy 7:9). I began to make an effort, sometimes with notable relapse, to bring an even-hand to my articles, to write for things I’m for and not just things I’m against, and to add emphasis in a manner that enhanced and strengthen my message. Slowly I watched my stats rise. Occasionally, people would leave comments. But this presented a whole new dilemma for me: not everyone agreed with what I had to say, and often the discussions that ensued would turn ugly, especially if I felt like my views were being challenged (which was always). At this stage I quickly learned two more things:

Principle #3: Know your stuff. Be certain, but be humble.

I blogged like I was the jack of all trades and the master of none. That is, I had an opinion about everything, but was an expert on none of it. Yet the internet is a big place; filled with experts on stuff I didn’t even know people could be experts on. And so these people, more capable than I in their field of interest, would often correct me. It was irritating – like a stranger barging into your home and telling you how to run it. I discovered that something had to change. I had to apply greater care to my words, have some basic critical knowledge of my main points and I had to learn to write in modesty (keeping in mind that certainty and humility are not antithetical). I also had to learn to be teachable, engaging, un-defensive, non-argumentative and a whole bunch of other adjectives that bring me back to Philippians 2:4-11.

Principle #4: Always answer direct credible questions; engage often in conversation; reply occasionally to opinions; never respond to trolls.

I often received blog advice that instructed me to respond to as many comments as possible. The thinking is that if the author personally replies, the audience will return. But I discovered how dangerous to the health of your blog that can be. Not every comment is worthy of a response. Some people think they know everything and feel the need to make the world agree with them, usually by means of derogatory force. By responding to these people you actually lower yourself to the level of the troll and in the process you discredit yourself in the eyes of your regular audience. Other times people just want to give their opinion about your post, often there is no need to reply. And still other times your audience will engage each other in conversation.

Conclusion

Over the past six months my readership has grown significantly. I’m learning plenty of cool stuff from my readers, and they seem to be learning some things from me. Someone notable recently sent me an email saying “I also like the irenic atmosphere of your blog. I like low decibels and an atmosphere where Christian differences are respected.” When I read that I wanted to cheer. Four years ago nobody would ever dream of paying my blog such a compliment. It’s a testament to a new plateau in my journey.

If you are on this blogging journey too, I hope that my testimony would encourage you to stay the course, make necessary adjustments where needed and strive above all to blog in a way that honors Christ. N.T. Wright has said “It really is high time we develop a Christian ethic of blogging” (Justification, p.26). This is true. I’m looking forward to someone writing that book, but in the meantime, I have signed the Blogging with Integrity pledge, and I encourage you to do the same.

What is one blogging principle you have learned through experience?

It takes a certain courage to look at what the Bible teaches, not like it all that much, and still believe it.

Wisdom is far rarer than intelligence, and far more valuable as well.  Wisdom is directional, or value-positive.  You can be immaculately intelligent and utterly deceived in your beliefs.  But wisdom implies that your beliefs, to the extent you are wise, reflect the truth.  Wisdom implies that you have gained some insight into the true, the good and the beautiful, that you have listened to Life and learned some of what it teaches.

Today’s post is contributed by Jerry Rankin, president emeritus of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He blogs at The Rankin File.

The gospel and missions. This subject would appear to be a no-brainer and elicit a yawning “Duh, what’s the point?” Everyone knows missions is about proclaiming the gospel. Or do they? It is amazing the discussions I have had over the years with leaders of mission agencies, denominational executives and church pastors about what is missions.

I fought the battle in Southern Baptist circles for years on the need to give specialized emphasis to missions. The retort was that this was unnecessary since everything we do is missions. In reality, if missions is everything, then it is nothing. If it is everyone’s responsibility, then it is no one’s responsibility.

The issue has been complicated in recent years by the emerging of the term “missional.” What does it mean to be missional? I think the common connotation is that whatever is done outside the internal focus of church programs is missional. Outreach to unbelievers and evangelism would certainly be considered missional. Involvement in a church plant in another community, somewhere in unchurched North America or among an unreached people group in Africa would fit the designation.

But so would disaster relief, building a home for Habitat, ministering to the poor through a food pantry and clothes closet, helping to build a church in a pioneer area or passing out water at a public event on a hot day. These activities are not about our church’s worship, discipling members, Bible study classes and youth ministry. They are focused outside the church and are therefore “missional” whether or not the gospel is shared.

Certainly we ought to be doing these things, as Jesus taught us to care for widows and orphans, minister to the poor, heal the sick, and visit the prisoner. He even commended the Pharisees for being conscientious about tithing, but admonished them for neglecting the more important things.

We can do a lot of good things that we ought to do, motivated by love, compassion for the needs of others and accruing no personal benefit, but is it missions? “Missions is the activity of God’s people to fulfill God’s mission.” And God’s mission, from before the foundation of the world, has been to redeem a lost world. It is why Jesus came and died on the cross and rose again. It is why the Holy Spirit gathers believers into a local church.

And obviously, without a clear presentation of the gospel, God’s mission is not being done. In the early 20th century, missions was sidetracked by a paradigm shift to social ministry. Amazingly, the conversation goes on. Missions is relief ministry, it is advocating justice, feeding the hungry, stopping human trafficking, providing education, or digging water wells.

Christians should be doing all these things and more, but if it is missions it will include a clear presentation of the gospel that the lost, the hurting, and the needy might be saved from sin and reconciled to God. Why would we try to improve the temporal, earthly life of others and deny them the knowledge that meets their need for eternity?

I will never forget hearing a missionary public health worker in West Africa testify of a very successful ministry of bringing pure drinking water and sanitation to destitute Muslim villagers. At the conclusion of an impressive presentation he broke into tears and confessed that he had been a failure for he had yet to see anyone embrace Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. I will never forget his closing remark: “Healthy in hell doesn’t count for much.”

Without the gospel, it is not missions!