I felt it when I woke up this morning. After my drive from Georgia I felt it. After my third wipe-out on the kneeboard I really felt it! An ache and pain in my right hip (Okay – my right "cheek" to be specific!) that modulates between searing and tolerable. But it is always "there". Paul said it true, "our outer self is wasting away" – to that I can attest. Is having this constant ache "healthy"?
What exactly does it mean to be "healthy"? Does healthy mean free from every pain, ache, and condition? Does healthy mean I'm the biological equivalent of the six million dollar man? How about spiritual health? Does spiritual health mean we never struggle with the weaknesses of the flesh or bear the wounds of living in a broken world?
No, healthy means we are moving toward wholeness; spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. Healthy means we are aware of our weaknesses, but we keep moving forward, even though we limp. Healthy means we can be honest and open about our scars, sins, and struggles. We can begin to "confess [our] sins to one another, and pray for one another that [we] may be healed" (James 5:16)
We can do this because the debilitating effects of shame are cured in the gospel. We can do this because the exhausting work of projecting "I've-got-it-togetherness" is no longer necessary. In the gospel we find that Jesus has both exposed and taken our shame. In the gospel we find that only Jesus had it all together.
So we are in "gospel rehab" together. We care for one another's souls as wounded-healers. We journey as a healing community together. And I kinda think the world is waiting for this kind of church. How about you?
The well wisher of your soul's happiness,
Pastor Tom
"You also, be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." (James 5:8)
What's on your heart these days? Do you have a heavy heart? A hungry heart? A broken heart?
Oh how fragile our hearts are! One moment we feel like superman, the next moment we wonder who hit us with the kryptonite. We are not as strong as we think we are. As Dylan said – "…she breaks just like a little girl". We get wounded and weary, sick and sore. Our hearts need strengthening.
Okay – I get that. So, what am I supposed to do? Do I sign up for some spiritual cardio-class at the YMCA? Do I push my heart past muscle fatigue to whip it into shape? Sigh. What do I do when I am too fatigued to make it through boot camp?
Ah, the blessed plural! It's not "me", it's "we". It's "hearts", not "heart"! That means I need you. Yes, you have to help me strengthen my heart. When I am dog-tired under the load of the everythingness of life – you have to come and remind me about Jesus. You just gotta!
You have to tell me that he loves me, that he laid down his life for me, that he kicked Satan's @#$% for me! And you have to tell me that he's got his eye on me and he is coming for me. You have to tell me it's all going to be okay.
And, yeah, sometimes you have tell me to suck it up and hang in there, that it's all worth it, that I have keep my eyes on the prize.
But you have to be there for me.
And me for you.
The well wisher of your soul's happiness,
Pastor Tom
Overview—Give a brief overview of the book, including its theme, perspective and approach.Former missionary to India and cultural observer Lesslie Newbigin probes the question of what would involve a genuinely missionary encounter between the Gospel and "modern western culture". In other words, Newbigin is concerned with the "re-evangelism" of post-Christian western modernity. In "Foolishness to the Greeks", Newbigin analyzes the development of modern culture and then asks what role the Word has in contemporary culture. He then dialogues with science and politics before concluding with a call to the church.
Critique—Offer a brief critique of the book, including elements of strength and weakness.
Newbigin's scholarship is apparent on every page. He interacts with both the scientific community and political/economic thought with equal aplomb. His strength lies in his piercing analysis. I have not read a better overview of modern culture, the loss of a sense of purpose and how we got here than in his chapter on "Profile of a Culture". However, his strength as an observer exposes his weakness in offering plausible alternatives. He chastises the lack of purpose and absolutes in western culture, but his reluctance to embrace a full view of the authority of scripture leaves him on shaky ground as well (p.59). To his credit, Newbigin challenges the church not to try to commandeer the culture and reestablish a politicized Christendom. Nor should we try to recreate a pre-Constantinian innocence (p.103). As if we could do either! Simply let the church be the church.
Application—Offer some specific application to your own ministry— demonstrating the value and relevance of the material in this book.
Newbigin addresses issues so broad that application on the local level is a challenge. I feel I have a better grasp on the roots of secularization of my own culture, but putting that into "parish practice" is another story. His threefold model of communicating the gospel, though, forms a helpful paradigm for evangelism: 1) Make sure you communicate in a language the culture understands; 2) even so, the gospel by nature will contradict the culture, 3) so remember that radical conversion can only be a supernatural work of God. Therefore, be culturally sensitive, but radically gospel-centered and leave the results up to the Lord.
Best Quote—Be sure to include the page number where the quote can be found.
p. 124, "The church is the bearer to all the nations of a gospel that announces the kingdom, the reign, and the sovereignty of God. It calls men and women to repent of their false loyalty to other powers, to become believers in the one true sovereignty, and so to become corporately a sign, instrument, and foretaste of that sovereignty of the one true and living God over all nature, all nations, and all human lives. It is not meant to call men and women out of the world into a safe religious enclave but to call them out in order to send them back as agents of God's kingship."
Overview—Give a brief overview of the book, including its theme, perspective and approach.John Frame puts the cookies on the bottom shelf in this warmly written, yet scholarly informed introduction. Systematic Theology can be scary just to pronounce, so Frame takes the reader by the hand and skillfully guides him through the gamut of theological issues from who God is to how we should live before Him. He comes from a Reformed Theology perspective and usually lands within party lines, but is even handed and congenial with positions with which he disagrees. He approaches his material as an academician with the heart of a pastor.
Critique—Offer a brief critique of the book, including elements of strength and weakness.
In "Salvation Belongs to the Lord" Frame not only gives us an introduction to systematic theology, he gives us an introduction to John Frame. And whereas one can easily get lost in his more technical works, here he makes sure he doesn't lose anyone. His tri-perspectival approach is unique and eventually compelling. He explains the Normative, Situational, and Existential perspectives clearly and then points out "triads" that he sees that fit with these categories. And Frame sees these triads everywhere! Many will see a weakness here, in that his approach might become a procrustean bed where all truth must come in sets of three. Yet he has the humility and humor to call himself out for this (p.73)!
Because of the broadness of his subject matter, I found myself often wanting more from Frame, but that is the limitation of an introduction. Thankfully Frame's body of work is voluminous enough to drown in, so digging deeper should not be a problem. And his bibliographic references provide many more avenues of investigation.
Application—Offer some specific application to your own ministry— demonstrating the value and relevance of the material in this book.
Though some may think a practical systematic theology to be an oxymoron, that is far from the case here. Frames discussion of the doctrine of Adoption was particularly insightful in helping one to live before God as a son (or daughter) rather than just a servant. I plan to pass this section along to those struggling in their relationship with the Lord. And in spite of the seeming abstractness of his tri-perspectival approach, I found myself thinking more and more in those categories and appreciating not only it's pedagological value, but also the balance and completeness such a framework brings to church ministry. That will have to be fleshed out! And his section on the nature and task of the church has confirmed and renewed by vision for local church ministry.
Best Quote—Be sure to include the page number where the quote can be found.
p.80 "Reformed theologians generally have been averse to talking about inner subjectivity, about feelings and inner thought processes. But I think Reformed theology needs to give more attention to the subjective side of theology… It isn't just feelings …but it takes account of feelings, for thoughts and feelings influence one another all the time."
Overview—Give a brief overview of the book, including its theme, perspective and approach."Ministries of Mercy" is Biblical, theological, and practical exposition on the need and practice of helping those in need. The book in divided into two sections, one on principles and one on practice. Keller lays out the biblical case for mercy ministries in part one and then offers practical guidelines about getting involved in part two. Keller addresses the need for involvement in acts of practical mercy to the needy on various levels (individual, family, church, community) as well as giving attention to pitfalls to avoid. He supplements his material with some helpful "best practices" from model churches and ministries.
Critique—Offer a brief critique of the book, including elements of strength and weakness.
The crucial area of mercy ministry is poorly addressed in contemporary Christian literature. Keller's book fills that vacuum nicely. If you had only one comprehensive guide to caring service from a Christian perspective, "Ministries of Mercy" would serve you well. Keller leaves few stones unturned in addressing these issues, yet without ever becoming bogged down with minutia. In one of the strongest sections of his book, Keller persuasively argues that acts of mercy are a test of the genuineness of our faith and therefore not optional for the Christian. "Ministries of Mercy" is a clear challenge for the church to become more sacrificially engaged in the needs of its community, yet Keller never sounds shrill in his admonitions. And he always is careful to center his thoughts on the gospel of grace. If there is a weakness, it is in the broadness of his vision. Those seeking to begin diaconal (servant) ministries in a local church might become overwhelmed at the thought of addressing systemic injustice, but Keller urges us to start small and build up.
Application—Offer some specific application to your own ministry— demonstrating the value and relevance of the material in this book.
The application of "Ministries of Mercy" is immediate. In particular I will recommend that this book become a catalyst for forming a more sustained diaconal ministry in our church. Keller offers the biblical foundation and practical tools to look at our community and begin to serve the needs intangible ways. Also, I plan to use his section on "Understanding Every-Member Ministry" (p.156-157) to inform, motivate, and equip our church membership.
Best Quote—Be sure to include the page number where the quote can be found.
p.61, "A merely religious person, who believes God will favor him because of his morality and respectability, will ordinarily have contempt for the outcast. 'I worked hard to get where I am, and so can anyone else!' That is the language of the moralist's heart. 'I am only where I am by the sheer and unmerited mercy of God. I am completely equal with all other people.' That is the language of the Christian's heart. A sensitive social conscience and a life poured out in deeds of mercy to the needy is the inevitable sign of a person who has grasped the doctrine of God's grace."
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