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Desiring God's 2013 Conference for Pastors...

Five responses to the problem of evil...

Don't Judge Me, Bro!

There are two things that contemporary people (or at least contemporary Americans) love: social media and autonomy. And what is frequently interesting, and sometimes unnerving, is when those two loves are coupled together. Often enough, this coupling is fleshed out (through Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, blogs, etc.) in three words:

Don’t judge me!

These three words are regularly used as the ultimate trump card in any discussion with opposing viewpoints.

Don’t judge me!

Autonomy at its best…

We all want to be the king (or queen) of our own little kingdom, completely sovereign over our affairs with no one to tell us otherwise (and definitely no one to tell us that we might be wrong).

We see Christians telling other Christians to stop being judgmental (to those within and without Christendom); we see non-Christians telling Christians to stop being judgmental (to those within and without Christendom). Frankly, it’s rampant.

But where is this coming from? What is the basis?

Most people, if not all (i.e., those within and without Christendom), look to Matthew 7:1 as the proof-text for affirming anti-judgmentalism (of course, it’s much easier to sledgehammer someone else with this text than it is to apply it to ourselves…).

I am going to quote Kevin DeYoung at length, because I cannot say it any better:

Judgmentalism is not the same as making judgments. The same Jesus who said “do not judge” in Matthew 7:1calls his opponents dogs and pigs in Matthew 7:6. Paul pronounces an anathema on those who preach a false gospel (Gal. 1:8). Disagreement among professing Christians is not a plague on the church. In fact, it is sometimes necessary. The whole Bible is full of evaluation and encourages the faithful to be discerning and make their own evaluations. What’s tricky is that some fights are stupid, and some judgments are unfair and judgmental. But this must be proven, not assumed…Strong language and forceful arguments are appropriate.

In other words, you can make judgments.

You do make judgments.

Everyday.

In fact, when Jesus tells us to “judge not, that you be not judged,” he follows that with “for with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” Jesus indicates that you should be cautious when you judge because this same judgment you render will be rendered to you.

Do not be afraid to evaluate.

But remember that when you evaluate, God is going to evaluate you with that same criteria.

Take a Moment...

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Tim Challies interviews John Piper

The currency of conviction

Why tipping at restaurants speaks to your walk with Christ

John Piper on God's rightness in slaughtering women and children. Pete Enns provides two responses: here and here. Also Denny Burk and John Byron provide additional commentary.

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If We Believe All the Same Things, Why Do Our Churches Seem So Different?

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Ben Witherington on Homosexuality and Scripture...

Three Questions to Ask Before you Post Something on Facebook...

Is Theology the Queen of the Sciences?

God is Not a Genie in a Bottle...

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N. T. Wright and Christian Neglect of the Gospels...

Paul, Homosexuality, and "Nature"...

Creating the Bible in Our Image of God (or vice-versa?)...

Creation: The Cutting Room Floor...

The Anatomy of Holiness...

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5 Signs Waiting Has Weakened Your Faith...

Tim Challies responds to the John Piper "Masculine Christianity" chaos...

Pete Enns responds to Kevin DeYoung's post about the historical Adam...

What is humility?

Would Jesus dispense birth control?

Take a Moment...

Much discussion surrounding Piper's recent message (note - I love John Piper; he's been a "game-changer" for me; but he still can make mistakes...): Rachel Held Evans, Tim Gombis, Michael J. Kimpan, Michael F. Bird, and J. R. Daniel Kirk - Part 1 and Part 2.

Kevin DeYoung offers 10 Reasons to Believe in a Historical Adam; James McGrath responds...

Know your enemy...

Win the man, not the argument...

Truth...

Take a Moment...

Preston Sprinkle (a Pauline scholar) breaks down the New Perspective on Paul: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5...

Kevin DeYoung and Carl Trueman weigh in on the recent Elephant Room 2 chaos...

Sex-trafficking at the Super Bowl...

Should you publish your own book?

Why Jesus died...

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A few concerning posts surrounding Mark Driscoll and Mars Hill Church: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3...

The blog tour for Pete Enns' The Evolution of Adam has begun...

Numbers in the Church: Is Bigger Badder or Better?

The Humanity of Christ Matters...

Jesus > Religion: Some Thoughts on the Bethke Video Chaos

If you can answer in the affirmative to being alive and within the stream of Evangelical Christianity, then you have most likely seen the following video:

And, if you scuttle around the blogosphere you will have most likely seen not a few critiques of this video. However, the critique that I linked actually brought about more frustration than the video did (I think I would prefer you to read Kevin DeYoung's critique or Jared Wilson’s critique instead).

There is a certain sense of arrogance-laced theological one-upmanship that is becoming the pervasive norm within the blogosphere (some might even argue that what I am attempting to do here feeds the problem). One particular introspective moment I had after reading Fitzgerald’s post was how I often find myself desiring to critique (wherein my focus is on finding anything negative within the argument/discussion/message/idea), instead of, rather, focusing on the positive aspect(s) of said argument/discussion/message/idea.

So, instead of critiquing Fitzgerald’s post (which it could certainly stand to have – oops), or instead of critiquing the video itself (which has already been done ad nauseam), in this instance, I want to briefly reflect on three parts of agreement with Bethke’s video.

1. And just because you call some people blind, doesn't automatically give you vision...


My fear is that this statement is more true than we recognize. My fear is that within, primarily, American Evangelicalism we have those within the varied theological streams using their theological one-upmanship or pseudo-biblical understanding to mask their inability to see their own blindness (Luke 6:39), or to portray themselves as pure, when they are, in fact, not (Matt. 23:27-28). May God grant me the grace to repent when I see this particular sin within my own life.


2. See the problem with religion, is it never gets to the core. It's just behavior modification, like a long list of chores...


The core is sin; which leads to the need, which is new life in Jesus Christ. Jesus came (at least in part) to redeem a people and provide for them an opportunity for transformation. Moralism, which is probably the better term to use (instead of religion), can only offer behavior modification; it can only offer the "10 steps to a more fulfilled life." But moralism lacks eternal significance. Christ and what he accomplished at the cross is what we ought to focus on, not behavior modification.


3. See because religion says do, Jesus says done...


Now, this depends; if Bethke is insinuating that religion is the means by which we are accepted by Christ, than the separation is appropriate (Eph. 2:8-9); however, we ought to also remember that Christ has called us to obedience (Matt. 28:20). Moreover, I believe that one of the most over-looked themes in the New Testament is that of patronage (see David deSilva's excellent work Honor, Patronage, Kinship & Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture). Patrons would often extend an unwarranted gift to a patronee, but then would expect some type of return, which, if not reciprocated would have led to a great offense for the patron and shame on the patronee. In short, if Eph. 2:8-9 describe how "religion" does not provide any salvific efficacy, Eph. 2:10 describes the importance of "religion" in the post-conversion life.


In sum, there is much to say both positively and negatively in regards to this video and its varied responses. My hope is that we would learn to not necessarily retreat from disagreement, but that we would, rather, look to affirm truth and disagree with charity.

Take a Moment...

Christ and Culture Once More...

Why your podcast should not be your pastor...

Some year-end thoughts on the "Young, Restless, and Reformed"...

The Triumph of Christianity over Paganism...

Peter Hitchens on Christopher Hitchens...

Rob Bell's parting epistle to Mars Hill...

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Why do we love C.S. Lewis and hate Rob Bell?

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Mutual Submission?

7 Negative Effects of Porn...

Did Paul believe in the Bible?

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Al Mohler responds to Brian McLaren (and others) regarding the historicity of Adam...

How to destroy your own research paper in one simple step...

An interesting and humorous list characterizing incoming college freshmen...

An interesting exchange over biblicism between Scot McKnight and Kevin DeYoung...

A Tool for Building Great Leaders...

Take a Moment...

I might not get to post anything on Thursday, so here are a few additions to the bi-weekly "Take a Moment..."

Evangelicals converting to Catholicism?

I'm done with living like a Christian!

Reading when you can't afford books...

Lust: Not for men only

A book worth your time...

Kevin DeYoung on Mark Driscoll and Effemigate...

Piper and Carson discuss hermeneutics and the use of extra-biblical sources...

Hero Admiration v. Hero Worship

**Although I was going to wait and publish this post next week, based on some current situations amongst pastors I respect, I thought it might be best to submit it now.**

I love John Piper.  I love Mark Driscoll.  I love Matt Chandler.  I love Kevin DeYoung.

Have I mentioned that I do not have a personal relationship with, nor have I even met, these men?

And yet, I claim that I love them because their ministries have heavily affected my view of God, life and faith.  Or, perhaps a better term to use would be “hero”.  Those four men listed above, amongst others for sure, are, for me, heroes of the faith.  I look at these men; I see their love for God, in Christ; I see their intelligence; I see their successful ministries; I see their blogs, books and articles; and (if I’m honest) I see their popularity (i.e. they are great spiritual/ministry leaders – and who doesn’t want to have followers?).  To me, these men are the epitome of successful pastor/theologians.

However, I have recently found myself thinking through hero admiration v. hero worship; and I am concerned that those of us (including me!) within the New Calvinism community might be prone to hero worship, which is an idolatrous slap-in-the-face to God and His gracious sovereignty in placing these men in their respective ministries. 

Last fall I went to my first Desiring God national conference in Minneapolis; it was a great experience.  First, the conference subject matter: Think; and, secondly, it felt like I was rubbing shoulders with some of New Calvinism’s elite.  Prior to Al Mohler’s session, I went to save seats near the front of the auditorium, wherein I eventually found myself sitting across the aisle from John Piper and several of his staff members.  It was in that moment that I really began to ponder hero admiration v. hero worship, for, as I snuck peeks across the aisle (as if John Piper were that cute girl in your high-school class), I found myself completely star-struck, raising him up ever higher on the pedestal of Theologian Par Excellence.

But why? 

Isn’t there danger in that?

Does it breed a certain type of idolatry?

Does Piper not have sin issues (which, in fact, might have been the reason he took a leave of absence recently)?

Does Piper not argue with his wife?

Does Piper not have hunger pangs?

Does Piper not have the occasional runny nose?

In other words, although I don’t know the four heroes mentioned above, I am confident that they would admit their own sinfulness, normalcy, and memories of early ministry, wherein they might have also dealt with hero worship.  Therefore, let this be a reminder that we all put on one pant leg at a time; we all crave to be admired; we are all still wretched and depraved sinners before a majestically righteous God; and we have all been appointed to do the work God has set before us.

Take a Moment...

Tim Challies offers some encouragement on how to start a blog...

Kevin DeYoung talks about ways to make your church welcoming...

N.T. Wright with some thoughts on universalism...

For all you Skypers...

Kurt Willems on being an evangelical reject...