One of our staff asked me recently my view on what is happening and if I had seen the meetings on YouTube. I have not and do not know too much about it. But I do believe and affirm Paul’s counsel to the Philippians: “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in very way, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice” (Phil.1:15-18). I have had the privilege to participate in many of the streams of God in His mighty river called the church – from the Reformed tradition of my seminary (Gordon-Conwell) to the mainline tradition (Princeton Theological for 1 year) to Pentecostal (my first years as a Christian in Assembly of God) to Roman Catholic (my upbringing) to the prophetic/signs and wonders (know Mike Bickle and been to Kansas City and was involved with John Wimber’s meetings in his heydey) to Inter-Varsity (on staff for 3 years) to the Reformed Church of America (an inner city Spanish church in New Brunswick, NJ where I was an elder while on IVCF staff) to Latino churches to African American churches (I was the only White member of one for three years) to visiting Orthodox churches (Russian and Greek in particular) to Quaker meetings with their emphasis on silence, consensus and prophetic social justice stances. When I consider the churches in Africa, in places like Ethiopia and Egypt, in Iraq, on the West Bank, Europe, Messianic congregations, as well as the history of the church – I think it is important we affirm the Nicene Creed as our foundation of what the church has believed as our biblical standard since the 4th century and the Scriptures as the Word of God under which we stand and live. I love Jesus Christ and His ways are surely not like mine. So like Paul, let us rejoice that Christ is preached in any and every way. Let us hold the tension of how so much of the body of Christ is so different than us, and always has been through church history. And may we be faithful to bear witness to the radically good news of Jesus Christ in a way that relates to our generation with power and clarity, making disciples as He commands us in Matthew 28. Thoughts?
22
Jul
