Why does it surprise me?
I thoroughly enjoyed teaching the lesson in Sunday school this week. So much good discussion ensued. I was glad that Wayne and Linda (I won't even try to spell it) visited with us. All last week I was prepared for the lesson by reading a few books along with the Scripture text. "Becoming Conversant With The Emerging Church" by D. A. Carson was one of them. The other two were "The Abolition of Man" by C. S. Lewis and "Unapologetic Apologetics" by William A. Dembski & Jay Wesley Richards.
Now, what surprises me, you ask. Well, how about that sermon from the pastor? I just love it when we go in from Sunday school and the pastor takes up right where we left off and preaches the word of God concerning some of the same things we talked about. Well, guess what? One of my favorite pastors here on the web has picked it up too. It's amazing how God works these things in. I know it shouldn't surprise me but it does sometimes. Anyway, check out his post here and see what you think. Now, it's not exactly what we talked about but look at how closely it fits. In the meta I posted a comment; see it below.
MY COMMENT
They fail to preach this way because they have become “Men without Chests” (as C. S. Lewis would say in “The Abolition of Man”). And we, having become subjected to the ensuing teaching of such men have become schoolboys lacking an understanding in the predicates of value. Having been subjected to years of man-centered teachings since the foundation was changed by the paradigm “cogito ergo sum” what else can be expected? Pummeled by Cartesian thought, Enlightenment, Modernism, Postmodernism and now moving on to an emerging epistemology, just like the schoolboys above, the world has failed (rationally) to notice the inherent fault line which looms
so prevalently underneath…ready to swallow them at the first false slip of the foot on this slippery slope. As William A. Dembski and Jay Wesley Richards says in Unapologetic Apologetics – Pg.16&17, “Christian apologetics that’s worthy of the name is a call to martyrdom – perhaps not a martyrdom where we spill our blood (although this too may be required) but a martyrdom where we witness to the truth without being concerned about our careers, political correctness, the current fashion or toeing the line. We are not called to please the world; we are called to proclaim the truth within whatever context and conventions we find ourselves. This means we must have a thorough knowledge of our context and conventions. We must be informed. We must listen. We must know where we stand, and we must know where we are withstood. This requires effort.”
We cannot quarantine ourselves from false teachings of men but we must inoculate ourselves and others around us. Paul doesn’t merely proclaim the gospel but actively persuades people of the truth of the gospel, striving to convince both the hearts and the minds of his listeners. It is active persuasion that characterizes Paul’ ministry. I think Jonathan Edwards understood this all to well.
Rick
Now, what surprises me, you ask. Well, how about that sermon from the pastor? I just love it when we go in from Sunday school and the pastor takes up right where we left off and preaches the word of God concerning some of the same things we talked about. Well, guess what? One of my favorite pastors here on the web has picked it up too. It's amazing how God works these things in. I know it shouldn't surprise me but it does sometimes. Anyway, check out his post here and see what you think. Now, it's not exactly what we talked about but look at how closely it fits. In the meta I posted a comment; see it below.
MY COMMENT
They fail to preach this way because they have become “Men without Chests” (as C. S. Lewis would say in “The Abolition of Man”). And we, having become subjected to the ensuing teaching of such men have become schoolboys lacking an understanding in the predicates of value. Having been subjected to years of man-centered teachings since the foundation was changed by the paradigm “cogito ergo sum” what else can be expected? Pummeled by Cartesian thought, Enlightenment, Modernism, Postmodernism and now moving on to an emerging epistemology, just like the schoolboys above, the world has failed (rationally) to notice the inherent fault line which looms
so prevalently underneath…ready to swallow them at the first false slip of the foot on this slippery slope. As William A. Dembski and Jay Wesley Richards says in Unapologetic Apologetics – Pg.16&17, “Christian apologetics that’s worthy of the name is a call to martyrdom – perhaps not a martyrdom where we spill our blood (although this too may be required) but a martyrdom where we witness to the truth without being concerned about our careers, political correctness, the current fashion or toeing the line. We are not called to please the world; we are called to proclaim the truth within whatever context and conventions we find ourselves. This means we must have a thorough knowledge of our context and conventions. We must be informed. We must listen. We must know where we stand, and we must know where we are withstood. This requires effort.”We cannot quarantine ourselves from false teachings of men but we must inoculate ourselves and others around us. Paul doesn’t merely proclaim the gospel but actively persuades people of the truth of the gospel, striving to convince both the hearts and the minds of his listeners. It is active persuasion that characterizes Paul’ ministry. I think Jonathan Edwards understood this all to well.
Rick
sung by Rick at 5:28 PM
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