Tuesday, April 15, 2008
For The Reading Pile
At CGO, Les Newsom reviews the book "UnChristian" by David Kinnaman He seems to like Kinnaman's analysis, but disagrees with his solutions. First some analysis:
In essence, what I hear is a need for integration, salvation and sanctification, evangelism and discipleship. But then Newsom turns to some of Kinnaman's solutions:
Which is where the whole integration thing comes back into play. If the church goes out - then all it does is evangelism, but if the church is the place where we do discipleship, then disciples go out from that place and bring back new disciples. The current model where the church goes out cannot build disciples, it never gets that far. If the mission is integrated, so will be the church.
Are you integrated?
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Speaking from my experience as a campus minister for the last 14 years, I contend that the results are telling, but not surprising. First, Kinnaman reports that “outsiders” view Christians as hypocritical. Should we be surprised by this? After all, does anyone like to be told that they are helpless, hopeless sinners in need of a rescuing savior? On the other hand, Kinnaman accurately exposes the lingering problem in much Christian discipleship, namely, the tendency to define faith by my spiritual accomplishments and not by my dependency upon Jesus alone. This means that Christians are to lead with their limps (to borrow Dan Allender’s phrase) and not with their superiority.I would gived a hearty "AMEN" to that concept and based on that alone, I intend to read the book.
In essence, what I hear is a need for integration, salvation and sanctification, evangelism and discipleship. But then Newsom turns to some of Kinnaman's solutions:
Kinnaman’s answer to this question throughout the rest of the book (chapters follow on how Christians are too politically minded and, finally, too judgmental) amount to little else than a simple charge of “can’t we just be a bit nicer.”I think Newsom is dead nuts on here and it is something I have said on this blog repeatedly. The church is our, as a fellowship of believers, place. We go out from the church to the world and be Christians in it. The church does not go out - we go out from it.
I, however, would like to argue that what is needed is a new model for defining how a Christian sees himself in the world. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus unfolds two great spheres of Christian activity. The Kingdom of God is the new realm of which he is king and his people are his vice-regents. God’s people are called to advance his lordship into every area of life.
The impetus for this charge is the Church, against which the gates of hell cannot withstand. That is, a people, called to be holy and distinct from the world, gathered together worshipping and praising their God, constitute the empowering means of God’s assault on the world. Here, the Word of God stands absolute and immovable.
Taken together, Christians are called to stand firm as the Church, giving themselves to her purity and life. They are equally called to take the Kingdom truths gleaned from their fellowship together and behave as salt and light to a dying world. For the Church, the Christian has great zeal and certainty. For the Kingdom, she allows freedom of conscience for those to pursue the advancement of God’s purposes in means that seem suitable to them.
Which is where the whole integration thing comes back into play. If the church goes out - then all it does is evangelism, but if the church is the place where we do discipleship, then disciples go out from that place and bring back new disciples. The current model where the church goes out cannot build disciples, it never gets that far. If the mission is integrated, so will be the church.
Are you integrated?
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