When you hear the word “theology”, what does your gut do? Leap or cringe?
What struck me after reading chapter 2 of Contending is that theological debates are not reserved for the ‘dusty’[1] halls of theological colleges. They go to the deeply personal fact of who it is I talk to when I pray.
It is impossible to love Jesus, but not love theology. Theology is what I know about God and his Son. How can I love the Jesus I know but not love what I know about him?
In this chapter, first Piper summarises the life and work of the great Christian forefather Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria who lived 298-373AD. Then, he unpacks 7 key lessons from his life.
To be honest, I think he’s bitten off more than I can chew! Athanasius’ life is so summarised that I struggled to get caught up in the drama of it.
Having said all this, Piper does provide several perceptive insights about how we should go about defending truths about God. Here’s one that particularly struck me:
“Loving Christ includes loving true propositions about Christ” (p63).
It’s easy to agree that we love Jesus. It’s harder to agree on who he is. Jesus is not an abstract idea like “justice” or “multiculturalism”. He is a flesh and blood man about whom some things are false and some things are true. At this moment, he is either alive or dead. He is either both fully God and fully man or some other concoction. I cannot love him and be happy for others to speak lies or even ½ truths about him.
This should change whether I speak up about him amongst Christians as well as non-Christians. But it should also change how I view other people when they speak up. When I see a minister, in the pulpit or in the media, raising a contentious theological point, my mind jumps to label them as ‘narrow minded’, ‘being nitpicky’, ‘causing division’ or ‘getting up on their hobby horse’. Instead I think I should pause and ask, rather “is somebody who passionately loves Jesus and is seeking to stand for who he really is?”.
The fact is that Athanasius perservered for 45 years, through persecution and exile, for a truth we now take for granted - that Jesus is both man and God. Without this truth, there is no gospel. My place in death is not taken and God as judge is not satisfied.
While I am tempted to put things in the ‘too hard basket’ and change the conversation, Athanasius spoke up again and again. He loved theology because he loved Jesus. He loved Jesus so much that he spoke up when I would have stayed silent.
Footnote:
[1] Trust me, I’m at one now – they’re not dusty. They’re full of lovely, passionate people!
Showing posts with label Contending for the Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Contending for the Faith. Show all posts
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Contending #1
Don’t you hate it when Christians argue? Especially when they argue about Christ? My heart beats faster, my stomach sinks and all my gut screams ‘Change the subject!’
After all, didn’t Jesus pray that we would be unified. He even said that this would show the world he was from God (John 18:21).
The introduction of John Piper’s “Contending for our All” was a timely rebuke for me that there is a time and a place for debating and defending what we believe. Not just against the world, but also amongst our brothers and sisters.
God has told us truths. Truths like – Jesus is man and God; he died on the cross in my place; he came back to life; heaven and hell are real. Those truths have given me new life, a new identity and a new future. So shouldn’t I defend those truths so other people can enjoy new life, new identity and a new future too?
If people do not know the truth, how can it set them free?
I’m a stickler for correcting people when they misspell my name, but why am I so slow to correct people when they misunderstand Jesus. It really makes no difference whether they spell it Annabel or Annabelle. But if somebody has a skewiff picture of Jesus, even if they are a fellow-Christian, it can have big consequences – particularly if they are teaching others.
I take it this is why Jesus got so fired up against the false-teaching Pharisees. He accused them of locking up the kingdom of heaven from people! He could see them taking people by the hand and tenderly leading them to death (Matthew 23:13).
Piper helpfully points out we should not enjoy controversy nor run from it. The best guiding light is our love for Christ. If I love Christ, I will fight for the truth of who he is and what he did. If I love Christ, I won’t debate for the sake of debate but for the sake of his name. This affects not only whether and what we discuss but also how we discuss truths – never pulling the other person down, never arrogant and letting God’s word do the talking.
So if you’re a scaredy-cat like me, have a read and a ponder over Piper’s introduction. And if you’re coming to EQUIP on May 28 then why not read it before then to kick off your thinking on what it means to be a freedom fighter.
As Piper says…
“ Let us heed Martin Luther’s warning not to proclaim only what is safe while the battle rages around what is necessary:
If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides it mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.” (Luther, quoted by Piper p35-36)
After all, didn’t Jesus pray that we would be unified. He even said that this would show the world he was from God (John 18:21).
The introduction of John Piper’s “Contending for our All” was a timely rebuke for me that there is a time and a place for debating and defending what we believe. Not just against the world, but also amongst our brothers and sisters.
God has told us truths. Truths like – Jesus is man and God; he died on the cross in my place; he came back to life; heaven and hell are real. Those truths have given me new life, a new identity and a new future. So shouldn’t I defend those truths so other people can enjoy new life, new identity and a new future too?
If people do not know the truth, how can it set them free?
I’m a stickler for correcting people when they misspell my name, but why am I so slow to correct people when they misunderstand Jesus. It really makes no difference whether they spell it Annabel or Annabelle. But if somebody has a skewiff picture of Jesus, even if they are a fellow-Christian, it can have big consequences – particularly if they are teaching others.
I take it this is why Jesus got so fired up against the false-teaching Pharisees. He accused them of locking up the kingdom of heaven from people! He could see them taking people by the hand and tenderly leading them to death (Matthew 23:13).
Piper helpfully points out we should not enjoy controversy nor run from it. The best guiding light is our love for Christ. If I love Christ, I will fight for the truth of who he is and what he did. If I love Christ, I won’t debate for the sake of debate but for the sake of his name. This affects not only whether and what we discuss but also how we discuss truths – never pulling the other person down, never arrogant and letting God’s word do the talking.
So if you’re a scaredy-cat like me, have a read and a ponder over Piper’s introduction. And if you’re coming to EQUIP on May 28 then why not read it before then to kick off your thinking on what it means to be a freedom fighter.
As Piper says…
“ Let us heed Martin Luther’s warning not to proclaim only what is safe while the battle rages around what is necessary:
If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides it mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.” (Luther, quoted by Piper p35-36)
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