Complementarianism akin to Racism? – An open Forum

This morning I was reading through the Argus (our local newspaper) and got to the public feedback section. Amongst the numerous letters written in by readers I was astonished to find myself being indirectly accused of racism. Let me explain…

One writer wrote in about how outraged she was at the bigotry on display in the current debacle currently taking place amongst the Church of England in England around the issue of women being consecrated as bishops. She was incensed that this would still be an issue in such a ‘progressive’ age. Instead she suggested that we envision the whole issue from another angle: imagine if people were debating as to whether or not black folk could be consecrated as bishops – imagine the outrage if that was the case. Now indirectly she is insinuating that holding complementarian views about women in church leadership is akin to being a fairly radical racist.

What do you think? Is she right to draw the analogy? Why/why not? Are people like myself, who hold to a complementarian view, guilty of a form of behaviour that is akin to heinous racism? Have your say… (if you don’t understand the term ‘complementarianism’ then click on the link above)

Simple Church

I’m halfway through Thom S. Ranier and Eric Geiger’s ‘Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Discipleship‘. It’s been a helpful read so far in just helping one to think about processes in a simple, straight forward way. I’ve been a little disappointed that they haven’t really, up until this point, pointed to a more organic way of doing church – I suppose there are aspects of it in the book. Overall the authors seemed more intent on helping pastors and church workers uncomplicate and streamline the  complicated structures their churches and ministries can get into. Their four steps to going ‘simple’ and designing a discipleship process are: Clarity – Movement – Alignment – Focus

Clarity: The ability of the process to be communicated and understood by the people.

Movement: The sequential steps in the process that cause people to move to greater areas of commitment. (They suggest that this step is normally the most difficult to understand).

Alignment: The arrangement of all ministries and staff around the same simple process.

Focus: The commitment to abandon everything that falls outside of the simple ministry process. (This is the most difficult to implement).

There are many helpful suggestions throughout the book but if you were looking for a more missional/organic approach to discipleship then it probably shouldn’t be top of your list.

20 Questions for Church Planters

Adrian Warnock has the low down on Scott Thomas’ recent talk at the DWELL Conference in London. Scott’s a cool guy heavily involved with Acts29 – I got to meet him briefly in February when I was at Mars Hill. In this particular talk Scott lists 20 Questions prospective church plant leaders should ask of themselves – they’re well worth a read.

Incarnation is the Wrong Theological Category…

…to describe mission as far as Tim Chester is concerned. Read his fascinating thoughts and healthy critique of trendy missionals. I think I might have been a bit guilty in this area for blurring categories.

…and after the reading the Bible will be taught…

Michael Jensen has an interesting question about the use of the terms ‘Bible teaching’ and ‘preaching’ and whether or not we might have done the body a disservice by making them synonymous.

Christian Schools – Are they Missional?

Andrew Hamilton has an interesting discussion around this question. Make sure to read the comments where you might find out what I think.

Wilson’s got an Evangellyfish – and You can Read it

Doug Wilson’s new novel, ‘Evangellyfish’ is being serialized as a blog. Doug is possibly one of the most creative communicators of truth out there today. The way he sculpts humour to make important points is often masterful. So make sure you read the regular installments.

Air Guitar, Theology and Church Planting

At the moment I’m busy studying some material for a practical theology seminar that starts on Monday morning and runs for the week. As soon as I finish that I’ve got a paper about Luther’s theology of ‘church’ to get cracking on. In between all of this I’m filling up on books about missional church, urban ministry and church planting as I prepare to put pen to paper on my dissertation. Along with all the theological studies I’m dreaming about church planting and next years plant (I’ll give you more details when I’m able to). In many ways it feels like playing air guitar – you think you’re a hard-core rocker but if you stood in front of a mirror and saw yourself you’d feel pretty stupid. For me its the difference between theologizing, studying and talking about the gospel and missional church and actually simply doing it. I’m tired of the talking – I want to breathe in the gospel deeply and get on with it.

Gospel Coalition New Site

I’m back in freezing and rainy Cape Town and after reading through a ton of feeds this one caught my eye: The Gospel Coalition has a new site with resources and on-line Themelios articles – check it out.

Out and About

I’m out and about in Durban at the moment. I got up at a ridiculous hour to fly here this morning, but as always Durban is bathed in warm sunlight in the middle of winter. I’m here until next week Tuesday sorting out some wedding preparations with family and then its back to Cape Town for the final stretch culminating in our wedding in October and the end of my degree in November.

I’ve also been out and about at the movies this last week. Saw two movies of interest: Son of Man and Prince Caspian. I loved Prince Caspian, although I’m told it didn’t follow the book very accurately (yes I haven’t read it…gasp, horror!). As a movie I actually thought it was better than the first one – great fun. Son of Man on the other hand was desperately disappointing. For a movie that promised so much it fell horribly short of expectations for me. All it consisted of was a poorly produced and acted version of a political, liberation-theology, humanistic gospel in a fictitious township in a fictitious southern African country (that looked surprisingly like Khayaletsha – how do you spell that?). Ironically the movie did help me realise just how radical the true message of Jesus really is simply because he didn’t do or say what the ‘Jesus’ figure in this film did yet they both faced very similar circumstances. In the words of Yoda, ‘muddied the waters about Jesus it did.’ You’d do well to stick to the 4 canonical gospel accounts or maybe check out a book like Mark Driscoll’s ‘Vintage Jesus‘.

I’ll be out and about with friends tonight – and it won’t be raining and freezing! Hope you have a good one too. 

NT Wright on GAFCON

Bishop Tom Wright has some comments on the recent GAFCON. Here’s part of his conclusion:

“In short, my hope and prayer is that the spiritual energy, the sense of celebration, the eagerness for living and preaching the gospel, which were so evident at GAFCON, can and will be brought to the forum where we badly need it, namely, the existing central councils of the Anglican Communion. I understand only too well the frustration that many have felt at these bodies. But if GAFCON is to join up with the great majority of faithful, joyful Anglicans around the world, rather than to invite them to leave their present allegiance and sign up to a movement which is as yet – to put it mildly – strange in form and uncertain in destination, it is not so much that GAFCON needs to invite others to sign up and join in. Bishops, clergy and congregations should think very carefully before taking such a step, which will have enormous and confusing consequences. Rather, GAFCON itself needs to bring its rich experience and gospel-driven exuberance to the larger party where the rest of us are working day and night for the same gospel, the same biblical wisdom, the same Lord.”

By and large he seems to be quite supportive of GAFCON, and rightly so given his theological stance. I just wonder though, and I say this as a Tom Wright fan, if he fails to really understand that the GAFCON crew are completely tired of dealing with the ‘forum’ he suggests. They’ve tried to bring their exuberance to the larger party with little success and they’re now no longer convinced that there is this ‘great majority’ of faithful Anglicans pulling the same way that they are with the same gospel.