Who is the Neo-Reformed Zealot?

Reading the NYT’s recent article on Mark Driscoll and Scot McKnight’s blurb on NT Wright’s new book I thought I’d compile two lists of where I think the ‘neo-reformed’ are at and why in many ways we present something of a weird paradox to the rest of the Christian landscape as they try to figure us out:

Neo-Reformed (Things people don’t like):

1. We believe in the supremacy of God and his glory in all things.

2. We believe in the 5 solas.

3. We still believe in the inerrancy, authority and sufficiency of Scripture.

4. We are Calvinists – duh!

5. We still believe that people who die without Christ go to eternal conscious punishment.

6. We believe that the gospel is a word – i.e. you can’t ‘preach’ the gospel with actions – you can only proclaim it and live consistently with it.

7. We’re still complementarians.

8. We think that it is possible to develop a truthful systematic theology.

9. We will not budge on the importance of penal substitutionary atonement.

10. Yes, we think it is still possible to be a heretic and yes, there are quite a few those around in the church today.

Neo-Reformed (Things people like):

1. We have a largely open-handed approach to culture.

2. We’re always keen to re-think current practices.

3. Mission is a top priority for us.

4. In light of #3, we have a passion for church planting.

5. We’re more accepting of outsiders than previous conservative groups.

6. We’re into social justice and mercy ministry in a big way.

7. We’re greener than previous conservative groups.

8. #1, #6 and #7 are based on the fact that alongside our doctrine of Total Depravity and the brokenness of our world we’ve attempted to recapture the beauty of humanity and the creation through our understanding of the Image of God and Common Grace respectively.

9. Our Gospel includes the restoration of all things (See Tim Keller’s ‘The Gospel in All its Forms‘)

10. And horror of horrors – a lot of us still think NT Wright is a pretty good author and theologian even if we don’t always see eye to eye.

Scot McKnight is Clearly Concerned about Us

How else can you explain his rather uncharitable comments about us ‘neo-reformed’ in his blurb on NT Wright’s new book? I must confess I’m a little ticked off.

Too much talk of Culture?

Thabiti Anyabwile and Carl Trueman think that there’s too much fascination with ‘culture’ and ‘engaging culture’ in Christian circles today. I must confess that I’m not completely convinced that they’re on the money, or (if I may be so bold) that the school of thought, ministry and theology that these gentlemen speak out of has taken culture seriously enough yet and what it means to engage culture in a way that is congruent with the gospel. But then maybe I’m just a naive, young, little upstart – ok so I know I am, but anyway… I really get the feeling, looking at the average reformed and evangelical church around me that culture, and real engagement with it is still something a bit mysterious and off the agenda at present even despite the large amount of press available about engaging the culture. (HT – Jason)

Start a Blog Campaign

I want to see more reformed and evangelical South African Christian blogs – I want to see more people talking about what it means to be the church in South Africa in the contemporary world in which we live. So I’m laying down a challenge to anyone out there who is a South African Christian to start a blog.

Now most people think its a stack load of work to keep up a blog – and I guess if you want to post everyday then it is a bit of work and time. But I think its also very rewarding (read my post on the 10 benefits of blogging I’ve experienced in the last 2 years) and you don’t have to post everyday to write a good blog. So go over to Blogger or WordPress (blogging platforms) and get going.

Here are some tips to start off with:

• Start reading other good Christian blogs (browse through the links on my sidebar)
• Learn how to use a feed reader and syndication (I use Google Reader and Feed Burner)
• Don’t write long complicated posts
• Sign up with Amatomu
• Link, link and link to other similar blogs
• Make sure the template or layout you choose is simple and easy to read
• Categorize or tag all your posts
• Don’t use corny pseudonyms – use your real name!
• If you can, make your name the url
• Always give credit to material you find on other blogs by linking back to the source
• Don’t promo your blog by dropping spam comments on other people’s blogs telling them to check out your site
• Don’t rant and preach too much on your blog – people will get tired of you – write posts that encourage dialogue rather
• Have fun…

If you decide to take up this challenge then leave a comment below with a link to your new blog. Come on your bloggers…

UPDATE: If you already write a reformed, evangelical South African blog then introduce yourself and leave us a link in the comment section to your blog.

Monergism’s Mp3 Library

Check out Monergism‘s extensive and revamped Mp3 library. There’s enough there to keep you going for a long time.

(HT – Challies)

This is so exciting…

Resurgence Conference 2008: I’ll be There!

I’ve been a bit quiet about this on my blog until all the details were sorted out but I thought it was time to come clean: Yes, I’m going to be at the Resurgence Conference: Text and Context, February 2008 at Mars Hill Church, Seattle! An amazingly gracious sponsor has helped me to get over to the States and attend this conference. I’m going to also have the opportunity of meeting with a number of different people involved in church planting – some of them connected to the Acts 29 Network – which is probably my main aim in this trip. I’m quite excited about possibly linking up with A29 for future church plants here in South Africa.

I’m looking forward to also attending two churches in the States that we, here in South Africa, don’t really have anything similar to. I’m spending one Sunday in St. Louis at the Journey Church pastored by Darrin Patrick and then spending the following Sunday at Mars Hill Church in Seattle pastored by Mark Driscoll.

What I’d like from the peeps out there is to make contact with as many people I can who read this blog and will also be attending the Resurgence Conference. I’d love to catch up with you guys – especially those of you who write blogs. I thought that rather than emailing each of you individually I’d just stick this notice up as a post instead. Please let me know if you’ll be there so I can look out for you.

See some of you soon…

Return to Normal – Whatever that is?

Back to blogging after a few days off entertaining family here in Cape Town and fixing my car which is giving me the urge to be in heaven in the ‘paddy-whacks for Adam’ queue thanks to the ensuing entropy we experience and live with post-fall (and yes I know, if I was in the Garden I would have done the same…blah, blah, blah). Anyway, a lot has happened in the blogsphere since I’ve been away. Many of you commented on the gospel forum post which was great. I’ve received a ton of Facebook messages from friends suggesting that having Tim Keller comment on my blog is the pinnacle of blogging and so I should just give up now while I’m ahead. Sorry to disappoint, but I think I’m going to keep going and try not let the whole ‘celebrity Christian comment syndrome’ get to me (be humble! be humble! be humble!). And so here’s two links of interest that caught my eye as I scrolled through HUNDREDS of feeds flooding my feedreader this morning:

Anthony Bradley, one of the coolest reformed dudes around asks the question: Why aren’t reformed dudes cool like Rob Bell?

And…Jollyblogger is a contributor to a new book coming out about Christians and New Media. 

Nailing My Colours to the Mast

According to Darrin Patrick’s classifications, along with some commentary by Andrew Jones, I’m probably a combination of the ‘Emerging Attractional’ and ‘Emerging Incarnational’ but of the ‘Neo-Reformed’ variety. Huh?

Hansen on the Gospel Coalition

I’ve already mentioned how excited I am about the Gospel Coalition. I really hope and pray that it is the beginning of a returning to the center that is so desperately needed amongst evangelicals. And so I was eager to read Colin Hansen, one of the editors of Christianity Today, giving something of an overview of what the Gospel Coalition is all about. Have a read and I hope you will be as encouraged about the future as I was. (HT – Chris)

Tiyo Soga and the Reformed Identity

I’ve been doing some research for a presentation on some of the earlier church history in South Africa. Did you know that the first ordained black minister in 1856 was Tiyo Soga, a Xhosa and a staunch Presbyterian in the mould of John Knox. In a day when many in this country think the term ‘reformed’ is a dirty word it might be significant that the black clergy of this country have their roots in reformed theology.

Convergent Audio

Denny Burke has all the audio from the recent Convergent Conference at South Eastern Baptist Seminary. It includes a very thought-provoking talk by Mark Driscoll about his relationship to and views on certain key figures in the emerging church conversation.

10 Tips for On-Line Christian Discussion

I read and write comments on a number of blogs that I personally wouldn’t always identify with theologically. If you go through the sidebar you’ll see that although the majority of the blogs come from a theologically reformed position, not all of them do. To be honest I probably spend more time reading the blogs that aren’t theologically reformed than the ones that are. I also don’t think I’m alone in these reading adventures, I think a large number of bloggers often read outside of their own theological school – its surely a healthy blogging habit to pick up. Naturally though, as bloggers read other bloggers from different schools, the debate begins to flow back and forth over certain issues. Now the blogshphere has a bit of a reputation for getting out of hand in these situations, and since we write Christian blogs this really is the last thing we want. Yet at the same time healthy debate is good for all of us in the blogging community. So what I want to share with you are a few tips that I’ve picked through trial and error as I’ve waded into certain debates around the blogsphere:

Tip#1: Don’t go intentionally looking for a brawl. If you’re one of those bloggers who’s only interested in controversy and is always found near it then – shame on you! Put your energy into something more constructive.

Tip#2: When debating a specific point always be open to admit the weaknesses in your own argument. Healthy debate is a learning process – if you can’t face up to the fact that your argument might not be flawless then don’t enter the discussions.

Tip#3: Always praise the good and the areas of agreement in your opponent’s case. Christian unity is only ever going to be built around what we all agree on. Look for those points of contact and work gently from there.

Tip#4: Be quick to apologize. Often we misunderstand someone or say something rashly – don’t be afraid to say that you were wrong and apologize.

Tip#5: Keep checking with your opponent to see if you understand him/her correctly. There’s nothing worse then two people going at each other and they arguing on two completely different levels. Make sure you understand what the discussion is about.

Tip#6: Never throw your weight around in a discussion if you haven’t done the reading. Many posts that preempt discussion often quote other on-line posts or articles and call for a response, if you haven’t already read the material under discussion then to just throw in your opinion is highly arrogant.

Tip#7: Try and open up email contact. The comment threads are often limited in how much actual discussion can take place. When discussing really important topics see if those who are involved with you are not interested in probing the topic further through email correspondence. I know this takes the discussion away from the public sometimes, but it also helps build trust and relationships between people from opposing viewpoints (I’ve personally experienced this on three or four occasions).

Tip#8: Always remember the gentleness and humility that comes with being a Christian. We are Christians before we are bloggers – being behind a computer screen doesn’t absolve you of your ethical and moral responsibility.

Tip#9: Don’t be afraid to give your viewpoint. Being confident over your view (due to evidence in support there of) and being arrogant are not the same thing. You can still be humble and gentle but firm in certain convictions. We always want to please God and man – there will be occasions where this is not possible. Please God first and then man.

Tip#10: Have fun. Ask lots of questions, approach things from different angles, be a learner.

Calvinism on the Comeback

Matt Hall interviews Christianity Today’s editor-at-large, Collin Hansen on the resurgence of Calvinistic and Reformed theology amongst younger evangelicals in the States. Hansen will shortly be having a book on the subject published by Crossway. This little interview is well worth a listen (especially for those skeptical of Reformed theology).