Down-under round-up: 12 August 2015

Issue of the Week

The self-styled ‘Fairness in Religion in Schools’ group has unveiled an billboard in southwestern Sydney quoting a Christian RE book, “God says you are stuck in your sin and need to be rescued from his judgement” and suggesting parents might like to opt their children out of voluntary RE classes.

In response the Bible Society’s Eternity newspaper explains Why Christians don’t need to hate the new anti-religion-in-schools billboard. Ironically, the billboard is actually an accurate (but incomplete) representation of what Christians believe!

Of course, we might not always to start our evangelism there. But sometimes we must preach law before grace is understood. Nevertheless it’s a pity – though not surprising – that the reporting of our belief about plight is not matched by our emphasis on the solution: joy in the love, grace and mercy of Jesus and his redemptive rescue mission. We love to trumpet that loud and long in our RE classes in public schools.

If you’re around Sydney, you could ponder what sort of follow up question to ask if the billboard comes up in conversation, as you seek to put Christ onto the agenda as the solution!

Making disciples of Jesus

In “Where has penal substitution gone?”, Murray Campbell offers a taxonomy of the debate. He identifies four positions…

1. Those who deny penal substitutionary atonement (PSA) in some way.
2. Those who accept the Bible teaches PSA, and believe it is necessary but not central.
3. Those who believe the Bible’s teaching on PSA is central, but think other aspects of the atonement have been downplayed and need to be given proper emphasis.
4. Those who accept the Bible’s teaching on PSA but downplay other aspects of the atonement.

In my view, the second position is a greater threat to evangelical preaching of the cross than the first, since it is not outright denial and harder to spot. But we give comfort to those who hold position 2 when in our desire to defend PSA we drift into position 4. We can then be dismissed as one-dimensional preachers.

In our preaching of the cross, we need to sing not just in C Major all the time, but in every musical key. And we need to return to the foundational melodies.

As so often the case, the key is following the contours of the particular passage of Scripture in front of us, and then connecting it to the major meta-narrative of God’s rescue plan in sending his Christ to be crucified.

Lee Gatiss has been offering some extended biblical, historical and pastoral reflections on the darker side of predestination: reprobation (i.e. of those not chosen by God for life and therefore destined for judgment). In his Reprobation Clarifications he concludes (?) with a variety of observations.

I know I am not supposed to praise up articles appearing on our own GoThereFor feed, but this is such an important call… Regarding evangelism which we all believe in, Steve Liggins urges us “Don’t let it fall off the table” and suggests one basic way for a church to avoid that.

Image of the Week

I don't think I've ever got quite to Psalm 69’s level of desperation, but I care for those who have.

Far more important, the God of these Psalms cares. And he proved it by sending his Son to dive into the deepest waters of all to rescue us from sinking.