Review of David Wells’ “Courage To Be Protestant”

Thought I’d start posting reviews here along with on my GoodReads account…

The Courage To Be Protestant: Truth-lovers, Marketers, and Emergents in the Postmodern World by David Wells

An excellent read and challenging critique.  This book is a summary of Wells’ previous 4 volumes, so at times I wished I could have gone deeper into some of his arguments in order to fully understand them.  But nonetheless, a very challenging, edifying, and refining read for me.  Wells challenges the church “Let God be God” in the church and cling to the solas of the reformation.  Here is a quotation that is close to capturing both the thesis and the tone Wells uses throughout the book.

“In practice, many evangelicals – especially those of a marketing and emergent kind – are walking away from the hard edges of these truths in an effort to make the gospel easy to swallow, quick to sell, and generationally appealing.  They are well aware of the deep cultural hunger for spirituality in the West, and they are trolling these waters.  The problem, however, is that this spirituality is highly privatized, highly individualistic, self-centered, and hostile to doctrine because it is always hostile to Christian truth.  Evangelicals gain nothing by merely attracting to their churches postmoderns who yearning for what is spiritual if, in catering to this, the gospel is diluted, made easy, and the edges get rounded off.  The degree to which evangelicals are doing this is the degree to which they are invalidating themselves and prostituting the church.” (p. 237)

Christian Community by Bonhoeffer

A helpful quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer in Life Together, especially after just relocating and seeking new friendships…

Christian community is like the Christian’s sanctification.  It is a gift of God which we cannot claim.  Only God knows the real state of our fellowship, of our sanctification.  What may appear weak and trifling to us may be great and glorious to God.  Just as the Christian should not be constantly feeling his spiritual pulse, so, too, the Christian community has not been given to us by God for us to be constantly taking its temperature.  The more thankfully we daily receive what is given to us, the more surely and steadily will fellowship increase and grown from day to day as God pleases.

Christian brotherhood is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate.  The more clearly we learn to recognize that the ground and strength and promise of all our fellowship is in Jesus Christ alone, the more serenely shall we think of our fellowship and pray and hope for it. (p. 31)

Screwtape Liberal “Christianity”

Horsetooth,

Remember our motto here: “Redemption is virtuous, but never anything more serious than that.” The word redemption, if it holds no greater meaning than it describes what happens in stories on Oprah, is empowered by measly creatures. We have done a good work in their minds having them think that redemption, salvation, and faith are nothing more than “good” virtues and not things that determine where they will spend time without end. The word reality is key here- the literality of Christ’s claims, his life, death and resurrection are allowed to be preached but only as religious ideas, symbols, or myths.

I have often said the scriptures merely symbolize an abstract and more profound significance. A significance that can positively impact humanity and work towards social justice. They do not think those good things are byproducts of something greater than themselves, but rather the means to an end: the ultimate. They are adequately tickled when they see success in our (their) world. When their “religious” models and concepts create change socially and politically, be it about gender, race or class, this pleases them. Keep them happy. Triumph in our world brings denunciation in the real one.

On a different, but equally important note: religious concepts must remain estranged from actual time and actual place. The contemplation of the actual, rough, splintery cross being stained with Christ’s dripping blood, are thoughts I never have to labor to dismiss thanks to my effort. I have never had a member of the church I have been assigned to venture to the Holy Land, because it has no meaning to them. The marvel and terror that can seize strong varmints as they speculate about which hill where Christ was crucified is something I never have to agonize about. When the historicity and authenticity of those events, that in fact happened, is denied, the guts are sucked right out of the words redemption and salvation. Better yet, the implications of the reality of the words are a non-issue in their eyes.

In our circle we have come to use the phrase “religious other,” in referring to the place these quasi-truths or philosophies are categorized in people’s minds. Our nemesis, propositional truths, we must insist belong another religious sect- a wing that is close-minded, conservative, judgmental and unloving. They think absolutes are harsh and unloving. As iron sharpens iron, playdough keeps playdough soft. Essentially they have created an idol, a cast of a god who has no wrath, only mercy, who strikes no fear, only loves, who does not condemn, only accepts.

We have said, “There is such a thing as truth, but it is relative and depends on preferences; it changes to fit the contour of each iniquitous individual.” An all-loving god is an all-condoning god. Cheer on their egocentricity. For example, remind them of what they believe: more important than learning God’s precepts and conforming to them is God wanting them to be happy with whatever they choose, not any different than a lax grandfather.

Their “truths” consist of a “combination of mood and moment, a vague, meaningless, existential experience” (Schaeffer). Seeking exotic experiences, which is what they call “truth,” through meditation is sufficient food for their emaciated souls, so do not be stingy when divvying out such occurrences.

We don’t need to stray far from the blueprint: our father first tempted them to resort to their own understanding, which leads them right to us. Teaching someone to depend on their feelings and preferences for corresponding facts, which they base their beliefs on, is key. They must continue to trust their feelings and thoughts and have confidence in their emotional responses. (This is because we control their feelings, thoughts and emotions!) As expected, their beliefs never disagree with their personal preferences- and, they mostly conflict with the Enemy’s principles.

We know, weather or not anyone acknowledges the truth, the truth does not care- it can not cease to exist. This relativism can lead to the flattery of their brothers in sin, rather than rebuking him. I love to watch this. This delight hinges on the belief that, although there all many incongruent interpretations of the scriptures, all of them are equally correct. Now this depends on the individualistic method of understanding the Enemy and his words- as if he changes to suit each person. These philosophies are as weightless as our kingdom. Unlike the true varmints who are unified by very stringent and particular doctrines, my congregation has no statements of faith, no creeds, nothing on record that holds them together, moreover, no propositional truths to hang their hats on.

Lastly, these liberal “Christians” don’t need to look to the enemy to revive them if they think the inner man does not require an alteration to be “good” enough. By consequence, they mock the atonement; the ultimate act of love. Which, ironically, is what they say they want most. They deify kindness, equality and love and, at the same time, are utterly incapable of all of them. In essence, they think filth can achieve the highest level of goodness and godliness. Advance an optimistic view in the future of mankind. The measure of how much they love becomes the standard. They put the bar as low as they need to make it over. They would never guess such a valiant effort will collapse and crush them. It will crush them as the Christ was, yet they will have no faultless life to fall back on.

Remember, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Kindred Spirits, Devil’s Brush

To a Christian who does not think he can “be to sure” of where he will go when he dies

To a Christian who does not think he can “be to sure” of where he will go when he dies

“For you have been born again, not of a perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23

“There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

“Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14

“Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms with Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expresses in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:4-9

“You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Ephesians 2:19-20

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless He is born again.” John 3:3

“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.” James 1:18

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade- kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” 1 Peter 1:3-5

Being “born again,” or “regenerated” like Jesus and Paul mention is totally a work of God. We don’t play an active role (we are passive)- “so that no man can boast.” All credit is due to God, none to us. Jesus said in John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” The New Testament often talks about a new spiritual rebirth. Christians are “not born of natural descent, not of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:13).

Alive in Christ; pardoned

A theme in the in the New Testament is that we were formerly “dead in our trespasses and sins,” but believers have been “made alive in Christ,” once and for all. The book of Hebrews points out the details of “the new covenant,” the benefits from it, and how radically different it is than the law.

No more sacrifices are required to appease God, because Christ, once and for all, met the demands of God for the atonement of our sins (Hebrews chapters 7-11). Jesus was the perfect sacrifice demanded by God to meet His requirements in order to reconcile sinners to Himself. Therefore we have “been reconciled” and as Hebrews talks about, “Christ is our mediator,” and He “intercedes for us.”

Paul says in Romans 8:33, “Who will bring any charge against those God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died- more than that, who was raised to life- is at the right hand of God and is also interceding of us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or danger or sword?” He continues in verse 38, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Our position before God forever changed when we accepted Christ by faith. At that time we are “justified” and “pardoned.” (We may or may not be able to point to a certain moment). At that moment we were “born again,” “regenerated,” meaning God has imparted new spiritual life to us. All of our sins (past, present and future) have been paid for in full. Because we are mysteriously “in Christ” God views us as unblemished children, not objects of wrath as we formerly were. When we are pardoned and justified by faith in Christ how can be we condemned? We have been put in the position of beloved children by God, not by ourselves. Therefore, our status before God is not dependent on our weakness; our status before God depends on His strength. God has chosen us (we have not chosen Him) as His children, and He will protect us. Christians are confident in his keeping rather than our losing.

Our Confidence

Our confidence comes from faith in Christ’s finished work on our behalf. And also knowing that God has imputed Christ’s work and righteousness to us; just like the bible says. Our assurance springs forth from certainty of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. The faith we have in those things has been given to us by God. We could not be convinced of those things in our own power as Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 2:14: “The man without the Holy Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

We are not climbing a ladder to heaven. We can not work our way there. Our confidence does not come from our ability to “stay in grace,” but rather assurance that God will keep us there. If He has provided the means of grace for us, will He not provide security for us?

The Holy Spirit: Our Keeper

God knows we are fallen and has not entrusted fallen creatures to “keep their salvation” by their effort. So, God has given us the Holy Spirit to indwell in us. God the Holy Spirit has taken up residence in us. The Holy Spirit has “sealed” us and marked us as God’s possession. He (the Holy Spirit) also imparts spiritual wisdom, helps us, leads us into truth, guides us, comforts us, and counsels us. As Jesus says, in John 16:13-14, “He (the Holy Spirit) will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”

The Holy Spirit puts a new nature in us and a new principle, new desires. Those Godly principles, (that Jesus said the Spirit would make known to us), conflict with the “natural man,” or the sin nature that still resides in us. Hence the struggle against “the flesh” that Paul talks about in Romans chapter 7.

The regenerated man’s life, including thoughts, words, deeds, should look different than the man whose life is ruled by the sin nature (and unenlightened) rather than the Holy Spirit. We all have friends who can not understand our principles and we can not understand theirs- this is evidence of the different type of “engine” in us. The Spirit does not set our minds on worldly things. The scriptures call us “aliens” and “foreigners” and that is what we should sometime feel like. We have been “set apart” for God’s glory in a fallen world. The cross is our motivation and inspiration- not money or accolades, sex, power, happiness or comfort- which does not make sense to most people.

Evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit is to know more, do more, repent more, believe more, love more, and walk closer with God. The Spirit produces “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” in a person (Galatians 5:22-23). These are the opposite of “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry, witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissention, factions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21).

Jesus, who is worthy of our confidence is why we are certain we will go to heaven when we die. A colossal hope, and consolation in our current suffering and trials, is looking forward to our earthly death. It is then we will be united to God and see Christ face to face, who is the all-satisfying treasure of our souls. That day will be glorious. We will be eternally free from our sins and consequences of them, and temptation, we will receive a resurrected and perfect body (1 Corinthians chapter 15), and there will be no more pain. What hope do we have if we are not longing for that day?

How can we be heavenly-minded, as we are told we are, if our salvation is in flux? Is the bible lying to us when it says we have been “forgiven” and “freed from the powers of darkness?”

Conquerors

We are humbled and privileged by these mind-blowing truths; knowing that the initiative was and is on God’s side. C.S. Lewis puts it in perspective: “God does not love us because we are intrinsically good or worth loving, but because He is intrinsically love and infinitely loving.” Lewis also said, “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”

It has been said the people who were focused most on heaven are the people who did the most on earth. Our having faith in the existence of an eternal home already prepared for us is motivating. Confidence, not fear of flux, is encouraging. One more Lewis quote: “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither.”

Jesus’ perfect life, His death for our sins, and His resurrection is what we rely on. We have absolutely zero confidence in ourselves. Our confidence comes from a “Spirit not of timidity” (2 Timothy 1:7), but from bold given to us by the risen and living God. We can be confident because of what He says He has done for us in His word. We can take Him at His Word. Jesus has “conquered sin” for us; He has lived the perfect life that we can not; He has “taken the sting out of death.” He told us these things so we can be confident in our forgiveness.

If Jesus has “triumphed over death” for us how can we still be subject to it? Was Paul lying in Romans 6:6 when he says, “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin?”

Paul goes on: “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.”

We can trust Him when He says we are forgiven.

Sovereignty of God The Father in Salvation according to A.W. Pink

From A.W. Pink’s The Sovereignty of God, quoting scripture and Spurgeon in support of predestination:

“As many as were ordained to eternal life, believed” (Acts 13:48). Every artifice of human ingenuity has been employed to blunt the sharp edge of this Scripture and to explain away the obvious meaning of these words, but it has been employed in vain, though nothing will ever be able to reconcile this and similar passages to the mind of the natural man. “As many as were ordained to eternal life, believed.” Here we learn four things: First, that believing is the consequence and not the cause of God’s decree. Second, that a limited number only are “ordained to eternal life,” for if all men without exception were thus ordained by God, then the words “as many as” are a meaningless qualification. Third, that this “ordination” of God is not to mere external privileges but to “eternal life,” not to service but to salvation itself. Fourth, that all-”as many as,” not one less-who are thus ordained by God to eternal life will most certainly believe.

The comments of the beloved Spurgeon on the above passage are well worthy of our notice. Said he, “Attempts have been made to prove that these words do not teach predestination, but these attempts so clearly do violence to language that I shall not waste time in answering them. I read: ‘As many as were ordained to eternal life believed,’ and I shall not twist the text but shall glorify the grace of God by ascribing to that grace the faith of every man. Is it not God who gives the disposition to believe? If men are disposed to have eternal life, does not He-in every case-dispose them? Is it wrong for God to give grace? If it be right for Him to give it, is it wrong for Him to purpose to give it? Would you have Him give it by accident? If it is right for Him to purpose to give grace today, it was right for Him to purpose it before today-and, since He changes not-from eternity.”