Tuesday 20 April 2010

Why I love this book


Yesterday I heard the 5 minute religious slot on BBC radio 2, the guy seemed nice, what he said was also nice but it just wasn't biblical. In his understanding, God doesn't even see bad things in humanity and sin doesn't exist. This understanding is very common outside of the church and is becoming increasingly common in the wider evangelical church. What a breath of fresh air then are Kevin Deyoung and Ted Kluck with their deep commintment to the faith once delivered to the saints and their deep commitment to the local church. In their latest joint work, 'Why We Love The Church', In the closing chapter, Deyoung shows that our greatest need is not contemporary services, nor seeker sensitive services but continuing to deal with a real Saviour who saves sinners.

Deyoung writes:
The nice thing about the doctrine of original sin is that it focuses our attention on issues that are a little more timeless. People will always be sinners. So our main problem is not lack of integration on balance, or lack of success or education, or even poverty and injustice, as serious as these problems can be. Our main problem will always be sin. And, hence, we are always in need of a Savior. This doesn't mean we can be blissfully ignorant of the world around us, but it means our focus will be squarely on the gospel. We can forget about being the church of what's happening now, and relearn to be the church of Christ, and Him crucified. p.216-17

This book is a book that is honest about the church and its faults but still believes there is no salvation outside of the community of faith that is the universal church expressed locally in a vibrant bibe centred Christ exhalting local church. The Church is the bride of Christ and will one day be presented to Christ, in all His glory with no spot or blemish and looking perfectly radiant as it radiates the beauty of Christ.

Shalom
Stephen <><

2 comments:

Christian Housewife said...

It is so true. So often we complicate the message. The modern church - certain ones more than others- have strayed to far off solid Biblical foundations that you have to stop and wonder how it could have gone so far. It reminds me of the words to a Casting Crowns song that say "It's a slow fade when you give yourself away....black and white turn to grey" We need to always remember the basics. The book sounds interesting. I'll have to pick up a copy. Thanks!

Stephen said...

Hi CH, It's a good book but it is written in the context of answering the objections to the church of emerging church "generation".
Shalom
Stephen <><