I am really excited by a book I had recommended to me called 'Total Church' a radical reshaping around gospel and community. The writers Tim Chester and Steve Timmis both reformed in theology and probably emerging in a Mark Driscoll style. In the first chapter 'Why Gospel?' they argue for Word and Spirit ministry:
Churches can also polarize between intellectualism (what you think is what matters) or emotionalism(what you feel is what matters). In some churches issues of the heart and emotions have become functionally absent. We acknowledge their importance, but they feature little in our lives.' They go on to say, 'It is tempting to stress the need for balance as if a little bit of word and a bit of Spirit or a bit of intellectualism and a bit of emotion. But this is unhelpful. The truth is that in the Bible word and Spirit always go together.' p.29
On the next page they offer this caveat, ' Spiritual experience that does not arise from God's word is not Christian experience. Other religions offer spiritual experiences. Concerts and therapy sessions can affect the emotions. Not all that passes for Christian experience is genuine. An authentic experience of the Spirit is an experience in response to the gospel. p.30.
May God bless us as we seek to be not only people of the book but people of the Spirit.
Shalom
Stephen
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