So Evangelicals….what will be your version?

Moving on, folks. Moving on.

Reader Chris has written me a couple of notes on my overall views of youth ministry. I owe him an answer, but I’d like to open up a couple of posts on the general idea of where we are going in youth ministry. I’ve been involved primarily with teenagers for 30 of my 34 years of church ministry. For more than a decade, I did lots of church consultation and I had successful youth ministries in two large churches. I made it to a lot of large youth events down through the years and heard most of the best speakers on the youth ministry circuit.

There was a time I was really sure how to “do” youth ministry. Today….a lot of my thinking has changed. Here’s a few thoughts. More coming. [Continue reading]

Southeastern Theological Seminary President Danny Akin on Mark Driscoll:

I appreciate Mark Driscoll and Acts 29. Southeastern has no formal relationship with either, but I am thankful for many aspects of both ministries. I think there is much that our students can learn from them. Mark and I have become good friends, but I do not agree with everything Mark says or does. In particular, I disagree with some of the language he has used in the pulpit in the past (though not in several years!) and I am uncomfortable with his position on beverage alcohol. I do appreciate his courage to tackle the difficult book The Song of Solomon and to address sexual issues with the adults in his congregation who have serious and important questions needing answers. [Continue reading]

UPDATE: Justin D. Barnard at Mere Comments has a much more useful and on point critique of Driscoll here.

First of all, let me thank Frank for the opportunity to have a good discussion about the issue of pastoral accountability in the internet age (a very important topic) and for having such a constructive and positive dialog. Though I expect to be denounced to the lower reaches of the pit by a couple of commenters at his place, Frank’s been a first class conversation partner, and has said nice things about another post of mine to boot.

I have very little to say in response to Frank’s SECOND POST, available now at his blog, but I will say a bit.

Frank’s conception of a “global pulpit” or “addressing the global church” is a slippery, ultimately subjective concept that primarily seems to be meaningful in the minds of a small group of theo-bloggers. I think that a room full of non-internet using Christians, even conservative ones, would need considerable help working with Frank’s idea that the orthodoxy of the “global church” is presided over by an unelected jury of successful pastors such as John Macarthur and C.J. Mahaney. [Continue reading]

Last night I had the opportunity to talk to a group of about 20 longtime SBCers on recent events in the SBC. These are folks who work with me at a ministry that is partially (6%) funded by Cooperative Program funds, so there is some interest. Many, not all, are older and had a lot of sympathies with the moderates in the conservative resurgence.

I made a list of factors that I saw as significant in bringing the SBC to its current situation. I am just going to list them without extensive commentary. If you aren’t Southern Baptist, feel free to ask a question, and I’ll try to give you a brief answer. If you are Southern Baptist, I’d like to hear your responses. [Continue reading]

Riffs are commentary on other blog posts that Michael feels are particularly significant.

Read Tim Brister’s post, Where Extraordinary Grace and Celestial Joy Meet.

I’ve been around Tom Ascol on occasion for more than 20 years. If you know much about the (dreaded) Founder’s movement, then you know everything I am about to say here, and everything that Timmy says in this post on an incident of restoration at Grace Baptist, Cape Coral, Florida, last night.

If Tom Ascol were Michael Spencer, or just about anyone else, the Founder’s movement, and the good fruit that has come from it (and you have no idea, folks. Really) would have almost certainly never come about. Grace Church would be on pastor five and the big issue would be whether to turn the music up to 11.

Tom is smart and articulate and ten other things, but he’s a pretty average guy in a lot of others. With all due respect to Tom, he’s what we call where I work “a plodder.” He’s not slow, he’s just not in a hurry. He does what’s right today, and twenty years later he’s still doing what’s right. He’s not out to grab hold of the next new thing or be credited for jaw-dropping innovation. He’s content to do the faithful thing that others have given up on, to show you that it can be done. When you’ve given up, quit, burned out and otherwise become of little use, Tom is still there, doing what he was doing when you started, keeping his hand to the plow and not looking back. [Continue reading]

Frank Turk and I have been tossing the Mark Driscoll guilt/repentance issue back and forth a bit. So we decided to both post on the subject and link the other fellow’s post. Then you can argue in the comments.

Here’s Frank’s take on the matter. Expect uproarious applause. Trust me that Frank is serious about this. We wouldn’t even be friends if he hadn’t publicly called on me to resign the ministry several years ago.

So here’s my take. Expect Dan Phillips to denounce me as an apostate and Truth Unites and Divides to be banned from the comment thread.

The passage that seems to have the most bearing on what we are discussing is I Timothy 5: 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. [Continue reading]

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

The central insight I’m going to be bringing in my Sunday morning sermon tomorrow at the local Baptist church is an optional reading of Hebrews 12:1. Specifically, I want to suggest this: the “weight” that holds us back in the “race” is not always a “sin” as specifically defined by scripture.

Someone could legitimately say that “weight” and “sin” are a parallelism, and I would agree, but the parallelism may be because of the effect of hindering our ongoing life as a follower of Jesus.

There is no doubt that we are called to lay aside, i.e. repent of, sin. I would contend that we are admonished, with just as much authority, to lay aside whatever may hinder us that is not a matter of repenting of sin, but of giving up what is not necessary, what distracts us and what makes it difficult to carry out the calling and mission of the church. [Continue reading]

A special message from Michael to all Southern Baptists in the IM audience: Let’s send an offering to our mission boards and lead the way in showing what Gospel centered sacrifice looks like.

SBC International Mission Board Give now to the Lottie Moon Offering.
SBC North American Mission Board. Give to the Annie Armstrong Offering.

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Haven’t done a weekend report in a while.

-Piper talks about what you have to believe about creation to be an elder at Bethlehem. If I hear this right, you can believe in evolution (most versions) and an old earth. You must believe in a “recent” redemption history. My follow up would be on the mechanism for arriving at Adam and Eve. Could you believe in previous, non-human, ancestors or must you believe that Gen 1-2 is literal in describing that Adam was made from dust and Eve from a rib? Seems that the door is wide open in this statement to affirming Genesis 1-2 as compeltely true without tying it to a particular scientific theory of origins. God made them from pre-existing matter as a miracle of creation. Wouldn’t that solve a lot of issues? Not all, I know, but many. For example, what about the 35,000 year old flute? Not made by a human? (HT to HA at BHT)

-How many of us ever thought we would hear the following preached at an SBC national meeting?

“God will make his glory known, whether we risk it all or not. God doesn’t need us. God never needed us. We need him. We desperately need him and because we need him so much we should be willing to risk everything for his glory. One Purpose. The truth is, the entire Southern Baptist Convention could drop dead and turn to dust and God will still make his name rise about every other name and his glory will be shown.”

David Platt, one of the young lions in the SBC who are changing the face of a denomination by dealing with the denominational idolatry that is our greatest problem.

-SBC News: Danny Akin and Marv Knox see it: Morris Chapman lost and humiliated himself. My advice stands: do the honorable thing. Resign.

-Do you know of a blog that has a “look” you’d recommend for a future version of InternetMonk.com? Send along the URL and tell me what you like. I am looking at a wider page. Two parallel columns on the side, one for links and one for ads. More contact info at the bottom (Twitter, iTunes subscription), larger rotating banner and more prominent tabs. [Continue reading]

This week: Denominational news. Thoughts on evangelism and all of the Gospel. Writing and blogging.

Support the IM sponsors: New Reformation Press. New products available: New music and DVDs. Emmaus Retreat Center. A great place for your next group or individual retreat. E3 Sudan is church planting and training pastors in the Sudan.

Your Jesus Is Too Short…..uh..Safe by Jared Wilson

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Someone significant died yesterday. At least for writers, poets and artists in Kentucky.

James Baker Hall. Poet. Artist. Writer. Teacher. Mentor. Former Poet Laureate of Kentucky, 2001-2003.

Hall has been an inspiration to generations of Kentucky writers and poets. He’s had a deep influence on my son, Clay.

I know that the passing of mentors can be some of life’s most important crossroads. We ask ourselves what we learned from them and how we can keep them alive in our memories and work.

Hall will live on in his wonderful photographs, vivid prose and emotionally adventurous poetry. Take a few moments and discover a little about him. And perhaps share some thoughts about your own mentors and how they have affected you.

Enjoy two of his poems. [Continue reading]

UPDATE: In addition to criticizing Driscoll for his nutty exegesis of Song of Solomon and his less than impressive analysis of The Shack, I’ve backed up Pastor Mark before.

It became painfully/strangely/humorously obvious at this week’s SBC meeting that a lot of people are worried about Mark Driscoll.

I’d like to suggest a brief program to calm you people down before you hurt yourselves, or worse, start a preaching series on cursing preachers who link sex toys on their sermon pages.

1. First, cards on the table: I am, for the most part, a supporter of Driscoll. I’m not in agreement with him on gender issues, and I’ll criticize him without mumbling on a collection of boneheaded maneuvers. But the guy’s vulnerability, passion for the Gospel, missionary’s heart, vision for church planting and insight into contemporary ministry far outweigh his flaws. Give him a few years and some room to be a goober. [Continue reading]

MORE: Because of continued generosity, I have been able to schedule more work. I’m more aware today of the role this blog plays in people’s lives than any day that I’ve done this. THANK YOU IM COMMUNITY.

UPDATE: Financial need completely met. The IM community is supernatural. Thank you for your generosity. There is still work to be done, but we’ve made a considerable progress. At this point, the major need is someone knowledgable about themes, banners, etc.

UPDATE: Why it is always a pleasure to ask this community to support what I do with my writing and podcasting.

Michael, you’ve helped me to understand the true Gospel and you can’t put a price on that. In fact, I’ve recently started a blog to help uncover the damage I and many others have received by being a part of _________ Ministries …… Much of your writing has helped me unravel the fear, guilt and confusion that I was wrapped in. So, a hearty thanks.

In reflecting on all that has transpired since leaving the Episcopal Church the Rev. David Miller, rector of the parish, wrote the following:

“This press release finds the St. John’s church family preparing to enter a whole new stage of our life together. We stand ready to leave the familiar and historic surroundings of the building at 5th and C, a building that has been the church home to my family since our arrival in Petaluma in 1998; and a building that has been home to many of our members for much, much longer. Many memories and emotions arise as we say goodbye.”

Fr. Miller continues, “However, as difficult as leaving is, two summary statements stand out as defining of the spirit in which we move to our new quarters. First is the recognition that this is not about the property but about the Gospel and the Word of God that we have been charged to uphold and defend. We did not leave the Episcopal Church to keep the property; we left to keep the Faith.

Second is the affirmation that the church is not the building; the church is the people. We are blessed to have a spirit of unity as we move forward.” St. John’s Anglican takes the occasion of this press release to say a heart felt thank you to the many people of Petaluma who have prayed for and encouraged us in so many amazing ways throughout this process.

St. John’s Anglican Church is pleased to announce that beginning Sunday, July 5, 2009, we will be holding Sunday services at 8:30am and 10:30am at the Petaluma Community Center at Lucchesi Park. We welcome any from the community who do not now have a church home or would like to support us on this occasion, to come and worship with us.

New worship location: St. John’s Anglican Church. Meeting at: Petaluma Community Center (Lucchesi Park)
320 N. McDowell Blvd.
Petaluma, CA 94954
(707) 283-1111

Service times: 8:30 a.m. (traditional) and 10:30 a.m. (contemporary)
Administrative office and mailing address: 55 Maria Dr., Ste. 837, Petaluma, CA 94954

[Continue reading]