Comments on: Riffs 12:17:06: Dan Edelen and a Gospel That Speaks To Failure

By: j. Michael Jones

j. Michael Jones — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 06:15:56 +0000

I remember attending a “Writing Your Missionary Newsletter” workshop. One of the things that we were taught was, “Never share failures. You can tell stories in your newsletter . . . but they must always end with you being victorious. Donors don’t give to losers.”

However, that view is inconsistent with the Bible verse that seems to be theme of my life:

2 Corinthians 12:9 (New International Version)
9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Get well soon

By: wolfe

wolfe — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:37:01 +0000

Michael Horton has a recent book out that speaks on this: “Too Good to be True.” Recommend you pick up a copy and devour it–it is very pastoral and theological. I like his emphasis on Luther’s thought on how we as Americans adopt the mentality of the theology of glory versus a theology of the cross.

By: Derrickrat

Derrickrat — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 23:02:00 +0000

“We need a Gospel that speaks to failure.” Ironically one of the fundamental differences between the Scriptures and pagan lore is that the scriptures exalt the anti-hero, men and women who experienced enormous failure, while pagan lore exalts Heros-
The scriptures are full of people who did God’s will, but even by the standards of their day’s institutionalized government and religion, were considered failures.
I believe it was Paul who stated that God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 17:02:57 +0000

Ah, you’ve found one of my proverbial soapboxes – the church and money. I’ve cried leaving churches that preach success in the world more than Christ. And I’ve been frustrated with churches (who deny the materialistic living of this world and the prosperity preaching) but who fill the elder positions with only business thrives on the basis that those who do well in business will run the church well. I can’t even begin to count my frustrations with that sentence.

By: Rong

Rong — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 14:30:32 +0000

I can thankfully say that my first inclination was that the guy that looks like he has everything going for him may have too many trappings of this world to be used as effectively as the man of fewer means.

But overall you’re too correct. What a sad state of affairs the modern church in America has become, falling for painted lies of this world.

By: jmanning

jmanning — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 03:52:10 +0000

Quoting a little Derek Webb:

“what looks like failure
Is success
What looks like poverty,
Is riches
When what is strongest,
Has not come to fight,
It feels like You’re killing me,
You’re saving my life.”

By: danedelen

danedelen — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 00:15:31 +0000

Michael,

Thank you so much for the very kind words. I pray that the Lord continues to use Cerulean Sanctum to better His Church.

I struggle immensely with the idea that Jesus may think it best for me that I have nothing except Him. The entirety of American culture speaks against the notion of giving it all away till nothing remains. Worst of all, most of our churches can’t stand apart from that cultural contagion. When I suggest to some Evangelicals that perhaps Jesus doesn’t want me rich, I get glassy-eyed stares. I don’t even try to drop the idea of martyrdom on them. Crushing fluffy bunnies with anvils is cruel.