Actually, I've never met Tim Keller. But he's about ten feet in front of me and I'm taking his picture like a stalker (please don't tell him). There's his lovely bald cranium, grey jacket and jeans.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
My buddy Tim Keller
Actually, I've never met Tim Keller. But he's about ten feet in front of me and I'm taking his picture like a stalker (please don't tell him). There's his lovely bald cranium, grey jacket and jeans.
Worldliness & Method in the PCA
I'm come to this year's General Assembly with as much consternation as I've ever experienced coming to one of these things. Over the years, I developed a progressively more jaded attitude towards our denomination as a organizational entity. It's a funny thing, as a people bound by a common confession of faith and as churches working for God's kingdom, I love our denomination. As an organization we look impressive, but I'm deeply frustrated and ashamed of what is below the surface.
Don't get me wrong, it's could be so much worse. I can't imagine how Catholics feel about some of the things which lurk below the surface of their waters. I'm grateful that I don't have to apologize to people for child molesters or homosexual clergy.
The problem with the PCA is our core worldliness. I don't think we're that much more worldly than other denominations, we're just better at it. When it comes to emulating the wisdom of the Western business world, we do it better than most others. We're worldly, but we're competent. Our permanent ministry heads are excellent administrators. Other denominations make the mistake of hiring scholars to run their seminaries and missionaries to run their missions boards. We know that you don't have to be an expert in theology to run a seminary. You don't have to be a battle-scarred missionary or a cutting-edge missiologist to run a missions organization. You need to be an effective administrator and fund-raiser. And that's what we have....it makes me embarrassed.
Since the temptation for all of us in the American church is to accept the idols of our own culture, the PCA's method of managing ministry with the tools of the business world resonates with most of our churches. We like the fact that the head of our seminary is good-looking, well-dressed, well-spoken and polished. We'd rather have him than someone who is a gifted theologian but dresses oddly and is a little crusty in his demeanor.
When you start to look underneath the veneer of what we're doing, one of the consequences of this type of ministry is that sophisticated scholars, cutting-edge missiologists and battle-scarred missionaries tend to get forced out when they challenge the decisions of the bureaucrats. I spent a couple of hours with a someone who has been forced out after challenging some things our denomination is doing. Administrators often don't respond well to dissent or boat-rocking. The concern that I have is that the competency, management and institutional survival often seems to have become the de facto goal, rather than the Kingdom building which is always the stated goal.
Don't get me wrong, it's could be so much worse. I can't imagine how Catholics feel about some of the things which lurk below the surface of their waters. I'm grateful that I don't have to apologize to people for child molesters or homosexual clergy.
The problem with the PCA is our core worldliness. I don't think we're that much more worldly than other denominations, we're just better at it. When it comes to emulating the wisdom of the Western business world, we do it better than most others. We're worldly, but we're competent. Our permanent ministry heads are excellent administrators. Other denominations make the mistake of hiring scholars to run their seminaries and missionaries to run their missions boards. We know that you don't have to be an expert in theology to run a seminary. You don't have to be a battle-scarred missionary or a cutting-edge missiologist to run a missions organization. You need to be an effective administrator and fund-raiser. And that's what we have....it makes me embarrassed.
Since the temptation for all of us in the American church is to accept the idols of our own culture, the PCA's method of managing ministry with the tools of the business world resonates with most of our churches. We like the fact that the head of our seminary is good-looking, well-dressed, well-spoken and polished. We'd rather have him than someone who is a gifted theologian but dresses oddly and is a little crusty in his demeanor.
When you start to look underneath the veneer of what we're doing, one of the consequences of this type of ministry is that sophisticated scholars, cutting-edge missiologists and battle-scarred missionaries tend to get forced out when they challenge the decisions of the bureaucrats. I spent a couple of hours with a someone who has been forced out after challenging some things our denomination is doing. Administrators often don't respond well to dissent or boat-rocking. The concern that I have is that the competency, management and institutional survival often seems to have become the de facto goal, rather than the Kingdom building which is always the stated goal.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Riding Mantas?
For all were at VBS last night and heard my illustration related to Romans 6:4, here's a couple of manta ray videos. The first is a guy riding a small one while wearing full SCUBA gear. The second is some manta jumping. For a really wild ride, a person has to grab a big one (they get at least 25 feet wide) and not be wearing the cumbersome SCUBA equipment.
Enjoy!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Happy Falker Satherhood!
There once was a Fox Television office where two men both had wives expecting babies. Their co-workers ordered a cake to read: Happy Fatherhood Shaun and Glenn. This is what they got. From Cake Wrecks. Happy Fathers' Day.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
One of the Most Powerful Sermons You Will Ever Hear
Do not watch this sermon unless you have an hour to watch the whole message. Do not watch this sermon unless you can give it your whole attention. Watch this with your family. Get ready for life-giving, life-saving truth.
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Free Bible Study Software
Back when the ESV first came out, Good News Publishers included a postcard for free copy of an ESV Bible program. The first version was created by WordSoft, and it was great. It was easy to use and flexible. The later software giveaways were not as useful, and after I changed computers several times I wasn't able to transfer the program.
A couple of months ago I found a wonderful Bible study program for free, and it includes the ESV. I use it almost every day. It is called Berean Bible Software, "BerBible." You can download it here.
A couple of months ago I found a wonderful Bible study program for free, and it includes the ESV. I use it almost every day. It is called Berean Bible Software, "BerBible." You can download it here.
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