What are you for?

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What are you for?

Yesterday I read and retweeted a poignant, provocative and (in my mind) prophetic piece from Carl Trueman. He discussed the problems inherent in the confessional slimness of much of modern- day evangelicalism. Trueman observed that whilst it may be numerically strong,  modern evangelicalism is theologically weak. With notable exceptions, I think that can often be true. 

As I've explored in both this blog and real life, I like to consider myself something of a reformed, charismatic, ecumenical and eclectic evangelical. I've been to evangelical churches my entire life (with a reasonable number of educational/forced/deliberate/accidental visits to other churches under the Christian umbrella), studied theology at postgraduate level at one evangelical theological college and have worked for nearly six months at another. I think I've had a broad and fairly honest experience of evangelicalism, and I documented some of that in my 'ecumenical evangelical' blog series. Being part of the phenomenon that is HTB over the last 11 months is something that would fit int hat paradigm too. 

But back to the topic.

One question that was raised for me by Trueman's challenging piece is simple: what are you for? 

Many lines and borders and boundaries are clearly delineated on the basis of what people think. And I personally think that's fine, because I observe that radically different beliefs drive us in different directions. Yet so often Christians in general and evangelicals in particular are known more for what we are against than what we are for. I think that is inherently problematic. Not to mention only representing one facet of the beauty that is God. We know that God is against stuff - sin comes to mind - but the radical truth about God is totally different. 

One of my favorite authors/preachers is simon ponsonby from St. Aldates in Oxford. One of his most recent books is a long devotional, collected from sermons, on Romans. It's title? God is for us. To paraphrase a nearly accurate song lyric and echo Romans 8:31, if our God is for us, then who can stand against us?

It used to be that Christians, and perhaps especially evangelicals, made much of the idea that I think Trueman and others are pointing us towards, that it is vital to have a genuine courage of conviction. Flawed though they were as people (incidentally, a key element of the Doctrine of Original Sin which whilst so explanatory and fundamental, one doesn't hear much of in generic evangelicalism...) Wesley, Wilberforce and Whitfield were mightily used by God who convicted them and empowered them to act. One of my great heroes is Jackie Pullinger, whose courage of conviction led her on a sunning journey to China, the madcap roots and wonderful kingdom work of which are recounted in the brilliant 'Chasing the Dragon'

We often hear a defenestrated version of the Gospel that proclaims the wonderful truth that God is love, yet robs this truth, this love, of its true majesty. Love, ill-defined, manifests itself in pornography, unhealthy obsession, and all manner of things that the Bible tends not to ascribe to God: who Christians know and are loved by as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And this is where confession of faith is helpful. By articulating fully what we are for, we clearly differentiate ourselves as church from what the world offers, or subversions of the Gospel in other cults and religions offer. It is one thing to claim a Baptist or Anglican identity as a church or leader - it is quite another to delve into the treasure chests of these traditions (others available) and bring forth the glorious truths of the Gospel, put on display in Confession and Canon, out into the modern world. 

Churches can be against so many things in so many ways. One oft-ignored examples of this is the way that different worship types and styles, or relaxed attitudes to discipleship and holiness, actually do the opposite of what we intend. The church is not called to make customers but disciples. I honestly don't think Jesus uses observers; but with a few servants and slaves, changed at the core of heart and mind by the eternal truth of the Gospel, the power of the Holy Spirit and the ever-nudging Word, Jesus is changing the world. 

Theology as its own end does nothing. Often, it does worse than nothing. An absence of theology, or a distrust/ignorance of it is even worse. Real theology touches every part of ourselves, motivates us to reach every part of this world, and draws us deeper into the heart and will of the God who is for us, no longer against us, and who (I believe) is whispering through Spirit and Scripture to go deeper once again, from pragmatism to prophetic profession, and from easy answers to fiery, world changing truth. 

This post is a jumble - reflecting my own thinking - but hopefully the challenge is clear rather than the critique being central. I would value your interaction, prayers, and even shares if you enjoyed it. If you hated it, disagreed violently with it, then I'd love to hear from you.