Worthwhile March 8, 2019
Don't you just love how Friday can sneak up on you! Well here we are, another week and another opportunity to be encouraged, challenged, or educated by something worthwhile.
Plagiarism, Calvinistic church planting, and a song, in that order.
First off is another take on the Rachel Hollis phenomenon. The social media star and author has a second book, "Girl Stop Apologizing," making its way around and lots of women are checking it out. There is an itching ear lure to it, you are the dream holder, go get it. But it is quite another gospel as Jen Oshman clearly shows.
So the general message found on the pages is dangerous and not the Christian gospel. But it might also not be genuinely Hollis'. Katelyn Beaty has a piece on Christianity Today that outlines the ways in which this latest book is rife with plagiarism.
Not only is the self-worshiping tome bad theology, it is stolen philosophy at best. Be warned!
What's the big deal about church planting?
Recently I have found myself in conversations that questioned church planting as a key missional instrument. To be honest I was a bit taken aback that people would see church planting as a detraction from evangelism in the least reached places of the world. Surely no one could be out of step with statistical benefits of church planting when it comes to conversion, and the importance of indigenous churches, I thought to myself.
Then I wondered if perhaps it is the theological environment - like the old accusation that Calvinists don't evangelize. To the rescue comes Jeff Medders.
Author of Humble Calvinism, Medders makes a point of the relationship between church planting and cherishing the doctrines of grace.
"Calvinism is meant for more than theological headiness; it’s meant for mission... God’s sovereignty in salvation maximizes our mission. When we know that God is the only unstoppable and unfailing force in the universe—and that we are on mission with him—then our hearts and eyes widen for the lost. Far from hamstringing our efforts and endurance, the doctrines of grace energize us and remind us why we plant churches: because God saves sinners."
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/calvinism-church-planting-old-friends/
Medders goes on to tie TULIP to planting as well as pointing out a couple of great catalysts of church planting, who happened to be Calvinists. And it is worthwhile for those wondering... read it here.
Finally, this week was one full of meetings with other pastors. It was encouraging and at one session the group worshiped together in song. While singing with these men we were all stirred by the truth conveyed in He Is Worthy.
While the style of call and response is new to some, it is a historical way of liturgy in the church and man does it declare Scripture well here.
Have a great weekend. Go to church. Hang with friends. Have an adventure!
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