Last weekend a blog post by Justin Taylor, and tweet by John Piper, began a long discussion about Rob Bell’s upcoming book “Love Wins” (scheduled for release on March 15). Below is a compilation of the various threads of the discussion that have occurred over the last week.

The original article by Justin Taylor

CNN’s coverage of Justin Taylor’s article

An overview and initial thoughts by Jason Boyett

Initial thoughts by Rachel Held Evans

Kevin DeYoung’s reasoning as to why Matthew 18 does not apply to Rob Bell

Matthew Paul Turner – “How to survive Rob Bell’s new book release?”

An argument that love does indeed win

Al Mohler on Rob Bell and the assumed content of his book

Jim Hamilton asserts hell glorifies God and Bell is trying to rob God of glory

Scot McKnight writes that the book should actually be read before it is reviewed

Ben Witherington promotes waiting for Bell’s book, and condemns Piper’s condemnation

Mark Galli (Christianity Today) reviews Christian views on heaven and hell

Orthodoxy vs. Heresy: a power game

Stephen Lamb writes about what Rob Bell has said and written in the past

The New York Times sums it all up

O Me of Little Faith: True Confessions of a Spiritual Weakling
By Jason Boyett

“I am a Christian. I have been a Christian for most of my life. But there are times – a growing number of times, to be honest – when I’m not entirely sure I believe in God.” So begins Jason Boyett’s poignant spiritual memoir in which he honestly confronts the challenges to his faith; the things the raise doubt within his soul.

Ultimately, a Christian faith is grounded on one assertion: there is a God. Throughout history different theologians have postulated theories in an effort to prove God. Boyett briefly acknowledges these theories, but also acknowledges that each theory has its own flaws. The conclusion Boyett reaches is that the existence or non-existence of God is improvable.

There are many Christians for whom the provability of God is not a stumbling block for their faith; they simply believe God exists. Boyett does not claim to be in this group. Boyett wrestles with the concern that his faith may ultimately be grounded in nothing. How does one remain a Christian with such doubt? Is it worthwhile to remain a Christian with such doubt? Boyett addresses these questions.

O Me of Little Faith never promises to give answers on how to resolve the doubts a Christian may face. What this memoir does is speak a word of hope into the hearts of those living a life of doubting faith.

The ultimate conclusion of boyett’s book is that doubt does not necessarily conflict with faith. In fact, doubt is often used by God to build up the faith of a doubter. Boyett believes that it can be a healthy thing to cling with one hand to your doubt, and with one hand to your faith; and so be led into God’s presence. There may not be an ultimate resolution (to this book, to our lives, to our faith, or to our doubts); but, it also may be okay to live a life that is never fully resolved.

If you struggle with doubt, read this book. If you do not understand why a Christian would doubt, then there are probably better uses of your time.

Book Description from Zondervan

O Me of Little Faith is a brutally honest, frequently hilarious look at the struggles of a self-confessed spiritual weakling. Jason Boyett invites you to ask the hard questions and remain hopeful as he examines how you doubt, why you doubt, and what (if anything) should be done about it.

In O Me of Little Faith, author Jason Boyett brings you a transparent and personal account of his own of struggles with doubts and unbelief in living out his faith. With humor and frankness, Boyett uses personal anecdotes and a fresh look at Scripture to explore the realities of pursuing Christ through a field of doubt.

After three decades of knowing God, understanding Christianity, and living a Christian life, Boyett has come to the place where he can voice the tough questions and travel the road of uncertainty with blinders off, candor on.

The message along the way is one of encouragement: Relax. Rely on the grace of a merciful God, a kind father who realizes that his finite creatures must have doubts, should have questions, and will have trouble making sense of an infinite Creator. Ultimately, Boyett concludes that doubt and faith are not polar opposites, but actually work together, existing side-by-side.

Uplifting, entertaining, hopeful, O Me of Little Faith will strike a chord with you and any Christian who’s dealing with the uncertainties of living life in pursuit of a God who occasionally seems to disappear.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith From the American Dream
By David Platt
This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

David Platt is a pastor with a passion to spread the Good News of Jesus to the entire world. Platt asserts that Jesus is someone worth losing everything for; however, the willingness to lose everything for Jesus often flies in the face of the American Dream. The American Dream is predicated on moving from uncertainty to certainty, from need to plenty, from want to wealth. Giving up everything for Jesus is the opposite. Platt writes, “Ultimately, Jesus was calling [his disciples] to abandon themselves. They were leaving certainty for uncertainty, safety for danger, self-preservation for self-denunciation.” Rather than giving up all we have to follow Jesus, Platt sees modern Americans forming Jesus into their own image so they can maintain their desired lifestyle.

To combat the desire to morph Jesus into the American Dream, Platt sets out a challenge which he calls “The Radical Experiment”. The radical experiment challenges Chritians to take one year and 1) pray for the entire world, 2) read through the entire Bible, 3) sacrifice your money for a specific purpose, 4) spend two percent of your time in another context, 5) commit your life to a multiplying community.

Radical is an amazing book that I cannot recommend highly enough. I found to be encouraging, invigorating, and challenging. My hope is that you will read this book, take it seriously, and commit to Platt’s Radical Experiment for one year. It will change your life.

Christians who are not staunch Calvinists may have issues with chapter seven. In this chapter, Platt sets out to explain why it is necessary, within a Calvinist theology, to share Christ with all the world. He does a good job of working through this from a Calvinist construct. However, as a non-Calvinist reading this passage, I found the arguments unnecessary. Fortunately, an Armenian, such as myself, can skim this chapter and not lose the power of the rest of the book.

The only other criticism of the book is directed more at Platt’s editor. Platt repeatedly uses the phrase “begs the question” improperly. This may be more of a personal pet peeve, but it was such a common occurrence that I did find it distracting.

Go out and buy this book, read it, and then put it into practice.

Book Description from WaterBrook Multnomah

WHAT IS JESUS WORTH TO YOU?

It’s easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily…

BUT WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO LIVES LIKE THAT? DO YOU?

In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple–then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a “successful” suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus.

Finally, he urges you to join in The Radical Experiment –a one-year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world that desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring.

Evolving in Monkey Town
By Rachel Held Evans
This book was provided for review by the publisher

Rachel Held Evans grew up as a conservative Christian in the heart of the Bible Belt. Throughout school she took pride in winning the Best Christian Attitude award, and she spent considerable time learning apologetics. “I was a fundamentalist,” she writes, “in the sense that I thought salvation means having the right opinions about God and that fighting the good fight of faith requires defending those opinions at all costs.” Then she began to question her faith. It began by considering the specific case an Afghan Muslim woman, Zarmina, executed for alleged adultery after a sham trial. This woman had never had the opportunity to now Jesus, was she condemned to hell?

Evans has written an excellent memoir focusing on her journey from certainty to doubt. It is not evil, or un-Christian to ask good questions and express doubt about what our religion professes. Rather than doubt being a destructive force, Evan’s doubt allowed her to move to a fuller faith in Jesus.

I highly recommend this book. Anyone who grew up in the church and then experienced or is experiencing a time of doubt will relate to Evan’s book. Anyone who is part of the church but has never gone through an intense time of doubt would do well to read this memoir as a tool to connect with the disaffected and disinterested younger generation they are trying to reach. This generation does not care if you know the answers, rather, it cares that you know how to ask the right questions.

Book Description from Zondervan

Eighty years after the Scopes Monkey Trial made a spectacle of Christian fundamentalism and brought national attention to her hometown, Rachel Held Evans faced a trial of her own when she began to have doubts about her faith. Growing up in a culture obsessed with apologetics, Evans asks questions she never thought she would ask. She learns that in order for her faith to survive in a postmodern context, it must adapt to change and evolve.

In Evolving in Monkey Town, Rachel Held Evans recounts her experiences growing up in Dayton, Tennessee, a town that epitomized Christian fundamentalism during the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925. With fearless honesty, Evans describes how her faith survived her doubts and challenges readers to re-imagine Christianity in a postmodern context, where knowing all the answers isn’t as important as asking the questions.

Using as an illustration her own spiritual journey from certainty, through doubt, to faith, Evans adds a unique perspective to the ongoing dialogue about postmodernism and the church that has so captivated the Christian community in recent years.

In a changing cultural environment where new ideas threaten the safety and security of the faith, Evolving in Monkey Town is a fearlessly honest story of survival.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life
By Donald Miller

In A Million Miles in a Thousand Years writer Donald Miller explores what it is that makes up a good story and then applies these insights to his life.

While looking to become a better writer, and working on a screenplay for a movie, Miller goes with a friend to a Robert McKee writing seminar. After 36 hours of lecture Miller asks his friend what a story actually is and his friend replies, “a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it.” Miller uses this basic framework as he continues his writing; but, then wonders if this same framework can be used to explore his life. Miller asks the question “am I living a good story?” The rest of the memoir focuses on Miller defining his character, what he wants, and learning to embrace the inevitable conflict so it can be overcome.

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years forces its reader to explore their own life and ask some basic questions: what kind of story am I living? What changes need to be made so I can be living a good story? How can I move my story toward and through conflict? How does God interact with our story? What are the stories we are writing our loved ones into?

Ultimately, Miller writes, “a story is based on what people think is important, so when we live a story, we are telling people around us what we think is important.”

Miller’s writing style is pleasant and affable; kind of like sitting on a porch and listening to a friend. His self-aware and self-deprecating nature keeps the book from becoming too narcissistic (a danger for any memoir). The writing may have benefited had it gone through another round of tightening, but the free-flowing nature of the narrative is part of the charm of the book.

There are stories and ideas in A Million Miles in a Thousand Years that will capture anyone’s attention and imagination. This is the perfect book to read if you are searching for something, but need a little push to fully know what that something is.

This quick read would be beneficial to any creative person, and is a book I imagine I will come back to for a second read in the next nine to fifteen months.

What is my character? What do I want? What are my obstacles? Is my life telling a good story?

Book Description from Thomas Nelson

Full of beautiful, heart-wrenching, and hilarious stories, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years details one man’s opportunity to edit his life as if he were a character in a movie.

Years after writing a best-selling memoir, Donald Miller went into a funk and spent months sleeping in and avoiding his publisher. One story had ended, and Don was unsure how to start another.

But he gets rescued by two movie producers who want to make a movie based on his memoir. When they start fictionalizing Don’s life for film–changing a meandering memoir into a structured narrative–the real-life Don starts a journey to edit his actual life into a better story. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years details that journey and challenges readers to reconsider what they strive for in life. It shows how to get a second chance at life the first time around.

Transforming Church in Rural America
By Shannon O’Dell
This books was provided for review from the publisher through BookSneeze.com

In 2003, Shannon O’Dell felt that he was called to leave his youth pastor position at a large church in a large city and pastor a small rural church. Once in leadership O’Dell met opposition to change and so undertook an effort to recreate the church to his vision. After many of the original church members left, the church grew and joined together with another church down the road. The church now has a focus on reaching people through satellite locations.

The more irritated I become with a book the more I tend to write in its margins; my copy of this book is littered with margin notes. O’Dell paints himself as savior of the rural church. He repeatedly speaks of what the rural church needs to learn (pp 38, 47, 63, 85), while failing to describe what the rural church has taught him. O’Dell repeatedly stereotypes and condescends to the rural church making presumptuous statements such as:

• Too many rural pastors I know have little vision, if any. (p 54)
• I’m also not talking about the milquetoast prayers of most local churches that are little more than cop-outs (p 64)
• There are very few churches that are preaching the pure gospel of life transformation. (p 82)
• Most rural churches are controlled by a handful of families. They don’t represent God’s family…Persistent tradition and generational claims on the church building are what drive them. (p 83)
• We cannot let our vision become enslaved by the fear of someone who probably hasn’t led anyone to Christ in decades, anyway. (p 84)

Ultimately, O’Dell is creating a church that is only able to function under his direct leadership. There is little or no concern for building up the leadership qualities of the individuals in the church, or planning for a future in which he is not a part. Throughout the book, O’Dell seems to substitute his leadership skills for the role of the Holy Spirit.

O’Dell consistently twists scripture to conform to his opinions. The most blatant example is on page 114. While arguing against the value of seminary education for pastors, O’Dell writes: “No one in the New Testament Church was educated.” He uses Acts 4:13 as validation of this statement. Unfortunately Acts 4:13 is speaking only of Peter and John, it reads: “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized them as companions of Jesus.” O’Dell further contends that the word translated ordinary, idiwtai, means “idiot” because the Greek word shares the root from which we get our English word “idiot”. Nowhere in Greek literature does idiwtai mean idiot. It means unskilled or untrained; someone who has not yet obtained knowledge. This is just one example of O’Dell’s misuse of scripture (cf 93, 97, 132).

I wanted this book to be good. I wanted a strong tool with which to build up the rural churches in our country in order that they might reach the world for Christ. There were portions of this book which I found useful; however, these passages were so small and scattered that they do not compensate for the book’s failures. I cannot recommend this book to anyone in any circumstance. In a few years, when O’Dell is more able to express what he has learned along with what he has to teach, I hope he will be able to write a more useful book

Book Description from New Leaf

Without meaningful change, thousands of rural churches won’t survive the next decade. *A vital guide for every deacon, elder, and pastor wanting to bring their rural church back to the business of changing lives *No-cost solutions for staffing challenges, upgrading the worship, and generating teams of volunteers *Innovative strategies for growth through transformed lives, relevance in meeting needs, and creating active evangelism in your community

If you aren’t transforming lives, then the church has no impact. Pastor Shannon O’Dell reveals the need for relevancy and shares a powerful mission for rural churches in reaching the unchurched and lost in their communities. Now, learn the strategies and biblical guidance that turned a church of 30 into a multi-campus church of several thousand with a national and global outreach. Experience the blueprint for transforming into effective, dynamic, and thriving churches which give God the very best!

Learn to add VALUE to your ministry goals: Vision, Attitude, Leadership, Understanding, and Excellence. Discover how your marriage reflects the state of your faith and your relationship with God.

As a United States citizen, I am a strong believer in the first amendment. I believe it is the primary reason our various cultures have been able to bind themselves together into one nation. I have supported the Park51 Community Center and would support the right of any religious organization to be present in their community. For this reason I believe that Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas should be allowed to express their beliefs within the public square. Speech and beliefs I hate are just as protected as the speech and beliefs I cling to with love.

As a citizen of the United States, I believe individuals have the right to burn books, including religious texts. No part of our government can prevent individuals from burning the Qur’an. Individuals have the right to burn the Qur’an; but, I do not support them, and I have been proud that our country has engaged in an open dialogue of repudiation.

As a Christian I condemn the burning of the Qur’an. It is an act of hate and cowardice. It drives people away from God and does not express the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we, as Christians, were called to burn the books of other religions, Jesus would have instructed us to do so. Instead, in Matthew 28, Jesus tells his followers:

I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.

Christians are called to go out into the world and not stand behind their walls hurling insults and burning books. Christians are called to make disciples, that is, tell people about Jesus. I believe Jesus is attractive, and it is usually the Christians that drive people away from Jesus. Christians are called to baptize; fire and water do not mix well. Christians are called to teach everything Jesus taught. Jesus taught patience, peace, love, kindness, selflessness, forgiveness, and grace. Jesus taught that he was the ultimate authority, who had all power, and he would be with us until the end of the world.

Too often the Church has tried to be the ultimate authority and power on this earth. The Church has been responsible for persecution, murder, genocide, rape, and a host of other injustices. These have been caused by the Church forgetting that it is under the authority of Christ and not an authority in and of itself. The Church is responsible for building up the Kingdom of God, but this can only be done through the power of Jesus working in this world.

Burning a Qur’an accomplishes nothing for the Kingdom of God. It is an evil act, perpetrated by weak people, who seek out power, and long for the authority properly given to Jesus. It is an act committed by people who would rather be a god than worship God.

But, beyond speaking words of condemnation, what can I do? I have thought and prayed about that question most of this last week. What are the implications of Jesus having all authority; even authority over the Qur’an? What are the implications of needing to be ready to go to the people of all nations; to meet them in their cultural and religious context? How do you protest a book burning?

Over the next month I am going to read the Qur’an. I can’t read Arabic or I would read a copy of the original text. I do have an English translation on my bookshelf that I picked up back in school. I have read portions, but never the whole thing.

If you would like to join me then you can get a copy of the Qur’an from your local library, order one, or read it online.

I’m going to make September 2010 “Read a Qur’an Month”. Then I can interact with 1.8 billion people on this planet from a position of knowledge and not one of ignorance.

CHAP. V. (cont.)

Concerning the Light wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightned every Man: The Universality and Sufficiency of God’s Grace to all the world made manifest therein.

Q. How can it be proved, that there is a day wherein People may know things concerning their Peace, which afterwards may be hid from them?

A. And when he was come near, he beheld the City, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known even thou, at least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy Peace; but now they are hid from thine Eyes [Luke 19:41-42].

Q. Is there any further Scripture Proof of the Lord’s willingness to gather a People, who would not, and therefore were condemned?

A. Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem! thou that killest the Prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, How oft would I have gathered thy Children together, even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings, and ye would not? [Matt. 23:37; Luke 13:34]

Then his Lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou Wicked Servant! I forgave thee all the Debt, because thou desiredst me; shouldst not thou also have had Compassion on thy Fellow-Servant, even as I had Pity on thee? And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the Tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him [Matt. 18:32-34].

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of Everlasting Life, lo we turn to the Gentiles [Acts 13:46].

Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my Hand, and no man regarded: But ye have set at nought all my Counsel, and would none of my Reproof; I also will laugh at your Calamity, I will mock when your Fear cometh [Prov. 1:24-26].

And at what Instant I shall speak concerning a Nation, and concerning a Kingdom to build and to plant it; If it do Evil in my Sight that it obey not my Voice, then I will Repent of the Good wherewith I said I would benefit them [Jer. 18:9-10].

Q. Doth God’s Spirit strive then for a season, and afterwards forbear?

A. And the Lord said, my Spirit shall not always strive with man [Gen. 6:3].

Q. May it then be resisted?

A. Ye Stiff-necked and Uncircumcised in Heart and Ears, ye do always Resist the holy Ghost, as your Fathers did, so do ye [Acts 7:51].

For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of man, who hold the Truth in Unrighteousness [Rom. 1:18].

***

Barclay points out that there are scriptures which show a people given the opportunity to know God, but who instead refuse God. Barclay, it would seem, believes that salvation is universally available but is not universally received.  Further, Barclay seems to suggest that there may be a point when God will cease in his pursuit of a person.

I would take issue with the idea that God ceases in his pursuit of anyone, but I would concur that it is possible for people to resist the God who pursues them.

CHAP. V. (cont.)

Concerning the Light wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightned every Man: The Universality and Sufficiency of God’s Grace to all the world made manifest therein.

Q. What is the Gospel?

A. I am not ashamed of the Gospel; for it is the Power of God unto Salvation, unto every one that believeth [Rom. 1:16].

Q. Is this Gospel hid?

A. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are Lost, in whom the God of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not, lest the Light of the Glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them [2 Cor. 4:3-4].

Q. Is this Light then come into the World? And are not Men condemned because they love it not, and not because it is hid from them?

A. And this is the Condemnation, that Light is come into the World, and Men love Darkness rather than Light [John 3:19].

Q. Why do they so?

A. Because their Deeds are Evil [John 3:19].

Q. Is every Man enlightened by this Light.

A. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light, that was the True Light, which enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World [John 1:8-9].

Q. Doth this Light discover all things?

A. All things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light; for whatsoever doth make manifest is Light [Eph. 5:13].

Q. Do Evil Men preach up this Light, or mind it?

A. Every one that doth Evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, lest his Deeds should be reproved [John 3:20].

They are of those that Rebel against the Light [Job 24:13].

Q. Do good Men love it, and follow it?

A. He that doth Truth comes to the Light, that his Deeds might be made manifest, that they are wrought in God [John 3:21].

Q. What Benefits doth redound to such as love the Light, and walk in it?

A. If we walk in the Light, as he is in the Light, we have Fellowship one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all Sin [1 John 1:7].

Q. Doth Christ command to take heed to the Light?

A. While ye have the Light, believe in the Light, that ye may be the Children of the Light [John 12:36].

Q. Were the Apostles commanded to turn People to the Light?

A. Delivering thee from the People, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their Eyes, and to turn them from Darkness unto Light, and from the Power of Satan unto God, that they may receive Forgiveness of Sins, and Inheritance among them which are sanctified, through Faith that is in me [Acts 26:17-18].

Q. Doth this Light abide with every man all his Life time, in order to save, or only during the Day of his Visitation?

A. Yet a little while is the Light with you; walk while ye have the Light, lest Darkness come upon you [John 12:35].

Again, He limiteth a certain Day, saying in David, to day, after so long time, as it is said, To day if ye will hear his Voice, harden not your Hearts [Heb. 4:7].

***

Barclay affirms the importance of the Gospel as the the Power of God to bring salvation to all people who believe.

The light of the Gospel (Jesus) is revealed to all people but those who remain in darkness do not receive the light; they are in rebellion against the light. It is those who walk in the light (and not those who walk in the darkness) who are cleansed of their sin by the blood of Jesus Christ.

Those who harden their hearts against the light are in danger of being lost to the darkness.

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed
The little Lord Jesus
Laid down His sweet head

The stars in the bright sky
Looked down where He lay
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing
The poor Baby wakes
But little Lord Jesus
No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay by my side,
‘Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray

Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there

CHAP. V. (cont.)

Concerning the Light wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightned every Man: The Universality and Sufficiency of God’s Grace to all the world made manifest therein.

Q. Seeing then by these Scriptures it appears that the Love of God is held out to all, that all might have been or may be saved by Christ: What is to be judged of those who assert, that God nor Christ never purposed Love nor Salvation to a great part of Mankind, and that the Coming and Sufferings of Christ never was intended, nor could be useful to their Justification; but will and must be effectual for their Condemnation, even according to God’s Purpose, who from their very Infancy to their Grave with-held from them all Means of Salvation? What saith the Scripture to such?

A. For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World, but that the World through him might be saved [John 3:17].

I am come a Light into the World, that whosoever believeth in me, should not abide in Darkness. And if any Man hear my Words and believe not, I judge him not; for I came not to judge the World, but to save the World [John 12:46-47].

Q. From what Scripture then came these Men to wrest an Opinion so contrary to Truth?

A. For the Children being not yet born, neither having done any Good or Evil, that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand, it was said unto her, The Elder shall serve the Younger, as it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated [Rom. 9:11-13].

Q. I perceive in that Scripture it was only said before the Children were born, The Elder shall serve the Younger; These other Words (Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated) are mention’d out of the prophet Malachie, who wrote them many hundred Years after both were Dead: Doth not the Scripture mention any other Cause of God’s hating Esau, than meerly his Decree? What saith the same Apostle elsewhere?

A. Lest there by any Fornication or Profane Person, as Esau, who for one Morsel of Meat sold his Birth-right; for ye know, how that afterward when he would have inherited the Blessing, he was rejected [Heb. 12:16-17].

Q. But seeing that such allege, that it is because of Adam’s Sin that many, even Children are Damned: Doth not the Scripture aver, that the Death of Christ was as large to Heal, as Adam’s Sin could Condemn?

A. For if through the Offence of one many be Dead, much more the Grace of God, and the Gift by Grace, which is by one Man, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the Offence of one, Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation, even so by the Righteousness of one, the free Gift came upon all Men unto Justification of Life [Rom. 5:15,18].

Q. That proves abundantly that Christ’s Death is of sufficient Extent to make up any Hurt Adam’s Sin brought upon Mankind: What is then the cause of Condemnation?

A. He that believeth on him is not Condemned, but he that believeth not is Condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the Only Begotten Son of God [John 3:18].

And with all Deceivableness of Unrighteousness in them that Perish, because they received not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong Delusions, that they should believe a Lye, that they all might be damned who believe not the Truth, but had Pleasure in Unrighteousness [2 Thess. 2:10-12].

Q. Seeing it is so of a Truth according to the Scripture’s Testimony, that God has purposed Love and Mercy to all, in the Appearance of his Son Jesus Christ; Is the Gospel or Glad Tidings of this Salvation brought nigh unto all, by which they are put into a Capacity of receiving the Grace, and being saved by it?

A. If ye continue in the Faith grounded and setled, and be not moved away from the Hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every Creature which is under Heaven, whereof I Paul am made a Minister [Col. 1:23].

***

Barclay seems to make the argument that all those who do not have knowledge of Christ are still able to receive salvation through the atoning act of Christ. This would speak to the situation of those, like Abraham, who lived before Christ, and those who lived in a place where knowledge of Christ had not come.

For Barclay, Christ’s atonement can not serve as condemnation for anyone. On the contrary Christ’s act of healing was larger than Adam’s sin and is sufficient to heal all the world of sin.

Barclay does not, in my opinion, argue that all are saved; rather, he certainly argues that salvation is available to all, and he may be arguing that all of creation is moving toward salvation.

Adeste fideles,
Laeti triumphantes;
Venite, venite in Bethlehem;
Natum videte,
Regem Angelorum:
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus,
Venite adoremus Dominum!

CHAP. V.

Concerning the Light wherewith Jesus Christ hath enlightned every Man: The Universality and Sufficiency of God’s Grace to all the world made manifest therein.

Q. Wherein consists the Love of God towards Fallen and Lost Man?

A. For God so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not Perish, but have Everlasting Life [John 3:16].

In this was manifested the Love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World, that we might live through him [1 John 4:9].

Q. What is intended here by the World? all and every Man, or only a few?

A. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the Angels, for the suffering of Death crowned with Glory and Honour, that he by the Grace of God should taste Death for every Man [Heb. 2:9].

And if any Man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous; and he is the Propitiation for our Sins, and not for ours only, but also for the Sins of the whole World [1 John 2:1-2].

Q. Methinks the Apostle John is very plain there, in mentioning the whole World, which must be not only the Saints, but all others; seeing he distinguisheth the World from himself and all the Saints to whom he then wrote: What saith Paul else-where in this matter?

A. Christ in you the Hope of Glory, whom we Preach, warning every Man, and teaching every Man in all Wisdom, that we may present every Man perfect in Christ Jesus [Col. 1:27-28].

I exhort therefore, that first of all Supplications, Prayers, Intercessions and Giving of Thanks be made for all Men; For this is good and acceptable in the Sight of God our Saviour, who will have all Men to be saved, and to come to the Knowledge of the Truth; who gave himself a Ransom for all, to be testified in due time [1 Tim. 2:3-4,6].

Q. What is the apostle Peter’s Testimony in this?

A. The Lord is not slack concerning his Promise (as some Men count slackness) but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should Perish, but that all should come to Repentance [2 Pet. 3:9].

Q. Are there any more Scripture Passages that prove this thing?

A. Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked, but that the Wicked turn from his Way and live [Ezek. 33:11].

The Lord is Gracious, and full of Compassion; slow to Anger, and of great Mercy. The Lord is good to all, and his tender Mercies are over all his Works. [Psal. 145:8-9]

To wit, That God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself [2 Cor. 5:19].

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The next topic Barclay covers is how the Light of Christ affects all people. Barclay contends that the light of Christ speaks to, and the Grace of God is sufficient for, all persons.

The very love of God is made known by the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son. Christ is thus able to serve as Advocate for not just a few elect, but for all people in the whole world.

The major question we have for Barclay in this section is whether or not he has crossed into universalism. He strenuously asserts that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked and is good to all. Does this mean that Barclay is saying that all must be reconciled to God and inherit eternal life? Barclay speaks directly to this issue later in the Catechism. My reading of Barclay is that the sacrifice of Christ is able to heal all sin, but it does not heal the sin of those who refuse to be healed.

CHAP. IV. (cont.)

Of the New Birth, the Inward Appearance of Christ in Spirit, and the Unity of the Saints with him.

Q. What is the Preaching of the Cross of Christ?

A. For the Preaching of the Cross is to them that perish, Foolishness; but unto us that are saved, it is the Power of God [1 Cor. 1:18].

Q. What Effect had this Cross in the Apostle? and how much preferreth he the New Creature to all outward and visible Ordinances and Observances?

A. But God forbid that I should Glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the World is Crucified unto me, and I unto the World: For in Jesus Christ neither Circumcision availeth any thing, nor Uncircumcision, but a New Creature [Gal. 6:14-15].

Q. What speaketh Christ of the Unity of the Saints with him?

A. At that Day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you [John 14:20].

Abide in me, and I in you: As the Branch cannot bear Fruit of it self, except it abide in the Vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the Vine, ye are the Branches; He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much Fruit; for without me ye can do nothing [John 15:4-5].

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe in me through their Word: That they all may be One; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be One in us, that the World may believe it, that thou hast sent me. And the Glory which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may be One, even as we are One; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in One, and that the World may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me [John 17:20-23].

Q. What saith the Apostle Paul to this Purpose?

A. For both he that Sanctifies, and they that are Sanctified are all of One, for which Cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren [Heb. 2:11].

Q. What saith the Apostle Peter?

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The Cross of Christ is the power of God. Never was there a more important statement. Crucifixion was the ultimate act of humiliation. You were powerless, completely at the mercy of the state, hung naked, bleeding, in pain, knowing you were going to die; but that death was slow in coming. God took this humiliating experience upon himself and made it the power of God.

It is by being united with the power of God that we are able to do any good work in the world. Without the power of God we are powerless.

We are partakers of the divine nature of God, through Jesus Christ. We are led away from corruption and toward God’s sanctification and perfection.

CHAP. IV. (cont.)

Of the New Birth, the Inward Appearance of Christ in Spirit, and the Unity of the Saints with him.

Q. Is this Christ within, the Mistery of God and Hope of Glory, which the Apostle Preached?

A. To whom God would make known what is the Riches of the Glory of this Mystery, among the Gentiles, which is, Christ in you the Hope of Glory, whom we preach [Col. 1:27-28].

Q. Doth the Apostle any where else press the putting on of this New Birth?

A. Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not Provision for the Flesh to fulfil the Lusts thereof. [Rom. 13:14]

Q. Doth he write to any of the Saints, as having put off the Old, and on the New Man?

A. For as many of you, as have been Baptized into Christ, have put on Christ [Gal. 3:27].

Seeing that ye have put off the Old Man with his Deeds, and have put on the New Man, which is renew’d in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him [Col. 3:9-10].

Q. What speaketh Christ himself of the Necessity of this New Birth?

A. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God [John 3:3].

Q. Of what Seed cometh this Birth?

A. Being born again, not of Corruptible Seed, but of Incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever [1 Pet. 1:23].

Q. What doth the Apostle Paul witness of himself concerning this New Life?

Barclay makes clear that the Hope of Glory, which is Christ, is something which each person must take onto themselves. The salvation offered by Jesus Christ is universally available, but must be individually taken. Without taking on this new birth which is birth in Christ no one can see the Kingdom of God. We must crucify our selfishness, our ego, our narcissism, our pride, our vanity with Christ; in this way Christ may fully come alive in us.

I was reading this post at Jesus Creed and needed to respond with the following:

Fantasy Football enables you to truly understand the story of football. Many people, instead of taking the longer more rewarding path of watching football as epic story want a shortcut. They want to get the benefit of the story of football without putting in the hard work of watching 4-8 games per weekend (depending on the number of TVs available). Just as shortcuts in reading the Bible affect our spiritual health, shortcuts in watching football affect our football health.

Shortcut 1: Officials to be argued with

Some people see football as a series of controversial decisions which must be contested from their living room couch. This person thinks they know the rules of football better than the officials and they need everyone to know it. This person can become pompous, self-righteous, and accusatory. Sometimes they become resentful that others haven’t caught up to their level of football knowledge.

Shortcut 2: Morsels of Blessing and Promise

Some people ignore football altogether until a local team starts succeeding and then they jump on the bandwagon. They pick and choose when they are a fan; they may even jump from team to team riding the wave of whoever is successful and disregarding the rivalries intrinsic to the game. Because these people are looking for morsels of success, and avoid the ups and downs, the pains and sorrows, they miss out on the blessing that is football. The blessings and promises of football emerge from living out the overall story of football.

Shortcut 3: Mirrors and Inkblots

Some people project onto football what they want to see. In the pre-season everyone thinks they’re a Super Bowl contender. We project onto our favorite team what we want to see; when it does not work out we blame it on the refs, the injuries, and that one unlucky bounce of the ball. Instead of being swept up into the story of football these fans sweep football up into their own story; football becomes an opportunity for narcissism.

Shortcut 4: Puzzling Together the Pieces

For some football is like a big puzzle. Once you’ve got the puzzle solved you go to Vegas and stake your fortune. For these people I would just like to say that the Gambler’s Anonymous national help-line is 888-424-3577. Call it.

Shortcut 5: Maestros

Some people go to football to watch the story of THEIR team. Depending on the time or place we are born into we select one team over another and assert that this is THE true, right, and good team. All other teams are weak, misguided, potentially evil, and destined for failure. Unfortunately, seeing football through only one team’s eyes gives us only one chapter in the story of football.

Fantasy football allows us to develop “Magic Eyes” and be drawn into the full, multi-chaptered story of football. Watching the story of football through fantasy football gives us a context within which to enjoy the artistry of players regardless of team. It allows us to appreciate the part of the story made up by each individual team, and each individual player. These are in fact wiki-stories. On any given Sunday, football stars will be brought low and unknown players will achieve amazing acts. None of these individual wiki-stories is final; none of them is comprehensive; none of them is absolute; none of them is exhaustive. Each of them tells A story of football; but it takes all these stories put together to see THE story of football. This is what fantasy football does; it enables us to see the overarching story of football.

*This is an attempt of a parody of “The Blue Parakeet” by Scot McKnight, no offense or copyright infringement intended to anyone.

I unintentionally took most of July and all of August off from daily posts.  The daily Bible study, Friendly Theology, and the Koine Greek Word of the Day Podcast will return September 1st.    Also sometime this fall we will begin an Art Fridays series.

CHAP. IV.

Of the New Birth, the Inward Appearance of Christ in Spirit, and the Unity of the Saints with him.

Q. Doth Christ promise then to come again to his Disciples?

A. I will not leave you comfortless; I will come unto you [John 14:18].

Q. Was this only a special Promise to these Disciples? or is it not the common Priviledge of the Saints?

A. For thus saith the High and Lofty one that inhabiteth Eternity, whose Name is Holy, I dwell in the High and Holy Place, with him also that is of a Contrite and Humble Spirit, &c. [Isa. 57:15].

For ye are the Temple of the Living God, as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them [2 Cor. 6:16].

Behold I stand at the Door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the Door, I will come in to him, and sup with him and he with me [Rev. 3:20].

Q. Doth the apostle Paul speak of the Son of God’s being revealed in him?

A. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my Mothers Womb, and called me by his Grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Heathen [Gal. 1:15-16].

Q. Is it needful then to know Christ within?

A. Examine your selves, whether ye be in the Faith, prove your own selves; Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates [2 Cor. 13:5].

Q. Was the Apostle earnest that this Inward Birth of Christ should be brought forth in any?

A. My little Children, of whom I travel in Birth again, until Christ be formed in you [Gal. 4:19].

Q. What saith the same Apostle of the Necessity of this inward Knowledge of Christ, and of the New Creature beyond the Outward?

A. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the Flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the Flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any Man be in Christ, he is a New Creature; Old things are passed away, behold all things are become New [2 Cor. 5:16-17].

But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the Truth is in Jesus, That ye put off concerning the former Conversation the Old Man, which is corrupt, according to the deceitful Lusts; and to be renewed in the Spirit of your Mind; and that ye put on the New Man, which after God is Created in Righteousness and true Holiness [Eph. 4:21-24].

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After asserting the dual humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ, Robert Barclay now asserts that Jesus Christ is revealed to all people at all times.

Barclay makes the assertion that Christ was not only revealed to the few disciples who traveled with Christ during his life, but to all people who would come after Christ. Barclay quotes Paul’s personal testimony of Christ being revealed to him on the road to Damascus; Barclay also quotes Paul in 2 Corinthians instructing the Christians in Corinth to look for that of Christ that is living within each of them.

For a person to be a Christian, a Quaker, a Friend, they must experience the formation of Christ within. There must be a rebirth of the Spirit into a life with Christ.

It is through the recreation of our hearts and souls that Christ becomes the Lord of our life and we become children of God.

CHAP. III. (cont.)

Of Jesus Christ being manifest in the Flesh, the Use and End of it.

Q. Is it needful then to believe that the Saints of old did partake of Christ, as then present with, and nourishing them?

A. Moreover, Brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our Fathers were under the Cloud, and all passed through the Sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea; and did all eat the same spiritual Meat, and did all drink the same spiritual Drink, (for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ) [1 Cor. 10:1-4].

Q. But whereas most of these Scriptures before mentioned do hold forth, that the Death and Sufferings of Christ were appointed for the destroying, removing and remitting of Sin? Did he so do it while he was outwardly upon Earth, as not to leave any thing for himself to do in us, nor for us to do in and by his Strength?

A. For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an Example, that ye should follow his Steps [1 Pet. 2:21].

Whereof I Paul am made a Minister, who now rejoice in my Sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ in my Flesh for his Body’s sake, which is the Church [Col. 1:23-24].

Always bearing about in the Body the Dying of the Lord Jesus, that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our Body. For we which live, are alway delivered unto Death for Jesus’s sake, that the Life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal Flesh [2 Cor. 4:10-11].

And that he dyed for all, that they which live should not hence-forth live unto themselves, but unto him that dyed for them, and also rose again [2 Cor. 5:15].

That I may know him, and the Power of his Resurrection, and the Fellowship of his Sufferings, being made conformable to his Death [Phil. 3:10].

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Barclay reemphasizes that Christ was the agent of salvation for even those who lived and died before Christ’s death. The central point in all of history has been the life of Christ. Everything that happened before and everything that has happened since was changed by Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

However, Christ’s conquering of sin did not remove sin from the world; rather, it gave us opportunity to remove ourselves from sin. We are to follow the sinless example of Jesus Christ in all we do on this earth. When we live our lives for Christ we are living in a place beyond the world of sin, when we live our lives for ourselves we are wallowing in the depths of sin.

The life of Christ was both the means of our salvation and the example which we are called to live out.

At church today I was struck by an idea in 1 Peter 1:17-19:

If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

The author of 1 Peter refers to silver and gold as perishable and blood as imperishable. The irony of that concept distracted me for several minutes. If I had a table and on the table was a tuna sandwich, a gallon of milk, a glass of blood, and a gold coin; which of those things would you identify as perishable? The first three. The sandwich, the milk, and the blood will all become increasingly unpleasant as they sit on the table day after day decomposing. The gold will remain almost completely unchanged.

The passage in 1 Peter is describing a new world with a new way of thinking. Blood, which was once perishable, is now more imperishable than precious metals. Going even further (and possibly leaving the text in question), the spilling of blood which once marked death now marks new life. The author is telling the reader that the world has been turned upside down because of Jesus.

This is nothing new or earth shattering I’ve just been a Christian too long to have noticed it before. The idea of Christ’s blood being non-perishable has been a given for me for so long that I failed to appreciate its significance. For a moment this morning it was a new and exciting idea.