To Always be Reforming...

The recent cover article in Christianity Today highlighted the fact that theology of the reformed persuasion seems to be growing as a movement among young evangelicals. The article explains that due to the ministries of figures like John Piper and Mark Dever the younger generations of evangelicalism are seeking to break from the past in so far as there is a tendency among older evangelicals to be anti-doctrinal.

Collin Hansen explains that the reformed movement is probably more pervasive than the "emergent conversation" even though the later gets much more press and seems to appeal to a younger crowd. This is an encouragement me for two reasons. First, I really do not understand the emergent movement. And second, this type of movement (towards reformed theology) is not one that, in its most basic form, deals with new fads or recent trends.

There is a sense in which a movement of this type could really do some good in the church at large by having us examine areas where we are seriously out of step with Scripture like unbiblical church membership practices and shallow evangelism. The roots of this movement go very deep, and Scripture and Church History both attest to both the truthfulness and usefulness of the doctrines of grace. There is an inherent preserving power in these doctrines because of what they teach about who God is and what they teach about who we are.

There were a few really poignant things in the article worth mentioning. Piper states that a theology which glorifies God as both the initiator and finisher of our salvation should make our hearts sing! It is not a system that deadens faith and makes the heart cold, but at the realization of the enormous graciousness of the Almighty God your heart cries out in awe and thankfulness to Him.

Joshua Harris calls it "humble orthodoxy" because when you see grace for what it truly is you cannot help but be brought to your knees. We cry out to God, "Why us, why did you save us, we don't deserve it, we are worms," and then as the joy of Christ's great salvation overwhelms us we testify through the overflow in our hearts to the lost world around us! We cannot help but be humbled and we cannot help but share the glorious redemption we find in Christ Jesus.

Let this be a challenge to you as it was to me. If your pursuit of knowledge (even knowledge of the Scriptures) and doctrinal understanding has left you feeling cold and hard to the truth of the gospel then repent!! Repent and run to Christ! If at the end of your pursuit of this knowledge you find yourself far from the Savior turn from you hardness of heart and relish in the truth of the gospel! While we were yet sinners Christ died for us! Our knowledge of our salvation should serve as means by which we can love Jesus more richly, fully, and deeply.

So if you find yourself far from Jesus today, fall to your knees and cry out to God! Find your source of joy in God and marvel at just how amazing grace really is!!