Everyone is Exclusive
In his book To Know and Love God, David Clark correctly writes:
"Suppose that to disagree with a person – to say, “I believe your belief is wrong” –really does entail arrogance and intolerance. This makes a pluralist as arrogant and intolerant as a fundamentalist. For when a pluralist dialogues with an exclusivist, he must say, “I believe your belief [about exclusivism] is wrong.” If in fact disagreement entails intolerance, then since pluralists must declare that five billion plus exclusivists are wrong, it would follow that pluralists are intolerant." (p. 351)
Simply put, we are all exclusive in our belief set and must be honest about that fact. So the question to ask is not, “Do you hold exclusive beliefs?” because at the root level everyone has exclusive beliefs. The better question to ask is, “Where do your exclusive beliefs lead you? Which set of exclusive beliefs leads to humble acceptance of and love for those who differ from you?
Exclusivity: Additional Resources
This past Sunday's sermon dealt with the question, "Isn't it arrogant to claim Jesus is the only way?" In an effort to help you continue to think through this eternally weighty matter here are some additional resources:
Tim Keller's The Reason for God, especially chapter 1, deals with the issue of exclusivity.
Another excellent source for working through this issue is Let the Nations Be Glad by John Piper. In chapter for of this book, Piper thoughtfully and pastorally explains from the Scriptures as to why Jesus is the only way to be reconciled back to God.
In part V of his book True for You But Not for Me, Paul Copan details several answers to the question "What about those who have never heard?"
For those of you who like to listen instead of read, here is a talk given by Alister Begg in regards to this issue.
These are just a few among many that have thoughtfully answered this tough question.
Christianity is a Straightjacket (pt. 2)
Since Christianity has certain limitations and constraints, many conclude that it is therefore the equivalent of a straitjacket. But is this true? Are there other areas of our live where restrictions and constraints actually enable us to live a fuller life? The answer: Yes!
"Human beings are most free and alive in the relationships of love. We become ourselves in love, and yet healthy love relationships involve mutual, unselfish service, a mutual loss of independence. For a love relationship to be healthy there must be mutual loss of independence...At first sight, then, a relationship with God seems inherently dehumanizing. Surely it will have to be "one way," God's way. God the diving being, has all the power. I must adjust to God - there is no way that God could adjust to and serve me.
While this may be true in other forms of religion and belief in God, it is not true in Christianity. In the most radical way, God has adjusted to us - in his incarnation and atonement. In Jesus Christ he became a limited human being vulnerable to suffering and death. On the cross, he submitted to our condition - as sinners - and died in our place to forgive us.
For a Christian, the love of Christ constrains. Once you realize how Jesus changed for you and gave himself for you, you aren't afraid of giving up your 'freedom' and therefore finding your freedom in him." (Tim Keller, Reason for God, 48-50)
Christianity is a Straightjacket (pt. 1)
That's what many think, right? Christianity is just a straitjacket. In his book The Reason for God, Tim Keller responds:
"Christianity supposedly limits personal growth and potential because it constrains our freedom to choose our own beliefs and practices…Freedom to determine our own moral standards is considered a necessity for being fully human.
This oversimplifies, however. Freedom cannot be defined strictly in negative terms, as the absence of confinement and constraint. In fact, in many cases, confinement and constraint is actually a means of liberation…
As fish, because it absorbs oxygen from water rather than air, is only free if restricted and limited to water. If we put it out on the grass, its freedom to move and even live Is not enhanced but destroyed.
In many areas of life, freedom is not so much the absence of restrictions as finding the right ones, the liberating restrictions. Those that fit with the reality of our nature and the world produce greater power and scope for our abilities and a deeper joy and fulfillment." (Reason for God, 45-46)
As Christians, we hold that the Scriptures do just that – they provide the right limitations, thus liberating us to a deeper purpose and joy.
How can we know God?
How can we be sure that God exists and that we can know him personally? Paul Little explains:
“Herbert Spencer, one of the populizers of agnosticism of a century ago, observed accurately that a bird has never been known to fly to out of space. Therefore, he concluded by analogy that it is impossible for the finite to penetrate the infinite. Even if God does exist we can never know him personally or anything about his existence.
Spencer was right when he observed birds never fly out into space. His observation was correct, but his conclusion missed an important alternative possibility: God, the infinite Creator, could penetrate our finiteness – the infinite could penetrate the finite, thereby communicating to us what he is really like.
It is impossible for us to know conclusively whether God exists and what he is like unless he takes the initiative and reveals himself. This, of course, is what God did.
His fullest revelation has been his invasion into human history in the person of Jesus Christ – we can understand him because he has lived among us.”
Paul Little, Know Why You Believe, 34, 37.
Why a Church Covenant?
In the words of John Piper:
"At the Last Supper Jesus took the cup and said, "This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." The "many" is the church, the new Israel, the elect. So what happened when Jesus died was God's final, decisive, sovereign, invincible act to create a people for himself—not only by purchasing their forgiveness, but also by purchasing their faith and their obedience in fulfillment of the new covenant promises: "I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them in their hearts."
You and I exist as Christians because of the irresistible force of the new covenant promises. The new covenant creates the church and guarantees that the gates of hell will not prevail against it and nothing will separate it from the love of God. God has given the church to his Son as a bride by a sacred marriage oath called the new covenant. And nothing will destroy this union.
That's the ultimate reason why it is fitting for local churches to be formed as covenant communities—assemblies that covenant to be the church for each other. Christ has created us by a covenant to be his people, not just individuals, but a people—a body, a bride—for himself. To fulfill that covenant calling demands that we form assemblies called churches—visible churches—which in some way make a covenant together to be the body of Christ for each other, for the world, and for the glory of God."
What is a Church Covenant?
At the end of Nehemiah chapter 9 we see the Israelites formally covenant together, and in chapter 10 we see the obligations of that covenant explicitly described. It is no coincidence that we at Restoration Church carryout this same practice. But what exactly is a church covenant?
“A church covenant is a series of written pledges based on the Bible which church members voluntarily make to God and to one another regarding their basic moral and spiritual commitments and the practice of their faith” (Charles W. DeWeese, Baptist Church Covenants, p. viii).
In short, a church covenant summarizes our beliefs and behaviors.
Who is the Bible Really About?
"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27)
"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me." (John 5:39)
HT: Justin Taylor
New Series - Questions You Are Asking
As mentioned in yesterday's service, we will begin a new 4-week series on September 12: "Questions You Are Asking" This series will answer questions that you and our community are asking in regards to the Christian faith, the Bible, God, theology, etc.
While we already have a good understanding of the 'hot' topics and have been preparing accordingly, we also want to serve you well. So in order to do just that, we want to give you an opportunity to submit questions to be answered. You can do so anonymously by clicking here.
Please submit your question(s) no later than this Friday (September 3). We will collect the responses, evaluate them to find similar topics/questions and incorporate what we can into this series.
Theology{in the}Park
This past Wednesday we had another installment of Theology{in the}Park. The topic du jour - God's Providence & Sovereignty. For those of you that missed it, or want to dig in deeper, here is the outline.
