An interview with Dr. Michael Horton of Westminster Seminary about Moralistic Therapeutic Deism. The interview considers that often times churches lack a true understanding of the gospel and secular teachings have infiltrated our belief systems (i.e. good people go to heaven, God helps those who helps themselves, etc.)
I. INTRO
A. We are back to our series: Gospel Chronicles: How God shapes and Builds the Church. Today I would like us to consider Gospel Shaped Redemptive Conflict.
1. First of all, what does it mean to be “Gospel Shaped”?
a. The Gospel – In the simplest of terms the gospel is the birth, ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ (Christ Event), which accomplishes redemption and restoration for all who believe and all of creation. Jesus fulfilled the whole Law and accomplished all righteousness on behalf of sinners who have broken God’s law by nature and choice. In his death Jesus atones[1] for our sins, satisfying God’s wrath (longing too?) and obtaining forgiveness for all who believe. Jesus’ saving work redeems sinners and unites us to God. This is the gospel, the “good news,” — God redeems a fallen world by his grace alone.
b. Gospel Shaped/Centered
2. With these ideas of what it means to be Gospel-Shaped (or -Centered), I’d like for us to take a look today at gospel Shaped Redemptive Conflict?
a. Conflict is an instrument God uses to develop qualities in our lives that aren’t developed any other way.
b. Today we will be looking at various passages in Acts that are related to conflict – both from within the church and without.
c. The notes will be available at: southsideblog.wordpress.com
d. But first of all, if we’re going to overcome conflict in our lives, it will help us to understand the reason that it’s there.
e. When faced with ANY conflict it is helpful to ask,
f. It’s quite rare for any of us to encounter a conflict and not bare ANY responsibility whatsoever.
g. (If that’s the case then conflict falls under the category of persecution. The Bible is clear – as we follow Christ we will be subject to persecution. But here’s my experience…persecution almost always comes from religious people. We see that quite clearly in the Book of Acts…
II. BODY
A. Acts is a book full of conflict. The early church faced and endured many conflicts from within AND without – and they flourished.
B. There’s a book titled, Every Congregation Needs a Little Conflict, the author says the following:
“Conflict is necessary. We could not live in a world without it. A church staff member in a congregation in which no conflict exists is probably in a congregation without strong Kingdom commitments. The book of Acts details how conflict was a necessary ingredient in the spread of the gospel.
Conflict is a necessary part of the Christian experience, as the old [depraved] self comes in conflict with the new self. Daily we are in conflict to become more Christlike.
Therefore, we [don’t need to] be afraid of healthy conflict. Rather, we [can] welcome it as an opportunity to bring forth positive spiritual and social change.” (p. 12).
C. (And I would add emotional change. Can I give you some vision? Eph 5:14 identifies the epitome of emotional health: “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up…” As a church, let’s read The Emotionally Healthy Church, by Peter Scazzero this summer.)
D. What I’d like to do today is point out some of the initial conflicts – and then I’d like to close with 7 points regarding Gospel Shaped Conflict Resolution.
1. The cross [shorthand for Christ Event] of Jesus Christ overcomes the greatest conflict of all time (Mother of all conflicts?)
“…This is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation[3] for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
2. Acts 4:1-22 — Peter and John arrested, questioned, and threatened by the Council (vs. 1-22). “But many of those who heard the word believed” (v.4)
3. Acts 5 —
a. 5:1-11 — Ananias and Sapphira lie to the Holy Spirit and are struck dead. MOTIVES MATTER!
b. 5:17-40 — Apostles again imprisoned, questioned and beaten. “Must obey God rather than man” (v. 29).
4. Acts 6
a. 6:1-7: The Hellenist (Greek) widows were being neglected (v. 1). There was organizational dysfunction and bigotry.
b. 6:8-15: Stephen opposed and arrested – “false witnesses were set-up against him” (v 13).
5. Acts 7 — Stephen’s defense and stoning.
6. Acts 8 – Saul, before his conversion, acting as a terrorist –“Saul just went wild, devastating the church…” (v3, MSG). (He was the Osama bin Lauden of his day.) The disciples were scattered of the disciples (vv. 1-4) due to great persecution against the church (vs. 1-3), with the result being they went everywhere preaching the word (v. 4).
7. Acts 9 – Saul’s, or Paul’s, conversion.
8. Acts 10 — Joining together of Jews and Gentiles into one body after the conversion of Cornelius and his family. Including the ongoing conflict over whether or not to circumcise gentile converts.
9. Acts 15 –
a. The Council at Jerusalem
Vs. 1-2 — “Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according tothe custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them.”
Doctrinal confusion. In consequence to this, the Jerusalem council met and decided, “We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved” (15:11).
b. Second Missionary Journey
Conflict between Paul and Barnabas… Vs 39-41 – 39 And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. 40 But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.”
E. In the midst of all the conflict – within and without: Acts 13:52 – “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Our joy is not to be dependent on our circumstance.
III. CONCLUSION
A. There are practical steps that the Bible speaks about that will help us to resolve the conflicts in our lives…
1. Become a sincere follower of Jesus Christ.
a. Begin by resolving your conflict with God. Before we come to Jesus Christ we’re in conflict with God. You may feel it or not feel it but we’re all in conflict with God.
b. If you want to resolve conflict in your relationships, if you want to know true peace – begin your relationship with Jesus Christ.
c. You are more depraved than you ever realized and simultaneously more loved than you ever imagined.
2. Own your own issues first. (Read The Emotionally Healthy Church this summer).
a. Mat 7:3, 5: “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? …You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
3. Talk to God about the conflict.
a. Pray. Before you react to the other person, talk to God about it.
b. In fact, that may resolve it right there! You may find it’s mostly your problem anyway.
c. James 1:5 “If you want to know what God wants you to do ask Him and He will gladly tell you.”
d. There’s a warning light that alerts us to those times in our lives when we’re asking others to meet needs that only God can meet. The warning light is anger. When you find yourself constantly angry with another person, ask yourself, “Am I asking them to do things that only God can do? Am I asking a human being to be like God to me?” (Expectation is the root of ALL hurt.)
4. Change your focus from your own needs to the other persons needs.
a. Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
b. The Greek word for the phrase “look out” is “scopos.” It’s the same word we get the words microscope or telescope from — focus in on the needs that they have in their lives.
c. We are invited to seek first to understand – and then to be understood (St. Francis).
5. Establish Rules of Engagement – bulletin insert.
6. Go and make peace – reconcile.
a. Matthew 5, “So when you offer your gift to God at the altar and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go and make peace with that person and then come and offer your gift.”
b. Not go and make excuses or go and make your point. Go and make peace. Jesus shows us that the only way to resolve a conflict is to face a conflict. That’s tough but that’s the way to get it resolved.
c. The point is — Jesus said you can’t worship in a God pleasing way when you have a conflict with others. It’s vital to solve that.
d. Have any of you ever had a fight in the car on the way to church? Linda and I, some of our worst conflicts have been on the way to church in the car. We have found a way finally to resolve that conflict. We take separate cars to church.
7. Ask for help if necessary.
a. Some of you may feel stuck and you might be thinking, “I don’t know how to get through this wall.” If that’s true, it’s OK to bring in a third person. It’s more than OK to ask for advice – sometimes it’s essential. Talk to God about it, then find someone, a “wise counselor” who can help you.
b. Proverbs 13:10, “Pride leads to arguments. Be humble take advice and become wise.” Advice is the path to wisdom.
B. “Your sins may be as mountains before you; but if you humble your heart and confess your sins, trusting in the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, He will forgive and will cleanse you from all unrighteousness.”[4]
[1] The word atonement is constructed from at and one, means “to set at one” or “to reconcile.” Atonement is the doctrine of the reconciliation of God and man accomplished by the Christ Event.
[2] Moralism is a false gospel that seeks to achieve growth or “Christian maturity” through behavior modification.
[3] “Propitiation” appears four times in the NT (Rom 3:23-25; Heb 2:17; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10) and means “the turning away” or “appeasement” of wrath; therefore, by definition, the Father has no more wrath against those whose sins have been propitiated. Consider also, imputation, which refers to the righteousness of Christ being transferred to those who believe on him for salvation.” Rom 4:11 – “righteousness (or right standing with God) was imputed to them (or credited to their account.”
[4] Ellen G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 566.
I Peter 5:8-9
Ever feel like you’re in bondage, or in a battle?
What kind of chance do you have of winning a battle if you don’t know the enemy?
Today – a briefing (address 4 questions)
“Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” I Peter 5:8-9
NY Time reported on a Barna Group survey – 2/3 of Americans do not believe the devil is a living entity.
There is a huge amount of scriptural evidence that Satan and fallen angels (demons) exist, and that they are not just symbols of evil or figures of speech. Satan doesn’t appear in the first 2 chapters, nor the last 2 chapters of the Bible, but he does most everywhere else.
He is identified as an angelic being, created by God, fallen in rebellion, and leading 1/3 of angels in rebellion and opposition to the person, purposes, and people of God.
In Genesis 3, Satan works to cause the fall of mankind into sin.
In the book of Job – Satan does battle in the heavenlies for the soul of this devout man
In wisdom literature (Ps.106) and prophets (Isa.14) – Satan is presented as a real personality opposing God and accusing His people, Israel.
Satan’s existence is recognized by every writer of the NT (though not in every book) 19 of the 27 books mention Satan by one of his names. Of the 8 books that do not mention Satan, 4 imply his existence by referring to demons
In the gospels, there are 29 references to Satan. In 25 of these, it is Jesus Christ who speaks of Satan as an existing personality. Jesus calls the devil by name (Mt 4,16; Lk 22).
“There are two equal and opposite error into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.” —C.S. Lewis in Screwtape Letters
Some evidences of enemy presence and engagement: disrupting, deceiving, discouraging, defeating, dividing, destroying, and devouring.
1. Who is the Enemy? Names: Describing Nature
a. Satan (Zech.3:1; Rev.12:9) – adversary/accuser (accuses to lead astray)
b. Devil (Lk. 4:2; Rev. 12:9) – slanderer (tempts to lead astray)
c. Serpent (II Cor.11:3; Rev.12:9) – crafty deception (deceives to lead astray)
d. Great Dragon (Rev.12:3-9) – destructive beast (attacks to harm)
e. Evil One (Jn.17:15; I Jn.5:18) – embodies evil (corrupts to harm) 1 Jn.5:19 “whole world is under the control of the evil one”
2. Names: Describing Position
a. Anointed Cherub (Ez.28:14) – original exalted position; high class of angels
b. God of this age (II Cor.4:4) – aion (system of philosophy or spirit of the age)
c. Prince of this world (Jn.12;31; 16:11) cosmos (ordered system of angels and humans separated from God)
d. Prince of the power of the air (Eph.2:2) dominating leader of fallen angelic beings
e. Prince of demons (Mt.12:24; Lk.11:15) ruler of demonic hosts doing battle to bring people into spiritual bondage
3. Names: Describing Activity
a. Tempter (Mt.4:3; I Thess.3:5) – tries to entice people into evil. Christians – tempts to preoccupation with the world (I Jn.2:15-17). Unbelievers – blinds minds to the gospel (II Cor.4:3-4)
b. Accuser/Slanderer (Rev.12:10) – “accuser of the brethren”
c. Angel of Light (II Cor.11:14) – appears fine, even good to the naïve
d. Opposer (II Cor.4:4; I Pet.5:8) wages war against the person, purposes, and people of God
e. Deceiver (II Cor.4:3-4; Rev.12:9) – “deceives the whole world”
II Cor.2:11 – urged not to be ignorant of his schemes. temptation, accusation, confusion, opposition, and deception.
IS THERE A SCHEME YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF
4. What is Our Strategy?
Basis Battle Strategy – 1 Peter 5:9; James 4:7; Eph.6:10-18
“have the power to demolish strongholds” (II Cor.10:4)
a. Resist him, being firm in your faith (I Pet.5:9; James 4:7)
b. Stand firm against his schemes (Eph. 6:10-11; II Cor.2:11)
c. Put on full armor of God (Eph. 6:13-18)
truth, righteousness, faith, assurance, word of God, praye
5. How are We Vulnerable? see Clint Arnold & Doug Hayward, Biola Univ.
a. Worship of or appeals to a false god.
b. Sins or spiritual oaths of earlier generations.
c. Childhood abandonment.
d. Childhood abuse or emotional trauma.
e. Improper sexual bonding or soul ties.
f. Substance abuse or mind-altering behavior.
g. A curse directed at you.
h. Personal anger/bitterness (Eph.4:26-27)
i. Persistent sinful desires and habits
6. Why are We Confident?
The work of Christ
a. Christ defeated Satan through His death and resurrection (Col.2:13-15).
b. Christ is our deliverer from bondage to Satan (Heb.2:14-15)
c. Christ will judge Satan, who now awaits his final judgment (Eph.1:19-21)
d. Christ came to destroy the works of the devil (I Jn.3:8)
e. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (I Jn. 4:4)
Feel like you’re in a battle? Maybe bondage?
(Birds in a bag story)
That’s your briefing.
Some need to join a fellow soldier in prayer.
Be alert – resist – stand firm – get the full armor on – employ spiritual weapons!
By Sinclair Ferguson
Someone I knew recently expressed an opinion that surprised and in some ways disappointed me. I said to myself, “I thought he would have more discernment than that.”
The experience caused me to reflect on the importance of discernment, and the lack of it in our world. People do not see issues clearly and are easily misled because they do not think biblically. But, sadly, one cannot help reflecting on how true that is of ourselves, in the church community too.
Most readers of this article would want to distance themselves from what might be regarded as the lunatic fringe of contemporary Christianity. But there is more to discernment. True discernment means not only distinguishing the right from the wrong; it means distinguishing the primary from the secondary, the essential from the indifferent, the permanent from the transient, the good and the better from the best.
Thus discernment is like the physical senses; to some it is given as a special grace gift (1Cor. 12:10), but a measure of it is essential for us all, and must be constantly nourished. The Christian must take care to nourish his “sixth sense” of spiritual discernment. This is why the psalmist prays, “Teach me knowledge and good judgment” (Ps. 119:66).
1. But what is discernment? In Scripture (as Ps.119:66 indicates) it is the ability to make discriminating judgments, to distinguish between, and recognize the moral implications of, different situations and courses of action. It includes, apparently, the ability to “weigh up” and assess the moral and spiritual status of individuals, groups and even movements. Thus, while warning us against judgmentalism, Jesus urges us to be discerning and discriminating, lest we cast our pearls before pigs (Matt. 7:1, 6).
The most remarkable example of such discernment is described in John 2:24-25: “Jesus would not entrust himself to them . . . for he knew what was in a man.” This is discernment without judgmentalism. It involved our Lord’s knowledge of God’s Word (he, supremely had prayed, “Teach me . . . good judgment, for I believe in your commands” [Ps. 119:66]) and his observation of God’s ways with men. Doubtless his discernment grew as he himself experienced conflict with, and victory over, temptation and measured what is by what ought to be.
Christ’s discernment penetrates to the deepest reaches of the heart, but it is of the same type as the discernment the Christian is to develop, for the only discernment we possess is that which we receive in union with Christ, by the Spirit, through God’s Word.
2. Discernment is learning to “think God’s thoughts after him,” practically and spiritually; it means having a sense of how things look in God’s eyes, and seeing them in some measure “uncovered and laid bare.”
How should this discernment affect the way we live?
3. Discernment also acts as an instrument of healing, when exercised in grace. I have known a small number of people whose ability to offer a diagnosis of the spiritual needs of others has been remarkable. They have diagnosed others’ spiritual condition better than the people themselves could ever do. When exercised in love, discernment can be the healing knife in spiritual surgery.
Again, discernment can function as the key to Christian freedom. The zealous but undiscerning Christian becomes enslaved—to others, to his own uneducated conscience, to an unbiblical pattern of life. From such bondage, growth in discernment sets us free, enabling us to distinguish practices that may be helpful in some circumstances from those that are mandated in all circumstances.
In a different way, true discernment enables the freed Christian to recognize that the exercise of freedom in any given respect is not essential to the enjoyment of it.
4. Finally, discernment serves as a catalyst to spiritual development: “The mocker seeds wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning” (Prov. 14:6). Why? Because the discerning Christian goes to the heart of the matter. He knows something about everything, namely that all things have their common fountain in God. Increase in knowledge therefore does not lead to increased frustration, but to a deeper recognition of the harmony of all God’s words and words.
How is such discernment to be obtained? We receive it as did Christ himself—by the anointing of the Spirit: through our understanding of God’s Word, by our experience of God’s grace and by the progressive unfolding to us of the true condition of our own hearts. That is why we should pray; “I am your servant, give me discernment” (Ps. 119:25).
Sinclair B. Ferguson is an associate professor of systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. His many books include John Owen on the Christian Life.
Gregg A. Caruso 