What about those who have never heard?
March 31, 2008
One of the outstanding younger theologians in Southern Baptist life today is Dr. Chris Morgan, Professor of Theology, at California Baptist University. In the past two years, Dr. Morgan has edited two important books –
Hell Under Fire and
Faith Comes by Hearing –
A Response to Inclusivism.
If you can judge a man by the company he keeps, these books reveal much about Dr. Morgan. He has assembled outstanding writing teams that produced significant contributions on two subjects of vital importance. Golden Gate is a Great Commission-centered institution. Grappling with the present condition and eternal state of those who have not heard about Jesus Christ is part of spiritual formation for our students. Dr. Morgan’s books are well-reasoned, well-documented resources for students thinking through this challenging subject.
Faith Comes by Hearing is a particularly important book because it addresses a fundamental issue in our world – the unique claims of Jesus Christ. Most people do not mind interjecting God – as a generic concept - into almost any discussion, situation, or arena of life. But Jesus is another matter. To follow him, and espouse his exclusivity as a means of salvation almost guarantees you will receive the most onerous modern negative accusation possible – intolerant!
One of the reasons I like Dr. Morgan is he has a pastoral perspective on theology. He is a professor…but also a pastor of a “rank and file” Baptist church. Something about preaching weekly, leading the typical people found in a normal church, struggling with church problems and challenges, and helping lost people become vibrant disciples keeps a person’s perspective from being skewed by the ivory tower of academia. Dr. Morgan writes like Christians should live – with uncompromising biblical conviction, but also with love and respect for persons with different beliefs or conclusions.
Dr. Morgan represents the best of Baptist academic life – serious biblical scholarship coupled with passionate missional practice. Our Golden Gate faculty also has many men and women like this. It is an honor to serve with them and partner with Dr. Morgan and the team at Cal Baptist as we train leaders on the west coast.
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The Prophet on the Bus
March 24, 2008
A few days ago, my rental car shuttle bus driver greeted me as I stepped on the bus with, “God bless you.” When I thanked him for the blessing and told him I was a believer, he started telling me about his dreams and visions. During the seven minute ride to the car lot, he told me about several experiences in which God “told him” various things about the future (talking while looking in his rearview mirror at me!).
Most of his observations were innocuous, until he started telling me about China attacking California, Russia backing China, Israel then attacking Russia, and everyone going to war in the Middle East. He was so sure of his vision, I expected him to pull the bus over and show me a chart of the whole process – including dates.
After listening to his impassioned sharing, I tried to respond gently (affirming his love for God) but directly about the importance of judging all spiritual impressions by revealed objective biblical truth. I encouraged him to read the Bible, get in a small group Bible study, and hear a pastor regularly preach messages based on the Bible. I hope he does this and balances his intuitive sense of God’s presence with the stabilizing force of biblical revelation.
The conversation, however, is a significant example of a common experience in today’s culture. People today seem more spiritually minded, and more willing to talk about their spirituality, than at any time in my ministry. When I was first learning to share my faith, the trainers spent considerable time on how to open a conversation and get people thinking about spiritual things. That was appropriate 25 years ago. But today is different. People are open to spiritual conversations.
Don’t confuse “spiritual conversations” with a stereotypical understanding of discussing the Christian faith. While people are more open to dialogue about spiritual issues, they aren’t automatically inclined to discuss the gospel. Our role is to introduce Jesus into the conversation as the Source of true spirituality. Doing this isn’t difficult. Sharing Jesus and your relationship with him as your spiritual story is a terrific way to engage someone with the gospel.
Sharing your story, however, is not enough. The gospel must be explained. The gospel stands apart from your experience. Sharing the gospel is communicating timeless truth about God’s love, humankind’s sin, Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the possibility of conversion by grace through faith.
There has never been an easier time to engage people in spiritual conversation. So, listen to the spiritual stories of others. Discern God’s work in their experience. Share your experience of knowing Jesus. And, share the gospel – the good news of God’s offer of true spiritual life.
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Where Jesus Shows Up
March 17, 2008
Palm Sunday found me preaching the gospel in a baseball clubhouse in Arizona. It was an unusual setting – not very churchy, not dressed up, not a very holy setting for the beginning of Holy Week. Like thousands of other preachers in more traditional pulpits, my message was on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem riding a donkey walking on palm fronds.
Jesus often showed up in unusual ways and in some interesting places. He went to weddings and funerals (as might be expected) but he also went on fishing boats and to dinner parties. He walked through wheat fields and crowds of hurting people. Jesus apparently thought he belonged everywhere. I agree with Jesus. He does belong everywhere…and so do his people.
I am finding myself more and more interested in bringing Jesus into the conversation in places he is not normally thought to be present. What I mean is bringing Jesus into the awareness of people around me in every setting. People don’t seem to mind talking about Jesus. I spent too much time earlier in my ministry worrying about how to get people to think about Jesus. Now I just start talking about him – or ask a question about him – and I find people more than willing to talk.
Recently, I was the guest at a corporate reception at a five star hotel. As I visited with people and met new friends, they naturally asked me my profession. The answer led to conversations that easily introduced Jesus into the dialogue. Two people told me interesting stories of how Jesus is working in them. Two asked me serious questions about knowing Jesus. I talked with lots of other people about sports, marriage, children, travel, and other trivia. Not every conversation was about Jesus, but Jesus was definitely part of the evening. We had a good time together!
As you move through Holy Week, the temptation is to equate holiness with cloister. Solitude is a vital spiritual discipline; escapism is not. Jesus maintained holiness while living among unholy people in sometimes unholy places. Ask him to help you do the same.
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California Supreme Court Decision
March 10, 2008
A decision is forthcoming from the California Supreme Court that will significantly impact (one way or another) the continuing debate about gay marriage. The court heard oral arguments last week from attorneys represented several groups on both sides of the debate. A decision is expected within 90 days.
No matter what happens, it is essential the current petition initiative to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to define marriage in California as between one man and one woman succeed. Even if the Court rules in favor of traditional marriage, gay political leaders will not end their assault on marriage. We still need to join more than 20 other states and adopt this constitutional amendment.
The arguments for redefining marriage are bizarre. Proponents liken their struggle to the civil rights movement. It’s not even close to the same issue. They also claim it is a private matter. Marriage is a public contract with complex legal ramifications. It is decidedly a public matter. Proponents claim denying the rights that come from marriage is discriminatory. Tell that to the millions of Americans who aren’t married and don’t plan to be. They aren’t protesting their supposed lesser status.
When a person or government tries to rationalize something that is clearly not according to God’s plan for humankind or fits the reasoning based on centuries of secular law, creativity (to say the least) is required. The convoluted arguments of gay marriage proponents are a prime example.
And, when all else fails, those of us who favor a traditional definition of marriage are accused of being intolerant homophobes. We are portrayed as unloving, narrow-minded, sexually repressed, hypocrites. When the facts don’t support your case, sling mud and cast personal aspersions!
My homosexual friends know my position on this issue. They also know these pejoratives don’t apply to our relationship. My convictions on marriage are based on my understanding of the Bible’s teaching on the subject. So are my convictions about how to treat people who disagree with me.
Standing up for a traditional definition of marriage isn’t an attack on anyone. It’s a principled stand for the preservation of the family, and ultimately, for the preservation of civilized culture.
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Urbanization
March 3, 2008
A distinctive feature of Golden Gate Seminary is our locations in major metropolitan areas in the western United States. We have campuses in or near San Francisco, California; Los Angeles, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; and Portland, Oregon. We are located in five of the seven largest metropolitan statistical areas in the western half of our country.
From time to time, it has been proposed we move one or more of our campuses to a more suburban or small town location. The high cost of urban locations is usually cited as the primary reason. Financially, it would be less costly to work in a different environment. But missionally, it would be a step in the wrong direction.
A February 2008 population study released by the United Nations indicates 50% of the world’s population will live in urban areas by the end of 2008 and about 70% will be urban dwellers by 2050. There will be at least 27 mega cities (population over 10 million) by that time.
The numbers, in some cases, are staggering. For example, the total population of urban areas is expected to increase from 3.3 billion to 6.4 billion by 2050. In China, 40% of the population already lives in urban areas. That will increase to 70% by 2050. The perception of China as a rural economy of poor villagers is wrong. China is a booming collection of urban mega cities – with already more than 50 cities with population exceeding 1 million each.
One prominent mission leader recently complimented our graduate’s success in overseas service. He said, “One of the reasons is they are urbanized by living on or near your campuses. They already know how to function in a big city environment.” This has not been a strongpoint for Southern Baptists. We have been a suburban, small town, rural denomination. Going into the city, into the heart of major cities, has been difficult. But that is changing. We have specific efforts underway to develop new church planting strategies, new ministry models, and new paradigms of evangelism for urban settings.
At Golden Gate, we have a track record of accepting the challenge of preparing people for urban ministry. We are implementing new courses and degree programs to further this effort. We know the future of world-shaping kingdom growth is in the cities.
Urbanization is challenging. The gospel can handle it. Will we?
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