Birthed partially out of a need to respond to the “evangelical feminism” or egalitarian folks from the likes of the CBE, Reformed folks like John Piper, Wayne Grudem, Mark Driscoll, and whoever else you can spot on a T4G or Gospel Coalition website have gone out of their way to make it very clear that men alone are called to lead both in the home and in the church.

Somehow, these well-meaning gentlemen, men whose love for Jesus is unquestioned (at least in my book), have wrapped complementarianism around the Cross and called it “the gospel”.

Should one’s support or opposition to complementarian or even egalitarian perspectives so mute the gospel of grace in and through Jesus Christ that they–and not the finished work of God the Son–be the standard by which we judge whether a Christian is “undermining the gospel” by not adhering to it?

I hope not.

Bottom line: anything sitting on the throne that ain’t Jesus doesn’t belong there. I contend that ministries like T4G and the GC have made an idol out of their own manhood to the extent that their gospel is as man-centered and graceless as any legalistic ministry one could think of.

Just a thought….

How much harm is done by having a platform where you do can just that?

Or is the Gospel Coalition more comfortable throwing stones at perceived heretics instead clinching tight those fists until they hear what a person actually believes?

Just sayin….

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Love for Enemies
(Matthew 5:43-48, NET Bible)

5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘hate your enemy.’ 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you, 5:45 so that you may be like your Father in heaven [Emphasis mine], since he causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? 5:47 And if you only greet your brothers, what more do you do? Even the Gentiles do the same, don’t they? 5:48 So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

    “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” 2 Timothy 1:13-14
NIV

1. Jesus reveals Himself to us. Of course, part of that journey involves us struggling with the questions of who this Jesus is. The disciples had to travel the same path. Ultimately, the church planter has to know who Jesus is and the priority He must have over everything and everyone else.

2. Jesus tells you who YOU are. You will never understand who you are until you know who Jesus is. It is from Him and Him alone that you get your identity. In certain circles, Peter is considered the foundation upon which the church or “ekklesian” (as the Gk. reads). But “Peter” means “little rock” or a piece of a larger stone. That’s it. Like Peter, every church planter is merely a “piece” of the foundation (cf. Ephesians 2:20). Hmmmmm…..

3. Jesus, not the planter builds the church. This might be the biggest kept secret in the world of personality-driven ministry circles. Yet, the bottom line is that Jesus is the One building the Church. This should encourage planters to go the Master Builder and not the latest, hottest conference (btw, I really like church planting conferences) every time the sun rises.

4. The church Jesus builds is on the offensive and prevails against the enemy. The church is supposed to be advancing the kingdom of God, not waiting to get sucker-punched by the devil. We don’t react; we create. We don’t succumb to the wiles of the kingdom of darkness; we live out the kingdom here and fulfill the Great Commission.

1. The Lord is not necessarily the Author of a life storm but He will use it to mature us.

2. Jesus never “steps” on us, especially when the storms of life are raging.

3. There are always TWO storms Jesus deals with: the storm IN us and the storm AROUND us.

4. Do not allow the winds of circumstances to distort who Jesus is

5. The only way through a life storm is THROUGH it.

At least that’s the plan.

The church I received Christ in did not have a youth pastor. We had just about everything else. Kids sat with their parents and if the baby cried or a toddler got too restless, the parent took the child out of the sanctuary.

Personally, while I still favor age appropriate curriculum to empower and equip youth for Christ, the primary responsibility to shape and disciple children rests with the parents.

Just a thought….

Catalyst for the thought: David Fitch-Alex McManus conversation

2. Jon Acuff just earned 3 man-points for attending a Women of Faith meeting.

3. People are truly stupid…I mean REALLY stupid.

4. The sudden death of televangelist Zachery Tims will prayerfully serve as a wakeup call not only to pastors struggling with issues but also to churches who should make it their business to provide a safe haven for their pastors to “be real” and get help. (Post from earlier this week)