tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post8977000148177544292..comments2024-03-24T03:21:03.154-04:00Comments on CAMPONTHIS: THINK BIBLICALLY - NOT CULTURALLY...the solution to emerging, pomo, pragmatic, grunge, seeker-sensible, compromised, homogenized ministrySJ Camphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15844201288864307481noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-42099603160189732552008-03-09T17:32:00.000-04:002008-03-09T17:32:00.000-04:00litchpastormanIs thinking biblically opposite of t...<B>litchpastorman</B><BR/><I>Is thinking biblically opposite of thinking culturally?</I> <BR/>It is when its given preeminence in ministry. Today the new hermeneutic for many (especially within the emerging/emergent pragmatic communities) is to interpret Scripture through the lens of culture - making culture sovereign over God's truth. Instead of using Scripture to interpret culture as Paul did.<BR/><BR/><I>In fact, most of the passages you quote are Pauline, and he was a very astute student of the cultures where he preached.</I><BR/><BR/>But Paul's astuteness led him to confront the very culture he was ministering in; not embrace it, use it as a ministry paradigm, or as a point of reference to simply have a "conversation of faith" with those in that culture. He didn't spend long on their distinctives but moved quickly to proclaiming the gospel (i.e. Acts 17).<BR/><BR/><I>Some things within a culture may be sinful, but not everything. Furthermore, some of the things that Paul was reacting against in his epistles were not just pagan cultural practices, but also Jewish religious legalism (the different gospel of Galatians for instance).</I><BR/><BR/>No argument there--agreed.<BR/><BR/><I>You seem to warn a lot about the bad culture around us, but many conservative Christians who are listening to you probably struggle as much with legalism that masquerades as true Christlikeness, but with none of the joy of truly knowing spending time in His presence to be transformed.</I><BR/><BR/>I hate legalism with a passion. And I try not to spend much time at all warning people of the "bad culture" around us. We live in a fallen world. In fact I have written specifically against evangelical leaders who fault nonbelievers for living like nonbelievers; OR, who fault the world for acting like the world. So my apologies if anything I have written here seem to communicate something different than that.<BR/><BR/>However, I do try and warn Christians of when the world enters the church and replaces biblical worship with a seeker-sensitive, pomo, ecumenism that is more about attracting nonbelievers than the proclamation of the gospel to them. When there is a dumbing-down of doctrine for the purpose of fitting in the culture (something Paul never did) - then it is time to sound the alarm as it were and contend for the "once for all delivered to the saints faith."<BR/><BR/>Hope that helps clarify a bit more. I appreciate your thoughts greatly.<BR/><BR/>Grace and peace,<BR/>Steve<BR/>2 Cor. 4:5-7SJ Camphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15844201288864307481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-28164168087545149122008-03-08T23:24:00.000-05:002008-03-08T23:24:00.000-05:00Steve,I am not sure what point you are trying to m...Steve,<BR/><BR/>I am not sure what point you are trying to make. Is thinking biblically opposite of thinking culturally? Worldly and Godly are opposite, but culturally is not necessarily worldly. In fact, most of the passages you quote are Pauline, and he was a very astute student of the cultures where he preached.<BR/><BR/>Some things within a culture may be sinful, but not everything. Furthermore, some of the things that Paul was reacting against in his epistles were not just pagan cultural practices, but also Jewish religious legalism (the different gospel of Galatians for instance). <BR/><BR/>You seem to warn a lot about the bad culture around us, but many conservative Christians who are listening to you probably struggle as much with legalism that masquerades as true Christlikeness, but with none of the joy of truly knowing spending time in His presence to be transformed.Littlemas2https://www.blogger.com/profile/07394333207717449493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-11337584370959888592008-03-08T23:18:00.000-05:002008-03-08T23:18:00.000-05:00WarrenI apologize that is has taken me some time t...<B>Warren</B><BR/>I apologize that is has taken me some time to address your question.<BR/><BR/>This post is a simple reply against the emerging/emergent postmodern view of faith which really says that cultural appeal and mandate determines or shapes biblical ministry. Where just the opposite would be true; the Scriptures determine biblical ministry which then in turn can impact people in any culture for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.<BR/><BR/>So thus the phrase: think biblically not culturally was born.<BR/><BR/>Hope this helps a bit more to explain.<BR/><BR/>The verses I listed below that slogan go to demonstrate that in any culture that Paul found himself in, the message never changed. <BR/><BR/>Grace and peace to you and thank you again for your patience.<BR/><BR/>SteveSJ Camphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15844201288864307481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-66404600673699812332008-03-06T20:51:00.000-05:002008-03-06T20:51:00.000-05:00Maybe I need to read more of your blog to understa...Maybe I need to read more of your blog to understand this post...I don't understand your point. Could you point me to a post you've already written that talks about this topic or write one soon? Thanks. :)Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05015023776948055425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-2893378743648354882008-03-05T23:58:00.000-05:002008-03-05T23:58:00.000-05:00BINGO!Thank you for sharing this Blue. Now that i...BINGO!<BR/><BR/>Thank you for sharing this Blue. Now that is how to preach the Word!SJ Camphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15844201288864307481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-22736041150822708562008-03-05T23:52:00.000-05:002008-03-05T23:52:00.000-05:00John MacArthur's opening talk at the Shepherds' Co...John MacArthur's opening talk at the Shepherds' Conference was excellent. <BR/><BR/>Actually, I only caught the last 20 minutes or so while being distracted at work, but the bits I heard were great, and the notes posted at http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/03/05/opening-session-%e2%80%93-wednesday-morning/<BR/>reveal a wonderful talk.<BR/><BR/>I found the following bit particularly good: <BR/><BR/>* * *<BR/>What characteristics mark the church that Christ builds?<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>1. It is marked by a transcendent message.<BR/><BR/>This is so obvious that it may actually embarrass some of you who have abandoned it. The agency that produces salvation, through the power of the Spirit, is the Word of God. Salvation comes by means of the Holy Spirit using the message – it is a singular message. Any other message or gospel is damning.<BR/><BR/>* * *<BR/><BR/>To which I can only say, 'Amen.'bluewoadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09281466758750607557noreply@blogger.com