Photo: My youngest son has a good time at the English Sunday school.Dear Fellow Christians:
I just listened to an entertaining and positively informative sermon on the SEBTS website, from Mark Driscoll, which he delivered on the 5th of February 2009, wherein he delineates nine distinctions (antitheses) between the Gospel and religion. The Blue sections below indicate direct quotes from Mr. Driscoll. He uses the term "religion" in a novel way, and it seems to be primarily directed at eliminating the traditional use of the term, or robbing it of substantial merit.
I just listened to an entertaining and positively informative sermon on the SEBTS website, from Mark Driscoll, which he delivered on the 5th of February 2009, wherein he delineates nine distinctions (antitheses) between the Gospel and religion. The Blue sections below indicate direct quotes from Mr. Driscoll. He uses the term "religion" in a novel way, and it seems to be primarily directed at eliminating the traditional use of the term, or robbing it of substantial merit.
I like to believe that I am religious in a way that is not necessarily entirely bad, or not at odds with the Gospel. I go to church, follow the precepts of my group, believe in the collective way, prescribed by our statement of beliefs for entrance to SEBTS. I am hesitant to attempt a radical reassignment for the meaning of the word "religion."
Once you accept Mark's usage of the term "religion," to mean a negative concept, one at odds with the Gospel, though, he brings to focus some salient points. I am fond of enumeration within sermons, and Mark uses this well here, with his nine points. Enumeration lends a stickiness to my deaf ears; concepts stick with me better.
1. Religion tells you in its various forms, "If you obey, then God will love you."
The Gospel says "Because Gods loves you, you will want to obey Him."
2. Religion is prone to see good people and bad people.
The Gospel does not see a person as to whether or not he is a sinner. The Gospel sees a
person in light of whether or not he is repentant.
3. Religion is about getting from God.
The Gospel is about getting God.
4. Religion sees hardship as punishment.
The gospel sees hardship as loving correction from a good Dad. God is not trying to harm them; He is trying to sanctify them.
5. Religion is very aware of other people's sins.
The gospel is very aware of my own sin.
6. Religion is focused on the external and the visible.
The Gospel is primarily concerned with your heart.
7. With Religion you're not certain about your salvation.
On the cross, Jesus said, "It is finished." The Gospel is about certainty. John, "I write these things so that you may know you have eternal life." I know that I am saved by the grace of God, through the person and work of Jesus Christ. I want to share my salvation. If I don't have it, I can't share it. Give your life to Jesus, there's certainty in that.
8. Religion is about self-righteousness. [9:20]
The Gospel is about gift-righteousness.
2nd Corinthians 5:21 The Great Exchange: My sin goes to Jesus, his righteousness comes to me.
Gift, imputed righteousness leads to humility.
9. Religion results in pride or despair.
The Gospel leads to a "holy happiness". God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.
Here are some more pertinent quotes that stuck with me:
"Heretics are people who don't preach or practice repentance." (From J.I. Packer)
You want your business to thrive, so you use God ... manipulating God to use Him to get what you want. God gives to you Himself. The Gospel is about God giving us God. [23:30] Religion is about manipulating God. [22:57] Religion seems to work for people until they don't get what they want.
Religion from TheFreeDictionary.com:
1. a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.Idiom:
I believe we can overplay the virtues of condescending when we preach, meaning we need not always try to make our message as simple as possible. Even the uneducated segment of our populace has enough basic sense to understand what we mean when we use more specific words to decry the abuses within religion, such as hypocrisy, self-righteousness. The Bible gives us plenty of examples, and theologians expound on that, with clarity.
Theology is not written solely for the eyes of theologians. I have read theology since my teen years as an avocation, though I always felt God could potentially use my growing knowledge vocationally. But the point is that I felt I gained in my understanding by my readings, without so much expert help. I did have professors along the way, and they were at times immensely helpful. But the bulk of my readings have been without such help, and yet, the Holy Spirit was with me, I believe.
I grew up in Gravel Hill, a poor rural Black neighborhood outside of Taylorsville, NC. We were the only White family. My immediate next-door neighbors had no electricity when we moved in, but got it two years later. They never had indoor plumbing, until the house was destroyed close to the turn of the century.
Despite their lack of formal education, I spoke to them the same way I spoke to my more educated friends, and they understood what I had to say. I spoke slowly and chose my words carefully, as if I were preparing some writing. That's how I enjoy conversation. They knew I was that way, and they understood me. Being in person adds much power to your message. So it was with us.
In Christ, Nathaniel
1. Religion tells you in its various forms, "If you obey, then God will love you."
The Gospel says "Because Gods loves you, you will want to obey Him."
2. Religion is prone to see good people and bad people.
The Gospel does not see a person as to whether or not he is a sinner. The Gospel sees a
person in light of whether or not he is repentant.
3. Religion is about getting from God.
The Gospel is about getting God.
4. Religion sees hardship as punishment.
The gospel sees hardship as loving correction from a good Dad. God is not trying to harm them; He is trying to sanctify them.
5. Religion is very aware of other people's sins.
The gospel is very aware of my own sin.
6. Religion is focused on the external and the visible.
The Gospel is primarily concerned with your heart.
7. With Religion you're not certain about your salvation.
On the cross, Jesus said, "It is finished." The Gospel is about certainty. John, "I write these things so that you may know you have eternal life." I know that I am saved by the grace of God, through the person and work of Jesus Christ. I want to share my salvation. If I don't have it, I can't share it. Give your life to Jesus, there's certainty in that.
8. Religion is about self-righteousness. [9:20]
The Gospel is about gift-righteousness.
2nd Corinthians 5:21 The Great Exchange: My sin goes to Jesus, his righteousness comes to me.
Gift, imputed righteousness leads to humility.
9. Religion results in pride or despair.
The Gospel leads to a "holy happiness". God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.
Here are some more pertinent quotes that stuck with me:
"Heretics are people who don't preach or practice repentance." (From J.I. Packer)
You want your business to thrive, so you use God ... manipulating God to use Him to get what you want. God gives to you Himself. The Gospel is about God giving us God. [23:30] Religion is about manipulating God. [22:57] Religion seems to work for people until they don't get what they want.
Religion from TheFreeDictionary.com:
1. a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.
b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship.
2. The life or condition of a person in a religious order.
3. A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.
4. A cause, principle, or activity pursued with zeal or conscientious devotion.Idiom:
I believe we can overplay the virtues of condescending when we preach, meaning we need not always try to make our message as simple as possible. Even the uneducated segment of our populace has enough basic sense to understand what we mean when we use more specific words to decry the abuses within religion, such as hypocrisy, self-righteousness. The Bible gives us plenty of examples, and theologians expound on that, with clarity.
Theology is not written solely for the eyes of theologians. I have read theology since my teen years as an avocation, though I always felt God could potentially use my growing knowledge vocationally. But the point is that I felt I gained in my understanding by my readings, without so much expert help. I did have professors along the way, and they were at times immensely helpful. But the bulk of my readings have been without such help, and yet, the Holy Spirit was with me, I believe.
I grew up in Gravel Hill, a poor rural Black neighborhood outside of Taylorsville, NC. We were the only White family. My immediate next-door neighbors had no electricity when we moved in, but got it two years later. They never had indoor plumbing, until the house was destroyed close to the turn of the century.
Despite their lack of formal education, I spoke to them the same way I spoke to my more educated friends, and they understood what I had to say. I spoke slowly and chose my words carefully, as if I were preparing some writing. That's how I enjoy conversation. They knew I was that way, and they understood me. Being in person adds much power to your message. So it was with us.
In Christ, Nathaniel
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