Some more assembled thoughts on Christians and "gay weddings," including on the latest media/online skirmish . . .

https://twitter.com/jaredcwilson/status/1750532244190683174

1. There's no need to anathematize Alistair Begg or any other good brother/sister who affirms the biblical's sexual ethic but disagrees on this application of Christian compassion.

Through teaching, coaching, and traveling I take in a lot of preaching. Here are a few consistent things I keep seeing . . . 1. No clear homiletical structure. Just b/c you're going "verse by verse" doesn't mean you should give us a running commentary with no clear through-line or thematic center.

I am really, really, really trying to finish a book ms. on "gospel drift" right now. One reflection from the work: drift from gospel-centrality happens often subtly but usually runs along rivulets begun in three subtle ways: 1. A conflation of the gospel with its entailments/implications. (In this way the social gospel of the "left" is not dissimilar from the legalism of the "right")

So we saw both *Oppenheimer* and *Barbie* today, and I have some thoughts. 1/ First, on Oppenheimer. If you're interested in seeing it, you should know there is a graphic s*x scene. Based on the subject matter of the movie, the promotional material, and the director's track record, I did not expect that at all. Felt totally out of left field.

Heard this morning that Steven has gone on into glory. Prayers for his wife and the church at Middletown Springs, VT are appreciated, I'm sure. Can I tell you about Steven's remarkable journey to Jesus? . . .

https://twitter.com/jaredcwilson/status/1481096989815287809

I remember his 1st Sunday in 2011. He stood out b/c he was by himself. 62 yrs old, I think. Long gray beard, flannel shirt, "work jeans." He was dressed liked a lot of 20-something hipsters except he came by it honestly. He looked like he'd just come in out of the woods

3 keys to endurance in pastoral ministry:
1) Trust that the God who is sovereign loves you.
It's a good thing to believe God is in control, but it's empowering to believe he is also in fact love. 2) Friendships that are nourishing and a marriage (if applicable) that is strong.
Loneliness is wearying and withering. We are more tempted to quit when we feel all alone.

A friend recently asked me what I thought it would take to bring peaceability and graciousness to our evangelical subcultures. I said I didn’t know, really, but I imagine it might need to be revival. Like, actual revival — not a program or event. The Holy Spirit interrupting us and reordering us with his surprising power.

“What if someone just isn’t a very good writer?”

Then, I don’t know, MAYBE THEY DON’T NEED TO HAVE A BOOK

https://twitter.com/jaredcwilson/status/1385317264954515457

Or they could credit the person with an “and” or “with.” But this idea that everybody’s entitled to have a book with their name on it is weird. Not everybody is good at everything. It’s ok to stay in our lanes.

Many moons ago, I was serving at a church that had to fire the lead pastor for a variety of disqualifying behavior, including short-temperedness and verbal/emotional abuse of staff. I remember hearing something important in a "house meeting" where explanations were being made The elders were recounting years (plural) of working with the pastor in pleading with him to repent, to get help with his anger issues, etc. When they fielded questions from congregation, one person asked why this process had to be so "official."

Thanks to all who engaged with this tweet, including the Reformed guys who called it “idiotic,” “eisegesis,” “racegesis” (?), and “a massive stretch.” I forgot the quotes and citation but this is actually a line from a John MacArthur sermon. gty.org/library/sermon…

https://twitter.com/jaredcwilson/status/1336409351276400643

FTR, I agree with Dr. Mac here. And you’ll have to forgive the “thou art the man”-ing here, but I was trying to conduct a little experiment about statements about race, about how we measure truth based more on approved or unapproved voices than the claims themselves.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” - 2 Timothy 4:3 // I think many of us have applied this danger in the modern age to prosperity preachers... ...and other “feel good” teachers (the inspirational moralists of the attractional church). And it *does* apply to the allure of those types. But not sure as many of us saw it applying to politicians and political pundits and social media conspiracists. But it most certainly does

Many people have been church hopping this season because they didn't see joining a church in the first place as joining a family so much as a vibe. Having to meet different hours, different places, different ways -- that changes the vibe. So they're looking elsewhere. We don't do family like that. Or we shouldn't. If Grandma said, "Next Thanksgiving we're gonna eat outside" we wouldn't find a new grandma. You could tell Grandma you don't like it. That you wish we could go back inside. But you're there Thanksgiving eating her food.

Excellent thread. I'm seeing this too and expecting more of it. I'm not a prophet or a son of a prophet, but I suspect there is a great refining going on right now -- even a pruning. It feels like a great brokenness. And it is. The angry people are finding their way out

https://twitter.com/deaninserra/status/1299096495069765635

As Dean mentions, there are (generally) two types and they are ending up at two kinds of places. For those not compelled to either side, it is tragic and can be discombobulating to feel "caught" in the middle. But this is preferable to "taking up arms" against the brethren

One thing you notice from time to time as our most dedicated harassers, nitpickers, and revilers defend their "communication strategies" is an appeal to the harsh language of the Scriptures. "The Bible can be rude. So we can be rude" the thinking goes... You will see them cite Paul's harsh rebukes of the Galatians, his sharpness about the Cretans, and so forth. Jesus turning over tables and running people out with a whip. There are no doubt numerous examples of harsh language from the holy -- from prophets to apostles...

I do not claim to know all the ins and outs of Crist's offenses or his pursuit of repentance, but I am compelled to urge consideration of the huge problem we only compound when we equate restoration with restoration *to a platform.*

https://twitter.com/ChurchLead/status/1283446052306202627

The rush to forgive fallen public figures is essentially good-hearted. But we can further harm victims *and* offenders by assuming re-platforming them is necessary to forgiveness.

Polled the guys in my coaching cohort on what words of advice they'd give to a new pastor. Here's what they said . . . 1) A calloused heart is lack of spiritual nutrition, so the way you treat others will be directly connected to the state of your relationship with Christ.

Some reaction to this reveals the problem. And it's not simply a matter of "style," but of theology. Some say the reason the gospel isn't clear is because the teaching is aimed at Christians. But most of these churches say the exact opposite: we're prioritizing the unchurched. 1/

https://twitter.com/JonathanLeeman/status/1244986761668890624

Secondly, and probably more importantly: The fundamental breakdown is this: A misunderstanding of the power of the gospel. The Bible positions the message of Christ and his work as not just for the lost but also for the found. It isn't power just for conversion but for growth 2/

A true story: I had a kid back in my student ministry days who had no real shot at success in life. He was an unbeliever living with his alcoholic dad and older brother, both unbelievers. A friend invited him to youth group . . . He became a follower of Jesus. He was socially awkward, impolite around girls, probably had ADD. He was a kid I constantly had to take aside and "talk to." But we loved him and he belonged. Better than that, he found places to pitch in at the church and feel a part of the family

(sigh) I have . . . thoughts. First, setting aside that nearly every Christian author I know regularly gives work away for free (blogging, podcasting, social media, excerpts, etc.), there are several problems with this kind of thinking . . .

https://twitter.com/TableJimmys/status/1219061790988021760

The number of Christian authors able to make a sustainable living off book sales is incredibly small. It's one of the biggest misconceptions about publishing those who don't publish usually have. There's a reason most Christian authors you're aware of have day jobs.

A lot of people upset by this tweet. My mentions have been filled for two straight days now with a variety of complaints. Some upset that I have not answered their complaints. I've hesitated to engage for a few reasons but want to answer the primary good-faith question...

https://twitter.com/jaredcwilson/status/1216869901996040194

But first: the complaints have broken down into a variety of categories. Across them there is the sort of person for whom no answers will suffice. Whether because of the subject (racism) or the source (me), there is no biblical or logical reasoning that will make any difference.

Sincere question asked of me last week by a friend who's not up to speed on all the 'Reformed' tribes: "What is this 1689 thing and why does it seem like all the people who have it in their bio treat others like dirt?" As I said, the question was sincere, not loaded. This person has no dog in the Reformed conversation hunt. He honestly didn't know what 1689 referred to. He was honestly, as an observer, making note that those he sees identifying with it for some reason don't treat others well.