Dr. Donald A. Carson is a name most of us don't know; he's a professor in New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity in Illinois. He's a distinguished writer and evangelical voice. He's also recently written a book about the emerging church. And to say that he is critical may be an understatement.
Here's the thing... all things that have created change within the church for the past 2000 years have been opposed. While gathered with friends in Santa Fe last week, I heard much talk about listening to voices that push against us. That's good wisdom. We need people to push back.
We also need to know that God has been in our midst over the past decade as the Spirit has prepared our hearts, minds, and lives for living a gospel message that is dangerous, a gospel message that conflicts with what we have been swallowing for much of our lives.
As followers of Jesus >>>
God has called us to be 'set apart.' He's called us to be apprentices of his Son. He's called us to push against the status quo and to be peacemakers and lovers of people.
Let us go forward. While listening to the voices of such people as Carson, let us be reminded that as lovers of Jesus, we are called to be 'one.' Unity among believers is not an option for the church of Christ. For those who have learned to embrace denominations and division for the sake of 'truth,' we can only say, "Go get 'em." For those of us who really believe that unity is not optional, let us go forward, knowing full well that the risen Jesus prayed that we would have the same unity that he experienced with the Father & Spirit.
For all the crap we get, and for those of you who have been called heretics, I simply encourage you to go forward. There is a sweet, sweet spirit in the air... (pause) The Spirit IS in our midst.
Shalom.
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