I suppose I should not be surprised that some of my conservative, evangelical friends are concerned about my salvation. I am fairly happy to have conversations that deal with the core issues of my faith, and chip away at the foundations of everything I have been taught. The reason I do this is partly driven by the personality and gifting that God gave me, partly because I feel a sense of calling to get the church to confront it's weaknesses, prejudices and failings, and partly because I am a genuine seeker after truth.

But, recently, some of the labels thrown at me have taken a tone that is concerning. People are accusing me of being "apostate" (completely irredeemable), heretical and deliberately leading the faithful astray. A journalist recently said I was "liberal and alternate" - this was not so much concerning, as the next statement, which was that "therefore I do not need to listen to you or take your opinions into account."

I recently wrote an email to someone who had indicated this type of concern about me. Some close friends helped me put it together, and having seen the outcome, suggested I adapt it slightly and post it here. So, here is something of a "manifesto" and answer to those who think I've lost the plot...

Thank you for your email and the John MacArthur sermon you recently gave me. As you know, I have read all the books you have recommended to me, and listened to all the sermons you have given me. I sense an increasing fear in you - fear for my salvation.

So, firstly, I want to respond by asking you to have no fear. If nothing else, you need to trust the God of Philippians 1:6. God began a good work in me many years ago, and it is He and He alone that will carry it to completion - to the day when Jesus returns and history is complete. All of us are constantly embarked on a journey with God, and if we can't trust Him and His grace, then who can we trust? I believe God's grace is extravagant (if not downright scandalous), and I believe that all those who earnestly seek Him do find Him. You need to be assured (and reassured) that the deepest desire of my soul is to seek God and His Truth. I believe that this alone should be enough to calm your fears.

However, let me add more to this. One of the major signs of deception is that one does not take the Bible seriously, and does not believe it is God's Word. I know that this is what you think I have done. I am not sure why you think this. If you read my blog entries and listen to my sermons, you will find nothing but a consistent appeal to God's Word. I know that my interpretations of the Bible do not match yours, but that is different from saying I don't believe in God's Word. In fact, that's part of the problem I have - we have elevated our own interpretations of the Bible above the Bible itself. We believe we have nothing left to learn when it comes to the mysteries of God.

I think this is at the heart of the dangers I perceive in the evangelical church - that we are taught to trust the Bible, rather than to trust the God who wrote the Bible.

But, let me affirm that I believe the Bible is God's Word. I believe everything the Bible claims about itself. I believe all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all people (not just men) of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. I believe that every word in the Bible is precisely the word God wanted to be there, and that the Bible will stand up to detailed scrutiny and academic rigour. I believe the Bible needs interpretation and application (which is why, for example, I understand why Paul talked of "men" in 2 Tim 3:17, while we today understand he meant "people"). I believe interpretation can only be done by those who are empowered by the Holy Spirit and who seek Truth, and I believe that interpretation must be done in community. I believe interpretations can change over time, as God reveals more of Himself to us and as His-story unfolds. I believe that a single verse may mean different things to different people at different times (or at the same time, for that matter), as God works with them and reveals Himself to them. I believe that by affirming these things I stand firmly within church traditions and traditional exegetical positions.

I also believe, as 2 Tim 3:17 states, the purpose of the Bible is to equip us for good works. Too often evangelicals believe that the Bible is simply there to be a textbook of academic data or a handbook for pure doctrine or the text of an insurance contract to keep us out of hell. These are all essential, but they are the means, not the end. So, yes, I am reading the Bible with new eyes, and have been for the past 10 years or more. But, I am taking the Bible more seriously, and I am more committed to it's truthfulness and relevance than ever before.

In my quest to understand God's Truth, and His will for my life, I have always read widely and attempted to understand the breadth and depth of God's revelation. I have never been scared to question, but have always been confident that God will supply the answers (knowing that He does indeed have the answers). But, I have always had a healthy scepticism about anyone who claims to have found the full and final truth of God's revelation. This is not because I don't believe such truth exists, but because I believe that we are all fallible human beings, and I believe that no-one will ever know the fullness of God (until we get to heaven, and even then we will not know Him fully, for who can know God?). Put practically, that means that I am certain that each of us must each day evaluate our beliefs and prejudices to see where there may be weakness, inadequacies or faults, and constantly try and learn more and become more Christ-like.

In recent years, I have found value in the writings of some authors, some of whom are now being branded as "emerging church" theologians. They are helping me to see parts of the Bible I had traditionally downplayed or just ignored, and they are helping fill out my understanding of the Bible in wonderful ways. These authors specifically include Len Sweet, Brain McLaren, Dallas Willard, Philip Yancey and Rob Bell - but there are many others. Some of their ideas (and the ideas of authors in this mould) are a bit way out and kooky. I don't subscribe to everything they say. But, I do believe that their voice is a valuable one. Most of all, having had the privilege of meeting many of these authors, and listened to their sermons and talks, I sense in them a Christ-likeness that is attractive.

I believe that the traditional evangelical church is in grave danger of losing it's God-given focus on the Kingdom. I believe we have developed a "Gospel of evacuation", where we are essentially telling people that their aim in life is to keep pure and away from the "world" and wait for their transport to heaven. I do not believe that this is the Gospel Jesus preached. At least it is not the fullness of the Gospel - it is but one aspect thereof. It is almost unbelievable to me, for example, that in John MacArthur's sermon, he bases his whole message on the passage in Matthew 25, where people will come and say, "Lord, Lord" and Jesus will tell them to "Go away, I never knew you". He then gives a list of ways in which you can know you are deceived, never once referring back to the passage in Matthew 25, and not even hinting at the reason Jesus Himself gave for sending these poor souls away. The reasons MacArthur gives are all related to doctrinal purity. The reasons Jesus gives are all related to social action. I find that incongruence in MacArthur's sermon shocking and disturbing.

But, I do not want to engage in a point for point refutation of MacArthur's sermon - or of his book, for that matter. I simply want to say that I appreciate your concern for me and my family. I share your fear for my role as a teacher, and for how I will be judged for the things people do because they heard me preach and teach. But, I want to ask you to trust God and to trust me. I am not being led astray. I am not following a false God. I am not apostate. I am finding myself in God, and I am daily becoming more Christ-like. I am leading my family and my children to a deeper appreciation of God, His creation, His revelation and His Kingdom than I ever had. And I am loving every minute of it. I long for more of God, and I seek His truth.

Graeme, June 2008

Graeme - that's very courageous and honest of you. There comes a time when we gird our loins and speak what's within us, what we are made of.

I don't know you beyond your writings, but I fully affirm your path. I find it strange that nobody seems to have much prophetic awareness at the moment. Or if they do, its a domesticated prophet. But I mean prophetic in the sense of Walter Brueggemann's "Prophetic Imagination".

The prophet speaks like you are speaking, they speak the possible, the speak life and they speak the truth in humility.

Posted by: nic paton 06 Aug, 2008 - 15:35:03

Thanks for posting this bit of intimate information. I appreciate the insight that it gives into your faith, and of course your person.

Be encouraged that leaders are seldom understood in their time, and that those who have sought to be MORE stringent in their reading of, and obedience toward, scripture will face such challenges. I like what McLaren says, that it is not that we do not take the injunctions seriously, in fact we take them with even greater weight, knowing that all human persons have a propensity to 'skew' the words of scripture towards their own selfish and narrow perspectives.

I am reading a remarkable book by Richard Burridge at the moment (he is a Professor New Testament Ethics at Kings College London), it is entitled 'Imitating Jesus - an inclusive approach to New Testament Ethics'.

He makes a wonderful assertion that we frequently undervalue certain elements of scripture, and overcompensate on others. For example, we take the 'neatly packaged' sayings of Jesus (which are frequently directed towards the religious fundamentalists and literalists - Pharisees and Sadducees) and give them MORE weight, than the loving, inclusive, and affirming LIFE of Jesus. Scripture contains both! In our ethics we need to look not only at the 'one liners', the 'proof texts' of what Jesus said, but also at the kind of loving example his life gives us.

In what you write above I find a healthy balance between both.

Rich blessing in your ongoing journey.

Dion

Posted by: Dion Forster 07 Aug, 2008 - 17:06:34

Thanks for your really kind and affirming responses. I am encouraged by the number of truly Christ-like people I have met on this journey.

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