The Web Site and Blog of Pastor Chris Brauns
I have enjoyed being interviewed a couple of times by Kurt Goff.
There is much to learn from this interview and Justin’s balanced answers.
I appreciate the section where he says, and this is not an exact quote, “There is nothing virtuous in being a jerk just for the sake of being a jerk . . . yet, Christians will have people roll their eyes at them and in some ways we would rather undergo physical suffering.”
Listen here.
A theological controversy covered by CNN (see here) demonstrates how dialogue is changing in the age of the Internet. Justin Taylor has questioned Rob Bell’s views on Hell – - and an exponentially growing discussion has ensued. Controversies such as this are one of the reasons I have recently stressed the importance of a local church’s doctrinal statement to our church here in Stillman Valley.
In January our church was privileged to have Justin Taylor preach about the sanctity of life. In introducing him, I tried to explain to our people (many who don’t follow the blogosphere) the breadth of Justin’s influence. It’s hard to comprehend how the world has changed, and how a blog can now quickly reach around the world.
Justin’s influence was demonstrated this weekend when he posted about Rob Bell’s forthcoming book and questioned Bell’s orthodoxy. Of course, Rob Bell also has a large audience so it was a unique intersection of different audiences who read blogs. The temperature began to grow.
Indeed, CNN reports (HT: Denny Burk) that Justin’s post on Bell received over 250,000 hits in just a few days. At the same time, Bell’s book sales have soared.
There are a couple of things for the people in our church to notice:
You can read the CNN article about the controversy here. Kevin DeYoung’s thoughts are also insightful. And, Justin’s original post on Bell’s position is here. I certainly agree with Kevin that it doesn’t work for Bell to say, “I was only asking questions.”
Pastor Jeremy Carr of Oxford Bible Fellowship responds to those who find it difficult to believe that Hell is eternal.
Jeremy Carr:
It seems that the biggest hang-up people have with the concept of hell is that it is eternal. The argument goes like this, “It doesn’t seem fair that someone who sins for a relatively short time on earth should have to pay for their sins by being eternally punished in hell.” This is an important concern for us to consider. Why is hell eternal?
I want to offer three lines of thinking in answer to this question. The first comes from C.S. Lewis via Tim Keller. The other two are more original (though I believe they have the support of Scripture, and others have probably formed similar thoughts). At the same time, I’m still processing them, so any thoughts you have would be helpful. You can comment by clicking “Discuss this Post” below.
1. A relational explanation (Lewis/Keller).
This explanation basically goes like this: At some point our body will die on this earth, but our soul lives on into eternity to experience what we have desired and lived for in this life. So if you desire Christ and trust him as your Savior, that is your eternity. If you rejected your Creator and want to live without him here, you will do so for all eternity. There’s a lot more to this, but you’ll need to read chapter 5 of The Reason for God for more.
The rest here.
Isaiah 9:7 says that, “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end”
Randy Alcorn’s book, Heaven
If Christ expands his rule by creating new worlds, whom will he send to govern them on his behalf? His redeemed people. Some may rule over towns, some cities, some planets, some solar systems or galaxies. Sound far-fetched? . . . Is there anything in Scripture – - anything we know about God – - that would preclude him from expanding his creation and delegating authority to his children to rule over it? I can’t think of anything. Can you?
See also Jeremy Carr’s post on this book.
When Jadon’s parents put him to bed on Tuesday night they told him, “Well tomorrow you will be five.”
In the middle of the night, Jadon’s dad took him to the bathroom and said, “Well, Jadon, now you are five.”
Jadon replied with awe, “Wow, that was quick.”
So, it was for his parents. In the blink of an eye, babies are five years old.
And, so it shall be for us. Life is a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:13). Surely, Christ is coming soon (Revelation 22:20).
We’ll wake up in the middle of the night, in a moment, in the “twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52) and say, with all the wonder of five year old Jadon, “Wow, that was quick.”
There are times when it needs to be pointed out that a statement is completely at odds with Almighty God – - indeed, that it is liable to judgment. Tim Keller appropriately made this point while preaching on the Sermon on the Mount.
The title to this post points to one of the most despicable uses of language in our culture. People are all too willing to casually assign something to perdition without thinking about the reality of what they are saying. For something to be “damned” means it is an object of the wrath of God. If we have even a trace of wisdom, then we ought to tremble at the thought (Proverbs 9:10).
Flippant references to the condemnation of Almighty God demonstrate a disregard for the idea that we are accountable to our Creator. (Here I point to Joe Thorn’s recent series of articles on Hell.”
Having said that, there are times when it is appropriate to carefully notice that something is a direct affront to God. Being careful means making sure that those who hear know that what is said is meant seriously and in keeping with the truth of Scripture.
During sermon preparation today, I can across this appropriate use of the phrase from Tim Keller:*
Jesus Christ said, “I have utterly fulfilled the Sermon on the Mount. Therefore, when you believe in me, not only does everything that you deserve come onto me, but everything I’ve done comes onto you.” That means that when God looks at you, Christian friends, He sees someone who is beautiful as the person who does the Sermon on the Mount every day. Absolutely every day. That is high. That a higher view of the law. Jesus Christ says, “I take the law more seriously than any religious person! The religious person says, ‘Do your best.’ I say, ‘No, you have to be perfect!’ Absolutely perfect! I’ve been perfect for you.” That great hymn writer John Newton has these words: “To see the law by Christ fulfilled and hear His pardoning voice, transforms a slave into a child and duty into choice.”
So what does all this mean? First of all, by the phone booths and bus stops all over New York, there’s an ad showing a beautiful model in undergarments which says, “Inner beauty only goes so far.” I’m going to say something to get your attention so you can say you heard a Presbyterian minister say it. “That’s a damned lie.” Damned? “Absolutely!” It’s making fun of the values of the kingdom of God. You will never have the upside-down kingdom—where instead of looking for power and success and approval, you live a life of sacrifice – - unless you have the inside-out kingdom. The inside-out kingdom says that what really matters is who I am to Jesus and who I am in my heart, and not whether I look right. The wealth I need, the reputation I need is all wrapped up in Him. That makes Christians radically free. We’re not self-conscious. We’re not scared about our bank account. So you can never have the upside-down kingdom unless you have the inside out kingdom.
Don’t buy the world’s despicable lie that appearances and externals are what is most important. Rather, understand that if you turn in repentance from your sin, and put your faith in Christ, then there is now no condemnation for you. Rather, you are a new Creation (2 Cor 5:16-17).
* “The Inside-Out Kingdom,” by Timothy J. Keller, in The Journal of Biblical Counseling, Vol 19, Number 2, Winter 2001, page 48.
Joe Thorn has a good series here briefly refuting five common myths about hell:
Philip Yancey:
It is a good thing to remember that in the cosmic drama, we live out our days on Saturday, the in-between day with no name. I know a woman whose grandmother lies buried under 150-year-old live oak trees in the cemetery of an Episcopal church in rural Louisiana. In accordance with the grandmother’s instructions, only one word is carve on the tombstone: “Waiting.” (The Jesus I Never Knew, 275).
If you are feeling disillusioned about the Christian life, I recommend this sermon from Tim Keller on biblical hope. Not only is it tremendous preaching, but Keller also talks about the beginning of Redeemer Presbyterian church.
Some of the quotes I took from this sermon.
The English word that always translates the Greek word for “hope” never translates it well.
Biblical hope is life changing certainty about the future . . . being certain about the future in a way that affects how you live now.
You and I are unavoidably and irreducibly hope based creatures. We are controlled how we live now, but what we think will happen latter. Christian hope has to do with the ultimate future, not the immediate.
Keller quotes three things Jonathan Edwards (in a sermon on Christian hope and happiness) says about Christian hope.
(1) Your bad things will turn out for the ultimate good.
(2) Your good things can never be taken away from you.
(3) The best things are yet to come.
One more Keller quote:
People who do not have a proper understanding of Christian hope are always freaked out.
Read endorsements for Unpacking Forgiveness here.
Click here to order Unpacking Forgiveness.
“. . . Chris Brauns has done a magnificent job in helping us understand the true nature of biblical forgiveness. Every Christian will profit from reading and applying this book.” Jerry Bridges.
“ . . . Unpacking Forgiveness is an engaging, convicting but emphatically encouraging treatment of this hugely important (and sometimes mindbogglingly challenging) part of life. Dr. Brauns writes from the standpoint of a faithful, wise, experienced and caring pastor . . .” Ligon Duncan, First Pres, Jackson, MS
A Brick in the Valley
