Christianity Today

I know that the author has great affinities with Anglicanism, but he must be of the Puritan variety because Reformed theology is pretty deep in his bones. He is certainly not the broad Anglicanism of the Caroline Divines and John Wesley who thought fairly highly of transformation and sanctification. Besides I weary of the Luther comment simul iustus et peccator since much of the time it's taken out of context. What did they teach at Fuller anyway? Justification must be at every moment to facilitate transformation. Surely Paul's comment at the end of his life (if it was Paul) has a different meaning and what he means by chief of sinners after a life spent in service is different than what he might have meant at the beginning? Is it not akin to John Newton's "wretch like me" comment? Does that imply that Newton, good Anglican that he was, did not undergo radical transformation? Please a little theological acumen in the next column rather than Reformed platitudes and false dilemmas.

The problem is that the bar to evangelical demi-god status is very low. If you've got a silver tongue or a good looking face, you don't even need to go to one of the myriad evangelical diploma mills in order to become a minister, who in evangelical circles- especially Pentecostal- is treated with semi-divine worship. That, plus the fact that the evangelical minister is expected to entertain as well as be worshipped, attracts a lot of narcissists and ambitioius people to the ministry.

We don't sin because we are trying "to do too much." Charity and works are no less valuable to those who receive them because they come from a sinner. Paul admits imperfection, not great sin. He considers himself the least of the saints because he once persecuted the church.

The job of transformation is not ours but Christ's through the Holy Spirit. We are to co-operate with Him. We are not to judge when others fall because we are subject to same temptations. We are to pray, & to continue to live in co-operation with theLord. Our lives are to be the witness, the record, the preaching. Our focus should be on Jesus, like Mary at His feet. Evangelicals need to get their eyes off "man" & onto Jesus. Good article.

This is a case of identifying a problem but prescribing the wrong solution. It is just plain wrong to prescribe doing nothing as protection from failure. The price of advancing the Kingdom may be a few crash and burn scandals. But we can endure a little embarrassment much better that a paralysis of caution. If I simply clutch my golden ticket and wait to die, where is God's glory in that? Biblical history is full of great men of God making huge mistakes. Imagine, God using fallible, fallen men to do great exploits in His name. God seems willing to take the risk that they will fall and fail but he still depends on this plan to advance his kingdom. If we want fail-free service to God, the careful approach that does not move until success is assured is tempting but it eventually results in nothing.