Dan's words are important to heed. I just posted this comment over at his blog, and I'll repost it here:
One of many things that I admire about my former pastor, Mark Dever, is that he (by the power of God’s Spirit and the faithful preaching of His word) helped to bring a very much *dying* church to healthy, vibrant life. In fact, I would say that Capitol Hill Baptist is perhaps now one of the healthiest churches in the nation, if not the world! They do encourage church planting but *not* (from what I could tell, as a member) at the expense of church reform. In fact, Dever’s ministry, 9 Marks, has much to do with reform in already existing churches.
Really? I did not think any of his points were prescient. They were full of caricature, ignoring the many church-planting examples of what he might be looking for to legitimize what he is criticizing and answer what he is questioning. Every anecdote can be countered with another one. Every example of desire for fame and envy can be countered with one of humble reliance on the Holy Spirit. Are there many church-planters whose hearts and motivations need to be questioned?
As there are bloggers.
But to assume the worst of church-planters in general is pathetic. Indeed, it might actually prove the point he is wanting to counter.
Thanks for the comment. Certainly he is painting with a wide brush here, but I just appreciated it as a motive check for those of us who might be interested in church planting sometime in the future.
Zach, thanks for the link (and the blog!). I loved Dan's call for faithful church-restorers. I'm striving to be faithful in the woods of Maine when everyone else is "going to the city". I love the city, but Jesus has called me to Windham, Maine. (No Starbucks, but we do have the Maine Bean! Local's better anyway.)
God is building his Church, and it's urban AND rural. We're pumped to be seeing pockets of gospel-renewal throughout New England. And our dream is to plant more gospel-communities in the region and in the cities.
Bottom line--we need both church-restorers and church-planters. Even more, we need to work together. It's not your church or my church. It's Christ's church.
5 comments:
Dan's words are important to heed. I just posted this comment over at his blog, and I'll repost it here:
One of many things that I admire about my former pastor, Mark Dever, is that he (by the power of God’s Spirit and the faithful preaching of His word) helped to bring a very much *dying* church to healthy, vibrant life. In fact, I would say that Capitol Hill Baptist is perhaps now one of the healthiest churches in the nation, if not the world! They do encourage church planting but *not* (from what I could tell, as a member) at the expense of church reform. In fact, Dever’s ministry, 9 Marks, has much to do with reform in already existing churches.
Really? I did not think any of his points were prescient. They were full of caricature, ignoring the many church-planting examples of what he might be looking for to legitimize what he is criticizing and answer what he is questioning. Every anecdote can be countered with another one. Every example of desire for fame and envy can be countered with one of humble reliance on the Holy Spirit. Are there many church-planters whose hearts and motivations need to be questioned?
As there are bloggers.
But to assume the worst of church-planters in general is pathetic. Indeed, it might actually prove the point he is wanting to counter.
m b redmond,
Thanks for the comment. Certainly he is painting with a wide brush here, but I just appreciated it as a motive check for those of us who might be interested in church planting sometime in the future.
z
Zach, thanks for the link (and the blog!). I loved Dan's call for faithful church-restorers. I'm striving to be faithful in the woods of Maine when everyone else is "going to the city". I love the city, but Jesus has called me to Windham, Maine. (No Starbucks, but we do have the Maine Bean! Local's better anyway.)
God is building his Church, and it's urban AND rural. We're pumped to be seeing pockets of gospel-renewal throughout New England. And our dream is to plant more gospel-communities in the region and in the cities.
Bottom line--we need both church-restorers and church-planters. Even more, we need to work together. It's not your church or my church. It's Christ's church.
Joshua,
Great comment. Thanks for the reminder.
z
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