Good Practice Begets Good Theology

Tony Jones new book, The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emerging Frontier, is due out in March. At some point I may offer a review. Tony obliged my request for a review copy for some research I am working on. We have had occasions to share good conversations both in person and over the phone.

One of the emphases of the emerging church movement/conversation raises the level of emphasis upon orthopraxy - right practice. Scot McKnight boils down the movement, borrowing from Gibbs and Bolger, to an ecclesiological push to live the way of Jesus in postmodern culture. In other words, people really hope to live the life of Jesus in a world full of tensions and complications either not experienced at all or not experienced at the current level of complexity. Those willing to point beyond carefully defined doctrinal articulations to a practice that reveals what one really believes often face ridicule as forgoing orthodoxy.

A few years ago I met Michael Spencer online, a.k.a. iMonk. I believe it came in the comment thread of a blog Steve McCoy began. I cannot recall if it was the early days of “Reformissionary” or not. Needless to say, our exchanges led me to begin reading iMonk. In fact, I had hoped at one time to hold a position for our State Pastor’s Conference hoping I could persuade Micheal to come preach. I did not “win.” He was a bit shocked I would ask. Maybe some day.

Today I read his post, “The Bible I Don’t Believe.” I reminisced a conversation or two I have had over the problematic nature of power words used to draw lines in odd places. For example, Michael chronicles his sixteen years of teaching, preaching, counseling, and giving away bibles to/with students from all backgrounds. He notes his dependence and insistence on the Bible. He stands firm on its inspiration and authority. And yet, when he refuses to use the term “inerrancy” the “code word police” come out of the woodwork even, evidently, suggesting Michael apostate.

This sad affair illustrates just why we need an emerging emphasis upon orthopraxy. Tony Jones suggests, “Good practice begets good theology.” (my translation) The corollary would be “Bad theology begets bad practice.” Take it a step further and draw in Dallas Willard’s contention that it matters little what we say we believe, but that what we really believe is demonstrated in our living. So, when someone suggests “in my humble opinion” and then proceeds in a number of places on the internet to rip Michael not for what he does but for the word he refuses to use it seems we have a ripe illustration. Sadly many dismiss many of the healthy things associated with the “emerging church” for many of the same reasons and in the same manner.

Self-defense often comes off as defensive. In this case, iMonk’s defense illustrates his orthopraxy begetting healthy theology. How is this for a list,

But what really makes me angry is what I did in those seven hours I was at school.

I preached on John 1 to 350 students about what it means to be a prophet who points to Jesus. My fourth sermon this week.
I prepared a sermon on John 1, on what it means to be a disciple, to be delivered tomorrow.
I read scripture and prayed with all my classes.
I taught four Bible survey classes, including three full lectures on the book of Judges, delivered to a majority of unbelievers, including Muslims, Buddhists and atheists.
I read scripture myself in my own devotional time, and made the words of scripture my own prayer.
My wife and I read scripture together this evening.
I started preparing for the two messages from the Bible and the one Bible class I’ll teach this weekend.
All like I’ve been doing for 16 years. I’m not blowing a horn here. This is my life. In the community setting where I live and serve I can’t go ten feet without bumping into something I’m doing with a Bible.

In none of those 16 years or before has anyone- student, staff, pastor, trustee, elder, pastor, parent of student, lay person or preacher- complained that I didn’t believe the Bible sufficiently. And I talk about the Bible and what I believe about it constantly. I assure you I don’t hide behind anything or anyone. I proudly read from Wright, Capon and Peterson to whoever will listen. I’m perceived on our staff as the original curmudgeon and stick-in-the-mud for my insistence that all our chapel preachers preach from the Bible, and from text of the Bible ONLY. As campus minister, I give away the Bible in every language on our campus and answer Bible questions all week. We make our students purchase the ESV for Bible class.

I know….lots of liberals going to hell like a greased pig have similar involvement with the Bible. Teaching and reading it mean nothing. Do you believe…really, really, really, believe…..like the “inerrancy” crowd? That’s the acid test.

It takes people who read blogs to figure out that I don’t believe the Bible, am apostate, a Biblical invertebrate and “wuss,” and will be judged by God as a false minister according to James 3:1 (a verse I know very well from my ordination.) This internet is a wonderful tool, isn’t it? Incredible insight with very little actual knowledge.

Whatever I believe about the Bible, I’m out here doing something with my life and my ministry that is unthinkable and impossible without my own foundational belief that the Bible is true, inspired and the Word that delivers the Gospel of Jesus. I know God in and through his Son Jesus, but what I know of Jesus grows out of the Bible first of all. My confidence in its truth, power, authority and relevance hasn’t changed.

Ask the people I minister to and with what I believe about the Bible. Oh wait, you aren’t actually here. Sorry.

If that’s a diatribe against “historic orthodox reformed Protestants,” then I hope you enjoy it. Sorry that I actually want to be accepted as a brother in Christ who believes and loves scripture. What’s gotten into me

I listened to Ed Stetzer’s CNN interview noting recent Lifeway research. He confirmed what Dan Kimball wrote giving people good reason to Like Jesus but not the Church and paint ourselves in such a light 44% would as soon avoid us as have a civil conversation.

If more people lived out the conviction iMonk shares we might reverse statistical trends and re-title our books. Here’s to iMonk. May his tribe increase.

Church and Kingdom

Don’t miss this series by Scot McKnight. I enjoyed a phone conversation with Scot last month. He should have some good things to offer. Part two is up this morning here.

McKnight on Biblical …

Scot McKnight gives good reason to consider Biblical Seminary,

Just in case you don’t know, Biblical is an innovative,
missionally-shaped seminary with solid theological roots in the
Reformed movement and clear commitment to the Scriptures as the story
into which we are called as Christians to live. I can’t say enough for
the quality of people teaching there and studying there. I loved it.

Bible reading …

A few years ago I picked up a copy of The Message by Eugene Peterson. It first came out in the New Testament and then some sections of the Old Testament were added. Once complete, you could purchase the entire Bible. Many found it uncomfortable to use as they were accumstomed to verse markings; a feature added in modern times. Others found it difficult to adjust to reading familiar passages with new expressions.

The Message has been “remixed.” This time you will find verse markers. The formal title for the work is, “The Message//Remix: The Bible in Contemporary Language.” In the introduction you will find these comments,

Accurate, But Readable.
The Message was paraphrased over a period of ten years from the Bible’s original languages (Greek and Hebrew). The idea of The Message isn’t to water down the Bible, making it easier to digest. The idea is to make it readable - to put those ancient words that their users spoke and wrote every day into words that you speak and write every day. (p.10)

The key word here is paraphrase; a process of taking words and putting them in “idioms” or expressions found in conversations today. There are a variety of translations and paraphrases available. Read from them all. They help get a sense of the “original” language underlying the translation. Remember, there were translations before the King James and as long as language evolves, there will be more.