Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel

A Must Read Book by Russell Moore

While on our recent road trip in the Midwest, as usual, I took along reading material. I like the feel of a book in my hands and know that dates me. One of the books that I began to read was Onward- Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel by Russell Moore. Moore was a new author to me, but I suspect that I will read anything he has or will write. Moore has a unique ability to speak as a prophet to our culture without coming across as angry or manipulative. On the trip I did not have the marker pen that I usually use when reading a book, but after a few chapters I knew that this was a book I needed to read a second time.

As the subtitle suggests, Moore is challenging Christians to engage the culture by learning to apply the Gospel. It is my desire in this blog to stimulate some of you readers, if there are any of you, to read this relevant book. I believe the book would make a good study for any small group or Sunday School Class, and it comes with a workbook to stimulate discussion.

So, to hopefully whet your appetite, let me share a few quotations from the book:

In the chapter, From Moral Majority to Prophetic Minority consider this: "The church of Jesus Christ ought to be the last people to fall for hucksters and demagogues. After all, the church bears the Spirit of God, who gifts the Body with discernment and wisdom. But too often we do. We receive celebrities simply because they are 'conservative', without asking what are they conserving. If you are angry with the same people we are, you must be one of us. But it would be a tragedy to get the right president, the right congress, and the wrong Christ." (emphasis mine, pages 31-32)

From the chapter entitled Kingdom: "The church is a signpost of God's coming kingdom (Eph. 3:10), a preview to the watching world of what the reign of God in Christ is to look like, a colony of the kingdom coming."

Or try this one on for size: "Our vote for President of the Untied States is important. We are held accountable, as we'll discuss, for the discharge of our ruling responsibilities in this life. But our vote for President is less important than our vote to receive new members for baptism into our churches. A President is term-limited and, for that matter, so is the United States (and every other nation). The reception of members into the church, however, marks out the future kings and queens of the universe. Our church membership rolls say to the people on them, and to the outside world, 'These are those we believe will inherit the universe as joint-heirs with Christ.'" (pg. 63)

In the chapter entitled, Mission, consider this: "In our attempts to keep the gospel from being too big, we must not end up with a gospel to small to do what Jesus commanded us to do." 

Moore is addressing the issue of how the G\gospel and, what we call the Great Commission, call for Christ-followers to be involved in confronting social injustices that are embedded in every culture. We cannot choose between evangelism and justice. But, how do we biblically address injustices? Two other quotes to consider in answering that question: "We empower darkness when we refuse to warn of judgment....The gospel does not expose sin in order to condemn but in order to reconcile...We speak of sin, and we warn of judgment, but in order to see persons made right with God, not in order to vent our spleens."

Moore effectively deals with issues such as abortion and capital punishment when he addresses human dignity or what it means to be image bearers of Deity. As usual, Moore ties every point back to the gospel. 

So, without boring you (and because I want to get back to finishing the book) let me share one more quote about human dignity and the gospel. "Our mission then is defined not just by precepts and principles and priorities but by a person."

After all, isn't it all about Jesus? Isn't He the only hope for our culture and our world? Isn't He the coming king who will set up the only perfect culture?

So, consider my challenge to read this relevant book. I welcome your feedback.

Forgive me for one more quote from the back cover: The signs of the times tell us we are in for days our parents and grandparents never knew. But that's no call for panic or surrender or outrage. Jesus is alive. Let's act like it. Let's follow him, onward to the future."

Precious Memories - visiting friends from our past churches

Precious Memories- revisiting friends in Ohio

Mary and I recently completed a twenty-six day road trip through the Midwest. The odometer registered 5,670 miles when we arrived back home in Bend. Although physically exhausted, our hearts and minds were filled with precious memories. I believe the apostle John captured our emotions best when he wrote, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

The primary focus for the trip was to visit friends from our first two churches in Ohio where we spent ten years at The Pulaskiville Bible Church near Mt. Gilead and at the Berean Baptist Church in Marion Ohio. Since we are both getting much older we wanted to visit old friends one more time.

While in Chicago we also visited two classmates from our days at Moody. Sam was my best man and Laura was one of Mary's bridesmaids. The four of us visited Moody Bible Institute and attended the President's chapel. Listening to the Moody Chorale in Torrey Gray Auditorium brought back memories as we were reminded of the quality of the music program at Moody.

Bob and Debbie Barnett

On our return trip from Ohio we visited Bob and Debbie Barnett in Woodstock, Illinois. Bob was a student at Western Seminary and served as the custodian at Powellhurst Baptist Church in Portland where I was the pastor. Bob and I spent lots of hours discussing Scripture, and Bob would pick my brain about ministry. After years in the pastorate, Bob is training to be a professional counselor.

Don and Joan Bowman

We spent a week and a half with friends from Pulaskiville; some of them now live in Kalamazoo Michigan where we spent time with the Bowman family en route to Ohio. Don and his four sons each professed faith in Christ through our ministry at Pulaskiville. Three of their sons have served in local church ministry. Bruce even served as the pastor at the Pulaskiville church. However, we will need to wait to re-acquaint with Bruce since he died around age forty. But, we enjoyed sharing with his brothers Dan and Brian. I felt such joy hearing them share their about passion for Jesus and their leadership in the local churches where they serve.

Jim Rupp and I at the pulpit in Pulaskiville where we both have served

 

Jim and Shirley Rupp- our hosts for a week

A week was spent with Jim and Shirley Rupp who live only a few miles from the Pulaskiville Church building. Jim was saved under our ministry and immediately had a passion to study God's Word. He was part of a group of men that I mentored and taught biblical studies on Saturday mornings. Jim has also served as the pastor of Pulaskiville Church where he was saved. Today Jim serves as the interim pastor of The Edison Bible Church near Mt. Gilead. As usual, Jim was filled with questions about theology; it was just like old times. We were able to listen to Jim expound the Word on Sunday, and I was so proud of him. I suspect he has outgrown his old pastor and mentor.

We also visited with Chuck and Beryl Reed. He was my co-pastor at Berean Baptist in Marion. While in Marion we visited the Wilson's, a very special family at Berean.

        Rick and Kathryn Van Horn                                           Two preachers on the throne

                             

After a week in Ohio we spent three days with Rick and Kathryn Van Horn in Indiana. Rick was in Middle School when we went to Pulaskiville. He was always a great kid. Rick has planted Christ Community Church near Fort Wayne, and we were able to attend a Sunday service in the local high school. Again, I felt such joy and satisfaction as I listened to Rick preach so creatively and effectively. I was also impressed as I watched how he loved and shepherded his flock. Rick also fired questions at me and even asked me for input into his next sermon.

Man, how much I love these two guys! They are like sons to me, and it gives me such joy to see they still preach grace and truth so effectively. It was great to spend time with them and their wives. The fellowship was so sweet that we have asked them to visit us next summer so we can show them Central Oregon. But, the highlight of their visit will be the wonderful fellowship we will enjoy.

When we were at the Rupp's in Ohio, they had invited several people from the Pulaskiville Church to an open house. Wow! It was almost overwhelming to see so many of them again and to hear them, one after another, share how they came to faith through the preaching of The Word under our ministry. Those seven years at Pulaskiville are still the most exciting and memorable of the forty-five years that I have served as a pastor. I have served as pastor of larger churches and have led building programs and other significant ministries, but the memories we have from Pulaskiville are the most precious. I was so young when I began serving as their pastor. Looking back I wonder why anybody would even listen to me or follow my leadership. But, God did such amazing things in that small country church!

Home of The Pulaskiville Community Church- many memories to cherish forever

Worship center where God released His amazing power one special Sunday

It was not the excitement of having the attendance grow from around 45 to over 200. No, it was the number of entire families that came to faith in Jesus Christ and then brought their friends and neighbors to hear the gospel. Pulaskiville was no longer a little country church because people came from surrounding towns to see what God was doing. Mary has always said, "It was only true revival I have ever experienced." Personally, I don't know if it was a revival, since that usually refers to God's people coming back to Him after drifting away, but I do know that what happened in that little country church in Ohio was a "God-thing." I had no strategy for church growth. I didn't even have a great vision for the church. I only know that one Sunday The Holy Spirit moved mightily among us. Don Bowman was the first to respond, followed by his family. Then another man followed by his wife and children. And, then another. Soon the front of the church was filled with more seekers than we had trained counselors. From that Sunday on (as I write this the tears still come to my eyes) God grew the church in numbers and more deeply into Himself! Like the church in Acts, the power of the gospel spread outward from a small country church.  I thank God for the privilege to have been the recipient of His grace and power and have always said Pulaskiville was the best seminary I ever attended.

As precious as it was for me to listen to their stories of how they came to The Faith through our ministry, the most fulfilling experience of all was seeing that so many were still walking and loving Jesus. After all, it is not how we start a race but how we persevere and finish the race.
However, on a sadder note, there were some painful memories from our trip. I grieve over those who once professed faith in Christ and had followed Him in baptism but who have drifted away. Some who began so well no longer follow Jesus. Their eternal destiny is not for me to determine; God knows those who are truly His children. The Good Shepherd will not abandon His sheep.

Bob Jenkins- teenager saved under our ministry

Jean Bush- we paid her a surprise visit near Delaware Ohio

There were so many visits with special people that I cannot share. Two stand out because of recent losses in their lives. Jean Bush recently lost her adult son, Eric, but her faith is strong even though her heart grieves deeply. Bob Jenkins' wife Peggy was killed in an auto accident in May. They both recently retired and anticipated traveling together. Again, Bob is grieving but his confidence in God remains firm. Seeing these two people made the trip worth all the miles and weariness.

With all the precious memories from our trip, there was another observation that grieved me. I learned that churches, including Pulaskiville, have split over less than significant things. Small, struggling churches now dot the landscape. Each church seems to be competing for survival. None seem to be thriving. Their witness in the community is being weakened by a petty and divisive spirit.

If John could say that he had no greater joy than knowing some of his converts were still walking in the truth, I suspect Jesus might say that He has no greater grief than knowing that some of His disciples are not walking in love. Did He not say, "By this the world will know you are my disciples that you have love for one another?" The Gospel has power to reconcile us to God, but it also has the power to reconcile us to one another.
Now that we are home again, I thank God for those precious memories and those precious people He brought into our lives so many years ago and so many miles away.