May 5, 2011
Am I YRR? Observations from the Gospel Coalition Conference
A few weeks have passed since I accompanied the pastoral staff of our sending church to the Gospel Coalition Conference in Chicago. Since that time our family has returned to Brazil, rented a house, and taken the first baby steps in our new ministry in the city of Sao Luis.
I am currently cooling my heels in the city of Juazeiro do Norte (16 hours by car from Sao Luis) awaiting approval for the purchase of a new vehicle. Since I have time (and an internet connection) I figure it is high time for me to share my reflections on the conference.
Before anything else, I want to say that the conference was a tremendous blessing. The theme, Preaching Christ from the Old Testament, was expounded masterfully from the pulpit by men like D.A. Carson, Al Mohler, and Alistair Begg. Workshops on such relevant topics as church planting and church mission were very timely for me personally.
During the week we kept hearing about the YRR--Young, Restless, and Reformed. The pastors of our church and I had a running debate as to whether we fit into this category. So, am I YRR? The answer is clearly...
Yes. The TGC people have a passion for the Scriptures and for biblical preaching. If this is what it means to be YRR, then count me in.
No. The TGC people are, for the most part, five-point Calvinists. By most people's definition, I am not. So...they would probably not have me.
Yes. As their name, The Gospel Coalition, suggests, it is a group of people united around the Gospel. The denominational variety is impressive, as is their ability to disagree about secondary issues and remain friends. I listened as one Baptist panel participant told of being amazed at how the Greek Orthodox priests in the country where he worked would dunk babies in the baptismal waters because "they know what the word means". This was directed at a Presbyterian member of the panel, who received the comment with grace and good humor.
Another comment is appropriate here: It is quite evident that these men are not "rank compromisers". They are not uniting for the sake of uniting, or even for the sake of evangelism. Rather, they are brought together because of their passion for the Gospel. I found that to be truly refreshing.
No. I am a dispensationalist, and it was evident that most of the participants at TGC subscribe to some form of covenant theology. This is not true across the board, however. John MacArthur is greatly influential in some sectors of the YRR movement, and he is quite dispensational. Al Mohler, in his comments about how the Old Testament has been interpreted, had this to say: "Modern dispensationalists were right to see divisions, and wrong to deny continuity." Can't say as I can argue with that.
Yes. The TGC people are very careful that correct worship reflect correct doctrine. The worship services preceding and following the messages were powerfully theological. Kudos to Keith and Kristyn Getty, who set an amazingly worshipful tone for the whole conference. Their first session literally moved me to tears.
No. Many in the YRR movement are decidedly non-cessationist. By this I mean that they feel that sign gifts are still valid for today's church. As I have stated elsewhere on this blog, I cannot see this in Scripture, and I am constantly confronted with the dangerous effects of this idea in our work here in Brazil. It should be noted, however, that several of the leaders of TCG in specific and the YRR movement in general are indeed cessationists.
Yes. I am a confirmed Mac user, and was pleased to see that 99.999% of the computers being used at the TGC conference were Macs. I felt very hip and cutting-edge.
No. Most of the young men at the conference sported either spiked hair or Driscoll-style "faux-hawks". For kicks, the pastoral staff and I decided to adopt this style for our presentation at our church. To my dismay, I discovered that no amount of gel could make my hair do other than what it has always done. It's true: I have Regular Baptist hair.
So there you have it. Am I part of the YRR movement? The answer is clearly Yes...and No.
Posted by Andrew on May 5, 2011 10:37 AM.
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Posted by: Tracy at May 5, 2011 2:45 PM
A Prayer From Jesus
Jesus I brought this prayer to your people and they rejected it. So I added a comment on the importance of this prayer and your plan of Salvation, again no responses. Finally with fire and brimstone, mentioned their destination, it was as if they could not even hear.
Jesus am I to be a profit as unto Jeremiah or like unto Jonah. I fell like Jonah, no matter what I want to do, You all ways command me to do this small task, deliver Your prayer. Except the results are as unto Jermiah. When not one obeyed when You said, they will find safety out of the city.
Jesus, you created me as neither but one of power, in Jesus NAME. Devil in the NAME of JESUS I bind you in Jesus name. Release your hold on those who will be called, son's of Jesus. I command you in JESUS NAME to be gone from all who read this post, in Jesus Name. For the glory is yours alone Jesus. I lift your Name up in Praise now, Lord Jesus. Open my eyes in Jesus Name and let me receive from You, this very hour in JESUS NAME.
.
- A PRAYER FROM JESUS -
This prayer is from Jesus that we may hear from Him, that He may speak to our hearts. It only consist of three simple steps.
1, We need to read one scripture. This will focus us in the word that brings everlasting life.
2, Since this prayer is from Jesus we need to direct our prayer to Him personally. Too often Christian focuses they're prayer's to G_D or Father. Scripture proclaims, that Jesus should be the focus of our prayer.
3, The simplest part of this Prayer is to ask Jesus one question. Please, all that is required for this question is that it should be simple. Let Jesus Himself finish the question when He gives you that understanding through this prayer.
The PRAYER
A) The scripture that is the focus of this prayer is "ACTS 2:38". It's not necessary to do any study into this scripture. Jesus will give you the understanding that will resonate in your heart. Just read Acts 2:38, keep it in your heart and take this one scripture to prayer
B) The most important part of this prayer is that we need to direct our prayer directly to Jesus. If you normally would say Father in your prayer, change your focus from the Father to Jesus, by lifting Jesus name up every time you would normally use Father in your prayer.
C) Maybe the hardest part of this prayer is the question that we need to ask Jesus. For man is always trying to understand the question, instead of listening to the answer. The simplest question is all that is required.
Simply ask Jesus, 'WHY'?
For those who are obedient
Tsquare777(at)gmail.com
Posted by: Tom at May 6, 2011 1:34 AM
Hello,
You say that you cannot find scripture to back up non-cessationist theology, however, I'm curious as to where in scripture you find the back up for the cessation of the gifts. I enjoy reading your blog, and I'm curious to hear how you can scripturaly prove that the gifts of the Spirit were meant to cease with the apostles. Additionally, if you do not believe in the use of the gifts of the spirit today, then what do you believe that those who do, are actually doing?
Posted by: regina kennedy at May 22, 2011 11:20 PM
Thanks for the good laugh today! I cracked up when I read your comment about having "regular baptist hair!" Too funny!
Posted by: Debbie at July 31, 2011 5:53 PM
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Sounds like a wonderful conference! I have heard many good things about TGC and T4G, which I believe to essentially the same or at least organized by the same group of people. I really appreciate your discernment in seeing the things you agreed with and disagreed with within their organization. I think the ability to discern (from the Bible) is absolutely essential for all Believers. I find it very refreshing (more importantly Biblical) when people who were raised "Regular Baptist" (loved the hair comment - so funny!)really dig into the Scriptures instead of doing something because it's always been done that way. And I think you hit the nail on the head with this statement: "The denominational variety is impressive, as is their ability to disagree about secondary issues and remain friends." Can you really believe that not everyone in Heaven will have attended a Baptist church?! :)
All joking aside - I will continue to pray for you and your family as you start you new ministry in Brazil! Keep on Keeping on for the Gospel!