Is Our Gospel Too Small or Too Big?
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Collin Hansen's latest Theology in the News article looks at N.T. Wright's claims about the gospel and social justice, while also looking at the perspectives of Mark Dever, Douglas Wilson, and Tim Keller.
Here's the section on Keller (referring to an article not yet online):
Update: Tullian weighs in.
Here's the section on Keller (referring to an article not yet online):
Tim Keller and his Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City fall somewhere between Wright and Dever. Writing for Leadership [JT: , Keller answered this year's question for the Christian Vision Project, "Is our gospel too small?" (The article is not yet available online.) In so doing he took a stab at defining the gospel. "Through the person and work of Jesus Christ, God fully accomplishes salvation for us, rescuing us from the judgment for sin into fellowship with him, and then restores the creation in which we can enjoy our new life together with him forever."Greg Gilbert and Jonathan Leeman have been talking about related gospel and kingdom issues at the 9Marks blog.It's the last clause of this sentence that makes the difference. Is God's plan to renew creation part of the gospel message? If so, is it the center of the gospel or a peripheral component of the Good News? Again, how you answer these questions affects how you will live, and how you will expect fellow church members to act.
"When the third, 'eschatological' element is left out, Christians get the impression that nothing much about this world matters," Keller wrote. "Theoretically, grasping the full outline should make Christians interested in both evangelistic conversions as well as service to our neighbor and working for peace and justice in the world."
Update: Tullian weighs in.
posted by JT at Friday, May 02, 2008
7 Comments:
Dever's talk at T4G was precisely about this issue. I think he answers this quote from Keller quite nicely, and I agree with him (Dever, that is).
This is such a crucial issue going forward in the history of Evangelicalism. We can't afford not to be clear on this.
The third element, the eschatological is absolutely central to the Gospel. It is not peripheral. All creation groans waiting for the restitution of all things. We are included in that.
Justin,
Any chance we can get you to weigh in on where you fall on this issue? Do you side more with Dever or Keller? With Leeman or Gilbert?
I'm not even really asking for you to defend your position. I'm just really curious to know.
Even if the eschatological truth is not a part of the gospel, it does not follow that it is not important. I think that it is a little unsubstantiated to assume that unless it is not part of the Gospel then Christians will not take this present world serious enough. There are serious things and there are other serious things. There is no need to collapse the two in order for them both to be important.
Stephen
"The Gospel changes more than hearts because it changes hearts first."
What do you think of the above statement?
Overall, I think Mark Dever's concerns are legitimate and he is fairly sensitive to the NT issues surrounding gospel in the NT. However, as Gilbert points out, "gospel" is alot broader than the means by which sinners encounter a gracious and forgiving God. What are we to make of Isa. 52.7; 61.1; Lk. 4.18-21, Lk. 7.22-23/Mt. 11.4-6; Rev. 14.6 etc? What is more, the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel and is not the gospel itself. We should be careful not to arbitrarily elevant jusitification over redemption, reconciliation, or atonement in relation to the gospel.
I think Gilbert is hitting the nail on the head. The term gospel, can be used in more than one way, but we need to focus on proclaiming the heart of the gospel which is justification through faith in the atoning work of Jesus.
Dan Erickson
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