A.W. Tozer famously said, “So many are caught up in the work of the Lord that they have forgotten the Lord of the work.” The disciples of Jesus were amazed at the power God was giving them for ministry, but our Lord reminded them where their true joy should reside: having their “names recorded in heaven.”
Anthony Bradley has offered an important critique of a new type of zeal, especially among younger evangelicals, which at times can be misplaced.
http://www.worldmag.com/2013/05/the_new_legalism
It is unwise to assume any of us have the proper balance on this issue, but I do think Bradley makes some critical points…points that this middle-aged evangelical, who has done street preaching in places like Berkeley and Boulder, yet now lives in the suburbs trying to make sense of the Christian life appreciates.
I have lived both errors: “zeal with not enough knowledge” and “plenty of knowledge with flickering amounts of zeal.” I don’t have it figured out, but I do appreciate those who offer an alternative perspective to new trends within evangelicalism. And we evangelicals are prone to trends. This is not all bad as we want to be always open to “reforming the church” when those reforms are truly called for. The danger is to get enticed in a direction simply because it is novel and then becomes popular.
I am glad for the zeal and intensity of purpose among many younger evangelicals. But since every strength can also be a great liability, I do think Bradley’s words ought to be carefully considered. Much more needs to be said, but the conversation needs to take place.
So read Bradley and consider whether his push back on a new sort of “legalism” has any merit.
I would love to hear what you think!
I think Bradley has captured the mania of “loving and serving the city” well. It is a necessary place of mission, but not the only one. Where I live in Portland, Oregon, many churches rush to show the city our love and service, but few seem to give consistent and clear biblical education on matters like marriage and family life. While we are serving our cities I’m afraid Satan will continue to gut our families out from under us.
Hey Ben,
It always a danger to make a good thing the main thing.
Bradley’s warnings seem a helpful corrective as Dave observes. The gospel message offers true belonging and significance but are we not often guilty of looking for our belonging and significance on how we are delivering that message? The significance of a human being is marked by the image of his Creator and his belonging by the blood of Jesus. How then do we drift into subtly shifting our significance into the remarkableness of our ministry and our belonging into how “sold” we are on the current version of the church’s vision?
I believe we need to spend more time considering unintended consequences as Bradley does here. We know to make explicit statements about God’s unconditional love and yet is that same message not contradicted by implications of actions, words, and where attention and approval are given and withheld in our churches?
I love the belonging or team feeling that I find in a missional community. I love that the petty critiques and distractions of consumer christianity seem to fade somewhat in a community that is outward focused. But I find my heart still longing for a belonging and significance that won’t pivot on the frenetic and waverng pace of my ministry but on the unwavering fact of God’s love proven on a bloody cross and an empty tomb. My heart like yours is deep waters. Let us cheer one another on both to not grow weary in good doing but also to be still and the good truth that God is God.
Being a 30-something Christian leader who has grown up in suburban/rural America in a Christian home, I see great benefit in what Platt and others have done by making the missional movement a mainstream trend in the evangelical church. I even occasionally watch him on youtube from some of the conferences he speaks at (verge, etc.). Seeing this benefit, I also recognize that the missional movement is a corrective measure and like most corrective measures, it swings too far for some people in the church.
That being said, I don’t see a need to push his Radical study into our church. As a shepherd my job is to know my people and know what they need. Our people need to see Jesus and see His mission. I just need to show them the scriptures and why they are important for us right now, here in small town, Texas. When they get that – when they see that – they will know what they need to do, because the Holy Spirit will bring the conviction to their hearts that only He can.
The bottom line is that every disciple should be making other disciples. For some this might mean that you make great sacrifices in your service to our King. God may have wired you to do “radical” things for Him. For others, God may have put you in a place of relative comfort to serve Him. He has prepared for us all “good works” to go and do (Eph 2:10). The failure of church leadership isn’t that people haven’t been “radical,” it is that believers have moved to use the spiritual gifts that God has given them to use in and for the church.
edit last comment last sentence… “it is that believers haven’t been moved….”
I have been guilty of both too. I think the later is what I am more guilty of currently and have excused myself from zeal for sharing the gospel. So when a new movement of younger evangelical starts percolating my interests are piqued. But I also believe that initial excitement of our salvation experience is suppose to fad for the purpose of strengthening our faith. Otherwise we are relegated to seeking one experiential high after another. But on to the article: I see both sides. On one hand you have a generation of young people (evangelicals and secularist) who have not done hard things. Who are tiring of the suburban lifestyle and seeking something to be zealous about…why not the gospel. And on the other hand you have others (in this case older believers) who are trying to mature in the sanctification process. Live a life that is pleasing to God. And to “aspire live quietly, and mind your own affairs, and work with your hands, as we instructed you,” 1 Thessalonians 4. I’m not sure what to change in myself from this if anything. Good thoughts Dave.
Challenging article by Bradley. Paul’s message to the Thessalonians appears to contradict his own life. Was he leading a quiet life? I want to model myself after him and other biblical heroes. I used to tell high school students: Don’t be a G.I. Joe Christian. That is, don’t be the guy named “Joe; ” he always dies in the episode. Instead, be “Sergeant Slaughter.” But when life is tough and I am not seeing the fruit I expect in my attempts to serve God, then I find out how much my contentment in Christ is based on bearing spiritual fruit rather than on the person of Christ. Bradley pins me there.
Though Paul is dealing with idleness, the corrective to lead a “quiet life, mind your own business, work hard with your hands” still is consistent with other themes in Scripture.
But there remains a need for all of us to consider how “radical” (in the original sense of getting at the root of the matter) we are when it comes to the Christian faith. Being co-opted by a culture of ease and resting in God may look similar in some ways, but the heart behind them is very different.
So I am glad for the push back of the “younger evangelical radicals,” but still want to voice caution over the potential of idolizing the edgy types of ministry. Ministry done in obscurity to the glory of God is a wonderful thing indeed.
As one who traffics in the churches that attract the younger crowd and work in a ministry with college students, we need to bring this into our ‘challenges to live for Christ.’ It is communicated in many ways that ‘city’ is where it is at? And yes, there are some there…but not where ‘all nations’ live.