The latest news makes me wonder where all of this is heading. Clearly some want to cosy up to Dever et al with no thought to who you become linked with in that relationship. Others are offering appropriate challenges to these men to make changes to their long held belief systems.

Personally, I think it is all too optimistic. I can’t imagine change from the conservative evangelicals. They may be conservative and we can thank the Lord for any significant contributions they make on that score. But they ARE evangelicals, and as Dr. Bob used to say, there’s a lot of JELLY in evangelicals — you won’t be able to get them to commit to anything that amounts to a separation from their fellow evangelicals, even if they will criticize their philosophy, doctrine, etc.

Time will tell, but I fear a good deal of damage will be done to orthodoxy in the meantime.

The only hope we have is that the King is on his throne and will build his church. Men may fail, but the King never.

Regards
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

I just listened to Dever’s message to the Acts29 church planters. There is a link on Andy Naselli’s site:

http://andynaselli.com/theology/mark-driscoll-and-mark-dever-on-church-planting

His introduction was quite disappointing, I admit. The thing the Dever misses, I think, is that the things these Acts29 guys are doing says things contrary to the gospel that they and Dever both embrace. So, for example, even though Paul and Peter had the truths of the gospel in common, that did not negate the need for Paul to publically confront Peter when his actions denied the gospel.

But the fawning over these two especially in certain locations makes me wonder how well known that is. For example, in the SI interview of Dever, Jason asked him ‘Are you a fundamentalist?’ Response: “Yes.” Then came some qualification of that response.

I think that many are viewing them as ‘semi-Fundamentalists’ at least. Look at Joel T’s comments and Bob B about paradigm shifting, new coalitions, etc. (or words to that effect).

The facts, however, say something quite different. And our leadership is not strong enough in their statements concerning these men. Witness the FBF Piper statement.

That’s my view anyway.

Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

If you mean so little outrage here, I can think of a few reasons.

1. Low readership.
2. The shock of having to deal with a criticism of favorite heroes.
3. Unwillingness to agree with me.

If you mean so little outrage in general, I think things might be worse than we thought.

Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3