ISSUE 1.1 | 2019

Permanent Things is published by EDITOR CONNECT WITH US Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO and by The Owen Strachan THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC THEOLOGY Covington Group, Kansas City, MO.  Public_Theology Information about the journal is available EDITORIAL ASSISTANT at the seminary website: mbts.edu.  PublicTheologyMBTS Michael Brooks Address all editorial correspondence to: Editor, Permanent Things DESIGN & LAYOUT MIDWESTERN SEMINARY Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary 5001 N. Oak Trafficway Jason Muir  mbts Kansas City, MO 64118.  midwestern.seminary COORDINATOR The views expressed in the following  midwesternseminary articles and reviews are not necessarily Kristen Lanier those of the faculty, the administration, or the trustees of the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

1CPT.MBTS.EDU 2019 | ISSUE 1.11 COUNTING THE COST 43 AND COUNTING THE JOY: A CALL TO CHRISTIAN WOMEN by Abigail Dodds

PRINCIPALLY 45 CONSERVATIVE, CONVICTIONALLY CHRISTIAN: ON TRANSCENDENT TRUTHS AND DIVINE REALITIES TABLE OF CONTENTS | ISSUE 1.1 | 2019 by Don Sweeting

“IT’S SIMPLY A CHRISTIAN EDITOR’S NOTE: THE FIRST GOD’S CALL TO 50 WITNESS”: THOMAS 3 THINGS OF PERMANENT 25 EXCELLENCE KIDD ON THE VALUE THINGS OF EVANGELICAL by Andreas J. SCHOLARSHIP by Owen Strachan Köstenberger

THE DEBONAIR AND LEONARDO DAVINCI, 55 TRUTH WITH GRACE: DELIGHTFUL WILLIAM 4 JAMES CAMERON, AND 29 RE-CENTERING GOD F. BUCKLEY, JR.: WHAT TRANS-SPECIES “LOVE”: AND DE-CENTERING EVANGELICAL PUBLIC THE BRAVE NEW VISION SELF WITHIN THE PUBLIC INTELLECTUALS OF POSTHUMANISM SQUARE MIGHT LEARN FROM A CATHOLIC LUMINARY by Michael Plato by Bruce Ashford by Andrew Walker

‘WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT TO GOING DARK: THE RISE 13 WITNESS IS NOT MAGIC’: 33 AND SIGNIFICANCE OF GENTLEMEN SHEPHERDS CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S 58 JORDAN PETERSON AND AND INVISIBLE CINEMA OF IMMANENT THE “INTELLECTUAL SHERPAS: THE TASK WONDER DARK WEB” OF THEOLOGICAL EDUCATORS by Brett McCracken by Esther O’Reilly by Jason G. Duesing

“THE SPIRIT DOES NOT “THE GOSPEL ADDRESSES 18 MINISTER ANYTHING 37 ALL OF LIFE”: ON RACE THE THEOLOGY OF THE ELSE BUT CHRIST”: KEVIN 65 AND IDENTITY WITH H. B. BIBLE AND THE MISSION VANHOOZER ON PASTOR- CHARLES, JR. OF THE CHURCH THEOLOGIANS, DOCTRINE, AND CULTURAL LITERACY by Jonathan Leeman

YOUR PROSPERITY IS 41 TOO SMALL: THE FALSE ON HAVING A LARGE IN ASHES, BUILD: NOTES PROMISES OF HEALTH- 23 FAMILY IN AN AGE OF 70 ON A THEORY OF AND-WEALTH RELIGION CHILDLESSNESS CULTURE by Costi W. Hinn by David Talcott by Owen Strachan

2 2019 | ISSUE 1.1 EDITOR'S NOTE

Permanent Things is not to enter headfirst into the The First partisan arena; that is the honorable duty and call of some, but our charge is to assist the church (pastors and elders most directly) in thinking in a distinctively Things of Christian (and even Baptist) way in a climate in which such assistance is in short supply.

Permanent The contributors of this first issue are a gifted bunch. Most are Baptist or credobaptist; all are warmly evangelical, and all have staked their life and work on Things the Word of God. Their articles range across matters of culture, theology, and the public square; some are testimonial, some are pedagogical, and some are analytical. The collective effort here is a bold one; we Permanent Things is a Southern Baptist journal on dare to try to think well in this little journal, and to do Christ and culture, a theological loci codified in the so not with arrogance borne of confidence in ourselves, twentieth century by a mainline Protestant theologian, but with hope borne of confidence in the mind and will the title of which springs from the writings of a Gothic of God. Evangelicals, it must be said, have not always Catholic who first sighted the phrase “permanent excelled in this area, the life of the mind, with particular things” in the cultural criticism of an Anglican poet respect to matters of Christ and culture. In some cases, born in the state of Missouri. It sounds fantastic, but it we have lagged behind our Catholic neighbors. It is my is all true. In Permanent Things, we consider the way in hope that the rising generation of evangelicals will not which evangelical faith—derived in historic terms from fail to hear the call to love God with their mind, and the discoveries of the Reformers both magisterial and, to seek to be salt and light in this evil order, knowing to a not insubstantial degree, radical—collides with that faithfulness to this sacred mission depends not on a fallen world and an increasingly secular order. Said baptizing non-Christian thought, but on being uniquely differently, we engage H. Richard Niebuhr’s discipline and unmistakably evangelical, born-again, Spirit- with the confessional conviction of cross-loving indwelt, and Great Commission-minded. Baptists under the banner of T. S. Eliot’s (and Russell Kirk’s, by popularization) famous descriptor of the It has been a joy to work on this project through most important institutions, ideas, and realities of our the auspices of the Center for Public Theology at world: human nature, freedom, virtue, civil and cultural Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. I thank order, morality. From an evangelical standpoint, we may Dr. Jason Allen for his vision for the center and Dr. explicitly include a biblical conception of the family, Jason Duesing for the suggestion to start this journal. church, and public square in this list. My thanks as well to Mike Brooks, my sharp-eyed assistant, and to the excellence-pursuing team of the Permanent Things comes in tumultuous times, when Communications department, a division led by Charles everything seems to be politics and politics seems to be Smith. And now: to the permanent things—their everything. Previous political occurrences have upended defense and promotion, coram deo. the previous order and, in a real sense, changed the situation of the evangelical movement. The task of Dr. Owen Strachan, Editor

CPT.MBTS.EDU 3 PERMANENT THINGS 4 scholarly attention, namely, thecomplete reassessment phenomenon thathasonly recently beengaining further decline.Yet itwasalsoasignofmuch wider have read itassimply anotherexample ofHollywood’s and othertraditionalists who watchedthefilmmay metaphor for theembracingof“the other.” woman andthe“fishman” wasgenerally read as a comment. Ifanything, theromance betweenthe taken instridebymostmediaoutlets withoutmuch romance tobesopublicly celebrated seemed to be That dance number waspretty classic, however.) prejudices were many, andtheboywasafish.(The the mainvillainwasaBible-quoting Christian,the modifications tothetraditional narrative.Inthiscase, As thefilmwas released in2018,there were a few there wasevenashowstoppingmusical dancenumber. prejudices were overcome, theboygetsgirl,and that isalittle self-congratulatory. Villainswere fought, movies. Hollywood likes nothingmore thansomething By Michael J. Plato of Posthumanism The Brave New Vision “Love”:Trans-Species James and Cameron, DaVinci,Leonardo can.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2012/december/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20121221_auguri-curia.html (Accessed25March, 2019). 2 1 For anexample ofthis,see:https://www.vox.com/2018/3/5/17079236/shape-of-water-best-picture-oscars-why-won (Accessed02/15/2019). Benedict XVI, The ShapeofWater Address ofHis Holiness, Greetings Benedict XVIontheOccasionofChristmas totheRoman Curia. fantasy which celebrated thepowerof del Toro, itwasasweepingromantic Mexican filmmaker, visionary Guillermo classic Hollywood choice. Directed by The ShapeofWater IN2018, PICTURE BEST FOR WINNER HE OSCAR wasthefirsttrans-species , wasinmany ways a 1 Christians

Some aspectsofthistransformation have been when hesaid: this wascaptured byPope Benedict XVIafew years ago of what itmeanstobehuman. Ithinksomesenseof I shallbeginbyfirstexplaining theconceptof already beenexploring thepossibilities for decades. means tobehuman, much ofpopularculture has begun toassessthisnewunderstandingofwhat it culture. while Indeed, theacademy hasonly recently technology, philosophy, sociology, thearts,andpopular comprehensive, embracing developments inscience and ever was,andithasbecomemuch more broadly more aggressive andsubstantial thanpostmodernism movement. Iwouldarguethatposthumanism ismuch ofthisnebuloussee itmerely asasmallsubcategory following postmodernism,andthere are thosewho Superficially, thismay soundlike thenexttrendy thing explosion ofacademic interest inposthumanism. Over thepastdecadeorso,there hasbeenavirtual the term to come.These‘biggerthings’ may beencapsulatedby but are merely asymptomatic prelude ofbiggerthings entertainment are nottheendofsome sortofsequence, recent developments insociety andevenpopular our mediadiscourse.Yet itismy contention thatthese proper genderpronoun usage,have cometodominate andathletics admissions,restrooms, and military other identity rights issues,suchastheuseofpublic The transgendermovement, aswellanumber of front andcenter toourcultural consciousness. himself what hisnature istobe. only theabstracthuman being,who choosesfor he himselfisconcerned.From nowon,there is now becomesman’s fundamental choice where today where ourenvironment isconcerned, The manipulation ofnature, which wedeplore posthumanism . December21,2012.http://w2.vati 2

2019 |ISSUE 1.1 - posthumanism and the competing and complimentary handsome, able-bodied, and young. What exactly this term, transhumanism. Then, I will briefly show ideal shared with the statistical average of humanity how these concepts are already familiar to many of was, for her, a question that needed to be addressed.3 us through popular culture artifacts. Finally, I will modestly posit what this is going to mean for Christians Irigaray and others noted that if this model was to be in terms of future engagement. Before we can begin to regarded as universal, then the female, for example, understand posthumanism, we need to first look at the could only be seen as particular, and, therefore, as humanism it seeks to be “post.” other. Other was to be different and different was to be worthless. Being worthless, one was also therefore Humanism exploitable and disposable. Later, post-colonial critics Human-centered philosophies have been around were to make the same argument with regards to race for millennia, yet they seemed to have taken on a and ethnicity. One must concede that these critics particular cast in the western European Renaissance. of humanism, a humanism which had its origins In addition to philosophers, artists such as Leonardo within the secularism of the Renaissance and the DaVinci (1452–1519), the poet Petrarch (1304–1374), and Enlightenment it may be added, do have a point. others contributed to a new image of man as noble For instance, Jean-Paul Sartre noted the connection perfection. “What a piece of work is man,” wrote between humanism, specifically its notions of Shakespeare a century after DaVinci, yet still capturing rationality, and violence.4 Reason is not exclusive the shimmering dream, “How noble in reason, how from violence, far from it. The Canadian scholar, infinite in faculty, In form and moving how express and John Ralston Saul, in his book Voltaire’s Bastards: The admirable, In action how like an Angel, In apprehension Dictatorship of Reason in the West, demonstrated how how like a god.” This view of man set the standard for humanistic, or Enlightenment, rationality apologized European civilization. Linked to this poetic and visual for violence as well as implemented it. Saul also notes representation were the humanistic ideals of reason, that it was in the wake of the Enlightenment that the freedom, self-awareness, and self-determination. These category of “race” became increasingly important in were the creature features which distinguished “man” European thinking in terms of defining what it meant from all other forms of life and placed him at the top of to be human.5 We can see the consequences of this most the food chain. clearly in the horrors that were accomplished in the name of reason and racial superiority, such as the social Importantly, the assumptions embedded in this ideal engineering of the slave trade, at Auschwitz during were said to be universal, and, as such, were not only World War II, or in the gulags of Soviet era Russia. inclusive, but also exclusive as well. This at least was the critique articulated when the ideal began to be taken to This critique of humanism grew and eventually became task in the 1960s and 70s, first by feminist critics, and known as the anti-humanist movement. Beginning later, by postcolonialists. Essentially, when looking at first with the feminists and post-colonialists, it was this image, these critics were asking, “Is that what I’m later picked up by gender theorists, queer theorists, supposed to look like, too?” The feminist Luce Irigaray post-structuralists, and others. Anti-humanists did not pointed out that the allegedly abstract concept of “Man” entirely reject all humanist values. For instance, most was not only very much male, but also white, European, of them favoured the humanistic concept of freedom.

3 Luce Irigaray, Speculum of the Other Woman (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1985) and This Sex Which Is Not One (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1985). 4 See Istvan Meszaros, The Work of Sartre: Search for Freedom and the Challenge of History (New York: Monthly Review Press, 2012), Chapter 6, “Material and Formal Structures of History: Critique of Sartre’s Conception of Dialectical Reason and Historical Totalization,” esp. 265. 5 John Ralston Saul, Voltaire’s Bastards: The Dictatorship of Reason in the West (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992).

CPT.MBTS.EDU 5 PERMANENT THINGS 6 10 9 8 7 Thought 6 Coffey, noted: desire for power." inWesterneverything civilization thatrestricts the was humanism. Humanism, asFoucault saw it,was“… perhaps nearingitsend." insisted that“Man isonly arecent invention, andone would himselfproclaim the“death ofman.”Foucault and hisproclamation and ofthedeathGod, would buildonNietzsche’s conceptoftheÜbermensch Later theFrench theoristMichel Foucault (1926–1984) sheer actofwill. for humanity thegoaloftranscendingitselfthrough a concept oftheÜbermensch,or“Overman,” which set famously, Nietzsche’s proposal wasembodied inhis possibility for ‘alternative styles’ ofthinking. philosophers toreject rationalism andopenupthe important becausehewasoneofthefirstmajorwestern underlying order totheuniverse.Nietzsche was the rationalist idealofknowledge thatthere isan the nineteenth century, when hesought tosubvert philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) in humanism wasfirstlaiddownbytheGerman a vacuum.Thegroundwork for thisrejection of These thinkers were, ofcourse,notoperatingin conventions, which theysaw asdiscriminatory. But theydidstrongly resist humanism’s normalizing 12 Kirkup, Janes, Linda Kath Woodward, and Fiona Hovenden (New York: Routledge, 2000):50–57. 11 foucalt-and-postmodern-atheism-life-after-the-death-of-god-by-john-coffey/. Accessed10March, 2019. Petra Perry, “Deleuze’s Nietzsche,” Michel Foucault, For ofAntihumanist philosophy, acomprehensive history seeStefanos Geroulanos, SaulNewman, “Max Stirner andthePolitics ofPosthumanism,”

PramodK.Nayar, John Coffey, Donna Haraway, “A Manifesto for Cyborgs: Technology, Science, and 1980s,” inthe Socialist-Feminism in implying thatonehadtobefaithfulone’s they hadintroduced thenotion of‘authenticity’, Agers hadgoneawry, because hesuggested, view onself-creation. Sartre andCalifornia New Foucault made it clear thathe endorsed Nietzsche’s (Stanford, CA:Stanford University Press, 2010). Life aftertheDeathofGod?Michel Foucault andPostmodern Atheism The Order ofThings:An Archaeology oftheHuman Sciences Posthumanism 9 AstheCambridgehistorian,John 8 Whathewasreferring to , (Cambridge: Polity Press, 2014),22. Boundary 2.20(1993): 175. 7 Most 6 true Contemporary Political Theory 1 PoliticalContemporary Theory

Posthumanism isthatmoment which marksthe Posthumanism uncover. We were what wemadeofourselves. human ordeepwithinourselves thatwehadto individual person.There wasnothingquintessentially Humanity hadnoessencetoit,andneitherdidthe human andmachine." and themachine,neitherhuman nor machine, both Fiction, isanin-between creature, “betweenthehuman 1985. publication ofDonnaHaraway’s A significant moveinthisdirection occurred withthe legacy towards anewvision ofhumanity. creation, itbuildsonthecritiqueofanti-humanist cybernetics, aswellFoucault’s project ofself- in science andtechnology, especially ingenetics and and thewomen’s rights movements, developments movements ofthelastcentury, suchasanti-colonialism largely optimistic. Grounding itselfintheliberation alternative possibilities. Inthissense,itseesitselfas rejects thedespairofmodernityandinsteadlooks to the endofEuropean Enlightenment project, but on theassumption ofthedeclinehumanism and a replacement. Theposthumanist perspectiverests humanism andthebeginningofquesttofind end oftheconflict between humanism andanti- (New York: Routledge, 2002), 422. 11 (1996)’ available from http://www.jubilee-centre.org/michel- For Haraway, thecyborg,acreation ofScience was a‘workofart’. one’s only concernshouldbetofashion aselfthat such limits.It wasaboutaesthetics, notmorals; to which onehadtobetrue—self-creation hasno self. Infact,there wasnothingwithinorwithout An Atheism ThatisNot Humanist Emerges inFrench (2002): 232. 12 For Haraway, theCyborg wasa TheGendered Cyborg: A Reader 10 Cyborg Manifesto 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 , eds. Gill Gill , eds. in model on which boundary-breakings could occur. Not has moved beyond merely righting the injustices only did she see this affecting the boundaries between of a biased definition. It is now proscriptive, and male and female, which we have seen happening in optimistically so, in terms of defining the human as transgenderism already, but also between human and “open” to merging with other life and even technology. non-human, organism and machine, the physical and the non-physical, and even between technology and the self. The Return of Spinoza For Haraway, Hayles, and others to even entertain At the end of the 1990s, one of the first “suggestive” such possibilities required a seismic shift in the definitions of posthumanism was put forward by understanding of the nature of reality, and this shift Katherine Hayles. Her definition is worth quoting had already begun to happen in French thought in at length as it not only demonstrates poshumanist the 1960s. A number of students of Louis Althusser ambitions, but also something of their philosophical (1918–1990) in Paris started reading the Dutch underpinnings: philosopher Baruch Spinoza (1632–1677) in the quest for an alternative to Marxism which they had already First, the posthuman view privileges declared dead. Instead of Marxism, they wanted to informational pattern over material instantiation, revive Spinoza’s concept of Monism, which they saw as so that embodiment in a biological substrate the best way forward.14 is seen as an accident of history rather than an inevitability of life. Second, the posthuman view What is monism? Monism is the notion that the considers consciousness, regarded as the seat of universe is made up of one thing and one thing alone: human identity in the Western tradition long matter. Matter which is intelligent and self-organizing. before Descartes thought he was a mind thinking, In a “monistic universe,” according to Spinoza, matter, as an epiphenomenon, as an evolutionary upstart the world, and humans are non-dualistic. There was no trying to claim that it is the whole show when transcendent or spiritual dimension to reality. Spinoza in actuality it is only a minor sideshow. Third, was reacting against Descartes’ mind/body distinction the posthuman view thinks of the body as the and said that mind and body were the same thing. As original prosthesis we all learn to manipulate, so there was no difference between mind and body, there that extending or replacing the body with other was likewise no difference between a person and the prostheses becomes a continuation of a process world, or between the world and God. We are all one. that began before we were born. Fourth, and most important, by these and other means, the In religious language, monism has also been described posthuman view configures human being so that as pantheism. Most of the Neo-Spinozists, however, it can be seamlessly articulated with intelligent have dropped the references to God and advocate an machines. In the posthuman, there are no essentially atheistic monism. essential differences or absolute demarcations between bodily existence and computer Monism becomes the foundation for a posthumanism simulation, cybernetic mechanism and biological because it avoids the human-centredness of humanism organism, robot teleology and human goals.13 by its emphasis on the unity of all matter in the universe. We are one with the cosmos. So what is so While there is much to unpack here, what is most special about us? A significant update of Spinoza’s important to note at this point is that posthumanism concept, which is central to posthumanism, involves

13 N. Katherine Hayles, How We Became Posthuman (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1999), 2–3. 14 For a key early work in this development see Pierre Macherey, Hegel or Spinoza trans, Susan M. Ruddick (Minneapolis: University of Minneso- ta Press, 2011).

CPT.MBTS.EDU 7 PERMANENT THINGS 8 20 19 18 17 16 15 environments, andtechnologies toattainhuman even non-species, andthepolitical pushfor animals, old humanity through solidarity withotherspecies, or and becomingmachine.” of theseprocesses, “becominganimal,becomingearth, other aspectsoftheworld. that wecanovercome theold human bymergingwith Oedipus Gilles Deleuze andFelix Gauttari, intheirbooks This ‘vitalmaterialism’ ispicked upbythephilosophers has singularinnerexperiences andsensations.” possesses thesameinnerglow asahuman, eachofthem scraps ofpaper, flakes ofskin,molecules —eachofthem and “each objecthasamind.Stars, hills,chairs,rocks, it, mindorsentience is“a universally distributedquality” mathematician andcyberpunknovelist Rudy Rucker puts something thatexistsapartfrom thematerialworld.As panpsychism arguesthatmindisnotethereal, or In opposition toidealismandCartesiandualism, as fundamental tothenature ofexistenceandbeing.” things have mindoramind-like quality…Mind isseen David Skrbina,ithas beendescribedas“the view thatall having mental processes aswell.Called humanities have picked uponthisideaofallmatter smart matteraswell. perhaps, sheconcludes, what wecallnon-life canbe body.” Whatwecalllife issimply ‘smart matter.’ And “embodiment ofthemindandembrainment ofthe Australian posthumanist Rosi Braidotti callsthisthe or ‘smart’ structure oflivingmatter. TheItalian/ the scientific understandingoftheself-organizing, studies seethespecialissueof McCance, 21 Academic,Bloomsbury 2018): 352–355andRosi Braidotti, Deleuze andFelix Gauttari, Rosi Braidotti, For ecocriticism seeTimothy Clark, Rudy Rucker, “Mind isaUniversally DistributedQuality,” Gilles Deleuze andFelix Gauttari, David Skribina, Rosi Braidotti, SeePatrick Hanafin, “A Micropolitics of Posthuman Rights” in and Critical Animal Studies: An Introduction A ThousandPlateaus Nomadic Theory: ThePortableNomadic Rosi Braidotti Theory: The Posthuman Panpsychism intheWest 15 Otherthinkers outsideofthe A ThousandPlateaus: Capitalism andSchizophrenia The University ofToronto Quarterly 19 (Cambridge, UK:Polity Press, 2013),66. Theyinvolve displacing the 18 Braidotti haslabelled three Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism andSchizophrenia The Value ofEcocriticism , inwhich theyargue (Cambridge, MA:MITPress, 2005). (Albany, NY: State University ofNew York Press, 2013;for ofthefield ofmonster asurvey panpsychism 17 Transpositions: OnNomadic Ethics (New York, Columbia University Press, 2011),3. Edge Anti- (Cambridge: CambridgeUniversity Press, 2019); for animalstudies seeDawne , www.edge.org/q2006/q06_3.html#rucker (AccessedJanuary 4,2016) by by Posthuman Glossary , Vol. 87,No.1, 2018). (Winter 16 you existandthatyou are inaninterconnected a combination oftheabove.Whatmattersisthat human body, amachinebody, orananimalbody, or egalitarianism. It doesn’t matterifyou have a human rights towhat Braidotti calls legal goal ofmany posthumanists istheshiftfrom of thinkingencourageswhen oneconsidersthata One beginstograsptheimplications thatthiskind human itselfintermsofspecies. Not merely isit“post” European humanism, butofthe posthumanism startstotake onanentirely newhue. or nearhuman rights. Asweare beginningtosee, for advanced capitalismislife itself–life inthesense has notedinherbook and what iscalled “cognitive capitalism.”Melinda Cooper and animalstogether, certainly atthelevel ofbiogenetics science are already there in termsofbringinghumans Yet thisisnotjustallacademic discourse.Business and humanities? Somepeople like DonnaHaraway thinkso. to study ecology, animals,and“monsters” inthe of thehottestfields inthe“humanities”. animal studies, andmonsterstudies becomingsome humanities before, butweare now seeingecocriticism, Species-thinking hasneverbeenasubjectfor the at anentirely newcategory, namely species awareness. within thecontext ofthehuman, weare nowlooking Moving beyond thequestion ofwhat definesthe human Postanthropocentrism are tobesupplanted byanethosof “sustainability.” else.Individualrightscodependence witheverything (Minneapolis: University ofMinnesotaPress, 1987). (Minneapolis: University ofMinnesotaPress, 1983); Gilles , eds.Rose Braidotti andMariaHlavajova (New York: (Cambridge, UK:Polity Press, 2006). Life asSurplus , thereal capital zoe 21 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 -centred Isitpossible 20 of the informational code of all that lives.22 We already Transhumanism ultimately accepts the major premises control the genetic code of our own species as well as of humanism that the individual is autonomous, reason that of multiple others. “Designer cells” have already is the key marker of personhood and identity, and the been produced and the prospect for growing human human is not enmeshed in the world, but above it. organs in other species or in machines is currently In some ways, it is an intensification of humanism, being tested. What will be next? As Rosi Braidotti notes, arguing that perceived limitations, such as biology, and she chooses her words very carefully here, we are can be overcome by technological means, resulting witnessing the end of “biblical reproduction.”23 Just as at some point in the future in an advanced human academic posthumanists are erasing species distinctions form, with greater intelligence, greater longevity and intellectually, so too university scientists and corporate greater wellbeing. It can be argued that, within the businesses are erasing the distinctions between species in transhumanist movement, there is a fundamental goal the physical world. of achieving immortality through technology.

Transhumanism Perhaps even moreso than in posthumanism, the This convergence of humanity with technology is a religious ambitions of transhumanism are nakedly central feature of much of posthumanist thought. apparent.25 Transhumanist proponents regularly This brings us alongside another and, in many invoke religious language, talking of immortality, ways, a competing school of thought known as the spiritual capacities of technology, and humans “transhumanism.” Transhumanism is perhaps better becoming “god-like.” Zoltan Istvan, a major cheerleader known to most people thanks to its better marketing, for the movement, and the Transhumanist Party and people often confuse transhumanism with candidate for the U.S. presidential election of 2016, posthumanism, thinking they are synonyms. speaks enthusiastically of the day when we all become immortal cyborgs, human brains preserved in Like posthumanism, transhumanism explores the mechanical bodies.26 space between the human and technology; but, while posthumanism looks to technology as a means of Yet this is a different kind of spirituality than merging with the rest of the world and erasing the posthumanism. Much of the transhumanist project distinctiveness of the human, transhumanists see is geared towards developing technologies that could technology as evolution, advancing the cause of the eventually lead to substituting flesh with biomechanical human, especially human liberation. Liberation from material, or of downloading the human mind into disease and mortality, liberation from reproduction for computers, or integrating human minds with one feminist transhumanists, and even liberation from the another via network hook-up. If posthumanism is a limitations of the body itself. new and sophisticated form of pantheism, where all is interconnected and one, then transhumanism is a In a sense, transhumanism is merely the old cutting edge and technologically savvy Gnosticism, humanism by other means, and for this reason, many where the body is seen as something to be overcome, and posthumanists strongly reject being correlated with it.24 the mind or intellect is that which is ethereal and needs

22 Melinda Cooper, Life as Surplus: Biotechnology and Capitalism in the Neoliberal Era (Seattle, WA: University of Washington Press, 2008). 23 Stated at a lecture on Posthumanism given at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, February 2, 2015. 24 For a comprehensive posthumanist perspective on the differences between trans and posthumanism see Francesca Ferrando, “Transhuman- ism/Posthumanism” in Posthuman Glossary: 438–439. 25 For a number of perspectives on Transhumanism and religion see Religion and Transhumanism: The Unknown Future of Human Enhancement eds. Calvin Mercer and Tracy J. Trothen (Santa Barbara, CA: Prager, 2015). 26 See the Transhumanist Party website here: https://transhumanist-party.org/

CPT.MBTS.EDU 9 PERMANENT THINGS 10 29 28 that ifTranshumanism hasany religious equivalent itis anddonotshare Gnosticism’smaterial world, dualism.Inanunpublished paper, Stanislas Deprez ofl’Université Catholique deLille argues whichto thematerialworld, wasconsidered evilandtoberejected. Transhumanists, have nonegativeattitudestowards ontheotherhand, the yet thereworld, are Transhumanists andTranshumanist scholars who strongly reject thecomparison.Gnosticism initsearly forms, washostile 27 eventually becomegods. of theosis,which istheprocess bywhich humans transhumanism totheMormon theological concept transhumanism, seekstobridgethegapcomparing religious organization topublicly affiliateitselfwith Transhumanist Association, which wasthefirst as evenMormon Transhumanists. There are some“Christian Transhumanists,” aswell have alsoattemptedtojumponthebandwagon. as atheistic, notallofthemare. Somereligious groups and engineeringfields andcouldlargely bedescribed While mostTranshumanists comefrom thescience a billion years.” transhumanism is“the single mostmomentous event in dull, theTranshumanist DirkBruere declares that science andtechnology.” human form andhuman limitations bymeansof the evolution ofintelligent life beyond itscurrently of life thatseekthecontinuation andacceleration of describes Transhumanism as“a classofphilosophies which recently rebranded itselfasHumanityPlus (H+), philosophy. TheWorld Transhumanist Association, are beginningtospeakofitasareligion-eclipsing and institutional structures, theynevertheless operating withintheconfinesofoppressive dogma connected tothebelief inahigherbeing,aswell still shun theword religion, which theyfeel must be a legitimate religion. Thoughmosttranshumanists movement are deliberately forging transhumanism into It isnotsurprisingthenthatmany withinthe to befreed orshiftedtoeverhigherplanes ofexistence. Transhumanism: An Introduction 31 30 ere20150715 (Accessed:25March, 2019). SeetheMormon Transhumanist .SeealsoHava AssociationTirosh-Samuelson, website:http://transfigurism.org/ “Religion” in ThecomparisonbetweenTranshumanism andGnosticism hasbeenmadecountless timesalready, especially withintheChristianpublishing SeetheChristianTranshumanist Association website:https://www.christiantranshumanism.org/ https://whatistranshumanism.org/ (Accessed25March, 2019). https://whatistranshumanism.org/ For Humanity Plus seehttps://humanityplus.org/ DirkBruere, “Transhumanism—The Final Religion?” 29

31 28 eds.Robert RanischandStefan Lorenz Sorgner(Frankfurt: Peter Lang,2014),66–67.

While itmay soundalittle 30 TheMormon Institute forEthics and Emerging Technologies. Joachism , aform ofmedieval Christianmillenarism. 27 Some movies showthetransformation ofthehuman artists withposthuman aspirations andsensibilities. Thishasbeenaboonforand cinematic storytelling. allowed for remarkable possibilities invisualimagery Special effects andnewdigitaltechnologies have recently preparing theway for posthumanism for sometime. film isnotanexception. Infact, Hollywood hasbeen discussed sofarshouldbearthisout.Yet thedelToro definition ofthe human, and much of what hasbeen as emblematic ofthismovement towards anew The film Posthuman Entertainment we note,doshowtroubling aspectsofbringingthe as wellcybernetic androbotics beings. (Thesefilms, to liveinharmony withalien creatures andmonsters to notethealmostcasualway thathumans are shown been discussedtothepoint ofbanality, itisinteresting Star Wars universeanditsconceptoftheforce has (1977-). While thepantheistic philosophy behindthe More pleasantly there is,ofcourse,the of ahuman/alien hybrid asanewspecies. with thatofthealien creature, andwewitnessthebirth biomechanically, butwithhergenescompletely fused of analien, andinthefourth, Ripley is“resurrected” the maincharacterofRipley literally becomesthemother creatures, i.e.thealien isinsideofus.Inthethird film, In thefirsttwomovies, humans are used to“birth” alien merging ofthehuman withthealien andthemonstrous. Sigourney Weaver, demonstratedthisbyshowingthe movie series (1979, 1986, 1992, 1997, 2012,217), starring through union withtheothermore directly. The The ShapeofWater http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/bru hasalready beendescribed Star Wars 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 Post- and Alien series

- biological and technology together, as witnessed by the Perhaps the most remarkable and brilliant cinematic storyline of Darth Vader.) representation of posthumanism is the James Cameron film Avatar (2009). Much has been made of the pagan Other movies, in a more serious vein, have sought and pantheistic backdrop of the film, especially to explore the pitfalls and potentialities of artificial by Christian commentators, noting especially the companion species. Westworld (1973), Her (2013), Ex religious practices of the Na’vi beings at the center Machina (2014), and Bladerunner 2049 (2017) give us a of the story. But there is much more to it. In Avatar, sense of how we might negotiate with the technological we are witnessing the depiction of a new humanity, other. Vampire and zombie movies and television digitally mediated into a post-species form. Humanity is shows, which have become extremely popular, represented as having a multipresent subjectivity, which explore the fantasy and dark side complexities of the is simultaneously virtual and biological. We live in the transhumanist desire to live forever. biological and the tech at the same time.

Then there are the extremely popular Jurassic Park (1993, The central character of Jake Sully, a representation 1997, 2001) and Jurassic World (2015, 2018) films which of the old humanist human (he is male, white and clearly demonstrate the link between biotec and the represents imperialistic military and corporate drive of cognitive capitalism taken to the extreme. We interests) is also crippled, representing the old will create creatures just to entertain ourselves. Or, as European humanism as a crippled tradition. Via virtual in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), creatures will technology, he is able to escape the identity politics be created as new forms of weapons. of the past. People are no longer identified by their race. They are neither white nor black nor brown. Transhumanism’s push for superhuman immortality They’re blue! Sully takes on an alien appearance, one seems to be one of the most consistent champs at which exhibits decidedly animalistic characteristics, the box office of recent, especially in its guise as the and these Na’vi can directly “link” with various other superhero narrative. From X-men’s superior “evolved” animal species, demonstrating the interrelatedness of group of good looking mutants, and Spiderman’s creatures and life. A very important development in radioactively induced “spidey” powers, to Batman and Cameron’s aliens, though, is their strongly sexual and Ironman’s technological exoskeleton, to the virtual erotic characteristics, and indeed the film suggests the “god-like” qualities of Superman and Thor, young character has an active sexuality in his newly embodied people and old are now being regularly fed a diet of existence. The future, according to this film, is images of humans that move above and beyond the technologically enhanced trans species transsexuality.32 merely human. Toward a Christian Response The concept of digitally mediated identities, which In terms of a posthuman future, there can be little real really began with the cyberpunk fiction of the 1980s, has debate, for it is already here. Its manifestations have at least given some of us the hope that we may be able not yet been as extreme as many of its advocates could to transcend our limited humanity, if only temporarily. hope for, but its continued growth in popular society Two of the most successful “lighter” films of recent, does appear inevitable. We, of course, must not ignore Ready Player One (2018) and Jumanji: Welcome to the what is good in it. For one thing, it attacks a form of Jungle (2018), were about central characters inhabiting secular humanism which has been dominant in the alternative realities and alternative physical identities. West for at least four centuries. As Christians, we do not have much cause to lament secular humanism’s demise,

32 For a comprehensive study of posthumanism in cinema and television see The Palgrave Handbook of Posthumanism in Film and Television, eds. Michael Hauskeller, Thomas D. Philbeck and Curtis D. Carbonell (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015).

CPT.MBTS.EDU 11 PERMANENT THINGS 12 In otherwords, thehuman question is address from afew years ago: of Pope Benedict XVIagainfrom thesame God. Iwant toconclude withthewords to bethe reality, namely what itmeansashumans be clearer inpresenting thatevengreater this, andultimately, wemust affirmand (not monistic) nature ofhumanity. Beyond inconsequence,thedualisticessences and, the classical ideaofimmaterialforms or affirmation oftranscendent realities, post-enlightenment worlvd, suchasan which have beenpushedasideinthis Western philosophical tradition, elements many ofthekey elements oftheearlier much ofthiswillinvolve reaffirming doctrine ofhumanity. Ispeculatethat this case,thatofanthropology orthe be thedevelopment ofdoctrine.In effective responses willmostcertainly have ariseninthepast,oneofmost As withchallenges tothefaiththat is justbeginningtomake itselfvisible. stages ofresponding toamovement that concerning andweare only intheearly Yet there isnevertheless much thatis characteristics. or atleast inthedemiseofcertainits 33 ultimately aGodquestion. Benedict XVI,ibid. defending man. disappears. Whoeverdefends Godis humanGod isdenied, dignityalso God atthecore ofhisbeing…when a creature astheimageof ofGod, man tooisstrippedofhisdignityas himself isdenied andultimately oneself, thennecessarily theMaker becomes thefreedom tocreate When thefreedom tobecreative imago dei , madeintheimageof 33 • and thefutureofhumanity. philosophy, popularculture intheareasofScottishwrites University.Christian He Thought atColorado andChristian History Professor ofIntellectual of Amsterdam) isAssistant Cand. TheFree University Michael J. Plato (Ph.D. 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 ‘What You’re About to Witness is Not Magic’: Christopher Nolan’s Cinema of Immanent Wonder

By Brett McCracken

RANCIS FORD COPPOLA ONCE REMARKED that It’s no surprise, then, that we talk about “movie magic.” “cinema, movies, and magic have always But well into its second century now, cinema has been closely associated. The very earliest arguably lost some of its magic. Digital effects, and the people who made film were magicians.” excessive manner in which they are deployed, have dulled our senses to the magic we used to experience He’s right. With origins in vaudeville in the movie theater. Little impresses us anymore. and the sorts of eye-popping spectacles you’d find in Furthermore, most contemporary audiences now have a the circus (bearded ladies, sword swallowers, Harry general awareness of how movie-making trickery works Houdini), moving images were and always have been (thanks to DVD commentaries, behind-the-scenes props for illusionists. From cinematic pioneers like the features, YouTube, and so forth). The “how’d they do Lumière brothers and Georges Méliès to blockbuster that?” questions and wow factors are largely gone from savants Steven Spielberg or Peter Jackson today, the movie-making experience. filmmakers are magicians who—like David Copperfield, David Blaine, or Penn and Teller—make the impossible Christopher Nolan’s Brand of happen before our eyes. Movie Magic But there are some filmmakers who still capture the For the earliest film audiences, movie magic was simply magic, who boldly believe it is still possible to surprise seeing real things—horses, trains, people—come to life and wow audiences, film-savvy and tech-literate as on a screen. We have little concept today of how mind- we are. Christopher Nolan is one of them. From the blowing it must have been for people at the turn of the backwards storytelling of Memento (2000) to the twentieth century to see moving images of what looked space-bending Inception (2010) and time-bending like something they could feel and touch but which was Interstellar (2014), each Nolan film feels like an event. really just flickering pixels of light, interpreted by the Whether he’s tackling iconic superheroes (The Dark brain as reality. It felt spectral, phantasmagoric. It was Knight trilogy) or World War II history (Dunkirk), the the epitome of awe-inspiring. British filmmaker employs the full range of cinematic sleight-of-hand to keep audiences engaged and But the magic of movies has extended beyond perceptual enthralled. A stalwart defender of practical effects and basics. Movie narratives mimic all manner of “magical” narrative trickery over CGI shortcuts (which he calls and supernatural things: time travel (flashbacks, “boring”), Nolan is an auteur who is fiercely committed flashforwards, etc.), teleportation (whisking the audience to the enduring magic of movies. all over the globe), the ability to hear people’s unspoken thoughts, the ability to see things only the audience But Nolan’s is a thoroughly modern brand of movie can see. Then there is everything fanciful that special magic. It is magic shorn of transcendence and the effects can render: wizards, dragons, orcs, talking toys, supernatural; a scientific magic of the sort described in all manner of creation and destruction, pretty much Arthur C. Clarke’s Third Law (“Any sufficiently advanced anything that can be dreamed up. technology is indistinguishable from magic”). It is

CPT.MBTS.EDU 13 PERMANENT THINGS immanent frame.” proudly) withinwhat Charles Taylor wouldcall“the magic thatexiststowowandamuse us,butwholly (and 14 com/2010/11/pl_inception_nolan/ 35 34 about towitnessisnotmagic. It ispurely science.” character putsitbluntly when hesays: “Whatyou’re magic isanexplanation.”Jackman’s Indeed, magician you justlook harder you’ll seethetruth.Behindall you choosetobelieve inthesefancifulthingsbutif might aswellbesaying, “Fairy tales, ghosts,God… fooled.” Speaking directly totheaudience here, Nolan You don’t really want toworkitout.You want tobe find itbecauseofcourse,you’re notreally looking. character says latein “Now you’re looking for thesecret,” Michael Caine’s for achallenge. But are they? complexity hethrows atthem,ifthey’reauditory up capable oftrackingwithwhatever temporal,spatial, contrivances they’re usedto.He believes theyare wants toshake audiences outofthelazynarrative hand. In attends toandappreciates cinema’s sleight-of- in cinema.Nolan wants anengagedaudience that Nolan’s ontheideaofmagic metacommentary (Christian Bale andHugh as Jackman) thatserves Prestige audience intheopeningminutes ofNolan’s watching closely?” isthequestion posedtothe iskeyObservation toNolan’s cinema.“Are you Awe attheMastery ofMan world.within immanence,thematerialandobservable in itsownright. Allthewonderweneedisright here greatest miracle andthatthe“natural” issuperenough supernatural, insistinginsteadthatweare ourown It’s amagic thatrejects humanity’s needfor something the wonders the worldbeyond. But Nolan’s magic directs ourgazeat frame, leaving usspiritually unsettled andcurious about Some movie magic transportsusbeyond theimmanent Robert Capps,“Q&A: Christopher Nolan onDreams, Architecture, andAmbiguity,” Charles Taylor, (2006), afilmaboutrivalillusionists The Prestige here A SecularAge : thenatural,scientific, the human. 34 andallhisotherfilms,Nolan The Prestige (Cambridge, Massachusetts: BelknapPress, 2007). . “But you won’t The enough miraculous wondertobeexperienced here, in of demons,angels,heaven, orhell.There ismore than there isnoneedtoditheraround inspeculativeworlds underscoring apoint hewants tomake inallhisfilms: strip evenasuperhero filmofanything supernatural, ( employ technology andteamwork todefeat badguys clever humans wayssuperheroes everyday are thevery solidarity ( true miracles are what humanity canachieve through explain themysterious “magic” intheworld.The is unveiling thebehind-the-curtain realities that Buzzkill? Not inNolan’s mind.For him,thetruethrill of human resilience. At various points inthefilm, the light.” It’s arousing celebration ofthe“miracle” into thatgoodnight. Rage,rageagainstthedying of we heartheDylan Thomas line, “Do notgogentle asaspecies. Throughout thefilm,human survival brainstorming options for escapethatwillensure concerns abeleaguered humanity onadying earth, Interstellar to suggest,ourspecies saves itself. deliverance byfellow Nolan humans. Intheend, seems means—at least inthesupernaturalsense.It is comes byfilm’s butnotby any end, “miraculous” “hoping for deliverance.for amiracle.” Deliverance notes howthebeleaguered troops atDunkirkwere resourcefulness. “miracle” ofhumanity’s instinctsandingenious survival In the infinitepotential ofthe human mind.” he wanted thedream sequencesin intricacies ofthehuman mind.Nolan himselfsaidthat consciousness. Theaudience isleft (rightly) awed bythe mysteries ofthehuman brain:dreams, memory, for example, Nolan minesdramafrom the“miraculous” In the human andtheobservable. The DarkKnight Interstellar Inception Wired makes asimilarpoint. Thefilm’s conflict Dunkirk and and (November 29,2010): https://www.wired. Memento films). Nolan goesoutofhisway to Dunkirk Dunkirk ). Themostimpressive thingsabout beginswithanepigraph that (and perhapsalso , Nolan celebrates the Inception 35 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 to“reflect Insomnia ), ), the supernatural is suggested—ghostly beings from I think that what a person normally goes to the other dimensions seem to want to help earthlings in cinema for is time: time lost or spent or not yet their predicament—but in the end (spoiler alert) the had. He goes there for living experience; for ghosts turn out to be other humans. Again, humans cinema, like no other art, widens, enhances and save themselves. We need no divine intervention of concentrates a person’s experience—and not only supernatural help, Nolan suggests. The natural, the enhances it but makes it longer, significantly scientific, is the only religion we need. To underscore longer. That is the power of cinema.39 the point, Hans Zimmer’s score is heavy on organ, recorded on a 1926 four-manual Harrison & Harrison Some of the greatest filmmakers recognize the organ that Zimmer said he chose “for its significance “sculpting in time” nature of the medium and its to science.”36 The music in the film conveys a church- unique, visceral power to “take an impression of like ambience and cultivates awe, but it is awe at the time,” as Tarkovsky would say.40 Richard Linklater is mastery of man rather than the majesty of God. perhaps the most well-known example. Gus van Sant, Kelly Reichardt, Jim Jarmusch, Abbas Kiarostami, and If there is one thing man has not mastered, however, Yasujirō Ozu are others. These filmmakers make you it is time. Mortality. And if there are holes in Nolan’s feel time in their films, tapping into our existential immanent frame, time and death are it—and he ache to transcend death and impermanence. knows it. Physicist Alan Lightman captures this ache well in The You Cannot Conquer Time Accidental Universe when he writes: “O let not Time deceive you,” W.H. Auden once penned. “You cannot conquer Time.”37 Indeed, as much as I don’t know why we long so for permanence, humans are constantly trying to conquer time (anti- why the fleeting nature of things so disturbs. aging methods, attempts at time travel, cryogenics, With futility, we cling to the old wallet long and so forth), it remains stubbornly unconquerable. after it has fallen apart. We visit and revisit the Cinema perhaps comes the closest to conquering it. old neighborhood where we grew up, searching Andrei Tarkovsky said the essence of the film director’s for the remembered grove of trees and the work is “sculpting in time.”38 With its unique ability little fence. We clutch our old photographs. to capture, rearrange, mold, and manipulate time, In our churches and synagogues and mosques, movies offer filmmakers and audiences the God-like we pray to the everlasting and eternal. Yet, ability to transcend time: to slow it down, to speed it in every nook and cranny, nature screams at up, to reverse its otherwise unalterable forward march. the top of her lungs that nothing lasts, that Tarkovsky hypothesized that time is why people are so it is all passing away. All that we see around drawn to movies: us, including our own bodies, is shifting and evaporating and one day will be gone.41

36 Katie Kilkenny, “Why Interstellar’s Organ Needs to Be So Loud,” The Atlantic (November 11, 2014): https://www.theatlantic.com/ entertainment/archive/2014/11/why-interstellars-organ-needs-to-be-so-loud/382619/ 37 W.H. Auden, “As I Walked Out One Evening,” Another Time (Random House, 1940): https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/i-walked- out-one-evening 38 Andrei Tarkovsky, Sculpting in Time (New York: Alfred A Knopf, 1987), 63. 39 Ibid. 40 Ibid., 62. 41 Quoted in “Alan Lightman on Our Yearning for Immortality and Why We Long for Permanence in a Universe of Constant Change,” Brain Pickings (May 22, 2014): https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/05/22/alan-lightman-accidental-universe-impermanence/

CPT.MBTS.EDU 15 PERMANENT THINGS it, cinemaprovides asortofexistential release valve for passing away” nature ofexistence,andalsototranscend With itspowerbothtocapture thebrutalityof“all 16 war-on-time.html 42 Nolan, cinema’s simulacrum isperhapsthebestweapon prominently in illusion like “the transportedman” trick that figures time” isonly somethingcinema cansimulate; an Almost—but notquite.Nolan knowsthat“conquering in Time RestlessEternal Creatures, Nolan, it feels almostconquerable. when timeistheplaything ofacreative director like Is itconfusing?Yes. But it’s thrillingtowatch,because dream islayered withinotherdreams. days toweeksyears, dependingonhowdeeply the temporal spansof where onehourequalssevenyears on earth.The hour intheair). sizes(one onedayvarying weekonland, atsea,one famously “sculpts” timefrom atrio oftimelumps of Nolan makes hisaudience hyper aware oftime. weaves temporalthreads inaprogressively tighter way, through anowtrademarkcross-cutting techniquethat of minutes ( ( in time.”Whetheraccentuating timebyreversing it of thespiritually chargedpowerofcinema’s “sculpting Christopher Nolan’s filmmakingisespecially mindful “the church ofthemasses.” of eternity. It’s nowonderthemovies have beencalled it mimics anoutside-of-timeness impossible thisside of Life lifespan oftheuniverse(e.g. Terrence Malick’s future cities, orevenawhistle stoptourofthewhole time agoinagalaxyfar, faraway,” ormaybe tosci-fi travel across centuries, evenmillenia, perhapsto“a long For afew hours,wecanescapetime’s relentlessness and of temporality. Inthemovie theater, timeisarrested. becrushedbytheburdenthose who might otherwise Memento ChadBetz,“Christopher Nolan's War onTime,” ). Theexperience isinherently spiritualbecause ), compressing decadesofaginginto spans Interstellar The Prestige Interstellar Inception , Inception ’s charactersvisitplanets . It isnotreal life. But for ’s from dream layers vary ), oraccelerating it Paste (July 30,2017): (July https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/07/christopher-nolans-

The Tree Dunkirk

communicates thegrave seriousness ofthestakes. Time the Shepard tone,toconvey perpetualescalation— scores thatinvoke ticking clocks andothertricks, like The urgent pacingofhisfilms—amplified by musical all Houdinis. Canwepick thelock? Isthere away out? For Nolan, timeisanexistential straitjacket andweare crunch while alsoproviding ameansofescape.” and engineersfilmic structures thatemphasize time’s reality, andfilmishisweapon,tool... He devises “Nolanone critic observed: revolts againsttemporal call to“rage, rage,againstthedying ofthelight.” As to fight backagainsttime,hisway ofheedingThomas’s Lewis famously said, “IfLewis famously said, Ifindin myself adesire which no more, hints ofahigher, deeper, realer magic. AsC.S. within theconfinesoftimeare proof ofsomething come tobelieve thatthepeskyfeelings ofunsettledness Perhaps Nolan willoneday recognize this.Perhaps hewill uncomfortably intime. human heart,isthatofaneternity-bound beingsitting tension Nolan feels, thewrestle withinhisandevery placed inourheartsbyGod(Ecclesiastes 3:11).The something withinusweoftensuppress: eternity, their time-conqueringtemporaltrickery, films awaken instinctively knowexists,evenifwedeny itintheory. In movies becausetheyoffer glimpsesofthemagic we And yet wewishthere were. We flock indroves to thatcancheatdeathandescapetime. of hand, ultimately answertotime.There isnomagic, nosleight time answerto unnatural? Inhisfilms, Nolan relishes theabilitytomake If itisjustpartofthenaturalorder, why doesitfeel so immanence isultimate, why are wesohaunted bytime? are sounsettled bytime.Ifthere isnothingelse,if films. He isclearly unsettled bythefactthat humans with andragingagainstthemtobravura effect inhis Nolan ispreoccupied withthesequestions, wrestling What canbedone?How thenshallwelive? is runningoutonallofus.Deathwillcometousall. him . But heknowsthathe,andwe,must 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 42

experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

That doesn’t mean this world is not a source of wonder and fodder for cinematic marvel. It is, as Nolan’s films beautifully show. It’s just to suggest that sometimes the most magical thing about immanence is that it sparks within us an uncanny longing for transcendence—a whisper, an inkling, a flickering pixel suspicion that there must be something more. •

Brett McCracken is a senior editor for The Gospel Coalition and author of Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community, Gray Matters: Navigating the Space Between Legalism and Liberty, and Hipster Christianity: When Church and Cool Collide.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 17 PERMANENT THINGS 18 EDITOR'S NOTE one agoodperson.Aristotle wrote aboutmoralvirtues Moral virtuesare habitsthatform characterandmake virtue” formation. intellectual formation, butwhat Iwouldcall“intellectual we actually spendafairamount oftimeon,notonly am teachingthemandpreparing themtobescholars, role inpersonalformation? abouthow intellectualtalk formation hasatleastakey specifically. Could you comment onthediscussionand makes uspeople andwhat makes usbelievers more ofwhat part habitsareanimportant Certainly for orfor Christians human beingsingeneral. SeminaryinSeptember2016. Theologyat Midwestern CenterforPublic given forthe Dr. KevinVanhoozer Vanhoozer’s following ScudderLectures Theology inPublic isexcerptedfromThe following aninterviewedconductedbyOwenStrachanwith Cultural and Literacy Doctrine, Theologians, Christ”:Kevinbut Vanhoozer onPastor- minister not anything Spirit does “The else writing. Unfortunately, theexamples thatare easiest to can getinto habitsofthinking,especially when you’re we alsoneedtotalkaboutthe“intellectual virtues.”You there. However,and there isalong history inscholarship, doctoral students inparticular, thoughI formation takes priority andprecedence formation takes priority I don’t want toform simply partsofpeople; I want toframeourtimeinterms character aswellknowledge. With my pushed againsttheideathatintellectual is holistic aswell.Wisdom includes we’re whole beingsandIthinkwisdom regarding formation. Somehave evangelical discussions of current publish worksabouttheirmistakes? Thevirtueofthe he waswrong. How many scholars doyou knowthat hewasright andsaid whereeverywhere hethought Retractions wrote awhole book rehearsing hismistakes, This iswhy Augustine ismy favorite theologian. He right anddidnotlistentocriticism. Iseethisallthetime. Theywere sosurenot needmy theywere supervision. who have cometogrief are theoneswhosupervised did intellectual pride.Theonly doctoralstudents Ihave ever and where themostformation hastodowith isneeded, not-so-virtuously. Thebesettingsinintheacademy, thinking isanactivitythatcanbedonevirtuously or back tome,butteachingthemhowthinkand andhaving thembeable torepeat it facts andtheory much aboutnotonly teachingmyI carestudents very a hastygeneralization. Thatisalogical fallacy. attentive person?Are you patient? Ifnot,you might make technique orashortcut;it’s apersonalquality. Are you an as ascholar ifyou are anattentive person.Thisisnota or attentiveness. You are more likely togetthetruth to lead you tothetruth.Anexample: paying attention away from it.It’s ahabitofthought thatismore likely the mindismore likely tolead you tothetruth,than certain habitsoflearning. For example, thevirtueof think ofare intellectual vices. Iwant students tolearn . He wrote awhole book pointing out 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 The mind that this exemplifies is humility. Humility is often one of the first virtues to go out the window the opposite of pride. If you are a proud person, it is or perhaps never be exercised at all in academic a character flaw, not just because it is immoral or not disputation, to judge someone guilty before a response. like Christ. But it is going to lead you in an intellectual It is common and it often comes back to mind when direction you do not want to go. Pride is an intellectual I am trying to interact with a view or presenting in vice. Impatience is an intellectual vice. Carelessness is an class. Critique, yes…be bold and be clear, as you say, intellectual vice. You begin to think about the intellectual but exercise charity whenever possible.Certainly virtues of humility, patience, carefulness, and they begin habits are an important part of what makes us people to sound suspiciously like the fruit of the Spirit, which, and what makes us believers more specifically. Could to me, is wonderful. This addresses the question of you comment on the discussion and talk about formation. how intellectual formation has at least a key role in personal formation? I am not interested in just producing “know-it-alls.” I want my students to be witnesses in the way they do This is an important point because I do scholarship, not just in the scholarship they produce. want to argue with positions and I want This is a hard task. It is much harder to learn humility to call out what I think is falsehood, but than it is to learn different theories about the atonement. I think it is extremely important that You can get a chart to learn that, but you cannot learn we read people with whom we disagree as humility with a chart. … It is hard and will take time. charitably as possible to begin with. Only then can you It is connected to formation, but we are talking simply read them as critically as possible. You have to read about habits of scholarship. I do think there is a virtuous them as charitably as possible, first. That is simply the or vicious dimension to the way we do scholarship as “Golden Rule” translated into the realm of academics. persons. If I speak with conviction, it is because when I Read others’ works the way you would have them read was younger, I had to root out bad habits. I was guilty of yours. Review others’ books the way you would have certain bad habits that made me a worse scholar. them review yours. That hits close to home. I have reviewed books and have had people review me and Another aspect is fear. Fear in the academy will do you I would rather have someone abiding by the “Golden in. Fear of being thought wrong or of being thought Rule” to review my books. silly. I would rather be willing to be a fool for Christ in the academy, otherwise my witness is going to be That makes two of us. Now we’ve learned compromised. I have had that voice in my ear, “Maybe a bit of your background. Can you trace if you just compromise here, you will gain a footing in how you came to be a theologian? Was the academy. Then you’ll be better perched to witness.” there an existential wrestling with the The problem is: you never get far enough. You will keep two roles of pastor and theologian? What telling yourself the same story. “If I just compromise a was the journey like for you? little more, then I will become President of the Society of Biblical Literature. Then I can say what I really think.” By It started with biblical studies. I wanted then, it is too late. Not compromising on truth is also a to be like my mentor who was a New virtue issue. Testament scholar and he discerned something in me that I did not know Forming whole people, the imagination myself. He encouraged me to do systematic produces a whole person. What you theology instead, mostly in those days due to are saying fits perfectly. I remember supply-and-demand. There was a lack of systematic you discussing the intellectual virtues theologians. What did he see? I have often wondering while I was a student at TEDS. One virtue about that. I think he saw the fact that I like big pictures you discussed was that of charity, which is and a thirst for understanding. Anselm defines theology

CPT.MBTS.EDU 19 PERMANENT THINGS 20 plot continues andheisnotable topay thedebt. the Jewish merchant wants apoundofhisflesh. The says that inreturn, ifthepersoncan’t repay thedebt, Jew inVenice who lends moneytoaChristian,but ofTheMerchantthe story ofVenice, itisabouta Oxford Handbook Theology ofReformed writing atthetimechapteronatonement for the Just recently Isaw family, themeaningoflife, whether there isaGod. condition. KingLearandstruggles aboutagingand profoundvery workswithinsight into thehuman game, butbeyond that,Shakespeare’s tragedies are Roman Catholic orProtestant orsimply playing a has beenalively discussion aboutwhether hewas lower clergy andtheyare betterportrayed. There portrayed. Sometimeshewritesaboutfriarsorother theater?with culturalown imaginationthroughsomeengagement have thought aboutit. would take somethingdramatic to getmetodoit,butI I have suchawonderfulvocation where Iamthatit and whole persons.Ihave wondered aboutit,butfeel aspect. We’re nurturing notonly minds,butcharacter seriously teacher-student relationships asapastoral are notofficially a church ofcourse,butItake very can exercise intheclassroom. We pastoralministry have beenalittle cowardly atonestage.Idothink theologian. Ithinkamatheologian becauseImight theologian, itissimply harder beingapastorthan as the“search for understanding.”Asfarasthepastor- need tobeaware ofanditcanbestagedindifferent – justice, mercy, Christian,Jew. Thisisaplay you pound ofhisflesh. There isalot goingoninthestory The merchant ofVenice thenhasalegal right toa and theyare usually not-so-positively in it?How their canfuturepastorsenrich If you’ve neverseenaShakespeare because heoftenwritesaboutbishops Thank you forThank that.Now, regarding the been alot writtenabouthisownfaith play, take alook athim. There has students who donothave abackground you particularly enjoy andcommendto you particularly theater, what works ofthetheaterdo The Merchant ofVenice . Ifyou know . Iwas story-made-flesh andmadepresent. issues. Thatiswhy thetheaterissopowerful.It is that oursociety isstillwrestling withsomeofthese staged inourtime.Thenitbecomesaliveandwesee in ahistorically appropriate moment, oritcanbe ways. It canbestagedasitwasinShakespeare’s time, about improvisation, butIbegan reading andlearning in helpingourpeople improvise? butalso ofnotonly ministry, interms improvisation God.Howand glorify doesimaginationrelate to imagination tocreatesomethingthatdoesnothonor news thatGodhasactedandisdramatic. to theessenceofwhat isactually goingon.Thegospelis close couple oflevels, dramaispowerfulandcomesvery oftheway Godisineternity.rendering inhistory Ona isadramatic Spirit. Whatweseeactedoutinhistory how Godisineternity. Godiseternally Father, Son,and isadramatic enactment of we seehappeninginhistory outsidehimself.What God isnotrepresenting astory argue theessenceofChristianityisthisdramaGod. sending hisSon,Godcreating andredeeming. Iwould doing.” ChristianityisaboutGoddoing.It isaboutGod means “I do.”So,“theo-drama” simply means“God news ofwhat Godhasdone.TheGreek word “draō” script. Ithought Iwasgoingtobenegative system. So,what isit?It isanaction; itis mean bythisconcept? our “script” andwehave tostick withthe I have actually changedmy mindon Theo-drama isanattempttomake the is notasystemofideas.It isnotamoral That has been a theme of your writing. hasbeenathemeofyour writing. That bite-sized understanding ofwhatbite-sized understanding you about drama,Ithought ofScripture as this topic. WhenIfirststartedthinking subject-matter oftheology. Christianity form ofmy theology conform tothe is “theo-drama.” Could you give usa is “theo-drama.” One oftheconceptsyou for areknown that we canuseour there isdangerin You have mentioned 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 about what it is. The thing about improvisation is example I can think of. There is a department near that it is highly disciplined. Improvisation is not just Silicon Valley studying how to manipulate us into off-the-cuff doing something. An improviser is trained checking apps on our iPhones as frequently as possible. to respond to the situation in such a way that you There are psychologists, sociologists, and engineers keep the action going. Whatever scene you are playing involved. It is successful. They create a sense of need – out, you participate in it, keep it going, and build on we just have to check. We are waiting for the next big it. That is a real skill and it has a lot of connections thing. If you ever look at CNN, you will notice they have to the life of the disciple. For example, when I talk been putting countdown to things. There is always a about Philemon, you can think about improvisation. countdown to the next primary, the next debate. Why Paul is asking Philemon to improvise discipleship in is there a countdown? It’s not like it is for rockets to his encounter with the runaway slave. Paul says, “I’m the moon. They are trying to create this sense that our not going to command you to do this, but I want you attention needs to be on them. It is happening all over to refresh my heart.” That sounds like he is expecting the place. Philemon to know what to do spontaneously because it results from Philemon’s renewed, regenerated We need to have our eyes open to the fact that there are nature. Improvisation is about acting from reflex a lot of powerful forces, usually with money involved, with all your antennae up, very attentive to what is trying to manipulate us into purchasing or doing happening so you act fittingly from reflex or second things that involve spending money. I do not think nature. It is from regenerate nature. If we can act that culture is all evil; I do not want to suggest that. from second nature, our regenerate nature, we will be There are films that stand up for good values and so on. improvisers in the best sense. I go to plays and read books all the time. Partly what I am doing is trying to understand what is going on, The Holy Spirit trains us. We have to learn the trying to understand the messages that are being sent reflexes of the Spirit as it were. The Spirit is a Spirit subliminally. When I was growing up, an individual of improvisation, but these are always improvisations read the evening news. There was a sense that this was on a theme and the theme is Jesus Christ. The Spirit an authoritative voice. It has been a long time since I does not minister anything else but Christ. It is all have seen an individual newscaster. There is almost improvisation, but is always improvisation on a always a panel now of people who represent different theme, the Son of God. viewpoints. Maybe there is some good to that, but it is almost a necessity now. Something is being lost. You have said culture is in the business Preachers seem to be the only people who get to of cultivating the have an uninterrupted talk at someone and it is just spiritual life. The primary way you are dealing with a matter of time before there are two or three people that concerns the cognitive story culture is telling, up front, giving different perspectives on the text. the “big picture.” As I think about how culture shapes There are dialogical modes of preaching that are being the Christian life, I think it does so cognitively and experimented with and panels with ESPN and other explicitly, but also subversively. Could you speak to venues, panels of “experts.” It says something about the what the pastor’s role is in that area as well? authority structure of our society. We do not expect a single voice to speak with authority anymore. It is very Culture can shape our spirits and subtle. ESPN, really? Critique of biblical authority? I am thinking cognitively, but that might not a conspiracist, but I see subterranean patterns and be the exception. Culture does not I am trying to think through these things. A lot of it often come out with a thesis statement; deals with subliminal, not explicit, messages. If it were the curriculum is almost always hidden, explicit, we could easily call it out for what it is. subterranean. It is subtle. Marketing is the easiest

CPT.MBTS.EDU 21 PERMANENT THINGS 22 these marketing techniques. massaged into thinkinganddoingcertain thingsby insight into or howyou addressed, are manipulated, institutions thatmarket products. It isafascinating people onMadisonAvenueThey interview withbig called degrees tounderstandthecontent. Theothervideois for achurch towatch.It doesnotrequire advanced how doyou sellit?Thatwouldbeafascinating video because “cool” changessofast.How doyou study cool, There are people who studied “cool.” It isinteresting which studies how“cool” ismarketed inoursociety. one called You canstartwithtwoPBSvideosIhighly recommend, to seeit. have names.Onceyou giveitaname,people willbegin someone dothat.”Theyare nowaware ofthem.They a few fallacies andtheywillcomebacksay, “I saw fallacies andyou shouldnotdothem.”You givepeople are mistakes you canmake inthinking.Theyare called critical thinking.Ifyou tellpeople, “You know, there more carefully. Ihave madecomparisonstoteaching If you tellyour congregation that,theymight listen the only question is‘Whatitteachingandhow?’” McLuhan “All said, television iseducational television; tomakesimply try themculturally literate.Marshall The thingwecandotohelpourcongregations is families are about.” message –“Here iswhat families are. Here iswhat desensitized ornumbed bythisconstant subliminal certain kindsofbehaviors, butourspiritshave been even for Christians.It doesnotmeanweapprove the picture ofwhat afamily ishasbeenaffected, them “non-traditional” or“blended” families. Somehow find what afamily is. We are nowallusedtoit. We call shows today—sitcoms, dramas—you willnotbeable to father, somechildren. Ifyou look only atelevision culture. We used toknowwhat afamily was—mother, Another example ishowfamilies are represented inour studied rhetoric andwedonot.We are easytopick off; have notbeentrained.Intheancienteveryone world, subtle formsare seeingare very ofrhetoric andwe Persuasion isanancient art;it isrhetoric. Whatwe The Persuaders Merchants ofCool . It isaboutmarketing techniques. , aFrontline documentary culture, andthetheological tradition. congregations becomeliteratewithregard toScripture, togaininhelping has nothingtolose buteverything we donotreally knowwhat ishappening.Thechurch Evangelical DivinitySchool Theology atTrinity Professor ofSystematic Kevin Vanhoozer isResearch (with OwenStrachan). Reclaiming aLostVision as Public Theologian: Authorship, andThePastor Divine Action, Passion and Remythologizing Theology: to ChristianTheology, Linguistic Approach of Doctrine:ACanonical- books, including and theauthorofnumerous • 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 The Drama On Having a Large The End of the Large Family Family in an Age One of the biggest casualties of America’s slow demographic decline is the large family. My wife and I of Childlessness never set out to have 6 children by the age of 31. We got married young (two months before our 21st birthdays), moved to the Midwest, started grad school, and began By David Talcott having kids far sooner than we planned. But, early fertility turned out to be a wonderful, providential gift. God alone knows what foolish things we would have AUGUST OF 2013 Time magazine ran a special done with our time and money if our twenties had been on “The Childfree Life.” The author childfree. No doubt our lives would have been filled interviewed the increasing numbers of with foodie restaurants, city lofts, and fancy gadgets. people voluntarily and intentionally Instead it was diapers, dishes, and not enough money choosing to live a life without children. Children, it is to pay babysitters. We were fortunate to be in a church thought, are a hindrance to human flourishing. These community with other young families, and leaders folks have trips to go on, places to see, restaurants with a vision for intergenerational faithfulness to God’s to dine in, adventures to have, things to accomplish. original means of filling the earth with His image: Children are nice, went the line, but they’re not for me procreative fruitfulness of husband and wife. We were and certainly not for right now. fortunate to have financial support from parents who eased the burden during grad school, keeping us from Our overall fertility situation tells a similar story. financial disaster. One estimate in the United Kingdom is that 17% of women will never have children, nearly 50% higher We now live in New Jersey, where quite a few folks than the previous generation. Our total fertility rate remember the large families of the past. I regularly in America has been below replacement level for meet people from an older generation who recall nearly two generations now. If trends hold, then apart those Irish-Catholic families with 8 or 10 kids. At our from immigration the next generation of Americans church, there’s a wonderful older woman who is one of will be 16% smaller than the current one. We’re not 8 children. But those are only memories. As one song quite attempting a childfree society, but we’re riding says, “Those days are gone, their names are lost / Their dangerously close to the edge. stories left untold.”

There are other signs of distress. Opioid addiction East coast residents experience this loss differently. is through the roof. Mental health problems and When we lived in the midwest, our large family was suicides are on the rise. No one thinks the hookup generally an annoyance to the community around culture is healthy—men and women alike are us—they’d have to wait at the Wal-Mart door while we unsatisfied with romance today. Indeed, the relational herded our flock into the building. Children tend to dysfunction of pornography and divorce are tearing get in the way of whatever else adults would like to be families apart. Even things which we thought would doing. We got a lot of irritable remarks: “Oh, you’ve got bring us happiness aren’t. As women have become your hands full” or “You know where those come from, more “equal” to men in society, they’ve become right?” When we moved to the east coast, however, the unhappier than they used to be. This finding is well- reactions changed. I’m not sure if there was some kind documented and puzzles social scientists to no end. of training session for this, but somehow everyone What has happened to us and what are we doing to responds the same way when they find out our family ourselves? What has happened to our families—the size. After trying to suppress their surprise they all say: places where we are supposed to learn how to love and “Oh, God bless you.” It’s gracious, at a deep level. But it live in this world that God has made? comes from a place of despair. The midwesterners can

CPT.MBTS.EDU 23 PERMANENT THINGS trouble ofit. still imaginetheirlife inours,andtheydon’t want the 24 strongly resisting cultural marriage trends. Hismentor, his research hehopedto findthatthechurch wouldbe In arecent podcastheexplained howwhen hestarted writing abook entitled them. University ofTexas sociologist MarkRegnerus is mirroring cultural trends ratherthanfighting against When itcomestomarriageandfertility thechurch is The FutureofChristianMarriage Everybody hasaplace atabigtable. to thetable inaway that’s different else. from everyone to thewhole. You are unique,andyou bringyour talents hastheirowngiftstheycontributeyou learn everyone purpose thanjustmakingyou happy. At thesametime, expendable, andthefamily hasabigger, grander merrier. You learn thatlife isnotaboutyou. You’re iswelcome—that more reallyeveryone domake to share inHislove. Inalargefamily, you learn that created theworldoutoflove andwe,too,are destined of love. Loveisfruitful,itflows out,itexpands.God Large families witnesstotheunconquerable power journey toward unites allofustogetherinlove. But we’re pilgrimson We long for theday when Godmakes allthingsnewand world for love, joy, andfruitfulness.Yet, allisnotright. remind usthatallisnotasitshouldbe.Godcreated the life, anduntil thenweremain incomplete. Theinfertile destined for anultimateinthenext union withGod, life cansatisfythedeepestneedsofoursoul. We are witness tothetruththatnohuman relationship inthis vocation witnessestodifferent truths. Single people but itisaloss toourculture when theydisappear. Each Of course,notallofusare called tohave largefamilies, The Meaning Families ofLarge “normal” American life, itisimpossible. but theythinkthey’re impossible today. Given today’s People have nostalgiafor thebigfamilies ofthepast, participate in,butwhich iswholly inaccessible tothem. distant past,onetheystillcherish,andwouldlove to from analien world.We’re amessengerfrom their To oureastcoastneighborsweare like anenvoy that place The Future Marriage ofChristian . We’re notthere yet. . But Regnerus tells usthattheChristianchurch isn’t more thantwice asmany asthesurrounding culture. The average Orthodox Jewish womanhas4children— which exerts apowerfulinfluence ontheirfamilies. instance, have formed strong counterculture avery buck thetrend. Hassidic Jews inNew York City, for the case.Sometimes,strong minorities canindeed But, ashelooks into ithe’s findingthatitjustisn’t true when itcomestomarriageandfamily. social factors–Regnerus hopedthatthiswouldprove church is“embattled butthriving”across arangeof sociologist ChristianSmith, arguedyears agothatthe unchanging, unconquerable love. children itproduces, willremain withusasasignofHis unfaithful, which canneverbe,marriage,andthe earth when Christfinally returns. Until Godbecomes forward toward theultimate reunion ofheaven and The fertile, one-flesh union ofmale and female points of therelationship betweenGodandHiscreation. old astime,beinginauguratedinthegarden asasign energy ofthemarriagerelationship. Its originsare as us from theunchangingreality andever-present permanent. Unstable socialtrends shouldnot distract And yet, amongcreated things,marriageisthemost rule. Thefertility numbers don’t lie. are buttheyare buckingthetrend, theexception tothe church, butthey’re fundamentally there. Somechurches community.” Thetrends are slightly moderatedinthe the surrounding culture form onecommon“moral trendlines ofwhat surrounds them.Thechurch and in adecadent culture, churches generally follow the following suit.Ratherthanbeingabastion ofresistance King’s College inNew York. Professor ofPhilosophy atThe David Talcott isAssistant • 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 God’s Call to Excellence Unattainable as it may seem, therefore, aspire to excellence, both in your personal character (who you are) By Andreas J. Köstenberger and in your work (what you do), just as God is excellent in both his character and in all his works.

Why Write on Excellence? My work on excellence has been motivated by various factors:

xcellence is a strangely neglected topic in 1. Reading. Years ago, soon after my conversion, I Christian circles. When was the last time read Addicted to Mediocrity by Frankie Schaeffer you heard someone talk about excellence? (son of Francis, the famous apologist), who rightly Why is this topic neglected? I’ll suggest a few observed and lamented that Christians are not possible reasons below. For now, let me state known for their excellence (he particularly singled my thesis: God has called every one of us to excellence, out Christians in the arts). Why is this the case? This defined as being a person of integrity who is doing their question has occupied me for some time. If God is work competently and with distinction (the Latin root of characterized by excellence, and we’ve been created excellence means “to stand out”). Yet defining excellence in his image and called to glorify him, why would is not the main problem: we all know excellence when we we as Christ’s followers not want to be known for see it. Rather, the problem is that we often don’t pursue excellence and engage in the pursuit of it? excellence or for a variety of reasons think excellence is unattainable. As a business student, I also read the leadership classic In Pursuit of Excellence by Tom Peters, and Too often, we focus on doing and neglect being. But then From Good to Great by Jim Collins. Later, doing is rooted in being! Jesus asked, “Can a bad tree during my seminary studies, it occurred to bear good fruit?” In his ministry, both his words and his me that excellence is relevant not only in the actions inexorably flowed from who he was. Time and business world but in the life of the Christian as again, the Gospels demonstrate that Jesus’ miracles, as well. Then, in seminary, I read Between Faith & well as his teachings, as stunning and sublime as they Criticism by the eminent church historian Mark were in and of themselves, were grounded in his (divine) Noll. As Noll makes clear, evangelical scholarship identity. Therefore, when I discuss excellence in my book since the 1950s has come a long way. In fact, it has Excellence: The Character of God and the Pursuit of Scholarly come even farther since Noll published his book Virtue, I start with chapters on holiness and spirituality over a quarter-century ago. before turning to a discussion of specific virtues. As a teacher, in equipping evangelical students for When writing about excellence, I do so as a matter academic work, I’ve used scholarly biographies such of aspiration. As legendary football coach Vince as A Place at the Table on the life of George Eldon Lombardi famously remarked, “Perfect is not Ladd: a great scholar (in fact, many consider him attainable; but if we chase perfection, we can catch to be the preeminent evangelical scholar of his excellence.” Aspirations are very powerful. Jesus urged, generation), but lacking as a father, husband, and “Therefore, be perfect as your heavenly Father is churchman. Deeply stung by a negative review of perfect.” (Matt. 5:48). And the apostle Paul wrote, “Not his work, he started drinking. A closer look at Ladd’s that I’ve already obtained all this …, but one thing I do: personal life reveals some sobering lessons for those I press on toward the goal … for which God has called of us who are committed to the pursuit of serious me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12–14). evangelical scholarship.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 25 PERMANENT THINGS 2. 26 hedoes,whether increation orsalvation. everything of excellence. He isexcellent inhischaracterand in and inourcreation inhisimage. Godistheepitome of excellence must begrounded inthecharacterofGod of excellence look like? Iconcluded thataChristianview asked myself thequestion: Whatwoulda themarketHaving surveyed onthetopic ofexcellence, I Excellence Like? Look aChristianViewWhat Does of 3. contributed tomy interest inexcellence aswell.As to refine my understanding of my ownidentity Quest for my identity. own Art oftheDeal Osteen ( People of Dale Carnegie ( often withaveneerofreligion orethics bythelikes contributions feature humanistic successstories, philosophers, poets,thinkers, orothers.Other of quotesbyfamouspeople, whether celebrities, that mostbooks coveringexcellence are anthologies topic ofexcellence istypically Idiscovered treated, excellence. ofthemarketSurvey regarding books on fuel agenuine questfor truth. subject andstilltreat itfairly; infact,ourpassion may at all.Idisagree; wecanbepassionate aboutagiven bias. “Confessional” scholarship isreally noscholarship unbiased scholarship. According toFox, faithequals the ideal(some might say “myth”) ofneutral, scientific, Foxand scholarship cannotcoexist.Instead, promoted vigorously contended that,properly faith understood, Literature (SBL), former president Michael Fox In aForum sponsored bytheSociety ofBiblical Consider theoddsChristianscholars are upagainst. unbelievers? Could excellence bethe key? in theacademy which ispopulatedsignificantly by my workasascholar andwitnesstohim,especially well asvocational calling?How canIglorify Godin is thepursuitorexcellence partofmy personalas different from beinga mean for metobea a result, Iasked myself thequestion: Whatdoesit ), Robert Schuller ( Your BestLifeNow As I surveyed themarketAs Isurveyed toseehowthe ). How toWinFriends andInfluence Christian non Power Thoughts -Christian academic? And ), orDonaldTrump ( My ongoingquest scholar? How isthat Christian ), Joel

view The lists excellence aspartofaseries ofvirtues:“Whatever New Testament. Theonly instanceinPaul’s writings “excellence” isarētē, which occursfivetimesinthe But what aboutthe incomprehensibility andexcellence ofGod. book, occasionally ofhisexcellence. MatthewBarrett’s new and theholinessof themagnificenceGod, ofGod, Wayne Grudem andMillard Erickson, likewise, speak theology.” Standard systematic theology treatments by God isconsistent withOwenStrachan’s callfor “bigGod Such acalltoexcellence grounded inthecharacterof knowledge, self-control, perseverance,godliness, Paul’s sevenfold fruitoftheSpirit): moralexcellence, virtues, notunlike Greco-Roman virtuecatalogues (cf. At this,Peter listsaveritable staircase ofsevensuch this way, wemust “supplement ourfaith” (v. 5). Christian virtues,theforemost beingmoralexcellence; in (v. 4).(4)We’re tomake effort every topursueaseries of Spirit, having escapedtheworld’s lust andcorruption promises andpartakers ofthedivinenature through God’s excellence (v. 3).(3)We’re therecipients ofGod’s precious pursue agodly life. (2) We’re called byGod’s and ownglory relationship withGodthrough Jesus Christequipsusto life-changing iftaken toheartandactedupon: (1)Our What weseeinthispassagehasthepotential tobetruly is partofalistvirtuesbelievers are topursue. excellence, knowledge …”(2 Pet. 1:3,5).Again,excellence your faithsupply moralexcellence, andinyour moral “Now for reason also,applying alldiligence,in thisvery andexcellence.”called usbyHisownglory He continues, and godliness,through thetrueknowledge ofHimwho pertainingtolifepower hasgranted touseverything 21). Inhissecondletter, he writesthatGod’s “divine light” (1Pet.darkness into hismarvelous 2:9;cf.Is.43:20– praises (lit.,excellencies) ofGodwho hascalled usoutof In hisfirst letter, hewrites thatwe’re “to proclaim the The remaining four instancesare allinPeter’s writings. Paul practice inhisownlife.observed this way, believers are urgedtoemulate what they’ve praiseworthy, thinkaboutsuchthings” (Phil. 4:8). In is true,whatever isnoble, …ifanything isexcellent or None Greater , likewise speakseloquently aboutthe Bible ? TheGreek word for 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 brotherly kindness, and love (vv. 5–7). He adds that if pursuit! Let me challenge you to: anyone grows in these virtues, they’ll be neither useless nor unfruitful in their knowledge of the Lord Jesus • Pursue excellence as a person Christ (v. 8). If we fail to pursue them, on the other hand, we’ll be blind and short-sighted, having forgotten our • Pursue excellence as a husband purification from our former sins (v. 9). If we pursue them, we’ll confirm our calling and election, and • Pursue excellence as a father or mother entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be amply supplied (vv. 10–11). • Encourage your children to pursue excellence in their character and in everything they do (see my Every Christian is called to the pursuit of excellence. book, Equipping for Life: A Guide for New, Aspiring & This is not a salvation truth but a sanctification and Struggling Parents) discipleship truth! In our own lives, as well as in our mentoring, and as we disciple others, is the concept of • Pursue excellence as a student growing in Christian virtues sufficiently on our radar? As Jesus said, “By this is my Father glorified,that you • Pursue excellence as a scholar bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples …. You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, • Pursue excellence as a servant of Christ that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain” (John 15:8, 16). In the Christian life, In my book on Excellence, I divide excellence into three maturity is not optional; it is expected. realms: moral, vocational, and relational. I also talk about Christian virtues such as diligence, fidelity, creativity, Then Why Aren’t We Doing It? eloquence, interdependence, and love. If you’re interested If every Christian is called to pursue excellence, then in this subject (and you should be!), please get a copy of my why don’t we hear more about this, and why are so few book on excellence and work through it thoroughly. believers engaged in the pursuit of excellence? I believe that there are several possible reasons (though I can only Finally, realize that Christians don’t have the luxury to list the responses briefly below; see 2 Pet. 1:3–11): pick one or two out of the three categories of virtue; we must pursue all three kinds of excellence. We can all 1. We think excellence is for the select few. No; think of examples of famous athletes, movie stars, or excellence is for everyone. other celebrities who excel in vocational excellence but have failed in the moral realm. Even our culture, at least 2. We think excellence is unattainable. No; excellence is in principle, upholds the joint ideal of moral, vocational, attainable if we focus and aim to do a few things well. and relational excellence.

3. We think excellence is self-effort. No; Scripture A Few Practical Tips presents the pursuit of excellence as grace-based So, what does excellence look like? And how is and Spirit-empowered. it achieved? Let me close with a seven practical suggestions of my own: 4. We think excellence is perfectionism. No; a biblical pursuit of excellence means striving to maximize • Streamline, whittle down, simplify, prioritize, and, our created potential with God’s help in order to above all, learn to say no! glorify God. • Do a few things well, learn to focus. Final Call to Excellence Embrace excellence as an overarching, all-encompassing • Determine your unique personal calling and pursue it.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 27 PERMANENT THINGS • 28 • • • minimize your weaknesses. weaknesses; thenmaximizeyour strengths and Be yourself; assessyour strengths and plan tofail. Plan: astheold adagegoes,ifyou failtoplan, you Charles Hummel’s booklet bythattitle). Don’t succumbtothetyranny oftheurgent (see else candothejob, let themdoit! Don’t duplicate theefforts ofothers;ifsomeone • Köstenberger) Woman (withMargaret God’s Designfor Manand Pursuit ofScholarly Virtue, Character ofGodandthe including of numerousbooks, He istheauthorSeminary. Baptist Theological Studies atMidwestern of theCenter forBiblical Theology andDirector Testament andBiblical Research ProfessorofNew Andreas Köstenberger is Charles Quarles) (with L.ScottKellum and to theNew Testament Crown: AnIntroduction Cradle, theCross, andthe Excellence: The 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 , and . The Truth with Grace: Re-Centering God and De- Centering Self Within the Public Square

By Bruce Ashford

EDITOR'S NOTE

The following is excerpted from Dr. Ashford’s Scudder Lectures in Public Theology given for the Center for Public Theology at Midwestern Seminary in January 2018.)

e-Center God throughout the course of my life – I have used humor in In our public discourse, it is as if the Christian the wrong way, responded in anger. I am not any better framework of thought and Christian virtue than anyone else; we will need to work together. have never really taken hold. Instead of being witnesses to Christ, we are something like the What can we do? opposite. We want to be able to re-center God in our 1) Recover the Biblical Narrative as the Master desacralized public square, but what does that look like? Narrative of Human History

We need to find appropriate, compelling ways of calling The church as a whole, and we as individuals, need to attention back to the cosmic King. That will not be easy. work hard to find ways to show that the biblical narrative, Every time we utter the words “God,” “Christ,” “sin,” or rather than the MSNBC narrative or the CNN narrative “salvation,” or promote any biblical concept, our hearers or the Fox News narrative, is the true story of the whole will hear it differently than the way we utter it. They will world. Augustine in his work, City of God, showed the load it with the freight of their own social and cultural Romans the hubris in their belief that history culminated context. To counter this, we will need to take a page out in the Roman empire and that the Romans were God’s of the playbook of Christian missionaries. people, polytheistically speaking. Augustine showed them in a powerful and compelling way that Rome’s history When I was a missionary I learned that I needed to was just a bit-player in the grand sweep of world history. listen sympathetically to people in my cultural context In reality, the Bible’s narrative is the master narrative that instead of mocking and demeaning them, assuming they positions all other narratives. In our nation, we’ve allowed were thoroughly reprehensible people, bad and stupid micro narratives, fashioned by small voices and secular people in whom nothing good could be found. When we political parties and ideologies to become the major approach people on the other side of the political aisle, narrative and have unwittingly let the big narrative be we will need to listen to them in order to understand subsumed. We need to recover the biblical narrative as the them, and then try to speak gospel words in such a way master narrative of human history. that they might hear and receive them. We should start from common ground to try to persuade, instead of 2) Identify and Denounce Political Idols standing at some imagined ascendant height of political power, rebuking people and mocking them. We all It is a helpful exercise to identify political idols. We have that temptation. I have failed in numerous ways can do this by finding the ways perennial idols, i.e. sex,

CPT.MBTS.EDU 29 PERMANENT THINGS angle istolook attheframeworksofpanoply of and seektoaddress theminahelpfulmanner. Another money, andpower, are operativeinthepublic square 30 We needtomake clear toourneighborthatultimate Hope3) Proclaim Alone inChrist systems andparties. to confess ouridols, eveninourownpreferred political to honortheLord Christinournation until we’re willing with idolatry. We have nobusinessthinkingwe’ll beable when humans constructsocieties –wewillcorruptit is serious stuff.Thisis what the Bible teacheswillhappen Though you may bemocked for broaching thetopic, this these systemswilloneday save us. communal ownershiptothelevel ofagodinhopesthat arise. Socialismtendstoelevate material equalityand else.Soon,injustices superior insomeway toeveryone the nation-state toalevel ofultimacy, makingthem the nation-state or, sometimes,anethnic group within and sometimestheyare worse.Nationalism elevates the experiments are asbadtheonethatcamebefore, thinking thesocialexperiment willsave us.Usually, tends tovesttheseprojects withasortofmessianic hope, wants toenactgrandprojects ofsocialreform asafixand the evilinourcultural heritage,sometimesrightly so.It Social progressivism istheoppositeandtendstosee of atranscendent norm. have torummagearound tofindsomesort conservatives cultural heritageby. Without theChristianfaith,social is there isaneedfor transcendent normstojudgeone’s some golden eraofthepasttoreturn to.Theproblem cultural heritage,viewing changeasevilandfinding tendstoabsolutize moral norms.Socialconservatism mean unfettered freedom from social,cultural, and tend toascribeultimacy toliberty. By “liberty,” they Classical liberalismandforms ofmodernlibertarianism like person,tendstoward anidol ofsomesort. every does thisbrilliantly. Every modernpolitical ideology, In hisbook, the thingthisideology ascribesultimacy insteadofGod?” ideologies tendtoworship, askingthequestion: “Whatis modern political ideologies andidentifying theidol these Political VisionsandIllusions , David Koyzis Jesus remains forever. come andgo.Theyalways have andtheyalways will. this anddon’t forget it:occupants toCaesar’s throne allegiances inlight ofourloyalty toChrist.Remember in away thatdemonstratesthetentativeness ofthose often should.But weshouldengageinthosethings can’t beactiveinsupportingcandidates;wecanand messianic political figure, ora platform. It’s notthatwe allegiance istoChrist,andnotaparty, ideology, a special-interest armofonemajorpolitical party or we we are nothingmore than ahypocritical, bigoted one oftwothings:eitherconfirm toournation that Taking astanceisanespecially valuable way todo and dispositionintheway we communicate them. ourdemeanor moral andpolitical butwith stances, content ofour 2) thetruth notonly with Beconcerned position ofpolitical weaknesscouldneverrestrain it. Our love for Christandourneighbordemandsita on theleft, butthefactremains, Imust bedoingit. I approach thesethingswill be different from someone American perspective,I’m onthepolitical right. Theway downtrodden, orsocially marginalized.From an of groups who are financially disadvantaged,ethnically own religion. We shouldbethefirsttoworkonbehalf not merely ofourownrace,economic status,orevenour to bethepeople who are seekingthegoodofeveryone, its owntribe.Asbelievers inthispolarized era,wehave the extent thatitseeksthegoodmerely orexclusively of Identity politics isthedeathofademocratic republic to tribe. the goodofourown 1) We canseekthegoodofcity, ratherthanmerely ways wecandothis: we’ll standoutabovethefray. There are atleast two humble posture inthepublic square; it’s theonly way to giveushumility. We needtofindaway toassume a else isthatwecanusethemoment toaskGod that wehave beende-centered bysomeone e-Center theSelf e-Center center. Onegoodthingaboutthefact are constantly placing ourselves inthe It’s difficult to re-center God when we

2019 |ISSUE 1.1 can say we most emphatically are not that, but are, culture entirely by bringing in the kingdom of God, but instead, a people transformed by Christ. In the middle we can operate as obedient witnesses. Occasionally, of this arena, we need to refuse to form in our mind God allows us some amount of victory. We should the thoroughly unbiblical belief that everything is the seek to revitalize our cultural institutions instead of fault of the other side. No one on the other side is withdrawing from them, leaving them on their own. God thoroughly bad; Satan and his minions are, but no person may bless the work of our hands, and even if we do not is beyond redemption. If you allow yourself to think see visible victory, we get to be a witness and get to be that everyone who is on the wrong side is thoroughly obedient. Christ-centered cultural work is a powerful reprehensible, you will be able to quickly justify mocking means of opposing cultural and social decadence. We can and demeaning them, failing to give them dignity and accomplish this in two ways: respect as human beings, lying about them repeatedly, telling partial truths at best, questioning their motives, 1.) We need to take the broad view. and judging their hearts unfairly. We want to have that combination of truth and grace that Jesus displayed. Let’s not put all our eggs in the basket of politics. Truth without grace makes you a jerk or bully, to put it Government and politics is only one cultural sphere kindly. Grace without truth makes us political wimps or among many. Let’s build a Christian witness in every a sort of non-entity. But that combination of truth and sphere and encourage our young people to enter into the grace that is brought by conforming ourselves into the arts and sciences, higher and lower education, politics image of Christ allows us to get powerful public witness. and economics, sports and competition, marriage and family. Let’s enter in fully as gospel people, and when we 3) Reframe Divisive Public Issues in Interesting Ways do, the cumulative effect of our combined witness could be very powerful. Let’s take the broad view. If we are pledging ultimate allegiance to Christ, and the Bible’s narrative is the master narrative through 2.) We need to play the long game. which we are viewing political events in human history, we will be liberated to reframe divisive public issues When we are in the political sphere, let’s not put all in ways that are interesting. We can make Christianity our eggs in the basket of short-term activism. It’s okay interesting again. We can frame issues in ways that do to work the switchboards for a senator or put some not arise directly from the soil of a secular ideology or sandwich boards on and walk around. Those are not from a political party that is framed by secularists. We inherently wrong things to do, but if we limit ourselves do not have to, and ought not in certain instances, frame to doing only this, we lose the effect of it, muffling our it the way they frame it. Refusing to do so breaks the voice. Short-term activism tempts us to sacrifice long- ability of American society, and especially the media, to term public witness on the altar of short-term political classify and dismiss the church as a special-interest group gain. Let’s not do this just to win. God hasn’t called us to beholden to a particular political party. If we will not be winners. Jesus is the only winner and because he wins, reframe issues and the Bible is not the master narrative we win in the end. and we are unable to have a different disposition and demeanor, the press has every right to make these claims. Let’s remember Jesus’s words in John 20:21, “As the Let’s regain the clarity and strength of our voice by Father sent me, so I send you.” God sent the Son in a viewing politics and public life through the eyes of God’s way that was prophetic, sacrificial, and the Son was revealed Word and the incarnate Son. humbly confident. We need to approach public life in the same way. We need to approach the public square in a evitalizing Culture prophetic manner just as Jesus declared that he is Lord In contrast to previous categories, we cannot and Caesar is not. We must challenge the cultus publicus control whether or not we revitalize culture. of the American empire. We must challenge anti-Christ We may not be triumphant; we can’t transform ideologies, policy views, and moral views anywhere we

CPT.MBTS.EDU 31 PERMANENT THINGS If thecosmic Kingoftheuniversecouldministerasa find them,butwe must alsobesacrificial and humble. 32 Eerdmans, 2003),55. 43 Lesslie Newbigin, an inescapable partfor which wewillgiveaccount. For not themostimportant partofouridentity, butitis will meethimasAmericans, too.Ourcitizenshipis as Americans. But for citizensoftheUnited States, we We willmeethim firstand foremost asChristians,not Our great andcertainhopeis thattheLord willreturn. Rubble confident andcan remain humble. In andrestores theearth.Forvictory thatreason, weremain in humble submission toChristtheKingashegains politics willoneday beraisedtolife andmadetobow seem, weneedtoremember thisonetruth:therealm of humbly confident. Asdarkasany political moment may willing tooperatefrom thepolitical margins.We canbe the public square. We canbewillingtolose. We canbe then wecanbewillingtolivehumble, sacrificial livesin was tobedisrobed andnailed toacross todie inpublic, homeless itinerant teacherwhose destiny onthisearth or ofdespair. because wehave no needeitherofblind optimism goodmovement ofpolitical andsocialeffort,every ought asChristianstobetheheartand strength of righteousness. Andhaving thisknowledge we be anewheaven andanewearthwherein dwells sosurelywas raisedfrom thedead, shallthere must be.But weknowthatassurely asChrist we are notdismayed…We knowthatthesethings mounting seemingly irresistible forces ofevil,yet painfully wonachievements ofgoodness,there are buried inthedustoftime,andthatalong withthe even iftheysucceedfor atime,willintheendbe that wemust grow old anddie, thatourlabors, together inHislove andjoy…And thoughweknow heart,andHischildren rejoice God reigns inevery the New Jerusalem, aperfect fellowship inwhich our goal,great asthatis…Ourgoalistheholy city, The point isthat[a transformed society] isnot , Leslie Newbigin writes: 43 Signs Amid ofGodinHuman theRubble: ThePurposes History Signs Amid the reign visibly from athrone. just asourLord onceministered from atree, only tolater political weakness,choosingtoministerfrom a“tree” are tobeapublic witnessoperatingfrom aposition of confidence andfaithfulnessinaprophetic manner. We activism.Weinto angry shouldembraceitwithhumble call, nottoresent itorslouch into withdrawal orcharge that reason, weoweittoournation toembracethe (Grand Rapids,MI:Wm. B. • Provost, DeanofFaculty, Bruce RileyAshford, Jr. is Hope for American Politics. under God:AChristian and coauthorof Engagement for Christians An Introduction toCultural author of Among othertitles,heisthe Baptist Theological Seminary. and Culture atSoutheastern and ProfessorofTheology Every Square Inch: 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 One Nation Going Dark: The Rise and Significance of Jordan Peterson and the “Intellectual Dark Web”

By Esther O’Reilly

hat do a Canadian psychology professor, an “misgendering” under the Ontario Human Rights Code, American evolutionary biologist, and a British Peterson spoke out and registered his refusal to use journalist all have in common? Answer: All “alternate” pronouns such as “ze” or “zir.” After receiving of them are part of the network known as the two cease-and-desist orders from his own university, he “Intellectual Dark Web,” a motley crew of public stood his ground, risking legal sanctions and the possible intellectuals, writers and media creators who took the loss of his professorship. By this simple action, Peterson year of 2018 by storm. Their secret? They are having long, crossed a line in our brave new cultural landscape. candid dialogues about ideas that matter, then sharing the uncut results for anyone to hear. And the gatekeepers Douglas Murray calls these lines “tripwires”: booby of culture are not happy about it. traps for people who are peacefully going about their lives one day, then wake up the next day to discover Jordan Peterson, Bret Weinstein, and Douglas Murray are they are suddenly the worst kind of bigot. Do you just a few of the names that millions of people have gotten believe there are only two genders and they are to know better as they tune into this rolling conversation. inherently different? Do you believe that empathy It was Bret’s brother, prodigious mathematician and Thiel alone does not form an effective basis for social Capital manager Eric Weinstein, who jokingly gave the policy on complicated issues like immigration? Do network its dubious title. In practice, they are only “Dark” you believe racial thought-policing is dangerously insofar as they are helping ordinary people think outside unhealthy, even if you agree that racism exists? If you the box of institutional media. The twist: most of them are answer “Yes” to any of the above, the outrage mob will liberal atheists. come for you. As Bret Weinstein discovered, it will even come for a lifelong Democrat. How is this happening? For conservative Christians, the answer is multifaceted The Weinstein brothers grew up in deep blue and worth studying. Readers will most readily California, as did Bret’s wife, Heather Heying. In 2002, recognize the name of Jordan Peterson, who won viral Bret and Heather both began teaching evolutionary fame a year ago in a battle of wits with BBC reporter biology at Evergreen State College, a self-styled Cathy Newman. His book 12 Rules for Life became progressive school nestled in the woods of Portland, an overnight hit, and his accompanying lecture tour Oregon. Weinstein’s progressive credentials were captured sold-out international audiences. But, as sterling. A cousin of Holocaust survivor Eva Kor, he of fall 2016, Peterson had been unsure if he was even wore his Jewish identity proudly and earned death going to have a job, let alone worldwide fame. threats from his college frat for calling out white supremacy. In 2011, he supported the Occupy Wall That summer, the Canadian Parliament introduced Street protests. One could hardly picture a less likely new discrimination legislation that made transsexuals target of leftist outrage. Yet, in May 2017, that was a protected class. Noting that “discrimination” included exactly what Weinstein became.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 33 PERMANENT THINGS leave theEvergreen campus.WhenWeinstein refused, where young activistsdemandedthatallwhite people The catalyst wasastudent-imposed “Day ofAbsence,” 34 although Jordan Peterson hasoccasionally beenmistaken Saturday.every There are noChristiansinthegroup, still unable togiveupsynagogueandTorah reading Weinstein sitsbetweenthem,anavowed naturalistwho’s Shapiro tothebullishNew Atheist SamHarris.Eric ethnically Jewish, from thedevoutly practicing Ben old-time But what doestheIntellectual Dark Web make of comes tothisgodexcept asaslave. is only endless judgment, shameandpenance.Nobody means ofwashingaway the stainoforiginal“sin.” There type ofreligion. Before thisthrone, there isnomercy, no banished religion. It hasmerely replaced itwithanew while our culture might ithasnot have banishedGod, The example ofEvergreen College demonstratesthat stand upwithhimandsay something.Nobody elsedid. meeting, watchinginhorror, hopingsomeonewould you canspotWeinstein inthebackground ofevery clip ofrough waves crashingonrocks. Ifyou look closely, land ofequity. Behindthem,aPowerPoint screen loops a board amake-believe “canoe,” boundfor thepromised meeting seesthemliningupandaskingpermission to and “renounce” theirprivilege (and allitsworks). One White students andfaculty are compelled tostandup meetings take onthecharacterofreligious ceremony. resentment andcallfor drastic structuralchange,these shape theirnew“equity policy.” Asthesespeakers stoke school’s leadership invited radical activistthinkers to Evergreen’s “equity council” meetingsshowshowthe Over ayear before themeltdown, chillingvideofrom The corruption ofEvergreen wasatop-downaffair. in exile,” pariahsamongtheirpeers. his wife resigned soonafter. Today, theyare “professors stop it.Inasettlement withtheschool, Weinstein and removal. Worst ofall,theadministration didnothingto union membershostagewhile demandingWeinstein’s anarchy, rioting, blocking exits,andholding faculty the nextfew days, theyestablished astateofcomplete down asaracist,andbodily escortedhimoffcampus. For student handlers marched tohisoffice, shoutedhim religion? Severalpeople inthenetworkare this phenomenon, when biologist Nita Farahany argued recalls awatershedmoment inhisownunderstandingof papering overviolent Islamic culture withrelativism. He that theradical left hasbetrayed itsownliberalvalues by Sam Harriscounts themasfriends andargueswiththem of thegroup who nowidentify assecularhumanists. Hirsi AliandMaajidNawaz are twoex-Muslim members There is,ofcourse,thatotherold religion: Islam.Ayaan late twenties. Church, de-converting afterapainfulcrisisoffaithinhis Christian themes.Only DouglasMurray grew upinthe for onebasedonhisrespect for theBible andarchetypal like-minded conversation partners, themostsignificant But inthesestrangetimes,when itcomestofinding the light ofeternity, thesethingsmatter immensely. and my friend affirmsbiblical sexuality. Tobesure, in my friend isaChristian,orthatMurray isahomosexual moment, itdidn’t matterthatMurray isanatheistand Marxism andthesuppression offree thought. Inthat bonded effortlessly overtheirshared alarmatcultural friend ofminecrossed professional pathswithhim,they who’s “good Christian inafight.” Whenoneconservative For hisownpart,Murray willshake handswithanyone on thefingersofonehand. could count hislike-minded allies inthesecularacademy friend inathree-way dialogue with Jordan Peterson, Sam him hislife. But asDouglasimpishly points outtohis whose ownjournalistic workonIslamhasnearly cost He sympathizeswithHarris,asafellow freethinker on theother? DouglasMurray suggeststhatheshould. him againsttheradical left ononehandandradical Islam alliance ofChristianswho are alsowillingtostandwith This posesachallenge for Harris:willhewelcome the Commission for theStudy ofBioethical Issues. Farahany wouldgoontojoinPresident Obama’s only toencounter newreligion inhisownbackyard. Harris realized hehadspent hislife fighting old religion, why they’re doingit.”Thatwasthemoment when Sam Without “It battinganeye, shesaid, woulddependon thirdcondemn aculture child. thatritually blinded every he asked whether shewouldagree thatweshould burqas iswrong. Attempting tosteerherinto a with himthatonecouldnotsay forcing womentowear 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 reductio , dividing line is not the line between faith and no faith. It insisting on methodological naturalism, these thinkers is the line between good faith and bad faith. are denying themselves the most powerful explanatory resource for their own observations about human nature: This is the “New New Atheism” that is rising as the sun intelligent design. Men and women are not different of New Atheism sets: an atheism willing to admit that because they evolved to be different. They werecreated devout Jews and Christians are not going anywhere, and different. Morality is not a heuristic for social interaction this might be a good thing. The “new new atheist” sees constructed by man through stories and imitative games. religion less like a mind virus and more like the fence It was written on our hearts from the beginning. in G. K. Chesterton’s parable—something that should not be torn down just because one is unsure why it is Sadly, we Christians must face the fact that we have been there. Indeed, as Murray powerfully argues in his book almost wholly shut out of the intellectual debate on these The Strange Death of Europe, we are getting a front-row questions. It has not been for lack of robust arguments, or seat to what happens when a whole continent loses its able apologists to make them. While the New Atheists may religious identity. Tear down the fence, create a vacuum have lost the argument, they won the PR campaign. As a of meaning and purpose, and something far worse may result, even those in the public square who are friendly rush in to fill the void. toward our faith take it for granted that there is no logical basis for it. This is not to discourage apologetic ministry In debate with the “mind virus” man himself, Richard in the church. To the contrary, it is more needed now than Dawkins, Bret Weinstein has tried to add an evolutionary ever. But for many a man on many a street, it still comes as spin, arguing that religion can be viewed as a helpful news that “rational Christian” is not an oxymoron. biological adaptation. After all, religious people have historically built strong communities, encoded moral Still, while the Intellectual Dark Web may be beyond wisdom in compelling stories, and raised their children our reach for now, they are not beyond the reach of the with standards of “clean” living. Sure, their beliefs may Holy Spirit. For at least some of its members, questions be “literally false,” but they’re “metaphorically true.” and hard problems still niggle. The awareness of what is This echoes the stance Jordan Peterson has taken in missing still lingers. debate with Sam Harris, though Peterson is less willing to state outright that Christianity is literally false. Social Jordan Peterson feels it when he burns with anger at psychologist Jonathan Haidt has made a similar case in his totalitarian horrors, knowing that Darwin cannot help book The Righteous Mind. Say what you will about religion, him explain why. He feels it when he weeps over a young but at some level, it seems to work. And, Weinstein woman’s suicide, knowing that no amount of Stoic proposes, it just might give culture the push that it needs wisdom can mend her parents’ broken hearts. If we are to “reject our biological programming” before we play out merely stuff of earth, alone in the universe, where can the evolutionary story to self-extinction. meaning be found? Is there a final reckoning for the evil we cannot avenge? Is there a final restoration of the On the one hand, this is certainly a pleasant change of things we cannot restore? pace from the vitriolic rhetoric of the “Four Horsemen.” Yet Christians might sense a certain condescension in Eric Weinstein feels it when other naturalists breezily such a peace offering. inform him that there is nothing to fear, that they can still have nice things. “Is there?” he wonders. “Can we?” Christianity is still viewed as a psycho-evolutionary He feels it when he unravels the mathematical structure puzzle to be solved, not as a set of truth claims to be of the universe and finds patterns within patterns, studied on their own terms. Meanwhile, naturalistic dimension upon dimension of grace and beauty. “A evolutionary readings of facts such as gender disparity communication of pure design,” he calls it. Almost as if it are seen as the last bastion of scientific objectivity against was waiting for him to find it. Almost as if someone were radical identity politics. Of course, the irony is that, by trying to tell him something.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 35 PERMANENT THINGS sacred inanatheistworld.He feels itwhen hemeets and thesanctityoflife, wonderingifanything isstill Douglas Murray feels itwhen hewritesabouteuthanasia 36 men want ittobetrue. least, wewillmaketrue? Maybe not.But atthevery good watching usthatourfaithis Will weconvince everyone and communities well. can liveandworkwithintegrity. We canlove ourfamilies Nigerian Christians.We canembody moralcourage.We never catch.Or, wecanfollow second, theexample ofthe exhaust ourselves inpursuitofawill-o’-the-wisp wewill pews. We coulddouble our marketing teams.We could truths while wepreach thewhole truthtostill-empty enough. We couldlament thatmillions flock tohalf- First, wecouldchoosetofeel frustratedthatitisstillnot in oneoftwoways. which wenowfindourselves. We canchooseto respond religious apologists. Such is theupside-downworldin become theBible teacher. Thescientists have become the persecutedchurch. Thepsychology professor has And sothegay atheisthasbecomethechampion of see thattheyare not. know? Without him,theywillbeforgotten. But hewill friends say. “They’re homophobic,” doesn’t Douglas seen. “But they’re notattractivevictims,” hisfreethinking notyet glimpse through adarklingglass,ofcountry prayer goesup. Astirringofold longing, long buried. A finest clothes theystillhave. “Oh Lord, deliver us!”their in theSunday worshiptheystillkeep, dressed inthe wounds. He feels itwhen hehearsthemlifttheirvoices sharing stories ofloss, children showinghimtheirbullet persecuted ChristiansinNigeria—men andwomen • Understanding Jordan the forthcominganthology achaptertocontributing Unbelievable? Radio'sPremier Christian Intellectual DarkWeb for in discussionsaboutthe She hasalsoparticipated Federalist has appearedin in mathematics.Her work andgraduate studentwriter Esther O'Reilly isafreelance Patheos blog, Analysis. Peterson: ACritical Follow herat and 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 Young Fogey. andis Quillette The . “The gospel addresses all of life”: On Race and Identity

with H.B. Charles, Jr.

EDITOR'S NOTE

The following is excerpted from a City of God interview conducted in November 2018.

Today I am with H.B. Charles Jr. He is the experience, or skill. In my installation message, Dr. E.V. pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church Hill, the late pastor of Mt. Zion Church in Los Angeles, in Jacksonville, Florida. … H.B., thank you so preached a message entitled, “What Can That Boy Tell much for being with us. Me?” In the sermon, he emphasized the sufficiency of Scripture. Kicking off my ministry as a high school Thank you for having me, Owen. It’s a joy to be senior, I was struck by the fact that truth is truth whether with you. I experience it as such or not.

H.B., I would say you have a “Word-driven” Thirdly, at this stage I have seen the power of God’s work. ministry. You’re known for standing upon the God doesn’t promise to bless our ideas or agendas; he Word of God. You’re known for expository promises to bless his Word. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass preaching – you have written multiple books on the withers and the flower fades, but the Word of God stands topic and speak all around the country and all around forever.” The authority of God’s Word is our authority for the globe about it. Why is your ministry so resolutely ministry. Everything that happens in the church should focused on the Word of God? be an extension of the Word.

I am committed to Bible-governed, Bible-shaped, Amen to that, I agree. Your father was a very Bible-led ministry for several reasons. First, my prominent Los Angeles preacher in the Baptist calling and charge as a pastor is to preach the tradition and African-American church. He Word. The first two verses of 2 Timothy 4 build on the had a connection to the Civil Rights movement and last two verses of the previous chapter. The nature, had a particular stance on the issue in his day. Can you authority, and sufficiency of Scripture is why we preach elaborate on that for us? What did it look like for him the Word. In 2 Tim. 4, Paul doesn’t just tell Timothy that to be a biblical preacher in that day in age? he must preach; he tells him what he must preach. He must preach the Word and he must preach the Word Sure, we were a part of the National Baptist because of what the Word is. Any ministry or church that Convention, made up primarily of African- is not rooted in faithful, biblical teaching betrays our lack American congregations and my father was a of confidence in the Word of God. part of a circle of preachers rallying around the work of Martin Luther King Jr. There was division within the Secondly, I started as a boy-pastor. I had no authority, National Baptist Convention – the established leaders

CPT.MBTS.EDU 37 PERMANENT THINGS When that battle came to a head, agroupWhen thatbattle ofyoung cametoahead, missions, andChristianeducation, insteadofcivilrights. felt theconvention shouldbefocused onevangelism, 38 the preachingofWord –isthataccurate? into thechurch. So,thereisanorganiccomponent to inbothJewthrough hisblood andbrings andGentile and Gentile family. tohis own He makes onenew man racial reconciliation.It’s does;hedraws what Christ Jew racial reconciliationthattakes place. It’s gospel-drive gospel isproclaimed,therenaturally goingtobe at theTruth inLove Conference, ispreachedandthe means tobeafaithfulminister. and work.Thathasshapedmy understandingofwhat it in tension. Theyseemedtoflow seamlessly inhislife a civilrights organization. Ineverfelt thetwosideswere making. He didnotstretch thattomake thelocal church he understoodtheworkofchurch tobedisciple- but muchthe pastors.My engaged, fatherwasvery the minister’s conference regularly andconsult with was ablack mayor, Tom Bradley, who wouldcometo any ofthosepastors.Igrew upinL.A.where there That isthemodelIgrew up. Thatwas thepatternfor wasrooted intheWord.care, buthisministry theneedsofthoseentrusted tohis assignment –serving He asapartofhispastoral viewed thosethings,Ithink, make thechurch anextension ofhiscivilrights work. to“readChrist. He didnottry in” cultural issuesand he preached theWord ofGodandthetestimony ofJesus never brought any ofthattothepulpit.Week afterweek, helping meettheneedsofpeople inthecity, buthe to helpingthecommunity andwasconcernedabout who couldrightly belabeled anactivist,wascommitted to civilrights. There wasasenseinwhich my father, in thegreater California area. He wastotally committed and helpedestablish theConvention intheL.A.area and National BaptistConvention.” My fatherjoinedthem men left andstartedanewworkcalled the“Progressive from his work to be careful about handcuffing from hisworktobecareful abouthandcuffing that isn’t what I’m commending.I’ve learned Yes, andIamnotsaying my fatherdodgedissues; 19, which I’ve heard you preachonpowerfully andwhen atextlikeScripture Ephesians 2:11- Amen. It seemswhen we look certainly at What you are doingtherea isfleshing thatoutthrough brothers andsistersinChrist.Thatisessential topreach. who wouldhave nothingtodowitheachotherbecome reconciling powerofthegospelisthatitmakes those with oneanother. Thesigntothewatchingworldof to usinChrist.Tied directly tothatisourrelationships holy andweare not,hascondescendedtobereconciled God andthen,totally disregard who is thefactthatGod, the worldtohimselfandwehave beenreconciled toaholy if wetruly understandthatGodinChristhasreconciled absolutely right. There isamisunderstandingofthegospel addresses alloflife, including ourrelationships. You’re the gospeltosomeother, agenda.Thegospel secondary our workistobeandhowwedo it. pastors andshouldshapeourunderstanding ofwhat Kingdom ofGodinthisworld.That shouldshapeusas andforetastesign, herald, ofthepresent-but-not-yet church becomesthiscounter-cultural community, a the gospelofLord, Jesus Christ.Thatiswhen the the only way tomake senseoftheserelationships is richmarried, andpoor, black andwhite togetherand you look around andseeyoungsingle andold, and than Christ.Thechurch ought tobe aplace where their stageoflife might bethemore compelling bond with eachother, where theirconnection becauseof not justthattheyoung people enjoyhangingout that cannotbeexplained apartfrom thegospel.It’s that there ought toberelationships inourchurches nature ofthelocal church. Theheartofthebook is That’sChrist. what Iseeinyour ministry. whom you might have nothingelseincommon,but the freshoxygen oftheWord people with ofGodwith can gointo thatlocalassembly eachweek andbreathe aroundtheWordwhen thechurch isstructured andyou ispolitical. It’spolitical. Everything abeautiful thing today. Games arepolitical, theNational Anthem is an important distinction tomake. gospel lens, notapolitical, social,orcultural lens. Thatis articulated thisissuewellconcerningthe by MarkDeverandJamie Dunlop andthey I recently read time on all sides here, everything feels political time onallsideshere,everything timeandinsuchapolitically a divided frenzied distinction.In such important I thinkit’s avery The Compelling Community 2019 |ISSUE 1.1

Yes, and as part of that identity and within that Spanish-speaking community and I’m grateful for what body, I think we can note, there are prophetic God is doing there. Aldo Mesa is our Spanish-speaking elements in our preaching… pastor, or as he calls himself, the “Latin H.B.” (laughter). The bond we share is around the Word of God and the In the name of prophetic preaching, I hear guys testimony of Jesus Christ. Our unity, our witness, and talk about the importance of speaking “truth our strength remain to the degree that we keep the main to power,” using Jesus as their example. I don’t thing, the main thing. Whenever it shifts to something worry with all of it, but as I am preaching, I am studying else, then that fellowship is corrupted and that is and notice Jesus speaking truth to power, except his true with any topic, not just racial matters, but cross- primary target is hypocritical religionists. He was more generationally, etc. I have a colleague who proudly says, concerned about the corruption of those who claim to “My church is all-millennial.” It’s great that he is reaching be God’s people. I think we misunderstand what our millennials; I’m just not sure that’s something to brag assignment is. He didn’t go clean Herod’s palace, he about. I think healthy discipleship means young people cleansed the temple. In prophetic preaching, the best need to learn to love, live with, and serve with seniors thing we can do for the world is to let the church be the who they might not have a lot in common with except church and let the world be the world. We can’t make a the gospel, and vice-versa. I do not think it is wrong to difference as salt and light unless there is that distinction minister to certain demographics, but that should not be and that distinction requires gospel-preaching that is, the final identity factor for us. itself, prophetic. It proclaims a “new world order” based upon the finished work of Christ. I agree in full. It’s meaningful to hear both your personal background – that civil rights is not I know in your own church in Jacksonville, you far off from your family, but that your father have seen this “strangeness.” You have a very was, in some ways, an important figure in L.A. and diverse group of people who are members and beyond – and then, that in your own church, you have who are following your preaching. You have people skin in this game. You have seen the gospel and the in the African-American community and in the black Word unite. This is a beautiful thing. We just want to church following your preaching. You have people in the be on record as saying this. There are a lot of things to Reformed world, the John MacArthur-influenced world, sort out in the public square, a lot of issues to handle and beyond following your preaching. That’s a rare that are very complex and deep, and there is real pain. thing in our day. What have you seen at Shiloh in terms The American past is a very checkered past and, yet, of this in-gathering as the Word has been preached? the gospel does unite. People are hungry for the Word and that is what we see in your ministry. I have much to thank God for as I have seen the progress. God has blessed our labors in Yes, God uses all kinds of means to sanctify us. Jacksonville. I have to admit as I look at our Preaching helps keep the church faithful, but work, I am burdened and troubled. We have a long often, the church helps keep the preacher faithful. way to go; we have not arrived. No church can claim Things happen in the community and I see things in the they have. We merged our predominantly black church news, and I feel a certain way about it and have thoughts with a predominantly white church and there were so about it, reactionary impulses and things I want to say. many points of disagreement about things like ministry There are footnotes that I want to say to get my thought programs, musical styles, leadership structures, church out there, but God has called me to a place where I traditions, special events, and more. The unifying am shepherding those from different races and I am factor has been the preaching of God’s Word and the constantly reminded as I prepare and think through those testimony of Jesus Christ. things that I, as a shepherd, have no right to dishonor the gospel by putting anything forward that prejudices the This year God has allowed us to extend the work to the hearing of it. I don’t want to say anything on social media,

CPT.MBTS.EDU 39 PERMANENT THINGS that is,frankly, notasimportant asthegospel itself. the hearingofgospelbecauseIhave anotheragenda at conferences, orinmy ownpulpitthatprejudices against 40 Itweet. stewardship ofspeechapplies toeverything Scripture says aboutmyto remember thateverything such away thatweare led away from thegospel.Itry side. tempted toonevery cannot losesight ofthattoday, even thoughwe are human raceconstitutedinthesecondAdam. We humanity is,effectively, byhisblood. There anew of thatone,newman.Jesus hasliterally madeanew fromafar for Iseethatprioritization your ministry. thankful work inusaJames 1sense.H.B., Iamvery following isdoing Spirit andothersdoaswell. …The hot-take andcanpublish it.You have asignificant we, asministers,thinkthrough ourwork. these issues.There isaprinciple there thatshapeshow bond inChrist.It forces you toplay fairly withsomeof butwhobackground, are my family becauseofour do notlook like me,thosewho are from adifferent who look like meandmy family andfor people who I have tothinkthrough what itmeansfor people things andnotjustview itas“those people outthere.” one another. It isasanctifyingthingtothinkthrough together, worshipedtogether, andwalked alongside We have prayed together, suffered together, served who Iwillpreach toare my brothers andsisters. Related tothat,thoseofdifferent racesinmy church guard againstbecominghandcuffed byitin technology anditisagoodtool, butwemust Absolutely. side,weare blessed by Andonevery friendship. Thank you for theopportunityandfor your for Godbless your you,brother. ministry. Amen. H.B., I’m thankfulfor you joiningusand on aminute-by-minute basis.You have a because you really canbroadcastyour thoughts Social mediamakes itaninteresting day inage • Spurgeon Library atMBTS. Spurgeon Library Preaching Fellow ofthe On Pastoring including the authorofseveral books, Orange Park, He Florida. is Church ofJacksonville and Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Pastor-Teacher atthe H. B. Charles,Jr. isthe On Preaching 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 , andisSenior and Your Prosperity is gospel.” While it promises a long list of earthly treasures Too Small: The False to those who will succumb to its lusts, it leaves its victims spiritually bankrupt. Like the rich young ruler, Promises of Health- the prosperity gospel appears big and bold on the outside, but when compared to the true gospel, its and-Wealth Religion bleak return on investment is suddenly revealed. Those who adhere to the prosperity gospel possess a view on prosperity that is too small. By Costi W. Hinn A Vicious Cycle The wake of devastation the prosperity gospel leaves behind stems from selling a version of Jesus that overpromises and underdelivers. Instead of rightfully here was a rich young ruler who once had the putting their primary emphasis on lavish spiritual opportunity to sit face-to-face with God. Like blessings unlocked in Christ (Eph. 1:3-12), prosperity a child humbly seated at the feet of his father, preachers twist Scripture to put the emphasis on this ruler had a question and knew where to temporary pleasure, promising that Jesus is a Heavenly go for the answer. Surely God Himself could Banker who wants everyone to be healthy and wealthy provide an adequate solution to his longing soul. In an on earth. According to the prosperity gospel, Christ’s goal instant, a weighty inquiry burst forth. He asked, “What is your comfort. Sadly, there is no comfort to be found. shall I do to inherit eternal life?” On the outside, this rich Many people who make donations in exchange for the ruler appeared to be a cut above everyone else. He was “American Dream” only end up broke. They are told to wealthy, powerful, and seemed to be a model of morality. sow a seed of faith into the fertile soil of a prosperity Eternal security was all but guaranteed, right? But there, preacher’s ministry on the grounds that it will produce a concerning the state of the ruler’s soul, Jesus brought the hundredfold return! The painful reality is the only people sobering reality of heaven down to earth. getting rich are the prosperity preachers themselves. Wash, rinse, repeat. Jesus said, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall Is this the picture of the gospel that we see in the Bible? have treasure in heaven; and come follow Me” (Luke 18:22). The ruler’s response? “But when he had heard There Will Be Suffering these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely When a prosperity preacher and a faithful preacher stand rich. And Jesus looked him and said, ‘How difficult it in front of Christ on Judgment Day, two very different is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of outcomes will occur. For these two preachers, suffering God!’” (Luke 18:24). will be inevitable. For the faithful preacher, he would have likely suffered on earth and will be rejoicing as Wealth is not a sin, but chasing it can cloud even the Christ welcomes him into the eternal rewards and riches sharpest of minds. That is why in God’s economy, it is of heaven! In stark contrast, the prosperity preacher will not the balance in your bank account that matters; it is have lived his best life on earth—free of suffering and the affections of your heart. God is not partial to those peril. Yet, there in front of Christ’s throne, his knee will who are rich with pride and presumption; it is the poor bow and his tongue will confess Jesus as Lord, then he in spirit that move Him. will enter into eternal suffering.

This ancient temptation still rears its head today. Each of these preachers will suffer.When they suffer and There is not a more blinding, arrogant, and myopically for how long they will suffer depends on their faithfulness presumptuous belief system than the “prosperity to the gospel here on earth. Temporal suffering on earth

CPT.MBTS.EDU 41 PERMANENT THINGS seeking temporalgain,thesuffering that awaits them of heavenly glory. For thosewho trample thegospelin is butamolecular moment incomparisontoinfiniteages 42 promises oftheprosperity willforever betoosmall. was. Compared totheeternalriches found in Jesus, the soul. It wasthenthatIrealized how bankrupt Itruly gospel thatIwassetfree from thechainsthatheldmy It wasonly when Christ openedmy eyes totheonetrue benefactor, my confidencesoared. Iwasa“bigsuccess.” When Iwaslivingthedream asaprosperity gospel things willbeenjoyed for alleternityinheaven. for thosewho chooseChristnomatterthecost,these These treasures willnotalways berealized onearth,but in Christ¬—butnotalways intheways weimagine. riches, andcomfort are nowandwillalways befound arms ofthePrincePeace (Phil. 4:6-9). Blessings, joy, suffering comesuponus,wecanfindcomfort inthe the prosperity14:12). gospelcandeliver(John When it andprepares aplace for usthatisbeyond anything will have trouble 16:33),butHe (John hasovercome The infinitepromise ofChrististhatinthisworldwe in spiritbelongs thekingdomofheaven (Matt.5:3). last andtheshallbefirst(Matt. 19:30). To thepoor (Matt. 19:29). InChrist’s kingdom,thefirstshallbe receive many timesasmuch andinheriteternallife anyone who sacrificed something for Hissake would His kingdom(Rev. 2:9-10; 3:10-12). Jesus promised that promised suffering in saints eternalcrowns andglory heaven couldnotbedestroyed (Matt.6:19-20). Jesus desolate perspective.Jesus promised thattreasure in gospel callsusinto adownward spiralthatleads toa into thevastexpanseofeternity. Theprosperity The Bible repeatedly turnsourperspectiveupward Eternal Glory and Infinite Promises comforts ofearthcombined. in eternityisinsurmountably greater thanalltheroyal

• Gospel Greed, andthe(Prosperity) of forthcomingbook, at MBTS,heistheauthor thechurch.Astudent serve is topreachthegospeland and authorwhosepassion Costi W. Hinn isapastor (Zondervan). (Zondervan). 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 God, God, Counting the Cost and Counting the Joy: A Call to Christian Women

By Abigail Dodds

there is one thing I could inoculate Christian We must take an honest look at the price of being women against as the tidal wave of post- Christian women. We must ask ourselves whether we Christian (im)morality floods American culture, will take up our cross daily and strictly refuse to make it is our inordinate desire to want to be well-thought of light of eternal realities. It is to our own peril that we play and at peace with everyone. This tendency often drives games with Jesus. Christianity is not merely a way to get the belief that if we can just be fully understood and hooked up with a fun group for playdates; it is not merely fully understand everyone, then our disagreements will a way to meet nice people or to enjoy choral music. go away. Keep explaining, keep talking—surely we can reach consensus and overcome any obstacle to peace. I’m Would you be willing to count the cost with me in generalizing, but I think most women can relate. three ways?

When Christianity is understood and respected by the 1. Are you willing to count the cost of holding fast culture at large, this desire to be at peace and well-thought to God’s definition of sin? The most difficult area of goes unchallenged. Kept in subordination to the Lord, to apply this right now is regarding sexuality, but we it can act as a virtue. We are, after all, to be reconcilers, must agree with God in every area. Will you agree to do the things that make for peace. But we must never with God that fornication is a sin, that adultery is forget that peace with God means declaring war on sin. a sin, that practicing homosexuality is a sin, and Friendship with the world forfeits our peace with God. that trying to undo your biology and gender is a Being thought well of by God our Father means we will sin? Will you teach those younger than you the not be thought well of by the world ruled by the Father of truth about God’s good design for male and female lies, “the prince of the power of the air who is now at work without waffling on the consequences of sin? Will in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). you be steadfast in calling greed and gluttony sin? Haughtiness and pride? Envy and murder? Strife and Christian women, we are called to a life of loyalty and cowardice? And what happens if the law outlaws any devotion to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When of these views? Will you obey God rather than man? Christ said, “Mine,” over your life, he qualified you to do something you never could have done on your own. He 2. Are you willing to count the cost of holding fast made you fit to suffer with him and he granted you the to God’s design of authority? God has given us privilege of his fellowship in that suffering. It is worth clear and orderly instructions about how the home considering: are you ready to suffer with Christ? To be and church are to work together, with members slandered with Christ? To be despised and reviled with submitting to elders, wives submitting to husbands, Christ? Are you ready to teach the children in Sunday and children submitting to parents. He’s shown us the school or at the neighborhood VBS or the women at way every part of his body is necessary to the other Bible study or your nieces and nephews or your own parts and is deemed honorable. What happens if your children the cost of belonging to Christ? If we have not favorite Christian celebrity changes her mind about counted the cost, there is reason to question if we know God’s authority structures? Are your feet firmly planted what we signed up for at all. in God’s word? Will you be shaken or blown over?

CPT.MBTS.EDU 43 PERMANENT THINGS 3. 44 2. 1. three ways? Would you bewillingtocount thejoywithmein set before him,”thatJesus endured thecross (Heb 12:2). many kinds” 1:2). (James We knowthatitwas“for thejoy James reminds usto“count italljoywhen you facetrialsof Christian women:ourjoy. There isanotherthingwemust bewillingtocount as only questions toconsideroreventhemostimportant. changing world.Theyare necessary, buttheyare notthe These are hard questions inthemidstofarapidly an authority outsideofyourself todefinesin, an authority and beingcalledhatefulbecauseyou appealto Are tocount you thecostofbeinghated willing you peace withyourself too—with your ownbody happiness thatcomeswhen peacewithGodgives Have you contemplated theactual relief and submitting toGod’s designfor you asawoman? Are tocount you thejoy willing thatcomesin healing toasin-sick world. and thatjoyonly doubles when weoffer thatsame healed. There isgreat joyinbeinghealed byJesus for ourtransgressions andbyhisstripes, weare sacrificial lambhasalready come? Jesus waspierced the joythatcomesingettingtotellothers being atthetopoflist.Have you considered some areas ofreal sin,racismandsexualabuse desperate needofasacrificial lamb. It hasidentified the forgiveness found inChrist?Theworldis and gladnessofrepenting ofsinandreceiving calling sin,sin? Are tocount you thejoy willing thatcomesfrom your honororhis? sake ofChrist?Doyou care more aboutdefending to suffer slanderandatarnished reputation for the they thinkthegospelisbadnews?Are you willing willing tooffer your enemies thegospeleven when forpost-modern mindhasnocategory it.Are you anomaly, itisanimpossibility. Thepost-Christian, enemies, speakingthetruthinlove isnotjustan where compassion andtruthhave beenmadearch love, beauty,truth, goodness,andevil? Canyou quantify thefreedom Inaworld

3. infinite Christ is ours in every circumstance. infinite Christisoursinevery women, butlet usneverforget tocount thejoy. The So, byallmeans,let’s count thecostofbeingChristian Christ ismadesweetestandourjoyoverflows. suffering—it isinthesuffering thatour fellowship with we are called tojoyandthatisnotseparatefrom the suffering which isdaunting tousmere mortals. But women, make peacewithsin.We are called toradical sacrifice and and well-thought We ofbyeveryone. are notcalled to to theLord Jesus Christ.We are notcalled tobewell-liked Christian womenare called toalife ofloyalty anddevotion He’s workingfor your endurance,your genuine in you through any andallsuffering withChrist? proper consideration toallthatGodisworking inhissuffering? Christ with Are tocount you thejoy willing offellowshipping us, women.Have you counted thejoyinthat? properly. Christ’s Spirit hastaken upresidence with brokenness anddespitetheways theydonotwork to befound inthesewomanly bodies, despitethe anything else?There iscontentment andhonor roles—whether single, mothering,or married, and limitations? With your own position and dust onthescales. through suffering makes what wehave givenup (Romans 5:5).Whatwegaininintimacy withChrist his love into themanddrown outall the shame our heartsinto bigcontainers, sothathecanpour sews hopeinto thefabric ofourhearts,hemakes character, andyour hope(Romans 5:4).WhenGod Whole, andCalled inChrist. (A)Typical Woman: Free, Sheisauthorof & Seminary. student atBethlehemCollege mother offive,andgraduate Abigail Doddsisawife, Have you given 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 • Principally Conservative, Convictionally Christian: On Transcendent Truths and Divine Realities

By Don Sweeting

ou may think the phrase “conservative exploration of great ideas, great books, and great Christian” has seen better days, that lives. We are also convictionally Christian. That is, it has been stretched to the point of we are serious about our faith. We are not casually meaninglessness. Some think it has, but I Christian, or nominally Christian, and certainly are not don’t. It still distinguishes someone from a Christophobic. We are not moving away from Christ, “progressive Christian” in the social or political sense or a but desire to move toward him. We need Jesus, and “liberal Christian” in the theological sense. believe the world needs Jesus, for he is the Christ, the Son of God, the light of the world, the living water, the Of course, conservative must be defined much like bread of life, the logos, the word of God. the word liberal must be defined. Conservative could possibly mean reactionary, committed to the status quo, We aspire to be Christ-centered. We believe that, as monarchist, authoritarian, etc., but that is not how I am Colossians says, Christ is the one in whom all things using the term here. Terms like conservative and liberal hold together. We believe that the gospel of Jesus also have their limits. Meanings can shift from one is the greatest people-changing, culture-changing generation to another. For example, modern progressive force in human history. By listing our Christian liberalism and classical liberalism are two very different label second, I do not mean to imply it is somehow things. In this era, a classical liberal is actually a subordinate to being conservative. In the manner I conservative similar to modern conservatives. defined it, Christianity is not only compatible with being conservative, but a conservative philosophy flows I sometimes describe the university where I serve as from a Christian worldview. president as “principally conservative and convictionally Christian.” By principally conservative, I mean that we Rediscoveries of a 25-Year-Old believe in what Russell Kirk called “permanent things,” I made two significant discoveries, or rediscoveries when that is, truths and realities rooted in a transcendent God I was 25 years old. and his created order. Unlike many universities we are not “post.” The secular university often boasts of being First, I rediscovered the gospel of Jesus Christ. That post-Christian, post-truth, post-virtue, post-meaning, year, I worked as an assistant to Chuck Colson at post-wisdom, post-Western, post-history, and sometimes Prison Fellowship. At the time, Chuck was spending a even post-reason. lot of time with R.C. Sproul and J.I. Packer. Thus, his Reformed influences were significant. I had grown Standing in the great tradition of higher education, up in a Christian home, so I knew the gospel, but we believe in truth, we teach virtue, life-purpose, and while working with Chuck and traveling with him to wisdom, we value the past and our cultural heritage, prisons all over America, I rediscovered the gospel’s we see reason as a gift. We want our students to power and, at the same time, realized the limits of love goodness, beauty and truth. We welcome the external political change.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 45 PERMANENT THINGS world are notthosefrom theoutsidein,butfrom the change thehuman heart.Thedeepestchangesinthe While politics are important, Idiscovered theycannot 46 1. on hislist. My shortlistreflects Kirk’s sixcanons,but I’ve expanded Here are afew “first principles” thatguide my thinking. Political FirstPrinciples for beingexposedtobothColson andKirk. look back onthatpivotalyear inmy life withgratefulness became anchorsinmy thinkingandinmy ministry. I grasp ofpermanent things(political firstprinciples) each generation. Theprimacyofthegospelandabetter not outofdate.Theyare constants thatcanguideusin standards andprinciples (conservative principles) thatare “six thought” reminded meof canonsofconservative Russell Kirk’s book helped givemeclarity. Kirkandhis never comingtoaknowledge ofthetruth.” as Paul describedin 2Timothy 3:7,“ever learning but principles orunchangingstandards. It felt like wewere, were noconstants. Politics wasuntethered from first were always shiftingandrelativism reigned. There the grounds ofpolitical debatekept changing.Standards at asecularuniversity, Iwasoftenexasperatedathow controversies ofpolitics. While studying political science type ofwisdomthatcanhelpusnavigate theissuesand talked abouttheimportanceof“permanent things,”a reading Russell Kirk’s book, camepartly through first principles. Thatdiscovery Idiscovered political I alsomadeaseconddiscovery: humans sodesperately need. within meadesire toworkfor thosedeepchangesthat relationship withJesus Christ.Witnessing thiscreated them radically andgenuinely transformed byasaving had fallen apart,who hadliterally hitrock-bottom. Isaw who believes.” Imetmany inmateswhoseeveryone lives 1:16, thegospelis“the powerofGodfor thesalvation of inside out—changesoftheheart.Paul says inRomans politics ofreality,” reminding usthatthere is Buckley “Conservativism oncesaid, isthe and theidealofabsolute autonomy. order, incontrast to naturalism,nihilism, isatranscendent beingandacreatedThere The Conservative Mind The Conservative William . Kirk 2. 5. 4. 3. left andright, butare issuesofright andwrong. which neverchange.Someissuesare notsimply natural law. Thepoint isthatthere are standards relativists say. isamorallaw,There towhat the contrary ofstatism. totheidolatry contrary His throne. Governments must answertoHim, Righteousness andjustice are thefoundation of King, towhom thenations are accountable. There isapersonalGodwho isLord and a Christian,Iframethispoint theologically. an ultimate reality weallhave todealwith.As without moralityor faith.” Tocqueville “Liberty said, cannotbeestablished is animportant pre-political condition. AsDe the religious life ofasociety. Inotherwords, faith morality. But moralityisgreatly dependent on culture is,inpart,theoutworkingofapeople’s that politics isareflection ofculture and founding fathersrealized this.Theyunderstood there isavitalfaith-freedom link.Ournation’s the SonofGodsetsusfree. Inotherwords, that thetruthsetsusfree, and more specifically, Again, Scripture speaksmore pointedly, asserting eyes,” i.e.thebiblical recipe for socialdisaster. where “everyone doeswhat isright intheirown ordered liberty, incontrast toautonomous liberty Freedom isapreciousgift. or thatsomeare abovethelaw. idea thatsomepeople are worthmore thanothers and equalityunderthelaw. tothe Thisiscontrary not equalityofoutcomes,butdignity are equalintheeyes ofGod. While humankind iswonderfully diverse, we and can’t redeem ourselves. We needaSavior! are ultimately grounded. But weare inrebellion made inHisimage;thisiswhere human rights of human beings.People matterbecauseweare (imago dei),thelimitations, andthefallenness perfectible. the ideathatwe areallbasically good and Human contra natureismixed andfixed, Iaffirmthesanctity, thenobility Somerefer tothisintermsof True freedom isan Hence, weaffirm, 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 6. The state is ordained by God to be a servant of religious establishment. We really do believe in a God. It is to help restrain evil and promote justice proper separation of church and state. and the common good in contrast to statism in which the government usurps the place of God. 2. We have a gospel mandate. The good news of Christ will always be our first message. Morality is 7. Politics is a limited activity, contra the political very important, but it is not enough. People need to illusion that politics is everything and can solve be made right with God. our deepest problem. Politics are important, but cannot ultimately usher in the Kingdom of God. 3. The church and culture both matter. Culture matters because of the first great commission 8. Mediating institutions are immensely given in the book of Genesis. The church matters important. The state and society are not because of the second great commission given in identical. The family is the first and foundational Acts and Matthew. of all institutions. Churches are important and operate in a sphere separate from the state. 4. Redeeming the culture is beyond our ability. The kingdom of God cannot be fully realized through 9. Freedom of religion is immensely important. politics or human achievement. For this, we await the It is our first freedom in terms of our nation’s return of the King. However, redeemed people are history and our constitutional amendments. called to be salt and light, to fortify and build what is While conservatism is not theocratic, it is friendly good, and to make this invisible kingdom visible. to faith—not just in terms of freedom of worship, but in terms of freedom to practice our faith. 5. We aspire to engage in politics and debate Besides that, the state needs prophetic voices with grace and truth. That is, with convictional calling the state to account. kindness. We don’t hate anyone. We want to engage with respect, but engage we must. I believe these permanent principles are never out of date. They guide like a compass. They are foundational The battles we face are real; the outcomes are of immense for political wisdom, for our democratic republic, our importance. What we are facing in our time is not merely free market system, and our constitutional order. a culture war, nor is the phrase “cold civil war” all that helpful. Rather, there is a spiritual, intellectual, moral, Things to Keep in Mind About and legal battle for the hearts and minds of the next Christian Conservatives generation and for the foundation of our civilization. The My conservatism is shaped by the God of the Bible. forces of post-modern deconstructionism, soft nihilism, Before Colson and Kirk, before Burke, before Calvin and and cultural Marxism are upending our culture. There is a Aquinas, and even before Augustine, was Scripture itself. great need for a new generation of leaders who understand these permanent things and are committed to turning the Not all conservatives are Christians and not all Christians world right-side up again. • are conservatives, but there are a few things to keep in mind about Christian conservatives, specifically. Don Sweeting is President 1. Our first loyalties are to Jesus Christ and His of Colorado Christian kingdom. We are “kingdom” people first, before any University and the coauthor party label. As such, we believe in a proper patriotism, of How to Finish the but not in an egocentric, ethnocentic nationalism. Christian Life: Following While we acknowledge Christ’s lordship, we do not Jesus in the Second Half. advocate for a theocratic state. We are not after

CPT.MBTS.EDU 47 PERMANENT THINGS In Books 48 July 2019 Allen(B&H) K. by Jason VOLUME 1: LETTERS TOMYSTUDENTS, New Community andUpcoming Releases fromtheMidwestern Seminary

On Preaching Brief August 2019 by Todd Chipman(Moody) Care forOrphans Church CanandMust IS HOME: UNTIL EVERY CHILD Available Now (Baker) Barrett by Matthew of God Attributes Undomesticated NONE GREATER:

Why the Why the

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A Biblical A Biblical

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CPT.MBTS.EDU 49 PERMANENT THINGS 50 who was explicitly Christian,butalsoisable towritefor things. Ithought hewasagreat example of ahistorian historian hewas,Iwaslearning my way through these was agreat example. Ididn’t realize howimportant ofa Dame, who becamemy doctoraladvisor, who Ithought across theworkGeorgeMarsden attheUniversity Notre point, Idon’t knowwhen exactly, butIstartedtocome gave mesomepointers aboutthingstoread. At some the Navigators andalsoafew Christianprofessors who people in aparachurch ministry. Iwas involved with as aChristian.Ihadsomehelpwiththat tounderstandhowyou think in Christ,butalsotrying Clemson University. Thatsetmedownapathofnewlife vocation? particular Howhistorian. didyou how didyou endupinthis andlovesloves gospel-centered theScripture ministry. apublic intellectual, andachurchmanhistorian, who EDITOR'S NOTE interview released inOctober 2017. isexcerptedfromThe following a Value ofEvangelical Scholarship witness”: ThomasKiddonthe “It’s simply aChristian Good answer. could, tellushow you cametobeareligious I’ve given abasicbiotolisteners.If you Kidd. He tomany isknown ofusasareligious It today Dr. tobewith ismy privilege Thomas Thanks for having me. time inwhen Iwasafreshman incollege at I madeacommitment toChristfor thefirst Right. Well, theprovidence ofGod. City ofGod

progressive. Everything hastobeheadingtowards contemptuous ofthePuritansbecausetheyweren’t When hewasayoung man,historianswere generally accounts for it? Miller’s What interest inEdwards andthePuritans. as you andIare,what doyou seeasthegenesisfor secular intheiroutlook andwere notevangelicals ofthatera,who asyou saysome otherhistorians were PhD there. able towork withMarsdenandgotoNotre Dame for a cametogethersothatIwas Edwards andsoeverything he wasstartingtoworkonabiography ofJonathan Marsden aboutpossible workingwithhim,Ifound out and early American history. WhenIcontacted George of mergedmy interest intheChristianintellectual life even thoughhedidn’t share theirbeliefs andsothatsort respectful tothePuritan’s ideas.Heseriously took itvery I wasjustsmittenreading Miller becauseMiller wasvery probably thegreatest historianoftheAmerican Puritans. Christian historian,butanatheisthistorianwho was I cameacross theworkofPerry Miller, who isnota somewhere atClemson and, along theway,in history to bereally encouragingexample. ThenIdidaMasters audience. Yet hewasopenly ChristianandIfound that secular outlets inaway thatisfathomable for asecular experience, butwhen itcomestoMiller and experience, I want tocomebacktheMarsden progressive era,postWorld War I,1920s. He wascomingoutofageneration inthe 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 democracy and they weren’t democratic enough, so they until noon or so. That’s how I got through. were to be dismissed. I think that Miller came of age in a time that was more interested in taking ideas on their You subsisted on ideas and coffee. From Notre own terms and being respectful to people who were Dame, under Marsden, you now teach at serious about ideas even if those ideas differed from Baylor. What was that process like? their own. He was very bothered, as many people of that generation were. He became a professor in the 1930’s, in When I was on the market, it was one of the Great Depression, then he served as an intelligence the last good years academia has seen so it office in World War II and he was very troubled about was actually okay for me. I had already defended my the bomb. He thinks that America had become a nation dissertation and that makes the market easier. I was that was technologically unstoppable, but not grounded interviewing for some secular jobs and some Christian in principles. So he really respected the Puritans because jobs. I really would’ve been open to either one. Again, they were people who made decisions on the basis of in all seriousness, about the providence of God, I had theological ideas and he wasn’t scared of that. He was experienced being a Christian in a secular environment a big fan of Reinhold Niebuhr and considered himself as an undergrad at Clemson, so that would’ve been fine a member of this group of intellectuals that called with me, any job would’ve been fine for me. It turned out themselves “Atheists for Niebuhr.” That’s what accounts that Baylor, at that time, had just launched was called the for it and his books are very demanding and long, “2012 initiative” that was seeking to re-confirm Baylor’s but remarkably admiring of the puritan’s intellectual Christian mission while also becoming more fully a achievement. research university.

[Many] recognize Miller as this titanic figure So Baylor ended up, in every very sense, being the best in history. He almost single-handedly restarts job option for me and had a really inspiring vision. Of Jonathan Edwards studies. course on the Christian landscape, there are a lot of Christian liberal arts colleges and, on the Catholic side, He’s the charter editor of the works of you do have some research universities and schools Jonathan Edwards. including Notre Dame, of sort of various Catholic commitments. But on the Protestant side, there are I heard a story once, that I can’t confirm, that not many institutions trying to be full-blown research when he read Edwards on damnation, on the universities with PhD programs, with full-blown science tougher stuff, as an atheist he felt the need to drink and engineering programs. So it really was a captivating afterward because it was so disturbing. So a varied vision and there have been some bumps along the way, approach to Edwards. … Jumping back now to Notre but I’ve been there for 15 years and I think a lot of that Dame. I have heard that when you were at Notre vision has been fulfilled and sustained. I’ve gone through Dame, working under Marsden was such an impressive the ranks of tenure and have become a distinguished experience, an intense experience that would have to professor; it’s a terrific situation. be reading all the time, constantly brewing a pot of coffee and drinking and reading. Is that true? People might expect that if they read your bio and your title “Distinguished Professor” that Yeah, I don’t know if Notre Dame was uniquely you might be 25 years older than you are. Do you ever demanding, but like any history PhD program, get that? you’re having to read so much. One time, I did bother to calculate that during coursework I was having to read on Part of what it meant at Baylor to be the research average seven books a week and so do what you have to university that it is that they made a lot of space do. On into my dissertation, I would set my alarm for 6 for people who are wanting to write to be able to write. AM, just brew pot of coffee, and I would read and write So I have a lot of time for research and writing. I’m really

CPT.MBTS.EDU 51 PERMANENT THINGS for myself. grateful for that.Ithinkshouldhave somethingtoshow 52 capital venues ofAmerican culture. intellectual life andacademia andinhigher, symbolic is essential totheChristianwitnessinAmerican That’s clear. Having somewho are engagedinresearch we don’t needtonsofChristian research universities. witness inmany fields tobeengagedasChristians,but is assumedtobesecularandwe’ve lost anopportunityof The trouble isthatmosttopflight research inmost fields that toapoint. that, may notbeatthetopoftheirlistandIunderstand say research inenvironmental science orsomethinglike the sortsofthingsthatthey’re interested in.Sofunding, directly oftenevangelismand withthekingdomofaGod, appropriately, want toknowwhat thework hastodo capital andinvestment. Alot oftimesdonors,quite the sciences andengineering.Theyrequire massive on thekindofteachingloads required, especially in universities, it’s extremely expensivetohave professors Also, intermsofturningChristianschools into research you goingtobearesearch university? lot ofcases.Are you goingtobeaChristian school orare wasn’t butthere waspressure bad, brought tobearina government funding,atleast notinthesameway. It denominational commitment andalsobegettingspecial sense, for anawfully long time,buttheycouldn’t have a atleastChristian commitments inageneral lasted, the Christiancommitments. Someofthoseschools’ funding agencies tobeless andless sectarianabout 20th centuries, pressure wasbrought tobearbyvarious overthecourseof19thChristian schools and, and universities, especially intheeast,were founded as UniversitySoul oftheAmerican universities? Whataresomefactors? so many colleges, which aregreat,butsofew research research universities.are greatwith Why dowe have broadly, buildingactualresearch schools? Secularists have suchahard time,even protestants more That’s abeautifulthing.Why doevangelicals has thebestanalysis ofthisinhisbook Not surprisingly, IthinkGeorgeMarsden . Thegreat research The robs usofevangelistic helpalltheway theline. down Actually, intheend,you couldprobably arguethatit few playing Christians atthatlevel really doesrobus. studentsfaculties aregiving aworldview, sotohave so Those andpaperswritten. ofaccretiondata in terms worldviews beingshaped.It’s notjustcoursestaught, the Ivy League,you recognizethatthereactually are ofthefacultiesthink aboutthecultural at capital butyou theworld, sotospeak, inrunning play apart is asenseinwhich scholars andintellectuals atleast the life ofthemind. see thevalue ofhigh-level scholarship, research, and there’s ofhelpingthechurch work tobedoneinterms that we’re many stillreadingandwin tothefaith.So able todo? He’s able topublish books ofapologetics that high-level teaching andresearch, butwhat ishe isanOxfordLewis don,that’s donandaCambridge justhow muchunderstand weight theycanhave. C.S. or aTolkien to inthatkindofposition,you start obviously, butwhen you actually dogetaC.S.Lewis Wolterstorff, we couldnamedifferent names Inklings thatcameoutayear ago,andMarsden, and intermsofourwitnesstothewatchingworld. that hasalot ofculturally, intellectually, academically, intellectually formidable people who are believers. Ithink seriously andthenreminds thisgeneration thatthere are a devout,openChristianwhose workistaken very Christian hotbed.Thatkindofthingsays thatthere’s University department which isnotexactly a history Pulitzer Prizewithinhistory, awarded bytheColumbia which for aprofessional isthetophonor. It’s like the biography winstheBancroft PrizeinAmerican history, like GeorgeMarsdenwho for hisJonathan Edwards it’s simply aChristianwitness.You look atsomeone in allkindsofways. There are evangelistic opportunities; research, andotherswould show usthatthere James Davidson Hunter, D. Michael Lindsey’s Religious LifeofaFounding Father You newest book is university. Iwas rereadingthebook onthe It’s sohard tomake thatcasefor theresearch media outlets andcultural shapinginstitutions Absolutely. Thosepeople have accesstothegreat Benjamin Franklin: The . It justcame 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 out with Yale. I have read it, digested it, actually kind they table the motion. So it’s even stranger that Franklin, of slowly because I really wanted to make sure I got the deist, is the one who had this idea. It shows that even the argument and benefited from it. As I read your though he runs away from the faith of his parents, it left book, your thesis seemed to be that Franklin is far such a strong imprint on him. more religious than some people have said. He’s not an evangelical Christian, you’re very clear on that. He seems to me, in your telling, that he is He descends from a Calvinist background and all a kind of the forerunner of the modern his life, he is really something of a kind of theistic progressive. A number of historians and scholars providentialist. He believes that God guides things, have written on the meaning of the fragmentation of believes in a moral life and the moral law of the mainline Christianity, for example I think of Joseph universe, even as taught by God. But he doesn’t have Bottum and others. What we’re seeing, I think you much to say about Christ. What were you after with could argue, is that when you come from a religious this book? heritage or background, raised in the church, you don’t necessarily switch into a kind of hard, new atheism. The faith of the founding fathers is so debated Many people retain many of those castes of mind, and many people are interested and will use the especially the moralizing tendency, which frankly is founding fathers for various political purposes, on the probably inherent to the human conscience. I see that Christian Right, the secular left. They all want to claim in spades in Franklin. the founders as the beginning of what they’re about and some will say we’re a Christian nation and our founders That’s right. I think you see what I call were Christians and others will say we’re a secular nation, doctrineless, moralized Christianity. Christian that they were all deists and closet atheists. As usual, the Smith has called it moralistic therapeutic deism, which I truth is more complicated than these polemical positions think I’m fine with, but not as well for Franklin because would suggest. I think I have something to contribute. I don’t think it's as therapeutic of an age. There is a deemphasizing of doctrine to the point where it doesn’t I would love to tell people that Benjamin Franklin was a matter what you believe, it’s about the way that you believer. I would be the first to say that if I thought that live. That’s what I mean by doctrineless. Any doctrine he was, but I don’t think he ever made a commitment to becomes optional in the way he thinks about religion, Christ for salvation. But as you suggested, he grows up in except maybe the existence of God. He certainly believes a very devout Puritan family and one of the things that in Christ’s moral teachings and believes that they’re true. does to him is it leaves a biblicist imprint on the way he But issues of the Trinity, Christ’s divinity, he just thinks thinks, talks, and writes. It is so deep. Yes, he was a deist that if you believe that it doesn’t really matter. You see of a certain kind; he tells us that in his autobiography, that today in pop spirituality. It can be dismissive to so we can start there. But if that’s all you know then it’s bring up Joel Osteen or Oprah Winfrey, but for Franklin, hard to make sense of the way he is so deeply influenced it was very serious intellectual business to be thinking by the Bible. I think that as he grows older, he goes through these things. through a radical skeptical phase in his late teens, early twenties. As he grows older, especially as he gets into the You see it in echoes of Barak Obama’s faith within The revolutionary period, he is drifting back toward the faith United Church of Christ. It’s all worked out in what of his parents, though not in a way that he is making a you do and how you live. You see it in NGOs and the personal commitment to it. This would explain what I attraction of secular people and service organizations. think is the most remarkable moment of Ben Franklin’s This remains essential for these sorts of people. The life, which is him requesting that the constitutional truth is that people of faith are actually much more convention open sessions with prayer. This shows that charitable and service oriented than secular people are he’s complex and it turns out that most of the other today, but you still see very prominent examples of delegates don’t want to open sessions with prayer and people who will say, “Well I am not going to insist that

CPT.MBTS.EDU 53 PERMANENT THINGS live outthelife andmorality.” ofservice you believe anything inparticular, butyou really should 54 them inourtime. account for thatifyou’re goingtodobusinesswith even ifpeopleseriously don’t today, butyou have to have taken religion very history people inAmerican accomplished show several thatmany things.They Books like thisandthebreadthofyour scholarly work It Christian?” America really isacomplicated matter. Founding Fathers ontheabsorbingquestion,“Was definitively responded totheirovertures. relationships, buthedoesn’t everseemtohave a in Christfor salvation. Thoseare bothreally special time, are bothimploring Franklin toputhisfaith Whitefield, who isbetterknownthan Franklin atthe any ofhissiblings. Jane and thegreat preacher George close relationship,have which avery istheclosest of poorwoman,buttheyslight, typical ofan18th-century doesn’t evenappearinhisautobiography. Thatisa significant eventhough sheendearing, which isvery his sister’s relationship withhim.It wassaidtobevery been oneofmy tracingout favorite partsofthebook, forobstacle him. He’ll pivot agoodlife. tomoralsandliving isan Christ you. you, butnotreally beagreeingwith can agreewith way suchthathe agree toapoint” butinhisslippery prepare forrelentlessly andhewill pivot to“I eternity Franklin and theneedto somethingaboutChrist with Ben and GeorgeWhitefieldraiseintheirletters argument over andsalvation. God,Christ, BothJane haveThey alifelong andreally an correspondence Jane Mecom, hisCalvinistsister, believer. aborn-again say it.In you highlight your hisinteractions book, with wouldwhat have Christ usdo,maybe that’s theway to think we couldsay didand moreaboutwhat Christ when itcomes tohimandanumber ofthe We’re goingtobeinsomeuneasytension functional.I Christology, isvery ifyou will, ofChristology,Thinking Franklin’s I thinkFranklin andJefferson are goodexamples a stumbling stone.It’s interesting tosee.That’s That’s right. Christisanobstacle for him;he’s you want to write aboutandhow doyouthat? you tackle want towrite that Jefferson and Franklin were. much aboutreligion, butthat’sto knowvery nottheway you knowthatthenewatheiststoday don’t oftenseem do thisisconsumedwithwhat thescripture means.So of thegospel.He’s consumedwithit.Whoeverwants to the Bible wellenoughtoputtogetherhisownedition cutting outtheresurrection intheGospels,butheknows of people who are Bible-haunted characters.Jefferson is he’s comingfrom. need for tounderstandwhere aChristianaudience totry he leaves anprofound legacy. Ithinkthere’s adesperate intellectually onissuesoffaith,culture, andpolitics, and Jefferson along the samekindoflines. Jefferson engages around tomy I’ll nextbook, probably doabiography of Academic, which theyapproached meabout.WhenIget textbook foris writinganAmerican history B&H Sometimes Idothingslike what I’m doingnowwhich be theway Ithinkthrough things. Franklin’s secularfriends understoodhim.Thattendsto and really understoodoneanother, betterthanmany of enlightenment leader. theyhadsimilarities Intheend, as thegreat evangelical andFranklin asthesecular, this amazingfriendship for 30years withWhitefield becomes aflipsideoftheWhitefield becausetheyhad Whitfield’s 300thbirthday, butthenthe Franklin book that IdidtheWhitefield book in2014,partly intime for made intheAmerican founding. There’s nocoincidence period andwhatthen, therevolutionary difference faith areas are theGreat Awakening and ofthe18thcentury have themesthatrunthrough my work.Thetwomain your nextbook? How doyou thinkthroughwhat how doyou approach ofyourIn writing, terms your time and your very important work. important your timeandyour very I couldn’t you,Tommy, agreemore.Thank for Thanks for having me. last book eitherchronologically ortopically. Ido My books tendtojumpofffrom theendof • 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 The Debonair and Thomas Kidd is Distinguished Professor of History, James Delightful William Vardaman Endowed Professor of History, and Associate F. Buckley, Jr.: What Director of the Institute for Studies of Religion at Evangelical Public Baylor University. He is also Distinguished Professor of Intellectuals Might Church History at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn from a Catholic His published works include Benjamin Franklin: The Luminary Religious Life of a Founding Father, George Whitefield: America’s Spiritual Founding By Andrew Walker Father, and God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution.

INTRODUCTION

In the midst of today’s political rancor and division, it seems that warriors on both sides are concerned more with defeating the enemy than ideological commitments. What seems needed is a person with actual ideological commitments, willing to fight, but also unwilling to sink to demeaning or dehumanizing attacks. Though those seem to be in short supply, evangelical leaders can look to the past for a example from Catholic circles: William F. Buckley, Jr. This leader of the modern conservative movement provides an excellent example of the way that Christian intellectuals can engage the public square from an ideologically conservative worldview in a winsome and powerful manner.

Buckley in Context The context into which Buckley stepped was not unlike our own. Political liberalism was a dominant force and often positioned its opponents as “on the wrong side of history.” There was a weak and almost nonexistent conservative movement. While there may have been a conservative movement characterized by American civil religion or moral puritanism, the 1950s were not a time of actual conservative ideology.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 55 PERMANENT THINGS able to bring together social conservatives, libertarians, able tobringtogethersocialconservatives, isolated political voices into asingle melody. He was Buckley wasable touniteformerly dissonant or 56 moments, Buckley wasable tobalanceintellectually politicians who are famousfor theirangerorexplosive by equalpartswit,charm,andconviction. Unlike philosophical rigor. Buckley’s style wascharacterized It wasdefinedbytwothings:jovialdemeanor and his time? So what didtheexample setbyBuckley look like in Buckley asHappy Warrior movement. fledgling conservative Buckley wasable todraw outinhisleadership ofthe both are inneedofcultivation. Thisisapoint which paradigm oftheday. People are body andsoul, tothescientificnot justamaterialbeing,contrary to inevitable moralatrocity andmisery. Humanity is sake ofprogress, untethered from moralnorms,leads were beinggivenovertothestate.Progress for the Then, justasnow, thelimitsofselfandpersonhood of theright endsoftheindividualandsociety. understanding ofselfleads toaproper understanding are nottobeovercome, butcelebrated. For aproper words ofThomasSowell,“constrained.” Theselimits andChristianity tellusthatweare, inthe conservatism capable ofbeingrecreated inendless possibilities, both modern liberalismseesourbodies asinstruments teach thathumanity is“fallen” and“finite.” Where for certainendsresulting inhappiness.Bothalso anthropology. Bothagree thathumanity iscreated owes much totheborrowed capitalofChristian paradigm? AsaCatholic, Buckley’s conservativism But howdoesChristianityfitinto this Buckleyean political public discourse. collation ofthinkers toshapemid-twentieth century Buckley founded organizations, newspapers,anda umbrella ofthegovernment. From thisdiversegroup, seeking tobringallofpolitical andsociallife underthe were combattingacommonenemy: agrowing leviathan They were unitedacross theirdifferences becausethey government centered around thepromotion ofliberty. and free-market economistscommittedtoalimited However, itwasnotjusttheabilitytocritiqueandmock illogical conclusions. while alsooffering ajoyous defianceandmockery ofthe Christian ought tobeinclinedtell,and“Repent!” the march ofprogressivism andyell “Stop!” while the of unmoored progressivism, hecouldstandathwart of laughter andeye-rolling. oftheperils Inhisdecrying theonly trueantidotehe faced, wasahealthy measure the faceofabsurdity oftheprogressive movement he afirebrand who sought tostiremotions. Rather, in This wasnotmockery for thesake ofmockery. Nor was rigorous criticism with good-natured ridicule and satire. movement. Thestrength ofany movement existsinthe theconservative built institutions thathelpedserve well ashislonger goalsfor themovement. Buckley from hisorganizational andmovement buildingas example setbyBuckley. Christianleaders canlearn the current moment woulddowelltolearn from the I say no. A Christianitythatwishestobevibrant in at any costnecessary? useful? Shouldevangelicals bewilling tofight andwin laughter andjoyinthefaceofopposition are nolonger what oftoday? Have wereached amoment when This isallwellandgoodfor thetimeofBuckley, but Buckley Example asPublic intellectually prominent. The connection betweenthesetwostreams isstrong and Schaeffer, tointellectuals Carl likeHenry Albert Mohler. political philosophy: from AbrahamKuyper, Francis Christianity’s intellectuals identify withaconservative Robert P. George.Nor isitunusual thatsomany of Chambers, Dorothy Sayers tomodernday thinkers like S. Lewis,Orestes Brownson, Whittaker Russell Kirk, Christian inabroad sense:From Edmund Burke, C. that many ofconservatism’s greatest thinkers were also not bylove ofself,butallhumanity. It isnosurprise of advancing ashared view ofhuman flourishing defined was sanguine.It valued thetools ofhumanity for thesake language ofhistime.He offered that anewconservatism their cultures, sotoodidBuckley speakintheintellectual time. Just asChesterton,Kuyper, andLewisunderstood was conversant withthebroader cultural trends ofhis that madeBuckley important. It wastheway inwhich he 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 relationships and ideas that comprise it. A Christianity Conclusion that is not simultaneously attentive to both its own William F. Buckley recognized that our lives are not to institutions and public witness cannot fulfill the robust be devoted to the penultimate. There was a need for a demands of orthodoxy. culturally sustainable and strong conservative tradition. This belief paired was an outgrowth of his Catholic Christian leaders can learn also from his vision of a faith. Christian leaders of all traditions—especially the broad coalition united around the same goals. There evangelical tradition—should recognize the same: a may be places where Christians of different streams can worldview shaped by the ultimate should inform and disagree over issues such as baptism practices, but Nicene guide life in the penultimate. Both the conservative and Christianity can be united in such basic assertions Christian tradition recognize the brokenness of humanity that gender is a fixed category and life is important and the reality of enfleshed souls who are moral agents. from womb to tomb. Leaders should look for alliances Christians’ worldview of the penultimate should flow without sacrificing their convictions. We need not all be downstream from their view of the ultimate guided by Catholics as Buckley was to see the common ground that recognition of human dignity and a deep concern for evangelicals, Catholics, and other orthodox Christians cultural institutions such as marriage, family, and life. • share with one another.

The importance of this movement will not be political wins, but rather cultural sustainability. This means that leaders should impart to their audiences the importance of deep networks of community and growth. Parents Andrew T. Walker is the who disciple their children are just as important as Senior Fellow in Christian weekly meetings with the congregation. It is in the Ethics at the Ethics ecology of deep family and relational formation that a and Religious Liberty movement goes from momentary to sustainable. Commission. He is the author of God and the Transgender Finally, Christian leaders should recognize that it is in Debate and coauthor with the midst of the ruins of culture that Christianity does its Eric Teetsel of Marriage Is. best work. Buckley spoke in a moment of intense cultural confusion. The conservative movement was nascent and ineffective. Yet, Buckley knew that his message of cultural conservatism offered a unique message precisely because of that discord.

In the same way, Christian leaders must see the current moment of growing secularization and division as a chance for actual engagement. Leaders must insist on a Christianity whose ethics are intelligible, life-giving, and at all times applicable to the public square. If the church fails to speak clearly in the public square, then someone else will speak wrongly. Leaders must see the current moment as but one instance where the Church speaks the same message it always has, a gospel that is good news for society, regardless of whether society believes its message is good or not.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 57 PERMANENT THINGS The Task Educators ofTheological Shepherds InvisibleGentlemen and Sherpas: 58 46 45 44 my classmateandIdidnotspend theeveningasking carried theirsamespirit.To cometothisassessment, chronologically oftheclassHolifield’s gentlemen, they from Reformed Theological Seminary. While not Nicole (1915-2010) andSimon Kistemaker (1930-2017) Staying withusin thathotelwere thenowlateRoger “orthodox religious thought.” In short,thesewere theministerswho gave avoice to the oneswho madethedecisions thatshapedchurches. and minorissues,theseGentlemen Theologians were though oftendisagreeing among themselves overmajor gentility.” Spread throughout alldenominations, and antebellum America were “proponents ofclerical Holifield documented howasegment ofclergy in Brooks Holifield called “Gentlemen Theologians.” scholar. There wemettwoofwhat church historianE. our three-star hotelweencountered anotherkindof evenings inmore modestaccommodations, andyet, in students, wespent our the financiallimitsofseminary ornate ballrooms ofTheBroadmoor Hotel. luminaries were debatingthenature ofGodinthe only read butneverseenormet.Inthosedays, scholastic journey toColorado Springs tohearscholars wehad but-not-yet PhD student. AclassmateandImadethe Evangelical Theological Society, Iwasanaspiring- The firsttimeIattendedthenational meetingofthe By Jason G. Duesing Ibid., 24. E.Brooks Holifield, “Reports Relating to Fifty-Third the AnnualSociety,” Meeting the of —C. S. Lewis, deserts. to irrigate is nottocutdownjunglesbut educator he taskofthemodern TheGentlemen Theologians: American Theology in Southern Culture, 1795-1860 The AbolitionofMan 46 44 Dueto 45 JETS 45/1(March 2002):183-88. One morning,asisuniversalwiththehotel breakfast andthatmadeallthedifference. relationship. Rather, themat wesimply observed them questions orembarkingonaformal mentoring educator, asimportant asisthepractice ofthe When thinkingaboutthetaskoftheological It wasgentlemanly andspoke volumes. to honorandcare for thosewithwhom theywere eating. and takingthetimeamidtumult ofthefree breakfast well-known andhighly regarded, lodging atabasic hotel academics, intownfor ameetingatwhich theywere impression onayoung seminarian.Here were two care andconcernfor astranger’s food madealasting went aboutthatsimple matterwithunpretentious While thismight notappearthatremarkable, how he with hisownmeal. andsoonhewasrelievedbut somedid, andcarried on him andhisownagedmeekness,notallcouldhearhim, toast might betheirs.Given thatmost were talkingpast proceeded amongthegrazingthrong askingallifthis and browned slices, heliftedthemtoaclean plate and have histurn.Ratherthantossasidetheabandoned Kistemaker wasataloss howtomaneuversohecould Someone hadleft theirtoastunattendedandDr. with apuzzled look onhisface. colleague patiently waitedhisturnatthetoaster, albeit their midst,Inoticed Dr. Nicole holding atable while his and pastries while waitinginlineatthewaffle station. In as families andotherguestswere nosily consumingeggs breakfast scene,chaoswasinfullforcecomplimentary (Duke University (Duke Press, 1978). 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 theological educator—what he does, the educator’s However, care should also be given to how one posture is equally important—how he does it. The care engages. Another observation Holifield made about his and carefulness required for the task is embodied in this nineteenth century Gentlemen Theologians related not example of the posture displayed by these Gentlemen just to what they believed, but how they wielded their theologians. As I have met and observed several others theology and how their actions were received in their like them over the years, I have concluded that the culture. He explained, theological educator best cares for those he serves when he embodies this practice and posture of gentlemanly The theology was used, among other purposes, care through a conscious effort to do his work as a to attract and reassure men and women … that Gentlemen Shepherd and as an Invisible Sherpa. ‘reasonable’ behavior—restraint, order, refinement, self-control, self-improvement, and similar virtues The Theological Educator as that sometimes seemed alien in [their] culture— Shepherd: Contending in Public was congruent with the deepest nature of things.49 as Shepherds When a pastor friend of mine gave me a copy of Holifield described men who exercised self-control Roger Nicole’s essay, “Polemic Theology: How to with their thoughts and words in service of others. This Deal with Those Who Differ from Us,” I took notice, restraint sometimes seemed alien to the watching world, recalling my breakfast experience.47 How fitting but it was consistent, not inconsistent, with what they it was for a scholar of his stature to write a piece say they believed. like this, for I had seen a glimpse of how he might model care for another’s words and thoughts in the Along these lines, Nicole also offered, same gentlemanly fashion his colleague cared for a stranger’s abandoned breakfast. As I have read and One method that I have found helpful in making learned more, the testimony of Roger Nicole is that he sure that I have dealt fairly with a position that was representative of a generation of such scholars. I could not espouse was to assume that a person endorsing that view was present in my audience Often the posture of the theological educator is (or was reading what I had written). Then my aim challenged most at the point of public response to is to represent the view faithfully and fully without criticism. For one can contend in public as a Shepherd mingling the criticism with factual statements. In without having also to condemn. Theological Shepherds fact, I try to represent them so faithfully and fully need not hide from controversy or gloss over such with that an adherent to that position might comment, thin platitudes. No, as Nicole made clear: ‘This man certainly does understand our view!’ It would be a special boon if one could say, ‘I never We are called upon by the Lord to contend heard it stated better!’ Thus I have earned the right earnestly for the faith (Jude 3). That does not to criticize. But before I proceed to do this, it is necessarily involve being contentious; but it only proper that I should have demonstrated that involves avoiding compromise, standing forth for I have a correct understanding of the position I what we believe, standing forth for the truth of desire to contest.50 God–without welching at any particular moment. Thus we are bound to meet, at various points and Earning the right to criticize seems like it should be a on various levels, people with whom we disagree.48 vital mark of the posture of the theological educator as

47 Roger R. Nicole, “Polemical Theology: How to Deal with Those Who Differ from Us,”Founders Journal 33 (Summer 1998), 24-35. 48 Ibid. 49 Holifield, Gentlemen Theologians, 206. 50 Nicole, “Polemical Theology,” 24-35.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 59 PERMANENT THINGS personal interaction. go toofarincritique—without significant care or Shepherd, for tomany who thiscare often is contrary 60 53 52 51 a majorstandard ofChristianorthodoxy, then, come tothinkwhat they’vewritten orsaiddenies If weconsidersomeoneabrother inChrist,and and exposes” butalso“seeks tosave, notcondemn.” Jesus asa“gentle steamroller” who notonly “rebukes Moore points ustotheexample ofChrist,referring to “Civility ispassive;kindnessactiveandstrategic.” the Gospel book “convictional kindness” putforward inhisrecent more ofthis—I thinkthatRussell Moore’s term of Mouw’s modestcivility—for weknowdoneed theological educatorasShepherd through in terms While itishelpfultoframetheposture ofthe adequateMessiah.”visited byoneoverwhelmingly must bemodestones” for the“worldhasalready been Yet, hearguedthat“our efforts atpublic righteousness that Christiansare tobeagents ofGod’s righteousness. has aconcernfor public righteousness, necessitating CivilityChristian inanUncivil World Richard Mouw, inhis1992 book, civility andkindness. educator asShepherd, inany debate,isoneofpublic should always beaddressed. Theissuefor thetheological fornot necessarily oneofaccuracyorneed, heterodoxy non-peer reviewed environment. Theissuefor meis addressing thatfirstinaninstantaneous, public, and and protect thetruth,butIquestion wisdomof to aplace ofheterodoxy, theShepherd shoulddefend has movedbeyond substantive difference ofopinion If onetruly feels thattheirbrother orsisterinChrist Shepherd’s Virtue Civil asa Kindness Ibid., 196. Russell Moore, Richard Mouw, Onward: Engaging theCulture WithoutLosing isamore helpfuldescriptor. Moore says, Uncommon Christian Decency: Civility in an Uncivil World Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel

Uncommon Decency: , affirmedthatGod 51

53 52

(B&H Books, 2015),194. (B&H Books, (IVP, 1992),37-38. How much betterwoulditbefor suchweighty claims watching suchtake place asithas in ourpublic venues. of Nicole’s generation wouldhave ahard time claim. Ihave tothinkthattheGentlemen Theologians another seemstounder-dignify theseriousness ofthe First, topostonlinesuchaweighty conclusion about Here are tworeasons why: a citation ofcondemnation inone’s public musings. first aface-to-face meetingorphone callinsteadof theological educatorasShepherd shouldprioritize in thespiritofcivilkindness,posture ofthe of thefaculty today needstobechallenged toslow the recent book, Following the“Slow Food” movement, theauthorsof Shepherd-like, towaitandrefrain. butmostofthetime,itiswiseand counted andtospeak, public claims ofheresy. There are timestostandandbe one another—and worsewhen itescalatestoofastto members andstrangerstalkingpastoneanotherorat crowded breakfast room inathree-star hotelwithfamily where mosttheological discussion feels alot like that 1:19).speech (James Thisiscountercultural inanage careful scholarship looks like andtomodelslowness of shepherd withkindnessandcivility—to showuswhat The theological educatorhastheopportunityto a Shepherd The Virtue ofSlowness for in crowded theological theater. seem torushdraw upAxisandAllies ofdigitalarticles most appropriate point ofslowness inmany debatesthat IthinkNicole’sSecond, “earning theright tocriticize” isa world (1Cor 6:4). matters ratherthanlaying thembefore awatching are more biblical andchurchly ways ofhandlingsuch first tobeexpressed inprivateandperson.There The SlowProfessor

, arguethatthestate

2019 |ISSUE 1.1 down.54 The authors are speaking against “the corporate project might be useful for two to three other university” but their critique of frantic pace and stress is projects. I listen to most podcasts at double the applicable to the theological educator. speed. For books that I can “read through” rather than read, I do. I set deadlines for almost every For the theological educator does not have any problem task imaginable, seek to meet those deadlines finding or feeling like there are more things to do than whether I am ready or not, and then move on to he can handle. And we should press, work hard, and the next one. All of this allows me to slow down pursue excellence and industry. We should strive to be and spend time on the items (and people) that “power plants.” My challenge here is that the theological require and deserve my time. educator as Shepherd should also do some things slow • I work to be content with things unfinished. to balance out our frantic pace and to ensure excellence Some years ago, I found freedom in this piece of in the important things. This might also be called Deep advice from Gary Riebe-Estrella, “If a dean wants Work,55 or you might hear it referenced in counsel to to sleep at night, it is necessary to identify and find “one thing” and devote your life to that. These accept the role of chief academic officer.”57 That approaches are good, but the key is finding the strategy is, there is an aspect to the life of a theological that helps achieve actual balance and slowness. educator where a ‘zero inbox’ goal is not possible. By this I do not mean that we should be content In my own effort as a theological educator to practice the with half-finished projects. Rather, I mean, often slowness of a Shepherd, the most productive thing a theological educator can do is grow to be content to leave a project • I read some things slow. My aim is for my daily until the next day rather than rushing to do poor reading of the Bible and some books to go slow. work. The theological educator should be faithful This intentional slowness removes the pressure to shepherd projects through to their end and of “finishing” and allows me to listen, take notes, on time, but should seek to do so as a part of a and make connections of thoughts that I do not balanced life.58 Regularly, I leave my desk and make when reading fast. inbox with much accomplished but much more • I use technology to aid in slowness. Much like still to do, and I have had to work to be content Neil Postman, I “admire technological ingenuity with that by keeping the longer term goals of but do not think it represents the highest accomplishment in view. possible form of human achievement.”56 Thus, I am eager to adopt new applications that work In all of this the theological educator as a Gentlemen for me and allow me to slow down. I use “to-do” Shepherd should work diligently in all tasks, large lists, digital notes, and news feed readers. I work and small, for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31), whether hard to eliminate all “notifications” and seek to working fast or slow. control technology. • I do many things fast. For things that should not The Theological Educator as require much time, I work to ensure they do not. Sherpa: The Invisible Sherpa Who I spend time strategizing how the work for one Serves and Points

54 Maggie Berg and Barbara K. Seeber, The Slow Professor (University of Toronto, 2016). 55 Cal Newport, Deep Work: Rules for Focus in a Distracted World (Grand Central, 2016). 56 Neil Postman, Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology (Vintage, 1992), 184. 57 Gary Riebe-Estrella, “The Dean as Administrator: ‘It’s All a Matter of Relationships,’” in Kathleen D. Billman and Bruce C. Birch,C(H)AOS Theory: Reflections of Chief Academic Officers in Theological Education (Eerdmans, 2011), 253. 58 Jim Hunt, “10 Years as a Provost,” Inside Higher Education, August 24, 2009.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 61 PERMANENT THINGS by elitemountain climberstoaidthemintheirascent Everest at22times. In Kathmandu,KamiRitaownstherecord for scalingMt. 62 59 that sometimesmore diffident students shy away from schedule ofmeetingsandfaculty concerns; thismeans and value. Asmany ofmy students are aware, Ihave afull only ahighpriority for me,butalsosomething Ienjoy students knowthattheirquestions andinterests are not In my classes,Imake apoint early inthetermtolet their professor andare notaburden orwasteoftime. knows theyhave an audience andasincere earin students wellwhen the student feelsserves and vital questions inprivate.Thetheological educator smirk inpublic, theyare more willingtoasktheir questions are taken withseriousness andwithout When students seethateventhemostmundane of with any question asked inclassorpublic. as simple asmodelingpatience andunderstanding them andbymakingtimefor them.Oftenthisis students asaSherpaisbytakingtimewithserve and outoftheclassroom, hastheopportunityto One oftheprimeways thetheological educator, in (Mark10:45). and serves bravado orinstillingfear inhisclients, ratherheeducates Sherpa isnotadrillinstructorordictator leading by theological educatordoesthesamefor students. The and helpsorganize,direct, assemble, the andlead, Justto serve. astheSherpacomesalongside hisclients as theresult ofhisyears ofexperience, isthebestonefit conceding any ounceofexperience or rank.TheSherpa, without theeducator canserve this identity inmind, when headoptsthelowly posture ofaSherpa.With The theological educatorcares bestfor hisstudents mirrors thetaskofaclimbingSherpainseveralways. thefeatstudents tosurvive oftheireducational goals of thetheological educatorincaringfor andleading that many oftenstartbutdonotcomplete. Thetask thefeatslearned early thetradeofguidingandsurviving village nearthebaseofMt. Everest, Ritaandhissiblings of theworld’s mosttreacherous peaks.Growing upina “Sherpa guideKami Rita climbs Everest for record 22nd time” 59 RitaisaclimbingSherpaemployed The Guardian The educator must notassumeheisconnectingwithhis assisting isvitalfor asuccessfulascent, thetheological as clear communication from theSherpatothoseheis is communicating oftenandwithclaritytothem.Just assist hisstudents wellbyworkinghard toensure he and Related tothis,thetheological educatorcanserve a helpfor balanceinmy life. that Ineedthemtoapproach meandaskquestions as toconvey midst ofseveralothertasksandmeetings.Itry intravenous reviving ofmy callingandoutlook inthe telling themthattimewithstudents isfor melike an approaching me.Iworktopreclude thisconclusion by Such itisfor thetheological educatorwho cares for accomplishment. on anothertrip. For now, itistheclimber’s moment and before point andwillsoonagainlead others tothisvery in thephoto. For theSherpahasdonethismany times often istheone,ashisjob, totake thephoto, nottobe climber posesfor aphoto atthesummit.TheSherpa Perhaps thisismostevident inthemoment when the him upthemountain, buttheclimber didtheclimbing. rare andsignificant. yes, theSherpaassisted Intheend, implemented histraining,andaccomplished something has mastered themountain, followed theinstructions, to thedegree thatheforgets theSherpaiseventhere. He summit, theclimber, inonesense,shouldbecelebrating his client upthepathtotake hisfinal few stepstothe 3:30).fashion (John WhenaclimbingSherpaleads task withexcellence when he doessoinadecreasing theSherpaalsoaccomplishes his In addition toserving, and subjectmatter. seems tocare theleast, comestoappreciate thecourse repetition toensure thatevenonestudent, who communicate inmultiple ways, many venues, andwith as Sherpaassistsstudents bestwhen hestrivesto growth anddevelopment. Thetheological educator the professor andlead students toward desires toserve claims ofprofessorial malpractice, itisnotenoughif “It says itinthesyllabus” might beenoughtodeflect students. To putitanotherway, while relying upon , May 16,2018. 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 students as a Sherpa. The educator’s posture is that of a fan club. Instead, like the Sherpa, the theological one who is gladly decreasing in presence and influence educator should point outward most and for a purpose. with time. As Jim Hunt counsels, the theological The theological educator, in this sense, is like a poet, educator should think of himself like instructional about who C. S. Lewis reminds, “The poet is not a man gravity. “If you think of the qualities of gravity, then you who asks me to look at him; he is a man who says ‘look have a fairly good image of what you should do in your at that’ and points; the more I follow the pointing of his position. You help hold things in place so that they do finger the less I can possibly see of him.”61 not escape the institutional orbit and you are invisible.”60 The theological educator serves, assists, prepares, and The Value of an instructs the students—i.e. holds them together, but Experienced Sherpa it is the students who do the work and who fulfill the The theological educator is able to carry out the task requirements for graduating with their degree. of caring for students as a Sherpa only through the knowledge and wisdom that comes from experience. The theological educator, in this sense, should, The climbing Sherpa spends a lifetime learning his trade at some point in the student’s life and career, be from others more experienced. He ventures on climbs forgotten, even while what was taught and given to several times a year throughout his life; only thereby the student remains. The theological educator’s legacy does he build up stamina and experience. This discipline is not that he is remembered, but that the students and investment in his craft is what allows him to come have adopted what was taught and are changed by it to see the most challenging things as routine. The for the service of others. At graduation, the theological climbing Sherpa is an expert in his field, and this status is educator should be the one taking the photo for he something he has earned over time. has done this before and will soon again lead others to that point after another semester. Such it should be with the theological educator. Rare should it be that a brilliance alone equals readiness. For Yet, though striving for invisibility, the theological even the sharpest of climbing Sherpas are not ready to educator also cares well as a Sherpa by his pointing. The bear the weight and responsibility of leading a climb climbing Sherpa cannot do his job with success if he without tested and proven experience. The theological does not point his client up and down the mountain. educator should welcome mentorship in teaching, Sometimes this pointing involves directing the climber writing, serving, and caring for students. His posture away from danger or leading them to pause with patience should be that of deference to those who have been while a storm clears. Sometimes this pointing is designed “climbing” for years. The theological educator is an to motivate the climber to persevere or renew his expert in his field only when he has mastered the content perspective so as not to drift from the task in action or and also spent time teaching, writing, and putting that thought. Sometimes the Sherpa points at himself so the content into practice. climber can see how to climb or what he should do next. Further, the climbing Sherpa is seen as a professional The theological educator who seeks to care for students only when he matures to the point of no longer seeking as a Sherpa should also take care to point in these ways. the praise of his clients or is enamored by the allure However, the danger for the instructor is that he can or fame or status. The theological educator as Sherpa, spend too much time pointing at himself. This can be likewise, should not live for the approval of students even inadvertent, but without care, the theological educator while he seeks to serve and assist them. The students can easily view himself as Auteur and the students as need to be led and guided by a professional, not simply

60 Hunt, “10 Years as a Provost.” 61 C. S. Lewis, “The Personal Heresy in Criticism,” in The Personal Heresy: A Controversy (Oxford University Press, 1939), 11.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 63 PERMANENT THINGS by knowledge alone orthefameofanotherscholar. theological educatorasaprofessional isnotimpressed a friend who decidedtojointhemfor a“climb.” The 64 65 64 2004), 561n59. Approach to and Reading Writing (New York: Longmans, Walter Green, 1939).See Hooper, ed., 63 62 published inonevolume as In 1943, C. S. Lewisgave three lectures inDurham later The Task Educators ofTheological their students 16:1). from falling(Jn and heeded.For bringswisdomtoaid longevity inserving students themost,simply becauseofwhat theyhave seen the theological educatorwithearnedwisdomcancare for wisdom from seasonedtheological educators.Further, use oftechnology, canallbenefitfrom theinfluence of methods,andthe in instruction, educational delivery adapted overtheyears toimprove hiscraft.Innovation his field bysharing what hehas learned andhowhehas the theological educatorcanhelpshapethefuture of improve iftheyare willingtolearn. Thelonger theyserve, an opportunityfor theological educatorstogrow and longevity. Years andcaringfor ofserving students yields with wisdomthatonly comeswithcreativity and The theological educatorasSherpa,too,isrewarded sometimes—the tragedy ofpeople falling. the experienced Sherpahasendured much, including— and ideasduetowhat theyhave seenandendured. For today are thedirect result ofSherpasproviding insight technological advancements thataidmountain climbers cannot betaught orpurchased. Further, many ofthe variety ofconditions buildsastorehouse ofwisdomthat many differentThe experience ofserving clients ina climb year afteryear gainknowledge, butalsoexperience. that comeswithcreativity andlongevity. Sherpaswho The bestofclimbingSherpasare marked bytheirwisdom scholars comeandgo. that comesonly afterseeingmany otherprofessors and Rather, overtime,hehasgainedthevirtueofdiscernment Ibid., 13-14. Lewis, referred Lewis to volume the anonymously as C.S.Lewis, The Abolition of Man The Abolition of Man , 13. The AbolitionofMan (New York: Harper 1944). Collins, The GreenBook . 62 The first Thefirst , but volume the King was Alec and Martin Ketley,Control The Language: of ACritical no heart.Men withintellect, butwithoutchests,andyet we what theycreateheart. Intheend, are menwithmindsbut outthe tobuildtheintellect, butcarve concludes, are trying just andtrue.Theauthorsofthechildren’s Lewis book, but ratherawakening itanddirecting ittoward what is themofemotion, young people isnotrestraining orstarving However, Lewiscountered, thechallenge oftheday for “fortify themindsofyoung people againstemotion.” likely Lewissummarized, of thatbook, were attemptingto nature ofmeaninginabook for school children. a critiqueofrecent volume thatarguedfor the subjective of theselectures hetitled “Men Without Chests,”aimedas theological educatoratbreakfast. the matters mostmight justbehowstudents observe Sherpas asexamples, butwhatever themetaphor, what here themetaphors ofGentlemen Shepherds andInvisible them, butalsohisposture as heproceeds. Ihave presented how hegoesaboutthesematters,bothinpractices guides students succeedsinsofarasthe educatorcares for criticism, howheprioritizes histime,andtheway he The care thetheological educatorgivesinresponse to which isjustandtrue. hearts ofhisstudents andstirtheir affections tothat is howshouldthetheological educatorirrigatethedry that which rather, willgrow back.Thequestion toask, instruction isamatteroftheheart,heonly cutting exercise apartfrom understandinghowtheological attempts only tocutthesedownasanintellectual education. Inasmuch asthetheological educator worldviews, arguments, andapproaches totheological therethe twenty-first are jungles ofcompeting century For thetheological educator, thetaskisnodifferent. In cut downjungles buttoirrigatedeserts.” his corrective: “Thetaskofthemoderneducatorisnotto “expect ofthemvirtueandenterprise.” Herein Lewisposits TheCollected Letters Lewis, of C.S. Vol 2 • 65

2019 |ISSUE 1.1 (Harper Collins, 63 The authors Theauthors 64 Jason Duesing is Provost The Theology of the and Associate Professor of Historical Theology at MBTS. Bible and the Mission He is the author of several books, including Mere Hope of the Church and Seven Summits in Church History. By Jonathan Leeman

remember standing in my neighbor’s backyard, where he was busy planting a tree. My neighbor, who belonged to a liberal mainline church, looked up at me at one point and said in all seriousness, “Hey, I’m doing church work!”

Wait, what? Is planting trees “church work”?

The answer depends on what you think the church’s mission is. What has God sent the church into the world to do. Has he sent the church to fulfill the Great Commission by making disciples? Or has he sent the church into the world to do more than that—including everything from planting trees, to caring for the poor, to doing justice.

The Mission Is Broad and Narrow For several decades now this has been something of a controversial topic among Christians. Some offer a narrow definition, which focuses on the Great Commission and making disciples of Christ. Others offer a broad definition, which includes making but also emphasizes every aspect of being a disciple of Christ.

Missiologist David Hesselgrave offers the narrow definition: “‘Great Commission mission is uniquely ours and requires us to make disciples by preaching, baptism, and teaching the peoples of the earth.”66 The narrow definition, clearly, places Jesus’ Great Commission in the foreground.

66 Paradigms in Conflict:10 Key Questions in Christian Missions Today (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2005), 348.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 65 PERMANENT THINGS and theypoint notjusttotheGreat Commission but a goodexample ofabroad view ofthechurch’s mission, Meanwhile, John Stott andChristopher Wright provide 66 68 67 Two Storylines Complementary to doinourfallen order. understanding ofwhat exactly itisthatGod’s people are biblical theology, Iargue,thatwecometoaricher, fuller complementary—ways. It isinthisdeployment of oftheBibletracing thestoryline intwodistinct—but from. We findwisdom for thatconversation from and what human beingsmosturgently needsalvation deeper, more profound conversation aboutsalvation, of thechurch’s work.Behindthatconversation isa It’s notsimply aboutanarrow versusabroad view Yet there’s somethingmore going on inthisconversation. focuses onteaching,theotherfocuses onbeingordoing. lawyer ordoctor(or bothschool andpractitioner). One a law ormedical school versusthemission ofanactual looking atdifferent things:like comparingthemission of In someways, it’s asifthebroad andnarrow campare church, tolove Godandneighbor”! congregation onSunday andsay, “It is worth much. Whatpastorwouldeverstandinfront ofa sensibilities thatsuggestwords without deedsaren’t out? Thebroad-definition camp, however, appealstothe church budget,bywhat criteriashould weleave anything trees as“church work.”Ifweputplanting trees into the Christian must do.We don’t ordinarily refer toplanting the whole church must doandwhat Iasanindividual that there must be intuitions. Thenarrow definition appealstotheintuition broad isthatbothsidesappealtobiblically-informed Part ofthechallenge ofchoosingbetweennarrow and of whatthewholeBible showsus....” ‘everything’ isindeedbroadandinclusive,ifwetakeaccount that Godsendshispeopleintotheworldtodo.’ And that a properlycomprehensiveword, embracing everything to allofScripture. Theywrite: Italics original, ibid.,38-39. Gregory K.Beale, Gregory A New Testament Biblical Theology:TheUnfolding oftheOld Testament intheNew some distinction betweenwhat “‘The word mission…is 67

not your mission, creation (Gen. 1:28). designed torepresent God’s characterandrule over footsteps (Gen. 5:1ff;Luke 3:38), menand womenare his fatherandfollows inhisfather’s professional and queenovercreation. Like asonwho actslike were created inGod’s torule asking image,Isaid, oftheBible isa the story Creation. 1: Story of Mission Understanding Our That FillOut perverse-imaging problemperverse-imaging solved. image ofGodandtheperfect Son(Col. 1:15).Adam’s multiply andcreate andtofill.” the commission giventoAdam“to subdue andrule, to recapitulated redemptive history. He redid it,fulfilling do. He perfectly obeyed God’s Word andinsodoing Adam. But thisSondidwhat AdamandIsraeldidn’t Jesus. He let thisSonbetemptedby Satan,justlike Christ. them outofhispresence and land. God’s ownrighteousness, justice, andlove. SoGodcast kings, chasedafterotherimagesandfailed todisplay rule. Sadly, again,Abraham’s descendants, Israelandits special people might display God’s owncharacterand people what hecommandsofallpeople, sothatthe 12, Gen.15).Godhimselfwillfulfillamongaspecial “I willmultiply you andmake you fruitful” (see Gen. multiply,” hepromised Abrahamandhisdescendants, his glory. Where hecommandedAdam,“Be fruitfuland purposes for creation—to rule onhisbehalfanddisplay both save anduseagroup ofpeople for hisoriginal Israel. but it’s imageanddistortedrule. aperverse them from hispresence. TheystillimageGod’s rule, work rulingontheirownbehalf,andsoGodbanishes Fall. Sadly, AdamandEve rejected God’s rule andgoto Wonderfully, inhismercy, God, hadaplan to Wonderfully, again,Godsent anotherson,

Ruling asSons—A Kingly Storyline Aswethought aboutinanearlier session, (Grand Rapids,MI:Baker, 2011),386,also479. kingly 68 Christwastheperfect story. AdamandEve 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 Church. Not only that, Jesus promised to give his He’s to keep unholy intruders, like lying serpents, from kingdom to a people. These people, the church, God entering the place God dwells. predestined “to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many Fall. Adam fails. God calls Noah to act as a priest brothers” (Rom. 8:29, ESV). “Because [they] are his sons, by separating clean and unclean animals and offering God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit a sacrifice. who calls out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Gal. 4:6). No longer are they slaves but possess the full rights of sons (v. 7). These sons Israel. God then calls the whole nation of Israel a are promised that, just as they “have borne the image of “kingdom of priests” (Ex. 19:6), which they’re to do the earthly man,” so they shall also “bear the image of the by keeping God’s law. And he highlights the nature heavenly man” (1 Cor. 15:49; also 1 John 3:2). Not only this, of priestly work by establishing a line of priests who but they will also reign with God in eternity (in 2 Tim. 2:12; mediate God’s judgments through performing sacrifices, Rev. 20:6—literally, “be kings with”). protecting the ritual purity of God’s dwelling place in the temple, separating clean and unclean, and teaching the So let me sum up. What does God call the church to do? people God’s law. What is its mission? At each step, priests were to draw the line between the To be sons. To be God’s restored images. To rule like God inside and outside of God’s people: Adam was to do that, rules. To display the character and likeness and image as was Noah, as were the Levitical priests. and glory of the Son and the Father in heaven. The Father is a peacemaker, so be peacemakers, church. The Again, both the priests and Israel as a whole failed in Father loves his enemies, so love your enemies, church. their priestly vocation. The Father and Jesus are one, so be one, church. The Father is perfect, so be perfect, church. The Father sent Christ. Wonderfully, Jesus comes as that savior and Jesus, so Jesus sends you, church. perfect high priest who declares and enacts the judgments of God. He also comes as the Passover This mission, to be sure, is a broad one. It involves our Lamb who paid the price for sin by shedding his own entire lives. The church’s work, you might say, is an blood. So Jesus solves not just humanity’s perverse- image-recovery work. It is to live as the transformed imaging problem as a king, but also its guilt, shame, humanity or a redeemed culture. and separation problem as a priest. At the cross Christ forgave his people’s trespasses by canceling Story 2: Meditating God’s Judgments—A Priestly Storyline “the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, That said, there’s more to the story. In fact, let me tell nailing it to the cross” (Col. 2:13-14). the same Bible story again, but this time adding another character: the priest. Church. Christ also unites a people—the church—to himself through the new covenant in his blood. This Creation. God didn’t just give Adam and Eve the job of covenant grants them both forgiveness and the Holy king, he gave them the job of priest by calling them to Spirit so that they might walk according to God’s law. No “work” and “watch over” the Garden, two activities that longer is there a mediating class of priests because all are would one day occupy Israel’s priests in the temple (Gen. priests. They would be a “kingdom of priests,” said Peter 2:15, CSB; Num 3:7–8; 8:26; 18:5–6).69 A priest works to (1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Peter 2:5, 9). All are now responsible to keep keep the place where God dwells consecrated to God. the holy place of God’s dwelling consecrated to the Lord,

69 Greg Beale, The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God (Downers Grove, IL: IVP: 2004), 66-87.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 67 PERMANENT THINGS building. It’s thepeople. Thechurch anditsmembersare the outside.Andwhat isthatdwellingplace? It’s nota clean separatedfrom unclean, theinsidemarked offfrom 68 and thereby showingthenations who is“in” andwho publicly namingwho belongs toFather, Son,andSpirit Christ’s sacrifice aswellconstitutethevisible church, person tobeguilty.” Thetwoordinances bothpicture cannot, evenifbothusethesamewords: “I findthis courtroom canmake declarations thataU.S. Citizen the church individually doesnot,justlike ajudgein church corporately exercises adeclarativeauthoritythat loose onearthwhat’s boundandloosed inheaven. The through baptismandtheLord’s Supper. Theybindand commanded andbymarkingoffChrist’s holy people unholy. Christ Theydothisbyteachingeverything once more must draw alinebetweentheholy andthe are apriestly activitysays Greg Beale, God’s people the keys ofthekingdomgivenMatthew16and18,which them tomake priestly judgments astheygo.Wielding conquering kingsinto allnations, buthealsoauthorized Christ may have authorized hispeople togolike thing, andIwillreceive you” (2 Cor. 6:17). out from themandbeseparate..Touch nounclean that temple. Paul therefore commandsthemto“come We’re talkingaboutthegathered assembly anditsunique as itsindividualmembersandwhat theydoallweek. confessors.” But nowwe’re is atruegospelconfession, andtheseare truegospel who the outside.To render judgments onthe make disciples. To draw alinebetweentheinsideand does Godallthechurch todo?Whatisitsmission? To What priestlyLet mesumupthissecond, storyline. had commanded. making disciples Christ alsoinvolves teachingeverything is “out.” AswiththeOld Testament priests, thistaskof mediating God’s judgments. It does thisthrough gospel corporate actor—is tomake disciples bydeclaringor speaking, themission ofthechurch—church as This mission, tobesure, isanarrow one.Narrowly Christ’s name. are church activities, where twoorthree are gathered in the Supper are notindividualChristianactivities. They basically exercising thekeys andbaptizinggiving work for thegathered corporatechurch todo.But, the individualChristiantodo,justlike there iskingly corporate taskandauthority. There ispriestly workfor ofthegospellike priests—to formally declare, “This not talkingaboutthechurch what 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 andthe proclamation, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and mission is to be an embassy, while the broad mission is to biblical instruction. be an ambassador.

Synthesis: Clarification on Broad We need the narrow answer (making disciples) and we and Narrow Ecclesial Mission need the broad answer (being disciples). We need the king Just as the Old Testament king and priest had different and the priest, because, really, the work of each cannot be job assignments, so we need to pay attention to two separate from one another. We need both stories. different moments in the life of a church, to different hats its members will wear. Remember my argument An Eschatological Wrinkle and at the beginning? Defining the mission of the church Our Most Urgent Task requires us to define what we mean by “the church.” Ultimately, the Bible’s story of salvation calls for a broad We’ve simply got to clarify what we’re talking about. The and narrow mission. But the eschatological wrinkle church as its individual members have a broad mission: suggests the narrow mission of making deserves special being disciples. Being image-bearing sons. And the attention because the world’s most urgent and central members always undertake this kingly activity, whether problem is theological—the fact that we have offended gathered or scattered. It involves their whole lives as God. To downplay or diminish the narrow mission of they work to present the church as a model society, a the local church and its officers effectively downplays or transformed people, an outpost of heaven. diminishes the need for all humanity to get inside of that elevator—to get saved and sanctified. It also blurs the Yet those same individuals also undertake a related line between the world and the church, damnation and but distinct job—the job of making disciples. This salvation. It risks misidentifying the unholy as holy. might begin individually as members evangelize. But ultimately the members can only undertake this Furthermore, when we fail to recognize that this is priestly job when gathered together and are acting as an humanity’s biggest problem, we tend to over-estimate organized collective. Only together can they render God’s what the church can do. We tend to think that we really judgments on the what and who of the gospel. can make things better. We really can bring heaven to earth. We can transform the culture and redeem the city. God authorizes a church-as-organized-collective and the church-as-its-members another way. Downplaying humanity’s theological problem, and flattening the special urgency we should give to making God authorizes a church-as-organized-collective with disciples, leads to a kind of utopianism. a distinct priestly authority to publicly separate sinners from the world and to reconcile them to himself and Takeaway Lessons his people through re-naming and teaching. Christ Here are eight practical lessons church members and authorizes a church-as-its-members with a kingly pastors can take away from this discussion. authority to represent him as God-imaging sons and citizens, whether gathered together or scattered apart. 1. The first step of the Christian life is to be baptized into membership in a church. The narrow employs priestly words of formal separation, 2. Acting together as a church, prioritize preaching the gospel to identification, and instruction. We do this in our those on the inside and reaching the unreached on the outside. preaching and in the ordinances. The broad rules and lives 3. Churches should carefully practice church membership as sons of the king, representing the heavenly Father in and discipline. all of life’s words and deeds. The narrow protects the holy 4. Churches must preach about heaven and hell, the new place where God dwells, which is his temple, the church. creation and eternal condemnation. The broad pushes God’s witness into new territory, 5. Churches should sing and pray often about heaven and the expanding where his rule is acknowledged. The narrow new creation.

CPT.MBTS.EDU 69 PERMANENT THINGS day (see Acts 2:42-46). church notjustontheLord’s Daybutevery 6. Churchmembersshouldlivetogetherasthe 70 Jason Sexton). ed. Mission, (Zondervan, Views ontheChurch’s from with permission Love Church, of God’s Love,Political the Surprising Offense author of Director of9Marks andthe Jonathan LeemanisEditorial that light andtransformation. community, andinviting thenations into as thetruehumanity andatransformed proclaiming thegospelofJesus Christ,living church istobealight amongthenations by Or let meputitlike this:Themission ofthe Christ’s kingdom. it’s toliveasdisciples andcitizensof citizens ofChrist’s kingdom.Individually, Collectively, it’s tomake disciples or What’s themission ofthechurch? crossing missionaries. they needmissionsandboundary- 8. Churchesdon’t justneedamission, and callpeopletorepentbelieve. 7. Churchmembersshouldsharethegospel . Thisessayisadapted and The Church and The Rule of Four • By OwenStrachan of Culture Notes onaTheory Build: In Ashes, The firstthingthatweshouldsay is ***** and thepublic square. of mattersrelated totheology, culture, my owntake onarunningcommentary Things I here—in thefirstissueof Neuhaus andhisecclesial tradition, yet My thought takes meastream from Jack Dorseymadehisfirstmillion. Tweeting (albeit inparagraphs) before element of socialmedia;hewas anticipated thedigressive andenjoyable In someways, Neuhaus’s column my handatNeuhaus’sbe totry venture. I have long mused onthefunitmight I amneitherCatholic norNeuhaus, but journal institution injournalistic form. manner, Neuhaus created hisownin- commenting oninstitutions inthis politics, andthepublic square. In related toreligion, culture, theology, It,” acatch-all onmatters commentary journal column entitled “While We’re at Neuhaus’s workwashisback-of-the- my owneye when Ifirstencountered —offer from aposition of respect with regularity. Whatcaught form, single-subject articles uring his decades-long run as uring hisdecades-long runas John Neuhaus wrote long- editor of First Things Permanent 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 , Richard that Christian is fundamentally a conservative faith. counterfeits. It helps us, as just one example, see clear That is, in order to offer something to the world, we when it comes to the failings of past leaders, churches, must conserve what God has handed down to us (see 2 denominations, and institutions. We deal honestly with Timothy 1:13). Conservatism in this sense does not refer these real iniquities and transgressions, some of them to a stubborn willingness to face the future; by contrast, decades-long, some of them baked into the very fabric conservatism necessarily faces the future with Word and of our institutions. As we have learned, the wounds have gospel firmly in hand, expecting the Spirit to freshly bless not all healed in the West, in America, in and the church. the family of Christ and newly regenerate the followers Christ in us means that we are free to acknowledge of Satan. and reckon with sin in all its poisonous manifestations. Honesty is a gift, not a curse. ***** ***** The Christian faith is thus progressive, but only in the sense that it offers the citizens of the present We must, however, distinguish honesty from progressive the wisdom of the past. Unhitch yourself and your demolition-derbying. It is right to identify and lament congregation from the history and truth God has the sins of our forebears. But it is an act of nihilism to authored, and you have little but good feelings and bring a torch to a library. By this I mean that it is the can-do spirituality to offer your hearers. The problem height of folly to look into history and see in it only items with “unhitching” theology ala Andy Stanley is that of condemnation and deserved destruction. The current it leaves a cart—to honor the metaphor on its own angle of approach to Western history in our universities terms—without any ballast, any firmness, any solidity. and colleges, for example, looks less and less like honest That which is “unhitched” is seemingly free, but free to and respectful inquiry, and more and more like targeted do what? To careen, to upend, to crumble into pieces and wanton evisceration. Part of Christian education after meeting an immovable object. is teaching students to handle the past with care, discretion, self-awareness, humility, respect, charity, and ***** balance. If fewer and fewer in the broader academy seem willing to form students in this way, we must not fail to Christ’s church operates from a different foundation do so in the church. than our hard-modern (a better term for today than “postmodern,” really) culture does. The church ***** fundamentally seeks to hold fast to the trustworthy word. It does not shut the word up as a keepsake, of The Christian operates in a different mold than the non- course; it brings the wisdom of the Word into the Christian. We do not think as the unbeliever thinks, or rushing chaos of the current day. Our “progressive” speak as the unbeliever speaks, or desire as the unbeliever culture, by contrast, fundamentally seeks to divest desires. We have given up our obedience to the flesh itself from the past. It breaks with tradition. It is not and fleshly passions (Ephesians 2:1-3). We cannot only only, however, the specific dogmas of past days that critique and tear down; we have the responsibility, all of progressivism rejects. It is the entire mindset of honoring us, to help steward the wisdom of the Word, and to guard the past, learning from it, and stewarding it. through our meaningful congregational membership the good deposit which is the gospel. We are not critics first ***** and foremost, then; we are not doubters, or haters (as the kids say). We are believers. We are earnest in our nature, Honoring the past is not the same as baptizing it. hopeful in our demeanor, charitable in our speech, We should never confuse the doctrinal and cultural theocentric in our moment-by-moment existence. conservatism of the Christian movement with nostalgia. The gospel of grace frees us from all delusions and *****

CPT.MBTS.EDU 71 PERMANENT THINGS us abackbytheirkindnesses.Thefactthatthere are be downright chippy. Andsometimesunbelievers take Having sometimesChristianscan saidwhat Ijustdid, 72 ***** created from theground up. both theselfandsocialorder isnotinherited;it be—leveled right down tothefoundations. Identity for society hasnoinnatestructure, butmay be—must ofthisepistemological convictioncorollary isthat I thataminto themethatIdesire tobe.Thesocial is centered inme,andIamcapable ofreworking that non-Christian peersinterpret bodily: consciousness scarcely recognize. Whathemeant metaphysically our Descartes haswonthedebate,albeitintermshewould commanded torethink ourselves from theroots up. secular culture inourtime.We are trained andeven pains todo) putsusinunmistakable disagreement with Understanding ourselves inGodward terms(as Iamat ***** teaching foments separation andhostility. the right way, and helpsfoster unitywhere allworldly doctrine, theChristianactsprogressively, understoodin division andhatred anddistrust.Inpromoting sound does—such untruth accomplishes theterrible workof in contradistinction towhat falsehoodandfalseteaching tongue, nation, race,ethnicity, andpeople group. Thisis tribe, creates afamily ofmenandwomenfrom every unites us,for itisgrounded inthetruth.Thelove ofGod and thelove ofneighbor(Matthew22:34-39). Thislove from arrogance oranger, butfrom love, thelove ofGod in order tobless future generations withit.We dosonot with thetreasures ofthepast.We what isgood conserve the Christianistrueprogressive. We facethefuture All theforegoing meansinmy synthetic judgment that ***** least oneimportant area oftheirlife. desperately needtheLord—yet theyactunselfishly inat Many ofthesepeople have notrueChristianfaith,and should notfailtocross ourmindonaregular basis. tokeepif necessary people like ussafe onadaily basis soldiers andpolicemen outthere who are willingtodie If you trainyour students only ***** Generation Zspottheconnection? especially. Doestheaverage millennial ormemberof turns out,istheenemy ofourtime—the order ofGod must bere-thought andevenre-formed. Order, it democratic socialism.Ineachofthese,existingorder the economic level inthesocial-media takedowns of in themantra ofhomosexualityandpolyamory, andat level inthevision oftransgenderism,atthesexuallevel The instinctmentioned aboveinheres atthebodily earlier inthisjournal). Michael Plato’s shrewd assessment oflatemodernity digital congolomerates (note my fullagreement with our screens, andrunthenewsrooms ofourmodern modern campus,police theentertainment arrayed on modernists who currently setthespeechcodeson same willrecur inourtime, Ipredict, withthehard- twogenerations ago.The of theneo-conservatives those Christianspaying attention). Witness therise dangerous for ideologues advantageous (and for very become revolutionary. Anddangerous—it becomes When nooneteachesthetruth,wenote,itreally does ***** revolutionliberal arts!Theyareitself. very colleges anduniversities dispenseonaweekly basis.The distinguishable from what tenured scholars at numerous uncommon naturalwisdom,yes, butitisnothugely by Peterson issuffusedwith learning and humor and dared tospeakinpublic. Thekindofpedagogydisplayed he isatraditional professor ofthehumanities who has gifted andamore-than-worthy conversation partner) as Peterson, who isnotsomuch asavant (though heisvery Here witnessmuch ofthephenomenon ofJordan ***** would genuinely instructthem. on), you have setthemupasplump targetsfor thosewho interrogation, thelaw ofnon-contradiction, etcandso how tothink(critical reasoning, presuppositional what tothinkbutnow 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 ***** we godly enough to offer theological critique?

Side note: are newsrooms still a thing? Will they be ***** retitled “opinion rooms” in this, the Era of the Hot Take? The difference between Vanhoozer’s starting point and ***** that urged upon us by a social media-driven culture is chasmic in nature. The Bible would teach us that it Free speech as commonly understood and policed today is good to speak when one is ready and equipped to is not really free speech at all. It’s the freedom to obey speak, a state we reach after conversion, sanctification, speech codes. testing, and recognition. This has special reference in the New Testament to the elder of the church, the ***** only figure formally appointed to serve as a teacher of Christ’s local body (1 Tim 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). Teachers Again on Peterson, I attended his Kansas City lecture. in the New Testament’s vision are not those who have He was speaking from the backdrop of 12 Rules for Life, of signed up for an account and have opinions aplenty, with course. The moment that caught in my mind was when perhaps some identity-related accreditation mixed in he observed the need to “tell the truth,” but then realized (i.e., they are from a certain group). Teachers are those the limits of his own epistemology and metaphysics (such who have shown themselves to be godly men, able to as they are). Nearly shouting, he said, “the best we can provide spiritual leadership fired by theological truth of do is not lie!” That, in a sentence, sums up all you need themselves, their families, and the church’s members. to know about the operative worldview of Peterson. Without God, that really is the best you can do: not lie. *****

***** “Teachers”—or more accurately in contemporary terminology, “influencers”—are not accredited by But also on Peterson: I am reminded of Jesus’ rather anyone. That’s actually part of their platform. They are enigmatic remark to the scribe who answered well: “You not a recognized authority; they are not necessarily an are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). So, authority at all. In many cases, they have made their I wonder, with Peterson. Let us pray for him and his mark by challenging and goading and even rebuking many followers. (And let us engage them and the good established authority figures. The elder is marked by questions they are asking.) submission to God first and other elders second; the one who called to teach and shepherd the congregation ***** is one who has proved his ability not merely to tender intellectual enlightenment, but to follow divine order, As witnessed above, I recall the way Kevin Vanhoozer, in this case the order of leadership yielded by the my hermeneutics professor at Trinity Evangelical mind of very God himself. “Influencers” make their Divinity School (during my PhD work), began our own order. This point is noteworthy: the modern study of interpretation. He did not start with the influencer bucks the system, customarily, only to create deconstructionists, the Enlightenment, or the Reformers. his or her own system. Submission is still expected, As mentioned in the interview, Vanhoozer started the often in an absolute form; doubt of the platformed class by mapping the intellectual virtues, humility among star will not be tolerated (even as doubt of established them. Coming from a luminescent mind, that was authorities, even God, is very much encouraged); the formative. Our study of hermeneutics did not begin and “influencer” empowers his or her followers to spread end with analysis and swift judgment pronounced on the the influencer’s brand with aplomb. bad guys. It began with an assessment of our own heart. Were we prepared spiritually for the task before us? Were *****

CPT.MBTS.EDU 73 PERMANENT THINGS to listen.Thisreverses theJamesian paradigm.The is typically quick toanger, quick tospeak, andslow The social-media star, whether evangelical orotherwise, 74 me!—to thispastoralrole.” Onitgoes.Alloflife in on adaily basis.Achurch hascalled me—undeserving believe it?Igettoteachhere. Iget tolove thesechildren should exudeaspiritakintodazed euphoria—“Can you ends, wedonotcultivate anairofentitlement. We to bealeader, any abilityto persuadeothersfor good we are blessed withany measure ofsuccess,any chance 13:11). Alloflife inheritance.If isagift,notdeserved Adulthood isgood.Maturityablessing (1Corinthians The Christian,bycontrast, prays tobemature. ***** us what hasbeengiventous. above itall,lordly inmanner, actingasiftheworldowes by bothsexes isthat ofhomecomingkingandqueen: style asahighschool sophomore. Thepersonaadopted with thesamehaircolor, PINK sweatpants, andclothing persona ofasassycheerleader. Theyare overgrown girls, themselves looking like ateenagegirl,andembracethe no gentlemanly dress. Many adult womenstrivetokeep encouraged tolook like boys:nofacialhair, nochesthair, movies, andwearthesamesportsjerseys.Theyare they usethesamelanguage,watchsuperhero dress almostindistinguishably from theirteenagesons; and nowlong tobeteenagers.Many adult mennow we have replaced the mature adult asourarchetype may coinaword, “teenified” itself. By thisImeanthat around them.We have watchedasourculture has,ifI success, only toturnaround anddespisetheworld some “influencers”—ascend tothepinnacle ofearthly I finditfascinatinghowmany figures—including ***** reverse. and practice theirvery “influence” today isgenerally toupendbiblical priorities that thesingle bestway toamassafollowing andgain teachings tobearuponourusage.But wecannotmiss good things,provided webringChristianvirtuesand not foundationally evil,Ibelieve; wecanuseitfor many anger, 1:19-20). andquick tolisten(James Socialmediais slow to Christian iscommandedtobeslow tospeak, does dogood.Here ishopingfor adiffusion ofexcellent has madeareal dent. Socialmedia“influence” canand assistance from themainstream media, message. With notmuch budgetfor promotion, andzero many ofus.Whatawell-done film.Whatanimportant Gospel American social media.Asjustoneexample, watchingthemovie Some really dousetheirinfluence inapositiveway on ***** way welive,doesn’t it? Christ isagift.Doctrinematterstremendously for the from ourdistractions. appropriate tosay thatreal life threatens todistractus distractions becomesocommonthatitmight bemore regularly from devices. Devices distractus;infact,the Part ofwhat canhelp you inthisendeavor isdetaching afternoon. Tolkien spent decadeson likely willnot—in mostcases,anyway—happen inan It isworthnotingthatcreating works ofbeauty ***** big, andgobig. ofGod.There are noclipsonyour wings;dreamglory foundation for attemptinggreat creative feats for the theological, metaphysical, epistemological, andspiritual Psalm 27:4afresh. There, young Christianartists,isa you topore overJonathan Edwards’s writings.)Read God isbeautiful. Speaking ofbeauty, it’s notmerely found intheworld. ***** of thatwhich wasgoodandtruepraiseworthy. art wasthecreative rendering andelegant embodiment accord withKöstenberger’s above). astuteobservations So the Greek as itcommonly doestoday. Thetermartisderivedfrom Art, bytheway, didnotoriginally signify“self-expression” ***** truth ofGod. art incomingdays thatfeatures avibrant depiction ofthe arete , meaning“virtue” or“excellence” (in rocket across theInternet heartened is beauty. (On thispoint Iinvite Lord oftheRings American Gospel American 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 .

***** we should treat it with respect as much as we possibly can, and even assume in general terms that it is better to Perhaps we do well to promote a vision of beauty and hope conserve than to uproot. as much through images as through ideas. My father was a forester; he walked the woods of Maine for a living. He ***** was responsible for putting together a conservation and management plan for a plot of land. In other words, he Having introduced the subject of fathers, let us note had to figure out how to tend an established order such how frequently we hear today how hard “parenting” that it would endure in days ahead—but not only endure, is. “Parenting,” it is worth pointing out, is a gender- thrive. Conservatism in this respect did not mean keeping neutral term; many of will use it in different settings, things as they always were; neither did it mean burning yes, but it is ideal whenever possible to speak of up the Maine pines so as to start anew, albeit in utopia. It “fathers” and “mothers.” To be a father or mother is meant stewardship; care; tearing out weeds; pruning what consummately self-sacrificial. It is not that fatherhood was majestic and old and worthy. So with us as believers, and motherhood (grounded in covenantal marriage, whether oriented to theological education, congregational obviously) involves some scattered moments of health, or public square service. self-death. It is that the entire venture is staked on self-death. Fatherhood and motherhood, summed up: ***** self-sacrifice from start to finish.

While we are disquisitively on the subject of trees, I ***** cannot fail to note how central this motif is to Tolkien and Lewis alike. In both Middle Earth and Narnia, the One of the best evangelistic avenues for churches characters always seem to be in or near a forest, site today is “parental” training. My wife and I watched an of what is growing and alive—but also the site where episode of the new Marie Kondo show on Netflix. We unseen dangers hide and crouch. I will not pursue the were introduced to a nice, seemingly happy couple motif further, but will only offer this comment: I am so who—it turned out—had absolutely no idea how to enchanted by these twin worlds that I sometimes feel run a home. The woman in particular did not know as if I live in them—perhaps more in Middle Earth than how to do laundry. She evinced real affection for her in Narnia, much as I treasure each literary vision. To children, and she wanted to be a homemaker, but she borrow Lewis’s term, Lord of the Rings brims with pure had no clue where to start. Marie Kondo, with her gospel “Northernness”—transcendence, beauty, severity, fading of cleanliness and the largely-amorphous “ideal life,” but once great glory. Yet more than any creature in gave some practical wisdom that made a measurable Middle Earth, I yearn to meet Aslan, to look into the face difference. But as the episode concluded, so many needs that is—impossibly—both terrible and kind. remained unmet.

***** *****

To extend the forest metaphor a moment: Roger Scruton In watching the show, I could not help but think of how speaks of the need for customs, values, and traditions to much help even Christian women need today. Feminism hold together a culture. Even among evangelicals, the has gutted womanhood. I thought this not only when angle taken with regard to anything that is not biblical viewing Kondo’s show, but when reading and watching writ itself is essentially that we may take it or leave it. We Michael Pollan’s searing (and on-target) critique of our live in Christian freedom as blood-bought, resurrection- fast-food culture from a few years back. Though Pollan claimed men and women, but our attitude to customs did not connect the dots, the most influential factors and traditions ought not be indifference, let alone behind the decline of home-cooking are the spread of hostility. Culture is a fragile thing. Like a treasured tree, feminism and the dissolution of the family. Women in

CPT.MBTS.EDU 75 PERMANENT THINGS management, andmore. childraising, cooking, cleaning, organizing,budget many caseshave hadlittle ornotraininginhomemaking, 76 life asaman orawoman.Are churches still willingto practical guidanceonhowtoshapeaGod-honoring commitment, thatinourchurches weoffer clear and much glory. It means,following onthistheological distinctive, anddistinctiveinways thatgive ourLord means thatweseethesexes yes, butalso asunited, men andGod’s teachingfor womeninallourlives.It Sunday. It meansthatweembrace God’s teachingfor complementarian withregard towho preaches on does notmeansigningadocument that says weare Returning tobiblical manhoodandwomanhood ***** biblical manhood andbiblical womanhood. transformation. Onthismatter, of weneedtherecovery need somethingmuch, much stronger: God-centered from theHoly Spirit. We neednotonly affirmation. We butaconvictingnot atherapeutic patontheback, jolt But where weare fallinginto sinandstruggle, weneed grounded soteriologically inthedoctrineofjustification. the needtolivefree ofguilt. Thisisareal giftofGod today toembracehercircumstances. Shewillhearabout When awomanseesthischaos,shewillbetold bysome ***** andunlovely.cluttered, untended, home, which isalltoooftenfrenzied, disordered, and ityields astarkcontrast withthemodernfeminist awomanhas.But itisdemonstrably lovely,everything is notlightly bought, tobesure. It ishard-won. It takes cheer, security, andbeauty inthatplace. Thisserenity run byagodly woman.There iswarmth, coziness, blessing received when entering ahomemanagedand Christian churches. Yet there isimmediateandobvious quietly laidasideinorder toavoid controversy bysome of womanhood)have scoffed beenignored, at,or the church. Thesevitalpractices (part ofavocation This istruenotonly innon-Christian circles butin ***** ***** forwoman. Theyare hungry it.Theyhave neverheard it. such training.Theywant tolearn godlinessasamanor here’s thereality: tonsofyoung menandwomen as attractionally Wilson’s (Jared aptterm)aspossible. But particularly when achurch hassold theChristianfaith people willtuneoutandleave. Thatmay happen, Many churches fear thatiftheyprovide suchinstruction, ***** provide suchformation? Ifwedonotgiveit,who will? to bebothdeterminedandelegant. healthy andtasty, andthrough itallsomehowmanages preparesfresh ascratchmealfor snack, dinner thatis picks upchildrenwomanhood, from school, makes a distributes laundry, prepares materialfor atalkongodly machines, takes out ofmachines,folds laundry and into with husband ondinnerideas,putslaundry warring siblings, plans atrip, pays more bills,consults brokers apeacesettlement betweentwotemporarily- tutors inmath,runserrands,teachestheWord ofGod, a heartybreakfast, unloads thedishwasher, pays bills, truth, here isanapproximation ofherday: she makes sound like suchawoman’s life reality. isastationary In What afunny term“stay-at-home” momis.It makes it ***** his dreams, hiscovenant spouse—in for astolen kiss. arm, enters thehouse,andpullhiswife—the womanof takes thesteakoffgrill while holding achildinone hug ofhislittle girl,tearssomeweedsoutoftheground, after anepic battle, winksathisson,receives thegrateful campaign ofterror againstthechildren, killsthewasp cooking, putshimselfinbetweenthewaspenactinga can have aneedednight offfrom herscratch-kitchen siblings, turnsthesteakoverongrillsothathiswife adjudicates adisputebetweentemporarily-warring sweeps hisdress-wearing daughter upinhisarms,calmly moments, hetackles hissonwithouthurting him, playing withhischildren. Inthespanofjustafew One ofmy favorite sights inalloflife: ayoung father 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 want

***** the contradictions and perils of capitalism (which is Karl Marx’s term for the free market) while swimming in To see a woman who embraces such a life is a thing to materialism like a pig in fresh mud. How ironic and behold. I am reminded of Elisabeth Elliot’s description humorous it is to see a creature of the digital hive of the kitchen sink as an “altar.” Her point was that mind typing emotive reflections about capitalistic Godward faith transforms even the most mundane tasks predation into a $2000 laptop while listening to into doxological opportunities. She was right—and her Spotify’s coolest playlist before closing said laptop and voice is sorely needed today. What is more coram deo heading to a $60 spin class. than a selfless, dedicated, others-centered homemaker and mother? Truly, such a creature is living beauty. *****

***** I encountered a humorous illustration of this now- common trend a few years ago. A religious professor I asked my children one day while their mother was published a book decrying capitalistic excesses. Turning away for a spell what they would like to say to her (I was to the back cover, I chanced to note the price of this texting her). Two of the three Strachan progeny passed fierce text: $17.99. Decrying capitalistic excesses, it along paeans to their mother, assuring her of their love seems, is not cheap. and their heartfelt desire that she return home soon. The third (the youngest) thought for a minute and said ***** straightforwardly: “Please tell Mommy that I burned my finger a little bit and got hit on the leg.” While we’re on the subject of “reflections,” a word to fellow teachers: let us train students in the writing of Just the facts, ma’am. theses. Too often today I assign a position paper, only to receive a reflection paper. Reflection is good. There’s a place ***** for it in literary form to be sure. But we have to go beyond reflection, too, don’t we? A reflection paper summons I recall the story of the Houston mother who, predominantly the capacity to give an opinion, albeit a encountering desperate circumstances during the flood thoughtful one. A position paper should advance a case that ravaged that city some time ago, used her last bit of against other cases; it calls for refined thought, balanced strength to raise her child above the water, and perished judgment, and the ability to handle objections. A humble as rescue workers saved the workers. Could a more suggestion: in our classes as Christian educators, might poignant emblem of motherhood be found? we train our students to think, read, and write so as to advance a case amidst other alternatives? Might that not, ***** over time, strengthen the church’s witness, premised as that witness is upon the ability to reason, to persuade, As we train our youth, whether in the home, the school, and by God’s grace, to compel entrance to the kingdom or the church, we would do well to cultivate in them a through repentance and faith? sense of irony. Irony grows fertile in a world of shadows and make-believe, a world ruined by a serpent who said ***** one thing and meant another (Genesis 3:1-5). Spotting irony is essentially identifying a counterfeit while non- The foregoing presupposes that thinking is good. I maliciously yet indulgently chuckling at it. Let me give believe it is. Evangelical youth—children raised in Baptist one example: critiquing the free market while engaging homes—need to hear this. God gave them a heart, and fully in the glad rhythms of the free market. This is a soul, and a mind. They are made to be a thinking essentially a cottage industry today. The way to stay on creature. Thinking is irreducibly good. We glorify God the right side of sophistry today is to pay lip service to when we do it. Not for nothing did Aquinas and Calvin

CPT.MBTS.EDU 77 PERMANENT THINGS believe theimageisanontological reality—we I disagree withthisview, butrespect itnonetheless. (I locate theprecise nature ofthe 78 also, inashes,build. promise ofChristfor hischurch. Inashes,weep;but good andright turnstoash,let usnotfailtoclaimthe If itfeels like ourworldisonfire, ifsomeof what is fitted and ready for low times. are—only for hightimes.Oursisafaiththatmadeand as somany systemsandworldviews andmovements and undefeatable truth.Oursisafaiththatnotmade— bitter end.We cannotforget thisdeclamatory, defiant, (Matthew 16:18). He eventhe willdosountil theend, has fallen into ruintoday, Jesus willbuildhischurch rest easy. Thisisthetimetowake up. Thoughmuch cultural decline.But thisisnotthetime tolay backand in thefaceofseemingly insurmountable fallenness and understand the it is.Ifeel thecollective despairovercurrent affairs;I and spiritualmoral,isworthitsheavy cost.Ithink Some might wonderwhether suchformation, intellectual ***** image ofGodper1Corinthians 11:7.) ennui • and torpor that hits every believer andtorporthathitsevery imago dei inintellection. are the Humanity: ATheology of forthcoming Jonathan Edwards Day intheCompany of in God’s Hands:Day by is theauthorof He Theological Seminary. at Midwestern Baptist Center forPublicTheology of theResidency andthe Theology andDirector Professor ofChristian Owen Strachan isAssociate August 2019). Mankind (B&HAcademic, Reenchanting Always 2019 |ISSUE 1.1 andthe