‘Melted Ice Cream’ Grace

OBSERVATION FROM A SEMINARY STUDENT

(By Dr. Bill Bouknight - 2012, Confessing Movement Newsletter)

Recently I had the privilege of speaking at a United Methodist seminary. My subject was: “Five Truths about Evangelism that I wish I had learned in Seminary.” Those five truths are the following:

• All people can be divided into two categories: lost and found, and some of the lost are in every congregation.

• The Word of God is the only real authority we have.

• Until a person faces his sin, he/she cannot really comprehend or receive the grace of God.

• The Gospel always has a cross at its center.

• A Bible-based, Spirit-filled sermon has enormous, mysterious power.

A few days later I received a letter from a seminary student who was in that audience. Here are a few of his comments:

“I regret to say that today was the first time in my seminary experience that words like ‘sin,’ ‘Hell,’ and ‘the lost’ have been employed. As a consequence, I think we have celebrated grace that a favorite pastor of mine termed ‘melted ice cream.’

In short, today was the first time since I have been at seminary that the Gospel of Christ was acknowledged unapologetically, and for that I am most grateful.”

I am curious if other seminary students at United Methodist seminaries are having similar experiences. Are you being taught the cross-centered Gospel or some other version? John Wesley listed the following as essential doctrines of the Christian faith: original sin, the atonement of Christ, justification by faith, the Holy Spirit, the new birth, Christian assurance, and holiness. Are you being taught those doctrines? Please email your reaction to me at bgbouknight@aol.com I promise to keep your names confidential.

DC-Mentality As Seen by Lee Atwater

Lee Atwater (1951-1991), known as a brutal, consummate political strategist and hardball Republican National Committee chair, became a repentant believer and foe of “DC-mentality” before he died of brain cancer.  Before he died, he said, “I acquired more [wealth, power, and prestige] than most.  But you can acquire all you want, and still feel empty. It took a deadly illness to put me eye to eye with that truth, but it is a truth that the country, caught up in its ruthless ambitions and moral decay, can learn on my dime. [The leaders of the ‘90s must] speak to the spiritual vacuum at the heart of American society. . . . What is missing in society is what was missing in me: a little heart.”

--from A Cup of Coffee at the Soul Café by Leonard Sweet, p. 19

Absolute Power

There’s an old adage that says, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” While this may seem absolutely true, it’s absolutely false. There is only one who has ever known absolute power, and that is God. Yet He is the only one who has never abused His power. This is exactly what separates God from the rest of us. He really is different from who we are without Him. In fact we find that God does exactly the opposite of what we would expect with unlimited power.

(p.77)

Corruption is not an issue of power; it is an issue of passion. Power simply allows us to unleash our passions. What is hidden when we are powerless is exposed when we are empowered. With absolute power what you see is what you get. The power and authority that Jesus held did not change Him but allowed us to see Him in His purest form. The reason it appears that power corrupts is that power magnifies what is hidden within us. We can appear to have integrity when in fact all we are is powerless. It is not an act of integrity to treat someone well or justly when we are afraid of him or feel powerless to do otherwise. You cannot call someone “moral” simply because he is restrained from acting on his deepest desire. Otherwise Hannibal Lecter would be considered the ultimate expression of morality simply because he was strapped into a straitjacket. He’s not moral just because he can’t eat you. True morality in this case would be that he no longer wants to have you for dinner.

(p. 78 -79)


--From Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus

The Bible Has the Habit of Telling It Like It Is

3D. Personalities

Lewis S. Chafer, founder and former president of Dallas Theological Seminary, puts it this way: “The Bible is not such a book a man would write if he could, or could write if he would.”

The Bible deals very frankly with the sins of its characters. Read the biographies today, and see how they try to cover up, overlook or ignore the shady side of people. Take the great literary geniuses; most are painted as saints. The Bible does not do it that way. It simply tells it like it is:

The sins of the people denounced – Deuteronomy 9:24
Sins of the patriarchs – Genesis 12:11-13, 49:5-7
Evangelists paint their own faults and the faults of the apostles – Matthew 8:10-26; 26:31-56; Mark 6:52; 8:18; Luke 8:24, 25; 9:40-45; John 10:6; 16:32
Disorder of the churches – I Corinthians 1:11; 15:12; II Corinthians 2:4; etc.
Many will say, “Why did they have to put in that chapter about David and Bathsheba?” Well, the Bible has the habit of telling it like it is.

(p. 23)

from Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell.

Living Water and the Woman at the Well: A Sermon Outline by Keith Badowski

Living Water and the Woman at the Well
Sermon outline by Keith Badowski

1. Samaria—located between Galilee and Judea. Place to be avoided. Jewish origins, intermarried. Jews felt Samarians distorted Jewish faith. Samaritans believed Jews had compromised truth while in exile in Babylon. Jesus came for purpose, instead of going around. Messiah to the WHOLE world. ANOINTED one, sent by God—to the whole world.

2. Jesus’ method of conveying his message to be understood by ALL used objects at hand. Object lesson to reveal Spiritual Truth. Used Metaphor. Water = salvation, washed clean of sin. Thirst = yearning for connection with God. Sin breaks connection with God.

3. Deep down we all know Right vs. Wrong. We’re hardwired by the creator. C.S. Lewis quote from Mere Christianity, see Book One “Right and Wrong As A Clue to the Meaning of the Universe”.

4. Doing wrong, sin, breaks relationship with God and others. Notice that the woman comes to the well during the day to avoid others. Jesus knows she is lonely, i.e. thirsty for connection. Living water offer gets her attention.

5. Metaphor of Living Water is appropriate. Arid climate, daily need to draw water, worse task in daytime. Jesus tied his spiritual message to her actual physical needs and experience. She understood, paid attention.

6. Still had to overcome obstacles, but Jesus let nothing stop him.
a. the Jewish vs. Samaritan barrier
b. gender
c. need for food
d. her efforts to hide her core problem
How willing are WE to traverse obstacles to share living water with others?

7. Are WE willing to go to those people and places others avoid?
When we represent Christ to others we need to take more time.
a. build trust
b. no judgment
c. meets needs
d. patience to develop intimacy, willingness to admit hurts, regrets, mistakes
e. Intro Jesus, forgiveness. Our opportunity to offer Living Water.

8. Jesus persisted despite her side-stepping. “I have no husband.” Temple worship controversy. Like so many, she dodged admission of wrong doing. Some lie, web of deception to cover up. The woman is ashamed but didn’t outright lie or flee. She perceived his connection to God and power. Jesus knew her whole life, so he might also satisfy her thirst for release, a new start, connection with God.

9. Jesus did not berate or ignore her. He welcomed the opportunity to teach truth. Neither Samaritan nor Jew has lock on Worship style (contemporary vs. traditional), the correct building (temple) to worship in, or location. None of those details matter. What matters to God is TRUTH and SPIRIT. Holy Spirit and Truth of God, Jesus is the source. Do WE worship in truth and spirit here?

10. Woman doesn’t understand all Jesus says, at least not fully. But she understands the Messiah is coming. He will reveal TRUTH, explain everything. Jesus knows she is ready for BIG TRUTH that He is the Messiah.

11. Her response is VERY BIG. She immediately tells others. Come hear! He told me everything I did. In her JOY she wants others to receive Living Water too! Freedom from the burden of sin, reunited connection to God. As a result, many Samaritans believed in Jesus.

12. What had been your response to Jesus’ Living Water? Nearly as Joyful? Inclusive of others? Nearly as effective as this woman at the well?