On Reconstructing Antinomianism

An Accusation and a Response

Over at the "gospel" coalition, Tullian Tchividjian has written an article called "Deconstructing Moralism." It is the latest salvo in a series of attacks that basically communicate that those who preach the law just don't get grace. This is an astounding accusation, and you can read my comment on that blog post to see my response to it.

Confusing Rhetoric, with Real-Life Consequences

Having responded there to that accusation, I hope to borrow your eyes and mind for a few moments to consider the danger of the theology behind the accusation. I know of at least two truly converted believers who came under such preaching and learned to call themselves "legalists" and tried to "repent" of loving God's law, thinking much about it, or trying hard to keep it. One of them has escaped. The other continues under that preaching and is sadly confused. This is one of the reasons why the Bible pronounces woe upon them who say that what is good is really evil.

A Question of Trusting God

May the Lord grant to us to trust that His law is good, just as is His gospel, and that He uses both.

The law cannot save, and it cannot power sanctification. But it is a false pragmatism to say that since it can do neither of these things, we should be careful not to give it much place in our preaching. God certainly gives it much place in His Word!

Demonstrating that Trusting Our Own Wisdom Doesn't Work

A little reflection will demonstrate that it is pragmatically suicidal to try to preach only gospel and not law:

One of the main problems with the new antinomianism is that genuinely converted Christians don't to know what to do with themselves under such preaching. They hear from the pulpit that thinking upon the law is useless or even dangerous, and that we should just trust that thinking upon the gospel will accomplish everything by itself.

But they find that it is true that it is no longer they who live but Christ who lives in them, and that this Christ, who now lives in them, loves the law--loves to keep it. He loves to exert Himself (and to exert ourselves as His own body) in keeping it. He loves to meditate upon it. He wrote Psalm 119, and He meant it. And now He has written it on believers' hearts.

And of course, the truly unconverted person cannot repent and believe for salvation, if he knows not from what he is repenting, or from what to be saved by believing.

The Conclusion: May God Grant to His Servants to Trust Him and to Preach His Whole Word

So, neither the truly unconverted person nor the truly converted person is really served well by law-less preaching. God's law is marvelously designed to address both. Without the gospel, it can serve neither very well.

But without the law, neither can the gospel.

Let us trust God, when He says that the law is good (night just right, but good).

O for grace to trust Him more!

Continually Facebook

1Thessalonians 5:17 commands us, "Continually Pray."

At various times in my life, I have puzzled over what that means. Recently, Joel Beeke told the story of a maid who had been waiting upon some pastors/theologians, who were confounded by this very question. When they asked her, she said something to the effect that when she served them bread she prayed that God would nourish her; when serving them drink, that He would give her the water of life; when cleaning, that He would remove all filth from her.

That's a good idea. There's a reason that God has filled His Word with simple everyday illustrations of immense spiritual realities. But as an explanation of 1Thess 5:17, it's just not that satisfying.

Well, Facebook to the rescue. Really? Yes. But not in the way that you might think. Something happened this morning that was a mixture of challenge, inconvenience, and concern. And my first reflex was, "I should post that to Facebook." You see, I have some friends who would be intrigued by the oddness of it, others who would sympathize with me, others who might know something and suggest it, still others who would help me, and even others who would pray for me.*

And it struck me. At the best times in my spiritual life, these were all things that I continually related to my Father, and to my Savior, and to the Spirit... not to Facebook.

I told Him when something odd happened, because it was His providence to me (Eph 1:11), and I enjoyed relating to Him that I recognized His hand in my life (Ps 139:16-18).

I told Him when something was challenging, because I knew that He cared for me (1Pet 5:7), and  that He commands me to let me know about such challenges (Phlp 4:5-7), and even because I know that every demonstration of my inability is a glorious display of His ability, and another lesson in absolute dependence (2Cor 12:7-10).

I asked Him for help first, because I knew that ultimately all help must come from Him (Ps 124:8), and because His is all the help we need (Rom 8:31-32).

I loved to share my life with Him, because it was a constant delight that union and communion with Him was the story of my life (Jn 6:56, Jn 15:4-5, Jn 17:20-26, Gal 2:20, Rom 6:3-8. Rom 8:17).

So, Facebook to the rescue. And I do indeed plan to post this to Facebook! But Father first. And Christ first. Are you in a dry season spiritually? Might it be in part because your life is better characterized by "facebook continually" than by "pray continually"? Is it possible that where experiential union and communion with Christ ought to be, you've been duped into accepting a counterfeit union and communion with 1134 friends (even with believers, with whom we're commanded to fellowship)?

This has, of course, been a temptation and a problem for all Christians. But our "friendships" with others were never meant to be so comprehensive. This level of communication, and interaction, and dependence, and mutual delight ought to be enjoyed with The Friend who sticks closer than a brother, with our Beloved of whose I am and Who is mine. In earthly relationships, the closest analogy is the honeymoon.

Married couples cannot honeymoon forever. Someone has to earn the bread, and someone has to bake it. But that's just it; you can honeymoon forever with Christ. He is never otherwise occupied such that He hasn't the time or attention for you, and He is always with you--you needn't move a muscle or open your mouth to communicate or commune with Him.

With such sweet fellowship so constantly and immediately available to you, dear Christian, why is it that so many of us are better described by "facebook continually" than by "pray continually"? Oh, let us strive for the latter!

I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine!

*not that there's anything wrong with having friends pray for you--but really, if you go to them before you go to Christ, how is the spirit of that any different than the idolatrous praying to saints of the Roman Catholics?