Concerning Ambiguity... and Rob Bell for that matter...

Found this message given by Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill, Seattle) yesterday evening. Right off the bat I must say that I don't know a whole lot about Driscoll so I will not heartily endorse this man. I will say that this is a public rebuke of the Emergent Church from someone who was as J.R. Cash would have sung "there When it happened" and handles this message , I think, with great humility.

Mark Driscoll was a young Pastor when he was accepted by a group of Pastors including Brian McLaren, Tony Jones and Doug Padgett. In this message, which is about 1hr 30 minutes long Driscoll eventually turns to address the work of author/pastor/would be philosopher Rob Bell. I hope that you will take out some time to listen as the issue of discerning the truth about new supposed iconoclasts like Bell is crucial to the Body of Christ. This message was delivered at a conference in late September and from the blog reactions a big chunk of the Church (the big chunk that so eagerly absorbs everything Bell produces) is totally unfamiliar with the idea of a rebuke or good ol' discernment for that matter. That's understandable I suppose as much of the Church today is apparently more informed by Secular Humanism, Universalism and Marxism than they are an inherent, inspired Bible. Many who call themselves Christians and blog (or post comments on blogs) have attacked the messenger, in this case Mark Driscoll, as one who is attacking Rob Bell (not to mention a number of "Emergent Pastors" ). If you listen to the message it is clear his argument deals with Rob Bell's work and the discernment of that work. This is not a personal attack.

To those who are familiar with Bell you have to admit, the guy SEEMS to be everything the Church....."needs". By saying that I mean, this guy comes along within a decade of Christianty being co-opted by a political party, now, collectively, many of us are staggering around looking for a foothold in culture and this guy SEEMS to have a fresh handle on the current situation. To young adults (including myself) who are always in danger of placing an importance on style above discernment, we find this guy who comes across as being very smart, smooth, slick yet organic and cool as the other side of the pillow, and guess what not only do we think he is cool... the World does too. The next thing you know he is one of the biggest mouthpieces of the Church. All of this with little to no cross examination. The litmus test concerning our church leaders is found in part in the book of John. Is Rob Bell, who receives the stamp of relevant coolness from the lost World a servant (or slave) that is greater than his Master Jesus Christ who was scorned by the World?

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master ' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. "He who hates Me hates My Father also." "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. "But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, 'THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.' "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.(John 15:18-27)

A New Year... Happy 2008!

It's hard to believe another year has come and gone! 2007 was quite a year for the Eptings, one with a lot of changes, some significant heartaches, but also one of great joy and new beginnings. As we look back on 2007 it is so easy to see the hand of God... He held us as we grieved the loss of a job, separation from the church family we had grown to love so much, when friends seemed scarce, and we both felt at a loss for what to do next. He enabled us to take the trip of a lifetime - giving the two of us a chance to look past the heartache and smile through our tears. Even though that unique opportunity came on the heels of such an emotionally trying time for both of us, I will always treasure it. It gave us a chance to reconnect with one another and gave us the ability to move on. During the next few months, He opened doors to us we never would have imagined possible... enabling us to move to Texas, find new jobs (both of us in the same week!) and start over. As the year drew to a close, we got the most exciting news and the most wonderful blessing... we found out we are going to be parents in 2008! We are expecting our first-born around August 3rd! It's funny how life is... often it is the painful experiences that make us truly appreciate the blessings and new beginnings all the more when they come. We give God all the glory and honor and praise - both for the heartaches and the blessings! We look forward with hope for the new year.

I hope you all had a wonderful year in 2007 and wish you continued blessings in 2008!