William Chong

I recently got the Settlers of Catan game for my iPod, for those rare moments when I’ve got a couple of minutes spare. For those who don’t know, Settlers is a well-designed and fun board game where you try and build settlements and cities, collect resources and try to beat other players in achieving various objectives (e.g. longest road, biggest army, lots of cities etc.) It’s generally a well-balanced game: there’s a great trading element in the game that allows for lots of interaction between players, and you can get some really close and intense games going at times.

While it’s not as good as playing the board game version with friends, Catan on the iPod is still a well-designed and entertaining game. And at $6 from the App Store it’s much cheaper than buying the original board game, which can sell in shops at $90(!) for a basic set. The graphics and gameplay features pretty much replicate what you can do in the actual board game, and it’s very easy to pick up and play. It offers both single-player (with computer opponents) and multi-player over networks and so on.

Highly recommended for those with iPhones/iPods – you can get it here on Apple’s App Store. If you want there are also online sites where you can give the game a go (e.g. http://games.asobrain.com/)

In the meantime, I’ll keep trading to victory!

Keith and Kristyn Getty: Awaken the Dawn

A collection of well-crafted modern hymns destined for building up the next generation of believers. A

In a time when most Christian artists are aiming for relevance in their music and lyrics, and churches increasingly opt for praise songs where you’re not sure whether you’re singing about God, your girlfriend/boyfriend or pet cat, the Gettys are certainly a breath of fresh air. Songwriter Keith Getty is most well-known for co-writing the now-mainstream worship standard, “In Christ Alone”, while Kristyn (née Lennox) is a stellar soprano who continues her noteworthy singing and career through the couple’s sophomore release.

“Awaken the Dawn” is a tour-de-force of easy-to-grasp melodies, powerful lyrics, orchestrated in a lush, Celtic style drawn from the Getty’s Irish roots. It’s a clutch of 12 modern hymns that chronologically traces the journey of a worship service in a seamless concept-album style. From the call to worship “Hear, O Israel” through to the final closing numbers of “May the Peace of God” and “What Grace is Mine”, each song reflects the Gettys’ intention of writing songs to “get people of every generation all across the world to sing… songs that will build up the Church and enable people to express more about who God is.” The album title comes from Psalm 57 – read out on the penultimate track by Kristyn in a charmingly Irish brogue.

On listening through the album, there’s a number of gems suitable for congregational praise. “By Faith” stands out as an uplifting anthem where the church can exhort: “We will stand as children of the promise”, while “Behold the Lamb (Communion Song)” – co-written with Stuart Townend – is tailor-made for celebrating communion together. Unorthodox time signature aside, “Creation Sings the Father’s Song” uniquely traces the reason for Christian hope through three verses detailing creation, the fall, redemption and consummation. It’s capped off with a resounding and memorable chorus of “Hallelujah! Let all creation stand and sing… the wonders of creation’s King”.

Other tracks are more comtemplative but equally rich in theology and thoughtfulness. “Compassion Hymn” and “Still, My Soul, Be Still” hone in on God’s peace and compassion, while “When Trials Come” speaks an honest, Job-like account of trusting God even when it hurts. The album closes with “What Grace is Mine“, a hauntingly moving arrangement set to the tune of well-known Irish melody “O Danny Boy”. Kristyn has penned new lyrics that proclaim the Gospel with power and clarity:

“What grace is mine that He who dwells in endless light
Called through the night to find my distant soul
And from his scars poured mercy that would plead for me
That I might live and in his name be known

So I will go wherever He is calling me
I lose my life to find my life in Him
I give my all to gain the hope that never dies
I bow my heart, take up my cross and follow Him …”

This is an album you’ll likely want to savour with your iPod or CD player on repeat, as the words become more and more alive through each playing. At my own church we’ve immensely enjoyed singing some of these songs congregationally. The songs in this album seems set to be well-learnt and enjoyed by theophiles young and old, in countries all around the world.

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Website: http://www.gettymusic.com
Buy their CD: Gettymusic

Disclosures: None to declare.

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Email: loulouatbeach@xtra.co.nz; Website: www.eatout.co.nz/lou-lou-at-the-beach.html; Ph: 09 534 1989; 32 The Esplanade, Eastern Beach, Howick; breakfast $10-18, lunch $9-19, dinner mains $17-28.

Rating: A

Fabulous location, striking decor, though there’s room for improvement in the kitchen department.

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We dropped in for an early meal at Lou Lou’s and for a bit of a treat. The well-known ceiling was probably the first thing that caught our attention – hundreds of wine corks with flexi-lighting playfully winding around them. It’s apparently been there since the previous owners ran it as Oasis – C and I found ourselves gazing and the intricate shapes, patterns, signatures and whatnot splashed above our heads. It works particularly well with the rest of the decor, which seems to be decked out like an old sea schooner.

There’s not just a nautical theme, however: co-owner, Louisa Hayward is also an artist with a distinctive Matisse style, and her nom de plume extends to canvas paintings, self-branded Australian shiraz, and of course the restaurant name itself.

We order a couple of mains in the hopes of dashing off quickly: C goes for a spaghetti marinara with mixed seafood, while I opt for the grilled skin-on gurnard and a ginger sake sauce. The waiter is relaxed, and sports an Irish accent which resounds in jovial banter with the customer throughout the evening.

Our food is presented in oversize bowls that proudly proclaim Lou Lou’s technicolour style – it wouldn’t have surprised me if Hayward stepped out and told us that the crockery was hand-crafted and for sale. C’s spaghetti marinara was a fantastic medley of sumptuous scallops, taut calamari and a well-herbed tomato sauce.

Unfortunately, I was shortchanged on my fish when it was presented as a half-baked fillet without the expected crisp pan-fried skin. I’ll be honest – it looked like the inside of a battered fish from the local takeaways. Upon questioning the waiter, he admitted that the fish they had that day wasn’t skin-on to begin with, and kindly offered to replace my main with no extra charge. I decided to go for the same spaghetti and C was revelling in, and was equally satisfied.

All in all, we enjoyed the rest of our meal, and even enjoyed a bit of sticky date pudding to cap the night off. Pity about the fish fiasco – but the service was humble and helpful, and we definitely couldn’t fault that.

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N.B. Lou Lou’s has actually featured on restaurant entrepreneur John Palino’s show, “The Kitchen Job”. The episode review and a follow-up blog post at menumania.co.nz makes for pretty interesting reading.

It’s been two years since I bought my first pair of running shoes. My red and black Nikes faithfully withstood the many runs I pounded out in preparation for my halfmarathon last year.

So I recently updated my running shoes to the new Lunarlite+ trainers.

What are they like? Well, after running with these flourescent-looking pair for the past two weeks, I can say that they’re pretty good. These shoes sport a type of memory foam that both moulds to your foot pressure patterns and provides the cushioning during foot impact.  It definitely had more cushioning than my old pair of shoes. The foam thing has also largely superseded the idea of having air inside your shoes (that was so 90′s…) – if you’ve ever owned one of those, you’ve probably found the “air” compartment becoming less and less filled with air.

The Lunarlite+ shoes also don’t pad up around your ankles at all – I found that this gave my running a freer feel. Of course your ankles definitely get more sore initially as your feet grow accustomed to the shoe, so it’s probably best to wear them in gradually.

All in all, it’s a pretty decent shoe – it fits snug around my feet and I’m enjoying running on them.

N.B.: The runs have been going good so far – I’m about three weeks into my training programme, and the  great thing is that the days will soon get longer again. So there’ll hopefully be fewer 5 am runs!

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Thanks Kelvin! Thanks Amy! Thanks Lauren!

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A couple of weeks ago, I had this grandiose idea of writing a novel. The premise was this: modern-day alternate reality tracing the story of a couple of fishermen. They’d live in a world where Jesus never came. A world where Jesus never tapped anyone on the shoulder and ask: “Follow me”. Every sphere of life – politics, education, music, the arts, devoid of the influence of Jesus and Christianity. Could it have been a compelling message?

As fanciful as the idea of painting a Tolkien-level realm devoid of the influence of Jesus Christ, my fiction writing skills are pretty thumbs down and so I decided to read a book about the idea instead.

The title of this book pretty much sums up the theme of the novel, and chancellor of Knox Theological Seminary Dr D James Kennedy and documentary producer Jerry Newcombe (both Americans) tackle this intriguing premise. Each chapter in this book presents their research and suppositions on the impact of Christ has made upon humanity: covering areas from civil liberties, medicine, the arts, economics, sexuality, education, morality and more.

I’ll say it upfront – they know much more than I do. I mean, off the top of my head, the only place I can think of where Christianity might have influenced our culture today was in Puff Daddy’s Notorious B.I.G. tribute where the coda has the hymn “I’ll Fly Away” – “One bright morning when this life is over…”, or that Coolio’s “Gangster Paradise” wouldn’t have otherwise started with a verse from Psalm 23: “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…”.

But the authors here have over 20 pages of references. I definitely learnt a lot more than I knew about Christianity’s impact on the world. Here’s a gem of an example:

[Guido of Arrezzo, an eleventh century monk,] wanted his students to memorise the notes c-d-e-f-g-a. So he took the words of a familiar hymn “Ut Queant Laxis”, which was a Christian song centered on St. John, and he created a mnemonic device:

UT queant laxis REsonare fibris
MIre gestorum FAmuli tuorum
SOLve pollutis LAbiis reatum
Sancte Iohannes

… We still learn them this way today, except we say “doh” for “ut” and have added a “ti” after “la”.

I guess I won’t look at this song the same way again.

There are many other well-informed points that Dr Kennedy makes throughout the book, including that:

• Most of the Ivy League universities (e.g. Harvard, Yale, Brown, Princeton, Columbia) had strong Christian roots. In fact, Harvard University is named after Reverend John Harvard, and an early ad for what is now Columbia University stated: “The chief thing that is aimed at in this college is to teach and engage children to know God in Jesus Christ.” You probably won’t find that in their latest ad.
• The Red Cross was started by Swiss banker, philanthropist and member of “the Church of the Awakening” Henry Dunant (he also helped establish the YMCA); Dr Louis Pasteur, who developed pasteurisation, sterilisation and vaccines against rabies, diphtheria and anthrax, was a devout Christian
• Numerous charities were started by Christians or church organisations: think Salvation Army, World Vision, Tearfund and so on
• While some Christians enabled and continued the practice of slavery, it was Christians like William Wilberforce who helped put an end to them, and Christians like Martin Luther King Jr. who paved the way for racial equality
• The codifying and setting to writing of many of the world’s languages was a result of the need for Bibles and Christian literature to be translated to local tongues and dialects

At times Dr Kennedy does make too much of a conclusion from the research. For example, in a chapter where he credits Christianity as the foundation of free enterprise and the work ethic, he moves into a 2-page diatribe calling welfare “a Christian heresy” – it reads more political than factual. In another part of the book he quotes a research article by psychiatrist David Larson and grandly concludes that being spiritually committed is good for your health, making the all-too-common mix-up between correlation and causality. Faults aside, everything with an endnote or superscripted number on it in this book is thought-provoking and points to a serious effort to accurately present facts about Christianity.

One thing I liked about this book is that it covers both the positive and negative impact on Christianity. There’s a whole chapter dedicated to injustices and sins committed in the name of Christ: the Crusades, the Salem Witch Trials, anti-Semitism. These are not glossed over and treated with sensitivity and truthfulness. Dr Kennedy also makes a distinction between Christendom and Christianity, suggesting that many atrocities were committed by those who were Christians only by name. It’s a fair point, and the authors give a number of examples where whole territories were declared “Christian” whether or not they had a genuine relationship with Christ or not, leading to many “Christians” causing all kinds of havoc.

All in all, if you read this book you’ll definitely learn more about the overwhelmingly positive impact of Christianity on humanity. It’s easy-to-read, biblically-sound, and presents by all accounts historically correct information to back things up. It’s definitely worth a read.

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Aucklanders, forget your staid TV shows and fireside novels this winter. The preeminent show in town this month is undoubtedly Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash-hit musical, “CATS”. I took the opportunity during the week to see the Auckland production of the musical that arguably sparked the ongoing West End/Broadway revival.

Staged as part of the Harlequin Musical Theatre’s 50th year anniversary show, this Howick-based group takes temporary residence at the Auckland Civic Theatre from 6-27 June 2009. “CATS” is an impressive performance full of wit, personality and athleticism that elevates the cast well above suburban-production status.

Featuring Kiwi singing legend Tina Cross in the role of Grizabella and Dancing with the Star finalist Shane Cortese as Rum Tum Tugger, there was definitely an air of professionalism as a motivated motley of singers, dancers and musicians played their part in bringing T.S Eliot’s jellicle cats to life.

After getting over musically-hesitant opening, the show pounced into action with much song and dance. The opening number “Jellicle Cats” startled the senses as cats appeared from the nooks and crannies of a larger-than-life rooftop set, bursting into impressive melodies and impeccably choreographed movements. The plot revolves around a single night when the tribe of Jellicle cats unite to celebrate who they are, and to select one of them to be reborn in “cat heaven” – though one was left bemused as to the peculiar nature of this transformation (hint: it involves a flying chimney).

The audience were treated to plenty of outstanding feline personifications throughout. There was Shane Cortese and his Elvis-like interpretation of Rum Tum Tugger (probably fortunate to fit into his gasp-for-air PVC pants). Cat-burglars Mungojerry (Clinton Meneses) and Rumpleteaser (Andrea Grant) impressed with their paired choreography and a number of spectacular lifts. Skimbleshank (Tom Webster) with his railway-cat number was a notable delight, particularly when the resourceful cat chorus spontaneously crafted a full-blown steam engine out of back-alley junk pieces. Tina Cross drew lengthy applause with her spirited treatment of the stirring theatre classic “Memory”; it was a joy to hear it in context as opposed to the much-hyped, Susan Boyle rendition.

Perhaps the best reason for going to see “CATS” is that it’s engaging enough for the everyday punter. The high production values, stunning pyrotechnics and well-rehearsed numbers will impress anyone from the musically-vacant to the seasoned theatre-goer. You probably won’t understand everything the cast are singing and dancing about, but they’ll still convince you in a riposte of musical delight that there’s more to cats than meets the eye.

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HBC goes to Impact 2009.

On the lookout for more photos to slot into the video, email me if you have some!

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Monday morning. For those of us in the workforce, this was our last day of the Impact 2009 Conference – for others (including Jono) there was the option of an extra day of leadership and discipleship seminars.

General session 10: Rick completed his series on 1 Peter in expositing verses 10 to 12. By way of introduction, he first brings some questions raised by Old Testament standout Job, who asks: “How can a man be righteous before God?” (Job 9:2) This question can be answered by considering three extraordinary magnifications of salvation: the prophets foretold it (vv.10-12a), the Apostles announced it (v12), and the angels are amazed by it. Rick makes the astute point that even the angels — who have been worshipping God at his throne in an unceasing, almost OCD fashion (compare Isaiah 6 with Rev 4), would still be amazed that a God who’s “Holy holy holy” would save the unholy.

Seminar session: Dr Hugh Rorrison, an anaesthetist at Hawke’s Bay Hospital, gave a very medically and Biblically-informed overview of the myriad of issues in medical ethics, answering the following questions:

1. Where does human life come from? Hugh makes an important statement that “medical ethics is illegitimate if humans have no inherent value”. He explains that if humans have evolved by random chance, there is no right or wrong and our life could (in jest) be summed up as follows: “born a fluke, live life as a farce, and end up as fertilizer”. The Bible affirms that we’re created by God and in His image.
2. When does human life actually begin? After going through the scientific concepts of meiosis and embryogenesis, Hugh gives several varying definitions people use to ascertain the start of human life. Some argue that life begins at viability (when it can survive on its own), some at quickening (when the first movement is felt by the mother), some at implantation. He however notes that the Bible unashamedly notes that human essence of a new life is imparted well before birth (Psalm 139) and we are even given a sin nature at conception (Psalm 51: “Surely I was sinful from the moment my mother conceived me”). Therefore human life according to the Bible begins at conception.
3. When does human life end? Ultimately God knows the exact moment we die, says Hugh – he notes that medically human life ends at “death of the person as a whole, as opposed to the whole of the person”.
4. On abortion – Hugh explains that as a natural conclusion from the previous questions, abortion is equivalent to breaking the 6th commandment. This is achieved today either by drugs or surgery. He points out that the intra-uterine device (IUD), morning-after-pill, and some pill-based contraceptives prevent implantation of the womb and would also be immoral. A birth control method that prevents sperm and egg from uniting is OK, but those that affect the lining of the womb are not.
5. On IVF – Hugh details what the procedure involves, noting that in order to increase the success rate, surplus embryos (up to are fertilized, but then discarded or used for medical research.
6. On stem cell research – Hugh supports research where stem cells are harvested from bone marrow, but objects to when they are taken from surplus embryos.
7. On Euthanasia – the word literally means “to die well”. Despite the seemingly noble aims, the act of euthanasia is still deliberately cutting short a person’s life.
8. On life support – This is not the same as euthanasia – to allow someone to die at the end of their natural life is not the same as a deliberate act of ending it.

The Q&A session following covered even more issues – deciding between the mother or the baby (e.g. ectopic pregnancies), birth control, IVF and God’s sovereignty, organ donation, and prenatal testing. The audio for this seminar is well worth having a listen to.

A couple of closing thoughts:

• The calibre of teaching Impact Conference brings to NZ is phenomenal. I think it’s testament to the strong relationships the folk at Riverbend have with the speakers: Rick, for example, has come to NZ for the past 20 years; Martha Peace has come before.
• Simon and I both noted the mildly uncharitable action of reserving seats prior to speaking sessions. Sometimes we’d walk through the hall an hour before any session and find rows of seats with Bibles and book bags unceremoniously strewn across them! I know everyone becomes amplified eager-beavers during a conference and I can understand the enthusiasm in getting a good seat, but just reserving it with your books and expecting a prime spot feels a little unChristian. It’d be much more adelphous (is that a word?) to even selflessly offer the better seat to a brother or sister in Christ.
• The musicians at Riverbend are extremely gifted: I especially enjoyed the Casting Crown covers as they played songs like “Slow Fade” and “If We are the Body“. Definitely some things I took away to help with my own worship leading.
• It was great to meet so many like-minded people who worship Christ and hold biblical teaching in such high regard.

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Us out-of-town sojourners had the pleasure of worshipping and learning with the local Riverbend congregation on Sunday morning, day 3 of the Impact Bible Conference. Rick and Russell preached during the morning sessions, while Jerry presented a stirring message during the evening Communion service.

Sandwiched between the plenaries was the continuation of the ladies seminar by Martha Peace, and a spirited Q&A session which offered much insight and learning.

General session 7: Rick continued his exposition of 1 Peter in a message entitled, “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” – how does one experience true Christian joy? In verses 6 to 9 the apostle Peter explains to Christians under trial four discoveries for enjoying life-changing joy:

1. Joy is rooted in the thought of heaven – Christians are betrothed to an afterlife with Christ
2. Joy is strengthened through the refinement of suffering – “the happiest days of the Church have been her days of persecution”
3. Joy is centred on the person of Christ – this point included Rick’s most insightful comment of the conference: “The only man-made thing in heaven will be the scars on Jesus’s body.”
4. Joy is _____ the reality of heaven (v9)

General session 9: I was enriched by Jerry’s exposition of the crucifixion narrative from the human perspective in Luke 23:39-43. For those who don’t know, that’s the part where Jesus hangs between the two criminals, who offer two startlingly contrasting responses to the Suffering Servant. I loved seeing this Passion narrative from this uncommon perspective. The proud unrepentant criminal curses And cajoles despite being rightly condemned, utterly helpless, and unable to reverse the consequences. On the other hand, the repentant thief justifies God, vindicates Christ and pleads for mercy which is graciously given: “Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

As Jerry closed in prayer, the Hawkes Bay was treated with the first sea-level snowfall in over 40 years. Snowfights and merriment served a fitting coda to a Lord’s day to remember.

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This is a very rough type-up from notes I took during the Q&A session from the Impact Conference (Sunday 30 May, 3.30pm). The panel included Rick Holland, Russell Hohneck, Donald Stevenson and Jerry Wragg. Note that this is written from my notes and not from the audio, so I’m picking there will be inaccuracies and things I’ve misheard/misread until I have the opportunity to revise it according to the session recording.

Q: What books do you read?

Rick: Iain Murray – “The Forgotten Spurgeon”, has impacted John Macarthur’s ministry.
The pastoral letters of Samuel Rutherford, which Spurgeon describes as “the closest thing to Holy Scripture since the closing of the canon.”

Russell: There’s no time to read books if you’re on Joe Fleener’s email list! But should mention Charles Jefferson – “The Minister as Shepherd”.

Donald: “Agape Leadership”, on the life of RC Chapman, and his testimony of being involved with people on a long-term basis. “The Courage to be Protestant” by David Wells. Also refers continually back to C.J. Mahaney’s “The Cross-centred Life“.

Jerry: Feels that David Wells has a keen insight on the Evangelical movement over the past 100 years. Names a number of books: “My Heart for thy cause” by Brian Borgman; “Ministry Exposé” by Albert Martin; “Lectures to my Students” by Charles Spurgeon; “Practical Wisdom for Pastors” by Curtis Thomas. Advises a gradual approach to building up a reading habit, taking the time to gain an appetite for the subject matter.

Q: Why does God command all to be saved, but only elects some?

Rick: The simple answer is we don’t know for sure. This is one of the doctrines we can explore and may not figure out totally. It’s important to note that the Bible affirms human responsibility, but never affirms free will. Note the passage in Romans which contrasts being a “slave to sin” and being a “slave to righteousness”. Those who are spiritually dead don’t have free will – look, Arminianism is not a heretical view. But the burden of proof has been placed on the Calvinists but shouldn’t be… if you think through passages like Ephesians 1, the book of Romans, even Deuteronomy 7. Yes, Israel was elect too. Note that this issue hasn’t been answered fully in 2000 years of Christian history… but the eventual risk is that one says that “man is sovereign, God is not.”

On free will, I haven’t met a honest Arminian – I mean, they will still pray for someone’s salvation. Is that not the same as asking God to save someone? Also, in the Bible, election is always discussed with Christians who need comfort, not a place you begin regarding evangelism. No Calvinist would really evangelise by saying, “This is the gospel. Are you elect?”

Jerry: There’s this concept called a wall of worship, which I think Arminians shy from fully approaching. The other error is where hypercalvinists jump over the wall of worship/revelation and try to resolve all of it, when really we sometimes have to admit that we have hit tension and instead of shying from approaching the wall, or jumping over it, we should bow down before it.

Here’s a question to ask yourself: is God unjust if He saves no one? You would say no (given our depravity). So why do we say He’s unjust if He saves some? Because we’re proud.

Donald: I’d like to add as well, that the doctrine of election is freeing with regards to evangelism. We see in Acts 20 that Paul went from house to house to preach – his “Calvinism” didn’t affect his zeal for evangelism. I think it was Spurgeon who once said, “I believe like a Calvinist, but preach like an Arminian.”

Q: Are infants and young children who die early elect?

Rick: Macarthur has a book on this subject. My theological extrapolation is that babies and toddlers prior to the ability to make a decision would be redeemed. I mean, beyond passages of the Scripture such as 2 Samuel 13 – where King David’s child died as a punishment for his sin, there is not much re: clues on this issue. It’s worth noting though that Rev 20 refers to the final judgement based on deeds. The works reveal your belief or lack of belief in Christ, so if a child/infant is pre-deeds when they die, then he/she is redeemed.

Jerry: (Explained further re: David’s story in 2 Samuel 13). Also in Revelation 20, the people cast into the Lake of Fire are revealed as “unbelievers”, not “unelect”. So the implication is that those without the mind to comprehend it is elect. The Bible also talks about unbelievers without excuse – this implies that for some, there would be one. (Explained further that this was different to an adult not exposed to the gospel)

Q: What are the doctrinal implications of the book “The Shack“?

Russell: It’s a radically different and havoc-inducing presentation of who God is. And it’s also a very engrossing read, offering the reader a glimpse into a fictional intimacy of fellowship with God that is enviable. However, the premise here that God speaks outside the Word is questionable. The book did not draw me to holy living – it’s dangerous theology.

Jerry: It’s an attempt to depreciate revelation about God. It’s an issue when people say “this book changed my life” – what principle did you learn from “The Shack” that you didn’t learn from Scripture? Also, fiction pretending to be theological truth is not a new idea, e.g Frank Paretti’s series.

Rick: When you read fictionalised accounts of a truth, it is hard to bifurcate between the truth and the speculation that clouds it. E.g. “Left Behind” series.

Q: Rick, should I get a tattoo?

Rick: There’s two extremes on this: those who say “I’m free in Christ”, and those who quote Leviticus 19:26-28 – though I’d say this Scripture is not a reason not to get a tattoo. Ultimately it’s between you and God, but from my experience with the youth I work with, most of them hide their tattoos in certain contexts anyways.

Q: Can you give a fair critique of Mark Driscoll?
Donald: He’s referred to by some as “the cussing pastor”, which is a 6-year-old term.

Jerry: Cussing is not the issue. Look, none of us would say that he’s not in Christ. He professes Christ crucified and I commend his understanding of the gospel. I’ve read all his books and listened to his sermons. My concern is that his missiology is presented as this: “If you are going to be intentionally missional to society and be an effective minister of the gospel, you’d engage and advocate filthy speech, raw sensual behaviour, smoking and drinking as a way to remove barriers.

Here’s the problem: the gospel of Jesus Christ is for the atoning. We are covered by the holiness of Christ, and we are then to mortify sin in our lives as a reflection of that. Mark communicates to me a denial that transformation is necessary for his life. Some of his open and frank sermons have blurred this line, and I think he will enslave his generation to carnality – that’s the ultimate danger. (Retold the story of a man in his church who fell into unholy living after missional teaching at college).

When you preach on atonement but don’t do holy living/sanctification, then you’ve got a problem.

Rick: (edit: 4/6/09) (Rick responds to Driscoll’s Scotland sermon)

Donald: 1 Peter sets the standard: “Be holy, for I am holy”.

Russell: I see disaster for MD and his followers and disciples if there is no obedience, no sanctification, no holiness.

Q: Regarding contextualising the gospel, what role does technology, dance, music, drama play in church?

Jerry: The gospel itself is offensive in its basic, biblical dress. Look, the methodology itself is not evil. Technology shouldn’t be about repackaging the gospel. It becomes a problem when the gospel message is marginalised in the process of contextualisation, or we offer entertainment and then do a bait-and-switch for the gospel.

Also the preaching of the Word is a supernatural event. It’s a priority, and has always been since the foundation of Israel, even.

On Sundays, none of us should be here to uphold our preferences – we’re here to lift up our voices, pray, serve, listen to preaching. I mean this is related to the “worship wars” issue as well. Ultimately, if the words are biblical, we look at Hebrews 13:17 – obey your leaders, and put to death your own preferences. Look, the worship music leaders can focus on choosing the songs – I’ll focus on teaching the congregation to put away preferences and self-centredness. Worship wars dishonours Christ.

Rick: You can’t win with music – someone won’t like it. Music ministers are marked men! The higher principle though is this: older and younger are to defer to each other. I like something John Piper’s said: “Don’t compare the best hymn with the worst chorus… and don’t compare the best chorus with the worst hymn.” (e.g. How Great is our God vs The Great White Throne – which is about hell…)

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