Comments on: We Want Our Goat!

By: Stan Britton

Stan Britton — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:09:56 +0000

I don’t believe anyone referenced this: Chandler’s “Prodigal Son” illustration comes from the pages of Timothy Keller’s “The Prodigal God.” Keller differentiates between the younger brother and the elder brother. I won’t dive into the book here, but it’s definitely worth reading. Chandler simply integrates Keller’s illustration into the SBC. For what it’s worth, I think Chandler (and Keller) are spot on.

By: caleb

caleb — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:52:34 +0000

http://hv.thevillagechurch.net/studies-seminars

here is the message referenced.

By: selahV

selahV — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:45:28 +0000

Hello Todd, I'm afraid I do not see the "goat some are demanding". Can you be specific? What "earthly reward" are "they seeking for their earthly obedience"? It seems to me, for the past few years I've been reading about all this hubbabaloo, the folks crying for a "goat of their own", are far removed from "the old guard" and their alleged intentions. What "idol" have they made for "their morality"? Why does preaching morality make it an idol? I for one, am reminded how very far I am from the top of the morality pedastal each time I write or speak or hear about the morality my Lord commands of me in setting aside my selfish desires and evil intentions. I know some of the men of whom you speak, and I find their desires far more in line with scripture than many of their rivals. When men--old guard or new--preach, admonish and exhort to follow the Word of God, I have a difficult time imagining that being considered idol worship. Nay, it is honoring the King, and living in a manner that would allow us to be the "light" He has called us to be. Otherwise, we might just as well hide it beneath the bushel basket at the bottom of the hill. How do you determine that the old guard is adrift from "doing all things simply to glorify God"? And thanks, it did clarify your position a bit more. selahV selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR...

By: Todd Burus

Todd Burus — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:13:42 +0000

You are right at first, that initially, one who is dying to self in the manner of Paul is acting as the good son. However, the good son goes off course at the end in his envy, asking to be repaid for his long-time obedience. Such a desire is not in the example of Paul, it is the example of the Pharisee who wants their reward today instead of in heaven (think about the Beatitudes here). So, Chandler's point was that the old guard has been faithful for a long time, to which he thanked them since it led them to fight and win the battle for inerrancy, but now many of them have become like the older son in demanding their goat, seeking earthly reward for their earthly obedience, making an idol out of some point of their morality and seeking to benefit from their adherence to it instead of doing all things simply to glorify God. Hopefully this clarifies it for you some. Todd Buruss last blog post..The Sin of the 1950’s Mindset- Defining the Worldliness of Tradition

By: selahV

selahV — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:14:30 +0000

Help me understand something. If a Christian is following scripture and heeding the example Paul set when he said, "Therefore I always exercise and discipline myself [mortifying my body, deadening my carnal affections, bodily appetites, and worldly desires, endeavoring in all respects] to have a clear (unshaken, blameless) conscience, void of offense to God and toward men." Acts 24:16 Amplified, then that Christian is as the elder son? Is subject to fostering a Pharisee's mindset? Is following after a man's agenda rather than God's? To die daily to self, is no longer something we should be teaching new Christians? To decrease that He might increase is archaic and obsolete thought? Perhaps I misunderstand the shepherd of The Village Church and the synopsis of his sermon given here today? selahV selahVs last blog post..MARKETING SHOCK AND AWE CHRISTIANITY OR...

By: Trevin Wax

Trevin Wax — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:00:23 +0000

I am pleading with the current leaders of the SBC to share their resources online for free.

Many of us would enjoy listening!
http://trevinwax.com/2009/02/19/a-plea-to-the-current-leadership-of-the-sbc/

Trevin Waxs last blog post..A Plea to the Current Leadership of the SBC

By: Brent Hobbs

Brent Hobbs — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:43:00 +0000

It shouldn’t be surprising that FBC Jax didn’t post the .mp3 audio. The J316 conference showed Arminians don’t do free audio. Haha… just kidding (halfway…). I’ll check Chandler’s site for it in a few more days.

By: Todd Burus

Todd Burus — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:13:27 +0000

Rahul, Thank you for your testimony to this issue. As for The Village and the SBC, I may have overstepped in making it sound like they get SBC funding; I'm not sure if they do or not. I was more making an allusion to the events in Missouri where churches of a similar philosophy as Matt's (i.e. Acts 29 churches) had their Missouri Baptist Convention funding cut. The Village is definitely SBC though. They are dual affiliated with the SBC and with Acts 29, just like The Journey in St. Louis, Sojourn in Louisville, The Summit in Durham, and several others. Todd Buruss last blog post..What We Believe- Article VI, The Church (part 2)

By: chris

chris — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:25:39 +0000

Matt’s messages from conferences, including FBC Jax will be posted to The Village website soon.

By: Rahul

Rahul — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:41:16 +0000

Todd, This is an interesting post, as I work for the FBC as a BCM Director. This is something I deal with all the time. I've been struggling with "secondary" issues with college students as they haven't seen action matching words based on these issues. I'd really like to hear this message. Also, you mentioned that Matt Chandler gets SBC funding? is this true? Is the Village an SBC church? Thanks for your post! Rahuls last blog post..Reaching Collegians