I
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"Irv Hyatt" <irvhyatt@ca.rr.com> wrote in message news:46b030fd$0$20598$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
Ouch!
Wisdom from a Seventh-Century Missionary
When Columbanus set out from Bangor somewhere near the end of the
sixth century, 50 years old, after a long career of preparing men for the
mission field, he and his little band were determined to follow Christ
wherever He led, and to proclaim His Kingdom without compromise.
That almost got them thrown out and shipped back to Ireland (a divine
breakdown in the vessel carrying the exiles back to Ireland led our hero to
believe God wanted them to stay, which he did, moving on further to the
south). Then, as if it weren't enough to poke his finger in the eye of the
secular authority, he began criticizing the moribund condition of the
Catholic Church in his neck of the woods.
He sent letters to at least two popes, declaring that their bishops and
priests weren't doing their job, and encouraging them to do something
about it. Of course, this news got back to the bishops and priests, and they
determined to convene a synod in order to confront this backwoods boy
about how things worked in the Church in Gaul. Only to get this reply:
I render thanks to my God, that for my sake so many holy men have been
gathered together to treat of the truth of faith and good works, and, as
befits such, to judge of the matters under dispute with a just judgment,
through senses sharpened to the discernment of good and evil. Would that
you did that more often.
Ouch! Wow, what a zinger. He, of course, politely refused to come when
called, and instead proceeded to outline for his summoners what they
should be doing instead of seeking some leg up on him. Here is his
peroration:
Let each maintain what he has grasped; but let all maintain the gospel, and
both parties [his Celts and the Roman priests], like single harmonious
members of one body, follow Christ the head of all by His own
commands, which were revealed by Him to be accomplished in charity
and peace. And these two cannot be perfectly accomplished, save by truly
humble and unitedly spiritual men, who fulfill Christ's commands, as the
Lord Himself bears witness, If ye love Me, keep My commandments, this
is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I also have loved you,
for in this shall all know that ye are My disciples, if ye love one another.
Thus unity of minds and peace and charity then can be assured, spread
abroad in the bowels of believers by the Holy Ghost, when all alike long to
fulfill the divine commands; for the fiction of peace and charity between the
imperfect will be such as is the measure of disagreement in their practical
pursuits.
Ouch! For the non-Celtic reader, here's a paraphrase of that last
paragraph: You talk a good game, about loving me and wanting the best
for me; but if you would just practice what you profess to want to lecture
me about, then we would have no dispute in the first place, and we'd both
be able to get on with the work of the Gospel harmoniously together.
If Columbanus is reading this issue of our newsletter, I hope he's pointing
and saying, "Yes, just like that." As John Armstrong exhorts us to work
hard at unity rather than turf-protecting and empire-building; as Bob Lynn
reminds us of what real Gospel love looks like on the ground, where
people live each day; as David Naugle celebrates William Cowper
celebrating the grand redemptive work of Jesus and the coming of His
eschatological Kingdom; as we see hear two young pastors laboring
together to equip the next generation of church planters; and as we
consider two very valuable books for the accomplishing of all the above,
let us accept whatever occasional "Ouch!" may come from our dear
writers and press on with them to discover what God has for each one of
us in furthering the Gospel of His Kingdom, His Son, and His love.
T. M. Moore
Editor
Worldview Church
I Believe in One Church
Dr. John Armstrong
We must think about the generation that is following us. They long for
relational expressions of community that go beyond the failures of the
crumbling American church establishment.
My Rather Idiosyncratic Worldview Reading List
Rev. Robert Lynn
A Puritan preacher was reported to have said, "Sell your bed and buy a
book, as long as it is a good book."
Rediscovering the Forgotten Poet Laureate of a Christian Worldview:
William Cowper and Redemption
Dr. David Naugle
We are operating as Christians with an amputated Bible and as a result
have a disfigured view of the Christian faith.
To Teach Others Also
An Interview with Jim Weaver and Josh Guzman
Not only do the unique gifts of the apprentices serve the church, but their
presence sends a signal to the whole church about the importance of
developing leaders, church-planting, and the disciple-making work of the
pastor.
Book Reviews
Picturing the Gospel: Tapping the Power of the Bible's Imagery
Reviewed by Jimmy Davis
Kingdom Triangle: Recover the Christian Mind, Renovate the Soul,
Restore the Spirit's Power
Reviewed by T.M. Moore
Ouch!
Wisdom from a Seventh-Century Missionary
When Columbanus set out from Bangor somewhere near the end of the
sixth century, 50 years old, after a long career of preparing men for the
mission field, he and his little band were determined to follow Christ
wherever He led, and to proclaim His Kingdom without compromise.
That almost got them thrown out and shipped back to Ireland (a divine
breakdown in the vessel carrying the exiles back to Ireland led our hero to
believe God wanted them to stay, which he did, moving on further to the
south). Then, as if it weren't enough to poke his finger in the eye of the
secular authority, he began criticizing the moribund condition of the
Catholic Church in his neck of the woods.
He sent letters to at least two popes, declaring that their bishops and
priests weren't doing their job, and encouraging them to do something
about it. Of course, this news got back to the bishops and priests, and they
determined to convene a synod in order to confront this backwoods boy
about how things worked in the Church in Gaul. Only to get this reply:
I render thanks to my God, that for my sake so many holy men have been
gathered together to treat of the truth of faith and good works, and, as
befits such, to judge of the matters under dispute with a just judgment,
through senses sharpened to the discernment of good and evil. Would that
you did that more often.
Ouch! Wow, what a zinger. He, of course, politely refused to come when
called, and instead proceeded to outline for his summoners what they
should be doing instead of seeking some leg up on him. Here is his
peroration:
Let each maintain what he has grasped; but let all maintain the gospel, and
both parties [his Celts and the Roman priests], like single harmonious
members of one body, follow Christ the head of all by His own
commands, which were revealed by Him to be accomplished in charity
and peace. And these two cannot be perfectly accomplished, save by truly
humble and unitedly spiritual men, who fulfill Christ's commands, as the
Lord Himself bears witness, If ye love Me, keep My commandments, this
is My commandment, that ye love one another, as I also have loved you,
for in this shall all know that ye are My disciples, if ye love one another.
Thus unity of minds and peace and charity then can be assured, spread
abroad in the bowels of believers by the Holy Ghost, when all alike long to
fulfill the divine commands; for the fiction of peace and charity between the
imperfect will be such as is the measure of disagreement in their practical
pursuits.
Ouch! For the non-Celtic reader, here's a paraphrase of that last
paragraph: You talk a good game, about loving me and wanting the best
for me; but if you would just practice what you profess to want to lecture
me about, then we would have no dispute in the first place, and we'd both
be able to get on with the work of the Gospel harmoniously together.
If Columbanus is reading this issue of our newsletter, I hope he's pointing
and saying, "Yes, just like that." As John Armstrong exhorts us to work
hard at unity rather than turf-protecting and empire-building; as Bob Lynn
reminds us of what real Gospel love looks like on the ground, where
people live each day; as David Naugle celebrates William Cowper
celebrating the grand redemptive work of Jesus and the coming of His
eschatological Kingdom; as we see hear two young pastors laboring
together to equip the next generation of church planters; and as we
consider two very valuable books for the accomplishing of all the above,
let us accept whatever occasional "Ouch!" may come from our dear
writers and press on with them to discover what God has for each one of
us in furthering the Gospel of His Kingdom, His Son, and His love.
T. M. Moore
Editor
Worldview Church
I Believe in One Church
Dr. John Armstrong
We must think about the generation that is following us. They long for
relational expressions of community that go beyond the failures of the
crumbling American church establishment.
My Rather Idiosyncratic Worldview Reading List
Rev. Robert Lynn
A Puritan preacher was reported to have said, "Sell your bed and buy a
book, as long as it is a good book."
Rediscovering the Forgotten Poet Laureate of a Christian Worldview:
William Cowper and Redemption
Dr. David Naugle
We are operating as Christians with an amputated Bible and as a result
have a disfigured view of the Christian faith.
To Teach Others Also
An Interview with Jim Weaver and Josh Guzman
Not only do the unique gifts of the apprentices serve the church, but their
presence sends a signal to the whole church about the importance of
developing leaders, church-planting, and the disciple-making work of the
pastor.
Book Reviews
Picturing the Gospel: Tapping the Power of the Bible's Imagery
Reviewed by Jimmy Davis
Kingdom Triangle: Recover the Christian Mind, Renovate the Soul,
Restore the Spirit's Power
Reviewed by T.M. Moore
