To call Dr. R. C. Sproul a theological giant is an understatement. God has been kind in the history of the church to dot the landscape with men of serious mental acumen. R. C. Sproul is one of those dots. We might say he is a peak in the mountain range of church history. He soars above his colleagues, pointing us to the person and work of Jesus Christ. I dare say, as others have said, he is the "Martin Luther of the Modern Age!"
Having said all of this, I must admit that at times he soars above us common pilgrims. As the aged theologian spoke with passion and tremendous energy, he left many of the attendees of Together for the Gospel 2010 sitting in a mental stupor. We could not grasp every thing that he said because our small brains were overwhelmed. But do not misunderstand. This is not his fault. This is a challenge for all of us to think deeper, meditate longer, and study to show ourselves approved.
Dr. Sproul spoke on "The Defense and Confirmation of the Gospel - What I have Learned in 50 Years." Sproul listed the greatest danger for the evangelical church as a desire to synchrotize the gospel with other forms of religion. He warned against the loss of thesis/antithesis in modern theological discussion. Sproul is well aware of the dangers of Neo-Orthodoxy, Liberation Theology, Death of God Theology, Process Theology, and the latest attempt at synthesis, Open Theism. The danger for most is the failure to understand the dangers that are lying at the door. We drink from the wells of bad theology because we do not sit and ponder the source and the outcome of the belief we are espousing. Sproul leveled the argument of those who worked just a few years ago under the title Evangelicals and Catholics Together. He posed the question, "Has Rome accepted the Solas of the Reformation? Is there now a readiness on all parts to except the biblical doctrine of justification by faith alone? If they have not, then how can Evangelicals and Catholics ever truly come together. We must not mess with Mr. In-Between!"
Dr. Sproul concluded his talk by saying that the second great danger for evangelicals is the desire to improve the gospel. His grasp of the issues that face the church was clear, and his challenge to pastors and churchmen alike was pointed. He urged, "The greatest challenge to every minister is fidelity to the Gospel!" Sproul pleaded with us all to hold on to the gospel that was delivered to us by the apostles in the pages of Holy Writ! "Because it is not your gospel, it is God's gospel. You cannot improve His gospel!"
Thank you God for the dot on the landscape, the mountain peak in the mountain range, R. C. Sproul. We may not be able to soar as high as him or ascend to greatness as effortlessly as he does, but when we sit at his feet and learn, we are pulled upward into the vision of Christ that he presents! May we all live, think, and preach the unadjusted, unimproved gospel of God! Talk to you soon... CW.
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So thankful for Sproul!! It was his book, The Holiness of God, that brought me to such a better understanding of who God is! It was life changing to me!
ReplyDeleteWe have probably all been in situations where we were really hoping we could bring people along biblically. Therefore, I do understand the position of men like J.I. Packer who signed the ECT.
ReplyDeleteHowever, we have to be careful of the motives behind such decisions. For example, we can often be guilty of pride in thinking that we are going to change a person, a church, or denomination.
I wonder if R.C. Sproul would say that some of the men serving with him at T4G are messing with Mr. In-Between?
Dave Swinney
Dave,
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that Sproul is defending the purity of the gospel. ETC is not helpful to the cause of the gospel because the very heart of the document is a unification with Catholics in the areas of justification and sanctification. I would encourage conversation with those who hold to a biblical framework of the gospel, but we cannot preach a second gospel which is not a gospel. ETC preaches a false gospel.
While we are saddened by the stance of men on other secondary issues, Sproul is challenging Christian leaders to not dissolve the thesis/antithesis which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For those wanting a resource on the ETC controversy you can find them on the web. I would encourage everyone to read the document produced by R.C. Sproul and many other great men of the faith in response to the ETC. That document is "The Gospel of Jesus Christ: An Evangelical Gospel."