The World-Tilting Gospel

Specifically, I bought it because of the first six words of his review: “There’s nothing new in this book.”

Yes. I did say that it was a positive review. As a matter of fact, the author of The World Tilting Gospel (TWTG), Dan Phillips, commented on it, “…they’re sweet, sweet words to me.”

The words of TWTG were sweet to me as I took it up and read. “The greatest need of the church today is a strategic, full-orbed, robust, biblical grasp of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its  transformative implications. We don’t need more glitz or glamour, better marketing or programs, snazzier décor or entertainment. We do need a whole-Bible grasp of the Gospel.” (Introduction, Pg. 19)

TWTG doesn’t disappoint; spelling out the Gospel clearly, and framing it biblically to show how it relates to and tilts the world.

“We’re a mess. What we need to do is rub the sleep-dust out of our eyes, pull the plugs out of our ears, get out of our recliners, and hit the Book. We need to expose our hearts to the true, howling darkness of our sin, and the blinding blaze of God’s holiness. We need to rivet our attention on the overflowing majesty of the person of Jesus Christ…” (Chapter 14, Pg. 300)

Yeah. That’s straightforward talk. You’ll read a lot of that in this book.

The World-Tilting Gospel will appeal to agnostics and theological novices for its readability and clarity, and to lay scholars and seminary students for its depth and breadth. I can think of a few mainline ministers who could use a refresher course in the summation of salvation it offers as well.  It presents the ‘old, old story’ in a fresh, appealing way. Don’t take that to mean the truth is sugar-coated; the expression ‘gilding the lily’ doesn’t apply here. TWTG is rough and rigid where the gospel is rough and rigid; and it is soft and sweet where the gospel is soft and sweet.

TWTG may be an answer to the problem identified in Michael Horton’s Christless Christianity. The churches that Horton challenges in his book would do well to study TWTG which presents the good news captivatingly, but without so-called ‘relevant’ fanfare, shock-value or worldly means. What Horton says is missing from the center of many churches is the focus of Phillips’ book – the good news of Jesus Christ.

What I like most about TWTG is that it is structured like a pyramid, with one course built solidly upon another, tapering upward toward the peak. But the book doesn’t end with just a single point. When it reaches that expected dénouement; it’s fireworks time! Instead of a single point of light, there is an explosion of truth and beauty and love and mercy and praise and glory and joy all directed at the person and work of Christ Jesus.

Before I even finished reading the book, I purchased additional copies and gave them to a few cherished friends. Buy yourself a copy and do the same.

Dan Phillips is the pastor of Copperfield Bible Church in Houston, Texas. His blog is Biblical Christianity and he is a member of TeamPyro, the Pyromaniacs blog; both of which you’ll find linked in the sidebar to the right up toward the top. Dan is also the author of God’s Wisdom in Proverbs, a copy of which is sitting on my bookshelf awaiting my eager eyes.

]]> http://tando.org/archives/1887/feed 1 http://tando.org/archives/891 http://tando.org/archives/891#comments Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:40:32 +0000 Dave Miller http://tando.org/?p=891 How often do you refer to luck in the average day? “I was so lucky to avoid that traffic jam,” or, “I got that job totally by luck.” How about, “Lady luck smiled on me,” or even wishing someone “good luck” when they’re going to the doctor.

There are also many sayings having to do with [...]]]> How often do you refer to luck in the average day? “I was so lucky to avoid that traffic jam,” or, “I got that job totally by luck.” How about, “Lady luck smiled on me,” or even wishing someone “good luck” when they’re going to the doctor.

There are also many sayings having to do with luck and good fortune, “Luck favors the prepared,” and “It’s my lucky day!” And how many times have you heard about someone who supposedly has “the luck of the Irish.”

Even the word ‘fortunate’ infers that chance or luck had something to do with an outcome. “Fortunately, I had remembered my umbrella,” or “Unfortunately, I got lost.”

Christian, do you credit luck or fortune for things that you should be crediting to God?

Every off-hand remark about luck or fortune is a slap to the face of God who works all things together for good to those who love him (Romans 8:28), and we will be held accountable for all our words one day (Matthew 12:36).

Even attributing difficulties to ‘bad luck’ or ‘karma’ is an affront to our sovereign God who brings prosperity and calamity (Isaiah 45:7) and makes it rain upon the just and the unjust alike (Matthew 5:45).

Do you think God only wants to be acknowledged for bringing good things to your life? Is he not glorified in both times of trial and times of joy?

Christian, in all things, acknowledge the hand of God.

Luck and fortune do not exist.

They were called from their lives as farmers, accountants, carpenters, doctors, and all professions. The rich and the poor alike were called away from their homes, their jobs, their families and their friends to take an oath to defend the Constitution. To leave behind everything, and swear to God to defend something that many of them had never read before. This meant training to become soldiers, and being a soldier means you are trained to kill. Good men, reluctant men, were told that they would be shipped to Europe, or North Africa, or some small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean; to fight and to kill the enemy of the Constitution, the enemy of Freedom. To fight against tyranny.

It is said that, “All of them gave some, and some of them gave all.” There are 9,386 of the men who gave all, buried in a cemetery at St. Laurent-sur-Mer. This cemetery is located on a bluff, overlooking a beach in Normandy, France; which, in June of 1944 was known as Omaha. It is in this cemetery that a recent film makes its start. Saving Private Ryan is a story about a squad of Rangers who are ordered to penetrate enemy lines to locate and retrieve a soldier named Ryan. Ryan had three brothers who, unbeknownst to him, were all killed in action and it was determined that the last Ryan should be returned home, lest his mother lose all her sons in the war.

So eight rangers risk their lives for one man. One man that their commanders decided was more important than any one of them. Needless to say, not all of them are thrilled with the prospect of piercing the enemy’s line to bring back just one man. These men had sworn an oath though, so they went.

As it is in war, it is also in war movies; not everyone in the squad survives to the end. When one of the rangers is hit with enemy fire, he motions Ryan over to him. He says two very important words to him. Two words, before he dies:

“Earn This.”

In that moment, that soldier became every veteran speaking to every American. Earn what we all fought for and what many of us died for. Think of us often. Remember our names. Do not forget us. And that is the request of all the young men who have died in all the wars – from Normandy to the Cho-sin Reservoir. From Da Nang to the Persian Gulf. From Somalia to Kosovo.

Earn this.

I have since realized that my own free and bountiful life has been baptized in the blood of the soldiers of World War II, and of all other wars. I have realized that the 9,386 men buried at St. Laurent, though a fraction of the total that died, did for me, in a very real way, what those Rangers did for Ryan. I have realized that the men who fought, and lived, and came home and are living out their lives right now did the same… for me. Perhaps I owe all of them an accounting of how well I’ve lived, of whether I’ve earned what they’ve bequeathed to me and to the world.

I struggle today, wondering if I can ever make the equation balance. Deep down I know that there is nothing that I can ever do to earn what they did for me. There is no accounting to balance the equation of even one man dying for me, let alone… thousands.

And yet, it is exactly that which brings me to church each week. The realization that one man – one man – did die for me. And I am faced with the same question: “Am I living my life as though Jesus had said ‘Earn this?’”^[1] How many of us actually live our lives with that goal in mind… to show Jesus that we know what He sacrificed… and that we are grateful enough to try to live the best lives we can by doing what Jesus said for us to do.

I realize now that each one of the thousands of marble crosses in that cemetery in Normandy, represents something like a crucifixion. Though nothing like what Jesus did, everyone buried there – most of them very young – died so someone else could live.

So how do we begin to give an accounting? We begin by remembering. Remembering the fallen soldier who never returned, remembering those that did return, scarred and scared, and different somehow. Remembering is how we begin again in Christ. By sitting at His table, eating and drinking of Him, and remembering the One who gave all.

Then we must be thankful. Giving thanks to God is something we do easily. We do it at the beginning of each day, before each meal, and when we lie down. We must also be thankful to those reluctant warriors who fought against tyranny so that we may be free. Don’t assume that they know the world is thankful. Do your part; tell a Veteran today that you are thankful for the sacrifices that they made on the altar of freedom.

Finally, we must let our light shine. You know the children’s song, “This little light of mine.” Well, that is all we need to do, finally, to earn this. Don’t hold back any action that is good. No matter how small and insignificant it may seem… Do it. Edmund Burke said, “All that is required for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing.” The gift that we have received from our Veterans is Freedom, and the cost of freedom is eternal vigilance. We must guard and protect this rare and precious gift. We must be vigilant, we must not allow evil to triumph easily. A small bit of good now may prevent a great evil later.

On Veterans Day, and everyday, this is what we need to do to “earn this.” Remember; Give Thanks; and Let Our Light Shine.

Remember all the men and women who gave their lives for freedom.

Give thanks to all the men and women, still with us, who gave of themselves when it was required. And finally, don’t let the torch go out.

Keep the light of the torch that they passed to us burning brightly by adding just a little of our own light to it. These are the things that we need to do as Christians, and as Americans; so that we may continue to enjoy Freedom, Liberty and Justice.

Let us live our lives so that at its end we can look into the face of Jesus with joy as He says, “Well done, my child… now enter into your rest.”

©2000-2009 by David J. Miller

[1] Of course there is no way that we can earn what Jesus did for us. His perfect gift of atonement is given by grace through faith alone. It is a free and priceless gift. All I am saying is that as saved Christians, we should live our lives like Jesus wants us to. If we try to earn our way to heaven, we become legalistic like the Pharisees.