Horton Has Issues (Again . . .)

Mike Horton was on Issues, Etc., last Friday discussing "The Gospel-Driven Church."  Good stuff.

Here's the link:  http://www.issuesetc.org/podcast/175022709H2S1.mp3

Comments

[Douglas]

Is the Church really Gospel driven? I do not believe the Church is driven in any manner, Gospel or otherwise. The Church is not even purpose driven though some would have us believe it is. The Church is Gospel fed. The Church is Spirit led and Spirit of truth guided into all truth.* The proclamation of the Gospel is the means that God uses. God does not drive His people. God drives out His enemies.

"How may I know I have understood the gospel and that I am elect? First, by the Word of God having come in divine power to the soul so that my self-complacency is shattered and my self-righteousness is renounced. Second, by the Holy Spirit convicting me of my woeful, guilty, and lost condition. Third, by having had revealed to me the suitability and sufficiency of Christ to meet my desperate case and by a divinely given faith causing me to lay hold of and rest upon Him as my only hope. Fourth, by the marks of the new nature within me - a love for God; an appetite for spiritual things; a longing for holiness; a seeking after conformity to Christ. Fifth, by the resistance which the new nature makes to the old, causing me to hate sin and loathe myself for it. Sixth, by avoiding everything which is condemned by God's Word and by sincerely repenting of and humbly confessing every transgression. Failure at this point will surely bring a dark cloud over our assurance causing the Spirit to withhold His witness. Seventh, by giving all diligence to cultivate the Christian graces and using all diligence to this end. Thus the knowledge of election is cumulative." - A .W. Pink

* Romans 8:13-17; John 16:13-15

[John Y]

Alright, I am going to get a bit controversial on this one. I am going to respond to Douglas. This is why I am not a Calvinist and why I am a Lutheran. If you are basing your assurance on your performance I do see how you ever can come to any kind of assurance if you are honest with yourself. My repentance is often half-hearted and I sometimes fall into sins that I have repented of many times. My hope lies in what Christ did for me on the cross not on my half-hearted performance. I would fall into despair if I held to Douglas position. Thank God for Luther and the insights God gave him (some of course would argue with this).

[CBinCa]

After reading Pink, whew! Yes, the Church must be Gospel Driven, else it is not true. Maybe "Lutheranized", but where the real Sacraments as means of Grace are administered, where corporate absolution is declared, where revivalistic error is properly expunged, then the description "Gospel Driven" will be true. Charlie-URC