Comments on: An Evangelical Without the Gospel? http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2009/11/an-evangelical-without-the-gospel/ A First Things Blog Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:35:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Jugulum http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2009/11/an-evangelical-without-the-gospel/#comment-1528 Jugulum Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:34:34 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=974#comment-1528 Best-case scenario: A rich understanding of the Great Commission includes discipleship. There is a way to focus on "sealing the deal" evangelism that leaves out actual discipleship, encouragement, and care. A numbers-based church-growth model. Hopefully, he means that he's expanding his vision of what the Great Commission means. Best-case scenario:

A rich understanding of the Great Commission includes discipleship. There is a way to focus on “sealing the deal” evangelism that leaves out actual discipleship, encouragement, and care. A numbers-based church-growth model.

Hopefully, he means that he’s expanding his vision of what the Great Commission means.

]]> By: Jeff Doles http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/2009/11/an-evangelical-without-the-gospel/#comment-1510 Jeff Doles Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:39:21 +0000 http://firstthings.com/blogs/evangel/?p=974#comment-1510 If we look at his statement in a one-dimensional way, ignoring what the man has been through and where he has come from, then it is easy to demolish it with pile-driver logic. But that looks an awful lot like using the wounded for target practice. However, I very much doubt he means to oppose the Great Commission to people helping people. But I expect it has much more to do with a sense that, before, his focus was more on Ted Haggard and his grandiose plans, but now he is trying to reach outward for the benefit of others. If we look at his statement in a one-dimensional way, ignoring what the man has been through and where he has come from, then it is easy to demolish it with pile-driver logic. But that looks an awful lot like using the wounded for target practice.

However, I very much doubt he means to oppose the Great Commission to people helping people. But I expect it has much more to do with a sense that, before, his focus was more on Ted Haggard and his grandiose plans, but now he is trying to reach outward for the benefit of others.

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