Monday, July 12, 2010

The Law-Driven Approach

Currently, Rev. Terry Tieman is leading a devotion. Rev. Tieman is the head of the Transforming Churches Network.

His message: "If you really want to make a difference, you've got to...." Right now he's giving us a list of what we need to do to be able to walk on water.

13 comments:

medievalgower said...

Sounds something in a seeker driven church would preach.

X said...

I've heard this sermon before... in a non-denominational church.

Rev. Josh Sullivan said...

I have as well, X. The phrase, "if you want to walk on the water you've got to get out of the boat" sounds very familiar. Was it a book? Was it a song?

Scott Diekmann said...

There's a book by John Ortberg If You Want To Walk On Water, You've Got To Get Out of the Boat, http://www.amazon.com/Want-Walk-Water-Youve-Boat/dp/0310250560

Also a sermon by Anne Robertson with the same title:
http://www.annerobertson.com/BSNT/GetOutOfTheBoat.htm

Scott Diekmann said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

You are right--the whole TCN approach is pure law--"Jesus saved you, so get to work."

The gospel as information only.

Law, law, law. Baptist all the way.

That's the way synodinc is going, as well.

Johannes

Anonymous said...

Law, law, law???

I used to listen to Charles Stanley, but I always found myself exhausted by the end of each sermon. Now I know why.

Anonymous said...

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28: 19 - 20

Saved BY grace... THROUGH faith... FOR good works.

Regardless of the outcome of the convention, Christ will still be seated at the right hand of the Father... we will still be covered in grace... and the millions IN AMERICA AND BEYOND who don't know the good news of salvation will still need to hear the word more than ever.

Please don't lose focus of that in all of this...

Rev. Eric J Brown said...

After he spoke to my circuit, this is what I included in a letter to the pastors of the circuit.

http://confessionalgadfly.blogspot.com/2010/06/transforming-congregations-network.html

Scott Diekmann said...

I agree with you Anonymous, although there's never a time when an unbeliever needs to hear the good news more than another time. All times are appropriate.

Scott Diekmann said...

Thanks for that link Pastor Brown. What you said was right on. I'm going to revisit that after the convention is over.

Lisa B said...

"and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you"
I'm a little confused.
If we teach everything Jesus commanded, that includes behavior, not just confession, right?

Scott Diekmann said...

We teach in the context of Law and Gospel Lisa B. The Law shows us our sin (the second use of the Law), and the Gospel forgives that sin. We then go out into the world serving our fellow man. The third use of the Law reminds us of what it is God wants us to do, "behavior" as you phrase it in your question. We wouldn't need the third use if it weren't for our sinful Adam which still dwells in us until death. Rev. Tieman preaches a confusion of Law and Gospel. Transforming Churches Network places a heavy emphasis on what we do, rather than what God has done and continues to do for us. It lacks a trust in God's Word, that it is the Word that converts and forgives people, instead placing a heavy emphasis on our own ideas and programs to save people. Hence the teaching that you've got to get out of the boat and be a super Christian. While they would say it's the power of the Word that saves, in this way of thinking, it's our own striving that "gets" people saved. For a fuller explanation read this series of articles on Transforming Churches Network:

http://stand-firm.blogspot.com/2009/04/transforming-churches-network-part-1.html