Sometimes I can be a bit of a pessimist, always focusing on what's wrong in the world and in our churches. I don't mean to be this way all of the time, but I just see so much error and confusion that something makes me want to correct all of it. I was reading an old interview of Wayne Grudem, and I was greatly encouraged by his perspective on how the Church of God receives truth and accepts it over time.
The interview was done in 2006, and at the time, Grudem was writing heavily about the egalitarian and feminist movements in the churches. I don't want to debate that particular issue right now. Instead, something that drew my attention was his faith that God's people eventually are convinced of his truth and structure their lives by it. You see, liberal theology has been attacking the church seemingly since its foundation. Yet throughout history, the efforts of faithful men have proven victorious in calling the church to stand firm on each and every issue. God's Truth Prevails. Listen to what Grudem had to say:
The interview was done in 2006, and at the time, Grudem was writing heavily about the egalitarian and feminist movements in the churches. I don't want to debate that particular issue right now. Instead, something that drew my attention was his faith that God's people eventually are convinced of his truth and structure their lives by it. You see, liberal theology has been attacking the church seemingly since its foundation. Yet throughout history, the efforts of faithful men have proven victorious in calling the church to stand firm on each and every issue. God's Truth Prevails. Listen to what Grudem had to say:
Yes, I have great confidence that this issue will eventually be resolved, and that the vast majority of God’s people who take the Bible as the Word of God will adopt and practice a complementarian position, and will put it in their statements of faith. I am thankful that out of this controversy has come a greater appreciation for women’s gifts and wisdom, and a greater openness to many more ministries for women, but the church will still, by and large, be complementarian until Christ returns. Jesus Christ has not given up on His church, and He has not abandoned it. He is still building His church, and He is purifying it, “so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”1
Again, I don't want to debate Grudem's stance on Egalitarianism vs Complementarianism in this post. Suffice it to say that Grudem believes when churches accept egalitarian positions, they have capitulated to the society and culture rather than following the Word of God. He believes that this movement allows liberal theology to sneak into the church and do damage. He believes that this is a fundamental issue that the church must deal with in the same way that I believe homosexuality is a fundamental issue for us today.
What I do want to focus on is this: God's Truth Prevails. So many times in church history we see the same liberal (speaking theologically here) attacks come at us over and over again. What prominence do those positions hold any longer? By and large those movements have become irrelevant and obsolete. Our labors have not been in vain, and they will not be in vain. Jesus said "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Jesus' sheep recognize his voice and truth and they will follow him. It is a refreshing and encouraging thought. Grudem continues:
What I do want to focus on is this: God's Truth Prevails. So many times in church history we see the same liberal (speaking theologically here) attacks come at us over and over again. What prominence do those positions hold any longer? By and large those movements have become irrelevant and obsolete. Our labors have not been in vain, and they will not be in vain. Jesus said "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Jesus' sheep recognize his voice and truth and they will follow him. It is a refreshing and encouraging thought. Grudem continues:
There have been many doctrinal controversies in the history of the church, and God in His providence always eventually guides the vast majority of the people who sincerely believe the Bible to the right conclusion. Then those who hold the wrong position eventually are marginalized, their churches lose God’s blessing, and they then decline or even close. It will be that way in this controversy as well, although it may take some time, and before it is resolved many churches will adopt a feminist position, to the detriment of many marriages and ministries along the way. (I was just told last week of a complementarian church in a major American city that hired an egalitarian pastor; [they] gave in to his demands that all church offices be open to women, and he took the church from 2500 people on Sunday to under 400 today. I think we will see that more and more, though there will be temporary exceptions from time to time.)2
Sometimes the media and the cultural climate that I gather from it has me so discouraged. It seems as though the society is just feeding lies and the church has capitulated to many of them. However, there truly is no reason to be discouraged. When Elijah thought that he was the only one left who trusted in and followed God, God's response was a sharp rebuke:
Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God’s reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” Rom 11:2-4
God is building his church, even when we don't see it. Christ's bride is lovely and faithful to him, even though they may appear scattered and dwindling. May we continue to fight for God's truth in a contrary world knowing our labor is not in vain. What's more, may we fight with the hope and faith that God's people will be encouraged and edified by his truth. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. We don't have to concern ourselves so much about those who do not have ears to hear. Jesus preached his truths directly into a contrary culture. Sure, some rejected and reviled him. Jesus didn't have to concern himself so much with that however. God still built his church and raised up his people. God's Truth Prevails.
-tanner
1 Grudem, Wayne. "INTERVIEW – Wayne Grudem, Part Eight – What Does the Future Hold for the Church?" patheos.com. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/adrianwarnock/2006/12/interview-wayne-grudem-part-eight-what-does-the-future-hold-for-the-church/(accessed 8/24/14).
2 Ibid.
-tanner
1 Grudem, Wayne. "INTERVIEW – Wayne Grudem, Part Eight – What Does the Future Hold for the Church?" patheos.com. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/adrianwarnock/2006/12/interview-wayne-grudem-part-eight-what-does-the-future-hold-for-the-church/(accessed 8/24/14).
2 Ibid.