I found Mike Ratliff’s post this morning to be quite convincing. He has masterfully weaved some key scripture passages together. Mike has a pretty good long-term following on his site….he’s a good Bible teacher. But nothing like the mega teachers people are following today.
There is a big effort in our Church to promote “The Way”that John Mark Comer is teaching in an evening class. I listened to a good discussion about his success in reaching the so-called Gen Z people but I know older members who are following him. His material is geared to those dissatisfied with the patterns of the Evangelical Church, but he is really just repackaging the Spiritual Formation materials that Foster and Willard presented to my generation.
This also is worth listening to:
Here is one summary of what was discussed:
Here is the summary of the major theological concerns raised in the two recent episodes:
- The Rise of “New Pietism”: The shows criticize Comer as the modern face of “New Pietism” or modern mysticism. The hosts argue that his focus on “Rule of Life” builders, turning inward to find the “inner self,” and individualistic experiences subtly replace traditional, biblical discipleship with psychological self-help.
- Downplaying the Substitutionary Atonement: A major critique raised in the episodes is Comer’s alleged downplaying or rejection of penal substitutionary atonement (the doctrine that Jesus died on the cross as a substitute to satisfy God’s justice for human sin). The hosts highlight social media posts and book recommendations from Comer that seem to oppose traditional views of the cross.
- Concerns Over “Open Theism”: The broadcasts break down Comer’s view of God’s sovereignty. Critics argue that his teachings lean toward Open Theism—the belief that the future is not completely settled and that God does not exercise absolute control over all details, which sharply conflicts with Reformed theology.
- Association with Controversial Figures: The hosts express concern over Comer’s direct promotion and quotation of figures like Rob Bell, Dallas Willard, and Richard Foster, whose frameworks on spiritual formation are viewed by Reformed theologians as doctrinally unstable.
I’m glad that people are seeking to follow “The Way”, but sad that it also bridges the historical Reformed Gap, bringing people back into many practices of the Counter Reformation, the Jesuit Practices of Ignatius Loyola, and other Roman Catholics and opens bridges into Eastern Mysticism even New Age teachings, in subtile ways…Much of America has a more Syncretistic rather than Biblical Worldview today. There is a lot more about that in the things I read, but personally I prefer the way Mike teaches; i.e. what the Bible says and letting the Holy Spirit open our hearts directly without the massively popular influencers “Spiritually Directing” us to these old ways or paths….
I pray that the hunger is for God’s teaching in his Word and not the old paths that lead us back to the Roman Catholic Church. Time will tell where this goes, there are so many sincerely seeking his way….
Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Jer 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
Back to looking at Mike’s post….Each of these passages from Ephesians, Romans and Colossians is illustrative of what Paul wrote to Timothy almost 2,000 years ago.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
I heard those verses again this past week and thought I should look at each dimension Paul stresses in more depth. Hopefully, I will get to that project. In the meantime, lets ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to profit from the verses Mike quotes and his commentary on applying them.
- Doctrine
- Reproof
- Correction
- Instruction
Old John Gill writes about them here:
is profitable for doctrine; for the discovering, illustrating, and confirming any doctrine concerning God, the being, persons, and perfections of God; concerning the creation and fall of man; concerning the person and offices of Christ, redemption by him, justification by his righteousness, pardon by his blood, reconciliation and atonement by his sacrifice, and eternal life through him, with many others. The Scripture is profitable for ministers to fetch doctrine from, and establish it by; and for hearers to try and prove it by:
for reproof; of errors and heresies; this is the sword of the Spirit, which cuts all down. There never was, nor is, nor can be any error or heresy broached in the world, but there is a sufficient refutation of it in the Scriptures; which may be profitably used for that purpose, as it often has been by Christ and his apostles, and others since in all ages:
for correction; of vice; there being no sin, but the evil nature of it is shown, its wicked tendency is exposed, and the sad effects and consequences of it are pointed out in these writings:
for instruction in righteousness; in every branch of duty incumbent upon men; whether with respect to God, or one another; for there is no duty men are obliged unto, but the nature, use, and excellency of it, are here shown:
the Scriptures are a perfect rule of faith and practice; and thus they are commended from the usefulness and profitableness of them.
Below are the Bible passages Mike quoted in the AKJV. We would do well to read them over frequently….
Eph 4:17-32 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Eph 5:15-21 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Col 3:1-17 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
