Calvin Miller on the church’s tendency to reduce beliefs to “conversations” and “dialogue”:
The world is looking for answers. If you have some of them, for goodness’ sake spit ’em out.
The world is looking for servants of God whose yes is yes. How elementary, how refreshing.
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God? Yes.
Today? Yes.
Tomorrow? Yes.
Do you believe in the Holy Trinity? Yes.
Do you believe in the resurrection of the dead? Yes.
To answer the questions of faith with a sure answer leaves you better able to locate your flock, and it leaves your flock able to locate their shepherd. You can each find the other in the darkness. You go to bed knowing there is something firm in the feathers.
Have you been born again? Yes.
Is Jesus coming again? Yes.
Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to God? Yes.
Do you believe in miracles, angels, demons, and creation? Yes, yes, yes, and yes!
Is your church emerging? No, my church was founded.
On the rock, I suppose? No need to suppose. Yes. On the rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Your faith is wonderful! Would you like to come to our discussion club and talk about it? Better that you come with me to the rock that rises from the clarity of our confession.
See it there, rising off the iron substance of Matthew 16:16? Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God.
Apart from this great surety, nothing is important and nothing is enduring. Nothing is redemptive. So what is there to talk about?
– from Letters to a Young Pastor
