Yesterday was a splendid day. I went for a 10k run, ate breakfast, sat outside with my dog and began reading a new book (Theology Drives Methodology: Conversion in the Theology of Charles Finney and John Nevin by Carl Dahlfred). I enjoy reading historical theology because it helps me to understand the reason that things are the way that they are. Yesterday evening, Darlene and I went to dinner at a restaurant that we have not been to for sometime, and on the way home, we drove by a church that we once attended. In its history, the church was once a fundamental-independent-baptist church, but the church has changed a great deal over the years to a seeker sensitive church. Why? Theology drives methodology. While the methodology has changed greatly, the churches theology has remained the same; when a churches theology is man centric, the methodology will always change with the times, but if a churches theology is Christocentric, the methodology does not change with the times because Christ never changes. Do you believe that a person can will their own salvation or that you can will the salvation of another person. This is what man centric theology does. If a person believes that man has the power to save himself, or if a man believes that he has the power to save other people, then what he says and does will be driven to that end. But what if a person believes that human beings are unable to come to God and that we are unable to cause the will of other men to change, the only answer is to trust the salvation of the Lord. Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” (Jn 15:26-27 NASB) There is an outward call and an inward call in the salvation of every man and this method will never change. The outward call is the testimony of the apostles, found in the writings of the new testament, and the inward call is the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said to the Pharisee Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (Jn 3:3 NASB)
Michael Peek, BSN, RN, MTS
