I Want to be Hip Too, Man!

So much to blog, so little time. I could write a minor novel on the wealth of knowledge dispersed from last weekend's Desiring God Conference. Instead, of course, I will direct you to quite possibly the best podcasts you have heard this year to ponder for yourself. You must check out the conference podcasts (Listen Now)! This was the conference of all conferences!

The conference was inspired by a book entitled Above All Earthly Powers by David Wells. Dr. Wells kicked off the conference with a message on the Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern (1) World. Wells is an elder theology professor with the most endearing British accent. He listed some facts that Christianity is moving South and East in the world. On Sunday less than 2% of New Zealanders go to church, while nearly 80% attend in many African nations. Questions to think about: What is your treasure? How can we reach suffering people--both physically and psychologically suffering?

Definitely check out both of the Q&A sessions for some candid, touching, and affecting conversation. Highlights include precious David Wells asserting, "I want to be hip too, man!" in response to a question comparing him and younger Mark Driscoll. John Piper saying "smart ass" quoting some people from the emergent camp. D.A. Carson's emotional recounting of his father's faithfulness during a time of little fruit in ministry. Wow, these two sessions were worth the trip, so much fun!

Voddie Baucham, an African American preacher from TX, delivered a moving message on The Supremacy of Christ and Truth. He describes the two prevailing worldviews of Christian and Humanist perfectly. Africa came to my mind during this talk and how it in many ways is a modern day Holocaust. Voddie is a powerful, powerful speaker; you must listen if you haven't heard him before.

Tim Keller who heads a church in NYC had many insights on the topic of The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel. This guy is smart and I can't help but think prophetic. He describes the nation as having pockets of "Christ-haunted" people, but also large populations of people who have no idea what the concept of sin, man, hell are. He is an advocate of contextualization of the gospel, which in short is something like if you live in Japan you would speak Japanese, learn to use chopsticks, etc. Solid gold, you must listen!

My personal favorite, Mark Driscoll, was the talk of the conference! Some people were upset John Piper invited him, but I still can't figure out why. Driscoll was genius with his example of the closed and open hand. The closed hand is where you hold things you won't compromise, like theology. The open hand is where you hold things that should be adaptable, like music. Piper lightly rebuked Mark during the conference saying his cleverness might get in the way of showing the glory of God. However, later Piper humbly stated an observation by a young fellow that while Mark was culturally clever, he was academically clever and therefore just as much in danger as Mark.

John Piper was the closer for the conference and the highlight for me. He again shows how our joy comes from glorifying God. Deeply passionate and stirring, you will be moved to make changes in your life from this message!

I definitely thank God for each speaker at this conference and the vastly different gifts they each possess. The impact of their ministries and even this conference will be great. Driscoll may best reach the tree huggers of Seattle, Piper might best reach academics, Keller might best reach NYC intelligentsia, but they all are united in proclaiming the Supremacy of Christ above all things!

Personally, I have been moved to do and change many things in my life from this conference. Earlier this year I got onto a blog site of the EBay Atheist that was run by the emergent church movement. I was drawn in by the conversations and dialog this group was trying to create. I thank this conference for helping me see the great danger in what this movement is doing. Stay tuned for more life changes....

Other blogs to check out: Joshua Harris (pastor and author of I Kissed Dating Goodbye) and Challies (live blogger at Reformed Christian Conferences)


Thought for the Day: Christ is Supreme!

(1) [Definition of Postmodernism as stated by D.A. Carson: Postmodernism recognizes how much of what we "know" is shaped by the culture in which we live, is controlled by emotions and aesthetics and heritage, and can only be intelligently held as part of a common tradition, without overbearing claims to being true or right. In the domain of religion, postmodernism focuses on relationships, love, shared tradition, integrity in discussion.]