I was the de-churched. Disability 'churched' me.

BBC Disability Ministry Blog » I was the de-churched. Disability 'churched' me.

Back to Home Written on 19-Jun-2009 by john.knightsr

Matt Chandler almost nails it in this video on the de-churched. Watch this very good video, and then read why I say 'almost.'

After my son was born with his multiple disabilities I white-knuckled it for about two months - and then the bottom fell out for me and I renounced God's goodness, left the church, dumped my small group and watched a lot of television. Up to that point I had counted on my goodness to get me favor with God, and things were working out ok for me until I was given a different boy than I expected.

Now, before I offer a mild criticism of Matt Chandler's short clip, I want to be completely fair - this is a short clip from an obviously longer message. I've heard him speak at a Desiring God conference and I have downloaded sermons he has preached at his church. He is a God-centered, Christ-exalting, articulate, biblical, passionate preacher. Without hesitation I can recommend him.

However, there is an unspoken assumption in this short clip that people wouldn't become 'de-churched' if they were taught accurately and given the whole counsel of God from the Bible. Unfortunately, there is some really good, biblically sound preaching happening out there at many, many churches, and people will still flee and question God at the first real crisis in their lives.

I know that, because that is how I behaved.

I went to a church that clearly taught the doctrine of sin and clearly taught the sole sufficiency of a crucified Christ to cover that sin and clearly taught that everyone has a need for a foreign righteousness imputed to them. Yet, I still was more interested in the approval of man than in really addressing my own sinful, depraved heart. So, when something bad happened after I had done good things (even knowing I was full of sin!), I thought I didn't deserve it. Good preaching is wonderful and should be pursued, but it doesn't save.

But when God pursued me and gave me eyes to see the depths of my sin and the beauty of Jesus Christ, I deeply wanted to be churched because it meant I got to be with people like me - lost, but found. Dead in sin, now alive in Christ. Hearts of stone replaced with beating hearts of flesh. Who wouldn't want to hang out with people who had experienced this kind of joy and wanted to encourage me to pursue even more of this extraordinary God!

It was all God - and God continues to give me a hunger for preaching that makes much of him. I love to worship a God who is absolutely sovereign over everything - he knit my son together without eyes and with all the other 'stuff' in his life, and he used that sweet boy to reveal Jesus as perfect, sovereign savior.

So, Pastor Matt got it almost right in this short clip, and he may have made that point more clear later in the sermon. But even good preaching cannot bring a soul to saving faith - that is reserved entirely under the sovereign work of God.

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Tags: matt chandler,de-churched,sovereign grace

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