"It is impossible to submit as kingdom servants at the throne,
without the robes of beauty not our own."
Many readers may not identify with the struggle, however there is a fog that has begun to sweep through some circles of the church that has led to much confusion and a loss of clarity. This fog I speak of is the de-emphasis of the cross of Christ.
I have been blessed to have studied what is known as New Exodus Theology for the past year. It started out as long breakfast conversations with a friend from another school who was fluent in the theology. It was attractive to me. It left my head spinning in curiosity but also left me with a heart of confusion. I was later introduced to some very dear friends (who I still call my closest friends) who helped further me in my understanding of this new thought. I went deeper into an understanding of this theology. The Lord even pressed upon my heart and mind phrases and passages in scripture in a divine illuminating fashion that would be very important to what He would be teaching me about this theology for the next year.
The road that has been this past year has been an increasing opening of my eyes to a clearer picture the beauty of the gospel.
Is New Exodus good? Yes.
Can it be harmful? Yes.
What is New Exodus Theology?
Interpreting redemption from a more holistic biblical narrative which emphasizes the renewal of all creation and mankind because of the kingship rule of Christ in the kingdom movement/fight against the kingdom of darkness. Focal point? Christ as king and our submission as kingdom servants. The throne. Self-denying, radical, relentless kingdom living. Communal striving. Living like Christ. Christ as divine model. Restoration of earth, physical ailment, hunger, disease, poverty as well as spiritual depravity (which looks like a neo-evangelism of gospel defined as "submit to Christ the king.")
What's good?
This is all good. Christo-centrism.
The attempt to fight self-centered easy believism that consumes American churches.
What is bad?
Gospel confusion. De-emphasizing the cross (at best), attacking the cross (at worst).
Emphasizing the EFFECTS of the cross and throwing away the cross itself.
Attacking the APEX of God's glory (His grace). Redeeming, reconciling, atoning grace. The Apex of this grace? The cross.
Is redeeming grace a self-centered theology?
If you mean "easy-believism/American cultural Christianity" then yes.
HOWEVER - THE REDEEMING WORK OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
I agree that we MUST fight this self-centered thought.
But the problem is NOT that these typical American Christians are clinging too tightly to the cross... It's that they DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE CROSS. What do you do? Preach Law? NO. PREACH THE CROSS.
However, the downfall of many is a redefining of the gospel that emphasizes SELF-DENYING SUBMISSION --- A.K.A. THE LAW.
Which is the danger of New Exodus Theology. It's very foggy when it gets down to the bottom line...
The common line for New Exodus Theologians: "That's not when I'm saying."
It's hard to get a bottom line out of them. Therefore it's hard to get an "evangelism" out of them. But what we DO know of the "deep" end of their pool is:
1. You are justified at the end of your life ACCORDING TO life lived.
2. Romans 2 means that one must live according to law to enter kingdom.
Everything goes back to kingdom submission. AKA - law. AKA - works.
Even if they don't come out and say "works"... or even though they don't "believe" in works salvation... they practically live a works salvation by focusing on and emphasizing and dwelling on "kingdom submission" as our kingdom entry. It's obsessed with "DO".
Our kingdom submission RESTS AND IS MADE POSSIBLE by the cross.
THE CROSS SCREAMS "YOU CAN'T. HE DID".
We can't even LOOK at the throne without the coal touching our lips (Isaiah 6). We can't approach the throne without those beautiful, righteous robes that are not our own (Revelation).
A few quick questions that can be turned into entire posts by themselves:
If the gospel is not summed up in Jesus Christ and His work, then
1. ...why do we do communion (one of 2 church ordinances) which is a remembrance of the crucifixion?
2. ...why did Jesus say "It is finished/accomplished" at the cross?
3. ...why do we need robes of righteousness not our own to come to the throne?
4. ...why did Jesus say that He came to give His life as a RANSOM for many?
5. ...why did John the Baptist say "Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world?"
6. ...why does heaven rejoice at the repentance of ONE sinner?
7. ...why does is the heavenly chorus sing "Worthy is the lamb who was slain?"
8. ...why has the church for the past 2000 years defined the gospel at the atoning work of Jesus Christ and Him crucified? (did we get it wrong the whole time?)
9. ...why was the curtain in the holy of holies torn at the death of Christ?
10... why does Paul refer to false teachers as "enemies of the CROSS?"
11. ...why do people assume that when the gospels refer to "the gospel of the kingdom" do they immediately assume that gospel means kingdom? When I say the "Bank of America" do you assume that I am defining "bank" as a country between Canada and Mexico? (It was all about salvation - That's why he attacked the religious (works) and the immoral. "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the pharisees...")
12. ...why is it that this new gospel is limited in its acceptance to Rob Bell's church, a group of churches in England and the elite of higher theological education that is out-thinking the Holy Spirit's illumination for the past 2000 years.
There are so many more questions.
Just keep the main thing the main thing.
Tim Keller writes:
"The message of the gospel is that you are saved by grace through Christ’s work on the cross and nothing else at all. As soon as you add anything to it, you have lost it entirely."
Paul said it best:
"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ not be made void."
For more information on New Exodus Theology I recommend reading a great summary from the one major proponent Rob Bell's Mars Hill Church
Remember, as you read it (especially at the end at "What This Means Today") ask yourself "what is the bottom line?" and also "How does this mission/emphasis differ from Paul's mission/emphasis in the pastoral epistles (Titus, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy).
Note: I am not against kingdom living. I think it is a NATURAL OVERFLOW of a dependence on the atoning work of Christ. (Romans 7:4)
Note 2: I am not saying that my college is fully into New Exodus Theology. People are all over the map. It has been influenced by this theology and it is apparent everywhere, which has led to a de-emphasis on the atonement.
"We are still on praying ground and pleading terms with God, and the throne to which we are bidden to come, and of which we speak at this time, is the throne of grace. It is a throne set up on purpose for the dispensation of grace; a throne from which every utterance is an utterance of grace; the scepter that is stretched out from it is the silver sceptre of grace; the decrees proclaimed from it are purposes of grace; the gifts that are scattered down its golden steps are gifts of grace; and he that sits upon the throne is grace itself. It is the throne of grace to which we approach when we pray; and let us for a moment or two think this over, by way of consolatory encouragement to those who are beginning to pray; indeed, to all of us who are praying men and women."
