I guess if the church needs to be “reformed, always reforming” – then it might be OK for me to be converted, always converting. Won’t there always be blindspots to be exposed as I slide down the asymptote closer and closer to the full and complete truth of that horizontal line…yes, I think so.
I can think of a number of conversions in recent years.
What about the recognition that there is only a great commission because there was first a great mission? Behind a few words of Jesus in the Gospels and Acts lies the initiative of God running from Genesis to Revelation. Long before there is something we are to do among the nations, there is something God has been doing among the nations. I am embarassed by the length of time it took me to see this.
What about the recognition that there is more to the gospel than sin and redemption, the bad and the new? Really?! Yes! To commence with the bad infers that the Bible begins in Genesis 3. To conclude with the new forgets the certain hope that there is more to come. The full gospel includes the good, the bad, the new, and the perfect. Furthermore the ‘new’ does not begin with Jesus – it begins, far earlier, with Abraham in Genesis 12.1-3. This is the first great commission. This is the gospel announced beforehand (Gal 3.8a). I am embarassed by the length of time it took me to see this.
What about the recognition of a longing for the judgement of God? I blame my kids for this one. Yes, I do! My 18yr old daughter heads off to Kolkata’s slums for 7 months. Then she engages herself to a man who, a few days later, heads off to Liberia’s raw and open post-war sores for 9 months. Then my son graduates from law and within days is mingling with Congolese refugee children flooding into Kampala – and he is still there, 15 months later. I’ve never been the same again. I hear their stories and I find myself longing for the judgement of God to descend upon the earth. How dare we feel offended by the judgement of God when so many of his people all around the world are hanging out for that judgement. No more sitting in righteous indignation over God’s righteous indignation for me. No way! Count me in with the heavens and the seas, the fields and the trees – I want to sing about the sure coming judgement of God as well (Psalm 96.11-13 – but who is writing songs like this?). I am embarassed by the length of time it took me to see this.
What about the recognition of the diverse ways in which the Old Testament points us to Christ? Of course I believe this – but now I am seeing it with greater fullness, frequency, and precision. All sorts of things are helping me. From the simplicity of the most beautiful children’s storybook where it is assumed that “every story whispers his name” to the sophistication of Bible teachers and Langham colleagues who skillfully find these christocentric seams through the Bible far better than I can. I still doubt whether the Old Testament authors intended all that is ascribed to them – but I can now see a Moses or a David or an Isaiah saying in response to them, “Wow, that is more than I thought – but it fits. I can see that what you say could be true”. And yes, I am a little embarassed by the length of time it took me to see this.
Now this was all meant to be a precursor to the latest conversion with which I am struggling – but this post is already too long. It can keep for another time.
nice chatting
Paul
About Me

the art of unpacking
After a childhood in India, a theological training in the USA and a pastoral ministry in Southland (New Zealand), I spent twenty years in theological education in New Zealand — first at Laidlaw College and then at Carey Baptist College, where I served as principal. In 2009 I began working with Langham Partnership and since 2013 I have been the Programme Director (Langham Preaching). Through it all I've cherished the experience of the 'gracious hand of God upon me' and I've relished the opportunity to 'unpack', or exegete, all that I encounter in my walk through life with Jesus.
Recent Posts
Just when I thought that it could not be possible to have another first-hand account of the impact of John Stott’s life (d. 2011), along comes this book by his close friend, John Wyatt. I am always ready to learn more about John Stott, but also about friendship. It fascinates me. It keeps coming up…
Reading stories to grandchildren over Christmas reminded me again of how powerful they can be. They are so compact and simple in presentation, and yet so clever in construction. There are just so many features at work in an effective story. It is some years since I taught narrative preaching, but when I did I’d…
Apart from the eight years in which we were based overseas, Barby has been working at the Refugee Resettlement Center in Auckland since 2002. This year she is a ‘release teacher’, spending one day each week in three different classrooms, with three different age groups. Impressive—and demanding. One day is spent with 11-13 year olds—from…
Thanks Paul, what a great example of theological humility.
Awaiting your next post!
Looking forward to hearing more both here and in Newpie! See you soon!
:)tkr
awesome 🙂
Nice one Paul – but why limit the new to Abraham? The new was already a reality, according to Paul, before the foundation of the world, in the heart and love of the Triunity! 🙂
Yes, Myk – I could expect no less from you! I should have at least gone back to Genesis 3, but you are drawing me even further back 🙂