What would Jonathan Edwards say about CPM/DMM? Nearly 300 years ago, Jonathan Edwards wrote about events happening during the First Great Awakening. He responded to criticisms of that awakening with careful, biblically-based analysis of pros and cons of the events taking place. How might his insights apply to current discussions about movements? Take a look! https://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Edwards-Movements-Dave-Coles/dp/B0BPVLPGSX/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= .
2) Surprising New Book on Movements!
In this short and readable book, Dave Coles has advanced the conversation around movements and answered some key concerns of movement critics. Coles has combed through the writings of Edwards to help us think through and respond to movements that God is using to fulfill Jesus’ mandate as recorded in Mt 28:18-20 and of Jesus’ words in Mt 24:14.
Given that Edwards is widely regarded as America’s most influential theologian, we should not be surprised to find insightful, Scriptural, and clearly-worded reflections and commentary on the move of God that occurred in his day, a move that still resounds in contemporary American life.
Much like Edwards did in his day, Coles has consistently represented the work of God in movements fairly and graciously. In the forum hosted by Missio Nexus with Coles and Don Little, we see Coles’ magnanimity, depth of comprehension, and fair analysis of church planting movements in a spoken forum. Here in writing, these characteristics join with Edwards’ faithful stewardship of God’s words and God-given talents to help us understand and come to accept movements as something that *God* is actually doing. While some of us may take more time than others in accepting movements because they are indeed different than what we see happening in Western Evangelicalism, we must all heed Edwards’ advice and Coles helps us do this. Thank you!
If any criticism can be made of this book, it might be that Coles is so very kind. If one reads Matthew 12:22-32, one might think of those who mischaracterize the work of Jesus and God’s Spirit in this passage and see the parallels to those who deny the work of God in modern church planting movements. If this is a fair parallel, then an incredibly serious admonition to those who deny God’s work is in order. Coles stops short of this, and wisely so for now, but after this attempt to help those “deniers”, the weight of repentance rests more and more on them. Coles helps us all to be without excuse when it comes to embracing church planting movements. In Edwards’ writings, Coles has provided the “material witness” to the court and the jury so that the jury must not only acquit movements of being of the flesh, but should champion them as a true work of God. May we come under God’s blessing and not under his “woe” and embrace what God is doing throughout the world!
Thank you to Dave Coles for this important contribution to the discussion around movements.