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Thought I might wade in with a quick blog about the penal substitution thingy. Here’s mine…

As an undergraduate I loved studying church history. As an assistant Pastor I was mentored by Kevin Adams who also loved church history and encouraged me to read and apply it to my ministry. I love church history.

But I also love thinking about how people will look at our generation in the years to come. What will the students of WEST be taught about Western Evangelicalism at the turn of the Millennium in 2207?? What would their study of source materials (Blogs more than books) tell them about our passions and struggles? What heresies will they be able to see that snuck into our church under the cover of night?

10 years ago I thought they would have a module in historic pneumatology called ‘The Toronto Blessing: Laughter, Lying or Lord?’.

Five years ago I was convinced there would have been a module in the Doctrine of God called ‘The omission of ‘omni’: the day God lost His mind in the openness of God debate.’ At the same time I was worried that we would have a module called ‘The rise of fusion and the fall of united and effective witness on Campus’.

However, all three issues: the Toronto blessing (so-called), open theism, and the alleged rise of Fusion have come and gone (even if a handful of die-hards try to keep the flames alive).

But I believe with all my heart - and wish it were not so - that there will be a module called ‘the atonement controversy at the turn of the millennium’. In fact, there may even be a module called ‘the split of Evangelicalism and the rise of neo-liberal Evangelicalism’ which will be marked by a rejection of penal substitution and therefore a necessary rejection of the authority of Scripture, the character of God, Biblical counselling, and mission.

I truly believe that the ultimate defining moment of our generation is not our embrace of new songs, the rise of house churches, our pneumatology, or even our search for a biblical model of social action. No, the one thing that our generation will be known for and held accountable for is our handling of the debate over penal substitution. EA have dropped the ball, so has Spring Harvest and Christianity magazine. EA have debated and made a statement - but they have not made a clear and defining stand. They have not led us as our forefathers have. Spring Harvest and Christianity magazine (probably the biggest influence on the more left field evangelicals) have embraced Britain’s popularist of the rejection of penal substitution (Steve Chalke) and given him a legitimacy and platform.

A bit of church history: Let me quote a very academic source (Wikipedia!);

‘In the summer term of 1910 an evangelical student called Norman Grubb of Trinity College, Cambridge and a friend, met with ten representatives of the Student Christian Movement to discuss their concerns that SCM was promoting an overly liberal view of Christianity in the British universities. Grubb posed the direct question, “Does the Student Christian Movement put the atoning blood of Christ central in its teaching?” After a little deliberation the answer came, “We acknowledge it, but it is not central.”

Grubb and his friends at Cambridge decided that they could no longer work in partnership with the SCM saying that it had divorced a biblically-based, cross-centred emphasis. They began the Cambridge Inter-Collegiate Christian Union (CICCU). Soon, their contemporaries at Oxford did the same, and new Christian Unions (CUs) began to spring up in a number of universities over country.’

That was the start of UCCF.

They took a stand on the Cross. They did what we and every generation must do;

-Define the Cross - make sure we have a full and Biblical view.

-Declare the Cross - ensure that all have the opportunity to embrace and love it.

-Defend the Cross - this is our non negotiable. It is not an optional or secondary doctrine.

Men and women, we MUST make sure that we understand the Cross (Define), we must then share it with non Christians for their salvation and with Christians for their sanctification and joy (Declare), we must also make sure that our generation and the generation to come are not taken captive by the heresy that is circulating contemporary evangelicalism (Defend).

Please meditate on the following:

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

2 Corinthians 5:21

1 Peter 2:21-25

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

Galatians 1:6-9 - With a heavy heart I say that this undermining of penal substitution is another gospel. And Paul is clear on how we are to respond to it.

Let us do all we can to make sure that the students of WEST look at our generation with admiration as we stand against this tide of heresy. Is there a new Norman Grubb out there? Will someone stand as Luther did?

This is our defining moment.

Stand!

So Word Alive is coming to Wales in 2008 with a genius new name: “New Word Alive”! And personally I think it’s great! Word Alive previously ran one very good week at Spring Harvest in Skegness. Now they are holding a week long conference at Pwllheli in North Wales .

I think the funny thing is that the previously called FIEC Pwllheli Conference has gone to Cheltenham and now New Word Alive has taken its place. I heard a rumour that the site in Pwllheli weren’t happy because the FIEC people weren’t buying enough booze, so if that’s the case then they obviously think UCCF/Keswick people are more likely to booze it up – students huh?!

It’s pretty awesome that since Wales lost a conference, it gained a conference. And the list of speakers lined up, including Don Carson and John Piper, is pretty darn enticing! I’ve been to Word Alive a few times and I think they were the best week-long conferences I’ve been on, so it’s great that something of that quality is coming to Wales .

As for the controversy, I don’t think there’s much to say that hasn’t already been blogged elsewhere. Word Alive won’t have Steve Chalke to speak, because of his views that reject penal substitution. The leaders of Spring Harvest have upheld (at least to an extent) penal substitution but aren’t happy about Word Alive not allowing Steve Chalke to speak. If you want more detail about this look at the article on Adrian Warnock’s blog “Word Alive and Spring Harvest to Separate After 15 Years Because of the Atonement”.

As for penal substitution, I most definitely uphold it, as I’m certain all the other authors on this blog would. Penal substitution, simply put, is the belief that on the cross Christ was punished in man’s place. I don’t think it is the only explanation of the cross, the Bible also speaks of the cross being a ransom and a victory. The cross is also transference of Christ’s righteousness and an example of love and obedience. And I don’t think penal substitution is the complete explanation of what happened at the cross but it is one of the main Biblical explanations of what was going on at the cross. Christ has suffered the wrath of the Father that was deserved by me.

Can I get an Amen?!