Channel: The Gospel Coalition

Category: Nonprofits & Activism

Tags: christianitychurchfaithpreachingteachingholy spiritpastorsreformationchristianevangelicalpreachercoalitionthe gospel coalitionpastorbiblechristministerspiritbiblicalchurchesreformedjesusgospelspiritualthe gospelgodministry

Description: The “woke” debates have fractured the church like little else in recent years. On one side are Christians who believe Scripture demands the church lead the way in addressing topics like racism, injustice, gender inequality, poverty, and climate change. On the other are Christians who accuse the “woke” gospel of just being a new generation of the “social” gospel, which in previous iterations often meant gradual theological compromise. What are we talking about when we use the word “woke”? And which should be the bigger concern for the church today: caring too little about activism on the social issues of the day, or caring too much about the wrong issues? These and related questions are addressed in this debate between Sean DeMars and Rebecca McLaughlin. DeMars and McLaughlin share their respective arguments and engage in a discussion moderated by Jim Davis, teaching pastor at Orlando Grace Church. This debate is part of TGC’s “Good Faith Debates” series. When we keep the gospel central, we can disagree on lesser but still important matters in good faith. In The Good Faith Debates, we hope to model this—showing that it’s possible for two Christians united around the gospel to engage in charitable conversation even amid substantive disagreement. About the Participants: Sean DeMars is a pastor at 6th Ave Church in Decatur, Alabama. Prior to this, Sean and his family served three years in the jungles of Peru, taking the gospel to the unreached people groups there. Rebecca McLaughlin holds a Ph.D. from Cambridge University and a theology degree from Oak Hill Seminary in London. She is the author of books like The Secular Creed: Engaging Five Contemporary Claims, and Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion. thegospelcoalition.org/series/good-faith-debates #christianity #bible #gospel