A Word from Bob
Any of us—myself included, can become “zealous polemicists.” David’s words, which I was recently reminded of by a Twitter/X friend, Dane Hays, ought to be convicting to all of us—myself included.
David Powlison in Cure of Souls on Zealous “Polemicists”
“Often polemicists excuse their loveless rough edges by the demands of truth. But they lose more than they realize. In fact, when love and the growth of positive truth are lost, truth is also lost.
Biblical truth loses its scope, balance, depth, applicability, savor, and growing edge when the second priority seizes center stage. The positive theological task that is the need of our age gets obscured. Caricatures of truth and discernment replace the realities.
Words that are not constructive, timely, and grace giving are rotten and nonnutritive, whatever their formal likeness to Christian content (Eph. 4:29).
To lose charity, tenderheartedness, sympathy, and generosity is always to simultaneously pervert the redemptive nature of biblical revelation.
Narrowed “truth” may bristle enough to defend one city wall, but it is not good enough to conquer the world.
Only when our first priority is first do we Christians have a robust, radiant, and sensible alternative in our hearts and in our mouths, something good to offer those we critique, those we counsel, and ourselves.”
Dave Powlison, spoke the truth in love. To me he was a compassonate communicator ballancing conviction without being contententious.
I just read his article in the JBC summer of 2007 entitled, “The Terapeutic Gospel” in which he addesses, the contemporary therapeutic Gospel.
We could all learn from David Powlison how to minister the glorious Gospel with humility and the mind of Christ.
As a teenager my father confronted my tendency to harshly criticize others with whom I disagreed. My retort was, “I am just calling a spade a spade!”
Dad replied, No, you are calling it a ‘Dam shovel!
He was correct.