The New Normal and Orthodoxy

Good Morning and Welcome to this week’s Gospel and Culture update, by Alan Vink

Monday 4th May 2020

The Pathway to the New Normal.

In this superb article the writers at Mckinsey talk about the 5R’s that are necessary for recovery after coronavirus to the new normal. They are: Resolve – Resilience – Return – Reimagination – Reform. I would like to commend this ‘in-depth’ article as it will help Christian leaders understand the new social context we have already entered into and at the same time give us some excellent advice as to how to lead our own organisations.

Orthodoxy (or lack thereof).

In this article Dr Michael Brown stirs the pot. And rightly so. I think we have every reason to be concerned in NZ as well. Where has true Gospel preaching gone? What do you think?

“In times past, we preached that sinners were wretched and that grace was amazing. Today we tell sinners they are amazing, making grace a needless afterthought. In times past, we preached a gospel of salvation. Today we preach a gospel of self-improvement.

In times past, we preached death to the flesh, death to self, and death to sin, pointing to a brand new life in and under Jesus. Today, we preach that Jesus came so you could fulfil your dreams, that He came to make you into a bigger and better you.

We used to preach the gospel of self-denial. Today we preach the gospel of self-realization”.

There are NO copyright restrictions on this email update. Got some feedback about this Update, or anything in the news? Would you like us to cover a story then drop me a note at alan.vink@leadershipworx.org.nz Alan is Executive Director of LeadershipWorx and blogs here.

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.