Kingdom Harbor

I am unpacking some thoughts on both the validity of the man-centered vs. God-centered debate and offering some healthy push back on the fuzzy, over-extension of this line of reasoning. Michael Spencer began his post on this topic with a wise disclaimer I would like to echo: These posts are, without a doubt, an experiment in exploration and articulation. Many won’t care for where it goes but we must wrestle with these questions in a honest and gracious way.

SOME REASONS BEHIND THIS CONCERN

Many fears and factors stand behind this debate.  Four worthy of mention include (1) scriptural mandate, (2) prosperity and self-help teachings, (3) strong views of human depravity, and (4) a particular, popular understanding of the supremacy of God.  

1. Scripture. Scripture clearly demands that we deny ourselves in order to embrace God, that we must decrease so Christ can increase, that the world is in ruin because of humans have taken God off the throne and replaced him with other idols — self-lordship being the most popular (cf. Rom 1:23) .  Thus, there is an appropriate concern to heed such foundational scriptural warnings to keep God at the center of our affections and on the throne of our lives.

2. Prosperity & Self-Help Teachings. The widespread influence and propagation of the prosperity gospel by teachers such as Joel Osteen have indeed distorted the Christian faith, turning it into a human-centered quest for personal health, wealth, power and prosperity.  This teaching is all about “me” and God is little more than a cosmic vending machine waiting on our next request.  Similarly, others focus too heavily upon self-help moralism that God takes a backseat to self-improvement and a deistic moralism.  We must guard against these “man-centered” teachings; but in doing so, many end up going too far in the other direction. More on that below.

3. Views of Human Depravity. Looming in the background of this man-centered vs. God-centered line of reasoning is the great Reformation concern that some will give human beings too much credit when it comes to progress and growth in the faith. The Pelagian vs. Augustine debate over the extent of human depravity also influences this debate. We want to give God all the glory and all the credit for saving faith.  In clinging hard and fast to the doctrine of “Total Depravity,” many develop such a low view of humanity that we are nothing more than worms, “snow covered dung” as Luther put it, and therefore  incapable of doing anything of any value — especially in relationship to faithful living.  Must a strong view of human depravity always lead to such a low view of human capability?  I certainly do not think so.  But this low view of humanity exercises huge influence over those adamantly opposed to any “man-centered” thinking.

4. A Particular View of ‘The Supremacy of God’. Perhaps there is no greater influence popularizing the strong either-or thinking of the “man-centered vs. God-centered” question than John Piper’s ministry which so reverently emphasizes “the supremacy of God/Christ” in all things.  Piper, who himself is heavily indebted to John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards in this respect, has a massive following and readership who are the primary propagators of this anti-man-centered rhetoric I am addressing. Let me state clearly right now that I respect and appreciate John Piper and his Desiring God ministry. He constantly challenges me and my theology and keeps my nose buried in the text of Scripture.

Yet, at the end of the day, I simply disagree with Piper on some significant theological issues and emphases.  We need not go into those issues here since my current purpose is merely to point out that Piper’s teaching often lead his less astute and less nuanced followers toward a lopsided view of God’s relationship with human beings that overplays God’s supremacy in a way that undervalues God’s human image-bearers.

But more on this later.  Stay tuned.