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September/October 2009 eJournal Editor's Note 9Marks eJournal
Editors Note Western culture doesnt seem to understand tough love. Love today means unconditional acceptance. If you love me with conditions, you dont love me. Youre judgmental and intolerant. God knows better. He knows were finite and fallen. Therefore, his love challenges us at the very points of our finitude and fallenness for our good, and thats not comfortable. Church discipline is just such an uncomfortable act of tough love, which is why 9Marks would like to spend two issues of the eJournal considering this important topic. In this issue, Wyman Richardson and Greg Wills help us to count the cost of practicing or not practicing church discipline. Ken Sande offers some legal counsel. And Kevin DeYoung, a pastor in mainline Protestant land, offers words of warning to evangelical land, a land where tough love increasingly has to shout to be heard. In case you are new to the topic of church discipline, I offer a primer and review three good books on the subject. Also, check out Bobby Jamiesons users guide to the intimidating but inimitable Polity volume. When asked what she learned from 1 Corinthians 13, my three year old daughter said, Love is patient, love is kind. Love is huggy and kissy. Yes, she is a darling. But I must ask, shouldnt we expect deeper sentiments from our churchs leaders? Jonathan Leeman
FACING UP TO CHURCH DISCIPLINE More Than Worth It: Costs and Benefits of Church Discipline CHURCH DISCIPLINE IN HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE Was Dagg Right? Informed Consent: Biblical and Legal Protection for Church Discipline Discipline in the mainlineIs it Possible or Even Wise? CHURCH DISCIPLINE RESOURCES Polity on Church Discipline: A User's Guide Book Review: Handbook of Church Discipline by Jay Adams Book Review: The Transforming Community by Mark Lauterbach Book Review: Discipline with Care by Steven McQuoid Reviews in the next issue: Walking Together: A Congregational Reflection on Biblical Church Discipline, by Wyman Lewis Richardson; Winning the Real Battle at Church: Safeguard Your Congregation Against Destructive Conflict, by David & Diane Noble MISCELLANEOUS BOOK REVIEWS Book Reviews: Who Runs the Church? Four Views on Church Government, edited by Steven B. Cowan; Book Review: Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches, ed. Thomas White, Jason G. Deusing, and Malcomb B. Yarnell, III Book Review: Organic Church by Neil Cole Book Review: Crazy Love, by Francis Chan AUDIO LEADERSHIP INTERVIEWS Being Faithful in a Secular World with Darryl Hart UPCOMING 9MARKS EVENTS
NEW TRANSLATIONS The Korean translation of The Message of the Old Testament by Mark Dever, The Gospel and Personal Evangelism by Mark Dever, and Twelve Challenges Churches Face by Mark Dever can be purchased here. 9MARKS ON FACEBOOK
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