Pelagius: Know Your Heretics
Justin Holcomb
Know Your Heretics series: Click | View Series
Historical Background
In the early 5th century a debate arose between Pelagius, a British monk, and Augustine, the Bishop of Hippo in North Africa. They disagreed over the relationship between human nature after the Fall and saving, divine grace in Jesus Christ.
When Pelagius arrived in Rome and saw the city’s dim view of morality, he developed a reputation for being a spiritual director who urged people to reform their behavior and live lives as upstanding, moral citizens.
Pelagius’ View of Sin
Pelagius rejected the doctrines of original sin, substitutionary atonement, and justification by faith.
Pelagius emphasized unconditional free will and the ability to better oneself spiritually without grace. This was in direct contrast to Augustine, who believed that humanity was completely helpless in Adam’s sin and in desperate need of grace. Specifically, Pelagius took issue with Augustine’s prayer in his Confessions, which asked God to grant humans grace to act in accordance with his divine commands: “Grant what you command and command what you will.”
(Confessions, X. 40).
Pelagius rejected the teaching of “original sin,” the results of the Fall upon humanity. According to him, Adam’s sin in no way made humans corrupt, but instead “over the years our sin gradually corrupts us, building an addiction and then holding us bound with what seems like the force of nature itself.” (Letter to Demetrias, VIII). Humans by nature have a clean slate, and it is only through voluntary sin that humans are made wicked. Potentially, then, one could live a sinless life and merit heaven.
Pelagius thought that God commanding a person to do something that he lacked the ability to do would be useless: “To call a person to something he considers impossible does him no good.” (Letter to Demetrias, I). If God called humans to live moral lives, Pelagius thought, it should be within their power to carry out such commands.
Orthodox Response
Pelagius’ error was deemed heretical in 416 by the Council of Carthage. Originally Adam, Augustine said, possessed freedom—the ability not to sin. After the Fall, all human beings participate in Adam’s sin, which renders them not able not to sin. After the mediation of divine grace in Jesus Christ humans are once again given the ability not to sin.
Augustine replied to Pelagius’ views in two treatises: On the Grace of Christ and On Original Sin. Augustine writes: “We must realize that Pelagius believes that neither our will nor our action is helped by divine aid…he believes that God does not help us to will, that he does not help us to act, that he helps us only to be able to will and to act.”(On the Grace of Christ, V.6).
Augustine saw Pelagius’ teaching to be a clear denial of Philippians 2:12-13, because Pelagius located the capacity “to will and to do” what pleases God in human nature rather than in God’s grace.”(On the Grace of Christ, V.6 and VI.7).
Why Does All This Matter?
Ignoring the consequences the Fall has on everyone leads to a diminishment of the multifaceted work of Christ. In his ministry Jesus not only bore our sins on the cross, but lived a perfect life in obedience to the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit—the life that Adam failed to live—in order to restore fallen humans to their original state of grace.
It is not only through the grace of God that humans are initially saved but also through this grace that they are sustained. As Augustine put it, God “guards the weak so that by his gift the saints unfailingly choose the good and unfailingly refuse to abandon it.”(On Rebuke and Grace, 38).
Without understanding the magnitude of sin and the plight of humanity, the gracious work of Jesus for us and our salvation seems superfluous. 1 Peter 1:18-19 says: “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.”
Because of sin, humans are not naturally good—that's why we need Jesus.
Mars Hill Music
Stream the latest music from Mars Hill bands in the Mars Hill music library.
What We Should Learn From the Mainline Denominations
Michael Horton
Click through to the Resurgence if you can't see the video
Michael Horton says that “evangelicalism is out-liberaling liberalism.” In this clip, he explains why, and what we should learn from the mistakes and successes of mainline denominations.
In this interview series, Mars Hill PR Director Nick Bogardus interviews Dr. Michael Horton. For more information and resources from Dr. Horton, check out White Horse Inn.
How Jesus Made Disciples
Resurgence Director Mike Anderson shares reflections from the book of John on How Jesus Made Disciples.
Help us promote the Exchange conference in San Diego
Mike Anderson
We're getting ready for one of the most unique and engaging conferences we've ever done. The Exchange conference will take place in San Diego June 17-18.
Speakers
Mark Driscoll
Peter Jones
Francis Chan
Kevin DeYoung
and more (full list here)
How you can help:
- Tell your friends in the area on Facebook or email
- Sign up to get postcards and flyers to hand out at a Southern California church
- Download this PowerPoint slide to help promote the event at your church
Exchange Conference
June 17-18, San Diego: A conference about identifying the Truth and the Lie of life. Learn more.
Featured Media: The Call
Resurgence
Click through to the Resurgence if you can’t see the video.
How can you know if you’re called to plant a church? Called to preach? Called at all? The Seattle Boot Camp in March 2009 welcomed speakers from all over the world to weigh in on the topic of calling, including PJ Smyth of GodFirst Church Johannesburg. Get all the audio and video at the links below.
Session 1: The Calling of the Planter – Mark Driscoll
Session 2: Great Commision Call to Plant Churches – Scott Thomas
Session 3: The Call to Preach – Matt Chandler
Session 4: The Call to Proclaim the Gospel – PJ Smyth
Session 5: Your Vision is Too Small – Dave Bruskas
Session 6: The Call to Endure – Mark Driscoll
Also from Seattle Boot Camp 2009, check out Seven Seasons of a Church Planter Part 1 and Part 2 with Hunter Beaumont (Lead Pastor of Fellowship Denver and Resurgence contributor), and Russ McKendry (Lead Pastor of L2 Church, Denver).
Rain City Hymnal
A fresh approach to 12 ancient hymns. Listen online and get the album from Re:Sound. Find out more.
What Do You Do When You're Rebuked?
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
- Proverbs 9:8
Grow E-Book
Winfield Bevins explains organic discipleship in his free e-book. Get it here.
The Top 5 Qualities of a Successful Church Planter
Dustin Neeley
Click through to the Resurgence if you can't see the video.
In this interview, Acts 29 Director Scott Thomas shares some great wisdom on the top 5 qualities for a successful church planter, some wisdom for those considering planting, and his “one thing” for church planters.
This one is a “can’t miss.” Tweet it up.
Be sure to check out Pastor Scott's recent post Am I a Church Planter? on the new Acts 29 site for more on the qualities of a successful church planter.
For more from Dustin Neeley, check out Church Planting for the Rest of Us.
Acts 29 Network
A network of churches planting churches for the glory of Jesus. Get more info.
I'll be at SXSW in Austin, Texas
Mike Anderson
I'll be in Austin at the SXSW Interactive Festival this week to learn from some of the most talented web, design, and marketing folks on the planet.
I'll be with a few guys from Desiring God and the Gospel Coalition.
We are there to meet people, learn, and work together to help each others ministries. So please, if you're there and you see me come say 'hi'—I love to meet Resurgence folks whenever I can. (I'm the guy in the picture)
Please pray that God would use the wisdom, knowledge, and experience of these people so that the Resurgence will be able to train more missional leaders.
Remember—if you see me come say hi.
Mike's Social Networks:
10 Chemicals Essential to Your Health
John Catanzaro
Hormones series: Click | View Series
The human body produces many chemical messengers and hormones are just one classification. Due to the comprehensive nature of this topic we will scale down and focus on 10 important hormones. Without a healthy balance of these hormones healthy body function is impossible and expedited aging results.
1. Cholesterol
All hormones are made from cholesterol. Cholesterol is the main indicator of internal stress. If cholesterol is high, the stress burden in the body is also high. High levels of cholesterol can cause serious disease like heart attack and stroke. Cholesterol that is too low is not healthy and can indicate loss of vitality. Aging of the body increases when cholesterol is out of balance.
2. Thyroid Hormones
Thyroid hormones control the body’s thermostat (heat) and metabolic rate. When this hormone is out of balance various things like depression, anxiety, dry skin, slow digestion, and fatigue result. Low thyroid can affect cholesterol metabolism and contribute to high cholesterol.
3. Cortisol
Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands and regulates the body’s ability to adapt to stress. When this hormone is too high or low, resistance to stress is impaired and metabolism and immunity usually decline as a result. This hormone is known as the main regulatory hormone which keeps the body’s clock on time.
4. DHEA
This is involved in regulating stress, immunity, metabolism, and hormone production. It is considered the regulating hormone of stress adaptation. Decreased levels will result in decreased energy and resistance to stress.
5. Insulin
Insulin regulates sugar metabolism and cellular metabolism. If this hormone is not working appropriately diabetes, high and low blood sugar is the result. This can predispose to other diseases like obesity, heart attack and stroke. Insulin uptake and use is improved by good diet and daily exercise.
6. Glucagon
Glucagon regulates sugar metabolism and metabolic controls. If this hormone does not work, it impairs insulin, predisposing one to diabetes and other metabolic challenges. Glucagon and insulin must work together to keep a vital internal balance. Glucagon is also known to assist in liver health and detoxification.
7. Estrogen
Estrogen is the hormone of reproduction and cellular integrity and metabolism. Every cell of the human body needs estrogen, but too much can predispose to hormonal related cancer. It is important for women to be on a balanced hormone program that is individualized and enhances hormonal performance and minimizes cancer risk.
8. Progesterone
This hormone is important in many processes of the body. It is the hormone of reproduction, cellular integrity, immunity, and stress adaptation. It is known that progesterone influences the immune system in a favorable way. It also enhances bone building and expedites metabolism making it a useful hormone in weight loss.
9. Testosterone
Testosterone is the hormone of reproduction, cellular integrity, and metabolism. When this hormone is low energy, libido, memory, and stress adaptation are also low. This is a vital hormone for men and women and needs be maintained. Loss of this hormone profoundly affects health and increases the aging factor.
10. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a cofactor hormone that regulates other hormones and metabolic activity. We know this to be a vitamin, but scientific research demonstrates that it is a hormone that is a key regulator of protective activity. Vitamin D protects against cancer, memory loss, and bone loss, and it is used in virtually every biochemical process of the body. It is essential that adequate levels are maintained. Low Vitamin D results in serious risk of disease and loss of health.
It is essential for these hormones be in proper balance. The easiest way to know if they are in balance is to have a simple blood, saliva, or urine test. Remember these 10 hormones—they are essential in minimizing stress, enhancing immunity, decreasing the aging factor, and increasing overall wellness!
Porn Again Christian
Pastor Mark Driscoll's frank discussion on pornography and masturbation is available as a free e-book. Find out more.
How to Outsource Your Mind: Choosing an Assistant
AJ Hamilton
Why Your Pastor Should Outsource His Mind series: Click | View Series
The last post showed why a pastor should outsource his mind by hiring an assistant. This post will offer some guidance on how to choose a good pastoral assistant.
Basic Requirements for an Assistant
If outsourced properly, your assistant should have at a minimum two basic giftings: adaptability and discernment. These may be the counter to your weaknesses, allowing for a fuller response to the needs of your ministry, or they may be enhancements to the collection of talents and gifts the Lord has given you.
1. Adaptability To Change
Church plants are static in only one area—change. At Mars Hill we have found the only constant in our work here in Seattle (and now Albuquerque) to be never-ending, always-fluctuating change. For assistants, the ability to take the changes that are sure to come and approach them with a correct heart and mind is a priceless gift.
An assistant’s job is to build systems to catch as much work from the pastor he serves and to carry out the tasks quickly and efficiently. As the work in the ministry changes, those systems are made obsolete. A correct approach to this inevitability is to simply start from scratch and build new systems if the ones that were created weeks or months ago are now outdated.
An incorrect approach is to stubbornly hold onto old systems, now defunct, simply because they are how things have been done. God brings new things into our ministries to test and shape us; to respond to the new issues in the same manner as the old is a foolish way of doing his work and will result in frustrated pastors, assistants, and church members.
2. Discernment
An assistant should know who needs to have contact with the pastor served. A proper understanding and sometimes a Spirit-directed knowledge of who is truly in need of the pastor's time is crucial.
It is easy for an assistant to read over hundreds of emails and letters and to file each request in its appropriate box: “He needs to read the website,” “She needs to take the membership class,” “They need marital counseling and the pastor I serve doesn't have that responsibility,” “He needs a half-hour phone conversation,” “A simple form email will suffice for these people,” “This guy is Satan and ‘delete’ will work just fine.” The workday continues in this vein because, hey, the systems were built for efficiency and strength of the ministry, so let's use them.
In this routine and task-completion mode, discernment is indispensable as the Spirit nudges an assistant toward a particular email that could easily be handled personally by the assistant or directed to another staff person, but is truly meant for the pastor. I have seen this many times at Mars Hill. God has brought many men forward to carry the counseling load for our people and relieve Pastor Mark of this role, so he can focus on the pulpit and future of the church. Yet when I served as his assistant, there were emails that came into his inbox that I knew could easily and quickly be directed to someone else, but the Spirit led me to pass them on to Pastor Mark instead. The fruit that comes from these instances is great and simply confirms that discernment is needed.
Before You Pick Your Assistant
Read A Message to Garcia by Elbert Hubbard. This title has been highly recommended reading for assistants at Mars Hill Church. "A Message to Garcia" shows a great example of the type of person each pastor should pursue as his assistant.
Remember that the job description is written by you. This article is general because the tasks that Mars Hill assistants carry out are specific and tailored to each pastor. For some, the qualifications and job description include budgeting, tech support, and scheduling; for others editing, research, proofreading, and inventory; for others still, project management. The point is that for each pastor a specifically tailored assistant was found and is now leveraged to make the ministry more efficient and sane so that the gospel can go out.
If you do not yet have an assistant I would recommend that you squeeze your budget like you haven't before and hire one. The benefits we see at Mars Hill are great. As a member of this church it is good to know that the pastors are working in their giftings and that there are men and women in place to enhance their ministries. These people were hired based on the strengths and weaknesses of each pastor, so the resulting assistants vary in skill, experience, and gifts. There is no cookie-cutter model, so trust and pray that the Lord will bring you the help you need in just the right way.
Know that we pray for you and your churches constantly and love being a part of the greater movement God is working out in our country and world.
Assistants: Listen Up
Listen to Humble Service: The Ministry of Timothy. This Mars Hill sermon deals with the topic from a scriptural standpoint and gives a reference point for those seeking to be an assistant.
Pastor AJ Hamilton is the Executive Pastor for Mars Hill Church’s Albuquerque campus. You can watch his amazing testimony and read his previous Resurgence posts here.
Pastor Mark
Get the latest content from Mark Driscoll, the preaching pastor at Mars Hill Church. See More.
What Would Jesus NOT Do?
Jamie Munson
Pastors are called to love, serve, and lead through the opportunities that lay in front of us. With so many paths to choose—and with opposition at every turn—every day becomes a complicated exercise in wisdom and discernment.
Go Ask God
Overwhelmed with the never-ending list of things I could do, I find myself often praying Solomon’s words in 1 Kings 3:8–10:
-
And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?
And also James 1:5: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Be Desperate
If a ministry leader—or any Christian, for that matter—doesn’t find themselves in desperate need of God’s wisdom and discernment, I’d be really concerned. No human can wade through the opportunities in front of him or her without God’s wisdom. When we try, that’s usually when our proud hearts fall.
What Would Jesus Not Do?
When reading the Gospels I’m stunned at Jesus’ ability to listen to the Holy Spirit and wisely and perfectly say “no” to some needs and “yes” to others.
For instance, in Luke 4:42-44, Jesus clearly understands his call and the need to continue moving and preaching throughout all of Judea. He could have stayed there in Capernaum, set up shop, and spent the rest of his ministry helping and healing those who came to him. But he didn’t. Through wisdom he said “no” despite a long line of needy people pursuing him.
How desperately we need the same attentive heart to the Holy Spirit’s leading and the wisdom to say no when that’s the right answer, even though it may ruffle some feathers.
Jamie Munson is the Lead Pastor of Mars Hill Church. You can connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.
Religion Saves
Pastor Mark answers the top nine most-asked questions in Religion Saves: And Nine Other Misconceptions. Find out more.
