Mcknight Reflection

McKnight’s presentation was very unique to any message than I had ever heard prior to listening to his. I’m not sure if it my background or my lack of previous theological study, but this was a very unique presentation for me to view. McKnight talked about Luther and Calvin helping to slightly re-shape the tradition of church. I grew up in an African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Kankakee. Growing up I had no idea what that meant. I knew that we were Methodist, but I didn’t know what that consisted of. I knew that a personal relationship with God was essential as a Christian, but I had no knowledge of where that element had been developed from. It was very interesting to hear that both Calvin and Luther believed similar things in …show more content…
This was not terminology that I was familiar with, but the language of the laws was very familiar to me. In the variety of churches that I have been a member of this was the language that had been spoken to me throughout each one. The first law that God loves you and has a plan for your life is one that I can literally hear every pastor that I have ever encountered speaking. The second law speaking of our sin separating us from God is one that has been said in a variety of ways, but all connecting toward repentance. The third, Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin, is often something that I hear as I turn to Turner Broadcast Network or listen to televangelists. The fourth, placing our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior in order to receive Salvation, is something that I can say I have heard at every A.M.E Zion alter call at the end of each church service. I can understand why McKnight feels that the four spiritual laws are what people think are the Gospel, because they are incorporated in a variety of churches. Another aspect that I have noticed in churches that I have visited is what McKnight points from DL Moody. The gospel is described in 3 R’s which consist of; ruined by the fall, ransomed by the blood, and regenerated by the spirit. I have mainly heard the 3 R’s in churches that I visited that were …show more content…
One of the phrases that McKnight said that I had never heard stated was that Jesus was not trying to get people to only accept Him into their lives and do nothing else with it. In my experiences, the Gospel of discipleship is not focused on as thoroughly as accepting Christ into your life. If the aim is to only get people to become saved that is all they will do. I appreciate his openness with sharing that his sister was saved and has done nothing further, I think that so many churches emphasize being saved and do not follow up with the discipleship aspect after that. Many churches assume that after people become saved they will know what else they should do. Not all churches or people have this experience, but I think that this presentation has emphasized that today’s messages are truly lacking the Gospel of