Logizomai: A Reasonable Faith in an Unreasonable World

By Kyle McDanell

Logizomai is the Greek word meaning "to reckon," or "to reason." The Apostle John identifies Jesus as the "Logos" (John 1:1, 14)-the Divine Word. To most Christians in the West today, Christianity is nothing more than a duty, a feeling, a name badge, or something one does on Sunday's. But Christianity is more than that. Christianity is a complete worldview that makes sense of the world. A right theology results in a right understanding of the world and the gospel is that right theology. The Church is sick because she is shallow. What we need is a logizomai faith-a reasonable faith. Such a reasonable faith encounters hardships with perseverance, animosity with love, and evangelism with Spirit-filled skill. Most refuse to share their faith because they don't understand it and are unable to articulate it. If Christianity is logizomai, then the issues we face today present no real challenge. We must, therefore, learn to apply the truths of the gospel to our dying, hurting world. To do so, we must have reason, rooted in the gospel and inspired by the cross.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Oct 14, 2010
• ISBN: 9781498272476

Kyle McDanell

Kyle McDanell is the pastor of Goshen Baptist Church in Falls of Rough, Kentucky and holds an Advanced Masters in Biblical and Theological studies at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

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Logizomai

A Reasonable Faith in an Unreasonable World

Kyle McDanell

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Logizomai

A Reasonable Faith in an Unreasonable World

Copyright © 2011 Kyle McDanell. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.

Resource Publications

An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

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ISBN 13: 978-1-60899-482-3

ISBN 13: 978-1-4982-7247-6

Manufactured in the U.S.A.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible , Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by Permission. (www.Lockman.org)

To my young son Elijah who is the future of our family, nation, and faith. May he be bold in the gospel, faithful to the cross, and articulate in the Spirit in a world that will be more depraved in his day than it already is in mine.

1 Timothy 1:15–20

As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertion. But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

1 Timothy 1:3–19

Foreword

In his debut work, Kyle McDanell has produced a unique work that calls evangelical believers to a life and a worldview that resembles the Author of their salvation. McDanell’s book will challenge believers to engage in an honest conversation with themselves about the importance of connecting a lost and dying culture with the gospel. This call to an authentic Christian life confronts lukewarm believers in a way that many believers long for – the love of a competent and protective Shepherd who will point toward the authority of the Scriptures in all things pertaining to justification and sanctification. McDanell, a well respected pastor who is mighty in the Scriptures, gives his audience a clear call to an understanding of those issues that pervade society and that touch many in a personal way. McDanell applies a reasonable faith to all dimensions of life whether it be against unorthodox theologies, societal decay, or depraved policies or in favor of sound doctrine or gospel-driven convictions and truths—all of which the author is clearly passionate.

The tenor of this book will convict and move the reader to uphold the faith once for all handed down to the saints (Jude 3). This important work will set the theological engagement pace in which the author, time and time again, points us towards the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Nicholas Clark

Pastor, Cash Creek Baptist Church

Henderson, KY

Preface

As a pastor, I understand what it means to be frustrated and broken hearted. I oftentimes find myself in broken homes, comforting mourning families, and picking up the pieces that open, unrepentant sin leaves behind. It is easy to give up and call it quits. The world is a mess and the lives of most Christians do not look much better. Call it ignorance. Call it indifference. Call it cowardice. Call it bad theology. Regardless of the name, Christians simply do not seem to understand nor do we live by the gospel of Christ.

I believe that the only hope the Church has is the gospel of Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection accompanied with our belief and repentance is the only hope and the only foundation by which to stand on. The gospel has been cheapened in our pulpits, ignored in our homes, and silenced in our culture. Every day is a reminder of how the gospel should shape all that we say, do, think, act, confess, and believe.

The gospel shapes our worldview, our voting habits, our conversations, our faith, our worship, our evangelism, our families, our relationships, and our understanding of the world and humanity. I am convinced that what we need more than anything is a return to the gospel. We cannot have a revival or a spiritual awakening or be able to articulate our faith without a return to the gospel.

This book is about the gospel and how it shapes our thinking. Christians are under assault from the culture to abandon their faith and convictions. Because the gospel has been ignored by so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ, we have become all too willing to give in to the pressures of the depraved world around us.

My goal in this book is to show the reader how the gospel is more than just words on a page, a simple prayer without regeneration, or a philosophy to adapt, but a lifestyle to be embraced and a worldview to be articulated. Our hope and faith is shaped by the message of the gospel and it is our responsibility as Christians, to articulate it without apology. Until Christians understand and apply the gospel in our world today, we will be fools to believe that somehow the culture will be redeemed.

I pray that the reader will be awaken from their spiritual slumber and ready to engage the culture, evangelize the lost, and embrace the saving gospel of Jesus Christ.

Acknowledgment

There are so many people to thank who have contributed in their own way to the publishing of this book. Without a doubt, if it were not for the grace of God, this book would have never been accomplished. God, in His goodness, has redeemed me though I did not deserved or earn it. It would be foolish for me to assume that my own wit or abilities has granted me this opportunity. As God has granted me grace, he continues to grant me unmerited blessings. He deserves greater worship than we could ever offer Him in a million lifetimes.

I must also thank my wife for her patience and encouragement for this entire process. Through long, late nights and stress, she has only encouraged me throughout this endeavor as a faithful, loving wife. Proverbs 31:10 asks who can find an excellent wife? I have found one and her worth is far above jewels.

I must also thank the church I have been blessed to serve: Goshen Baptist Church. For over two hundred years, God has used this rural community to spread the gospel and He continues that work today. I pray that this book only adds to the legacy of faithfully proclaiming the gospel that Goshen has obediently sought to fulfill. God is not done with us yet.

Furthermore, I must thank everyone who has helped throughout the editing process including the publisher, the Adkins’, and numerous others who have given me insight and correction along the way. I have benefitted from the wisdom of many saints and professionals.

Finally, I must mention the countless number of friends and family members who have in some measure contributed to this effort. Your patience and encouragement have made this possible. May God continue to use you in my life and in the lives of His saints.

Introduction

Attend any typical church in America and you will see a sad sight. Apathy. Division. Hypocrisy. Pride. Anger. Frustrations. Complaining. Factions. And rampant sin. Why? I believe it is because Christians are ignorant of the gospel. We have bought into cheap grace, a discounted devotion that fails in its sincerity and ignores the will of God.

No wonder the world mocks Christians. Ask the average church member what the gospel is, why marriage is so central to the Christian and to society, why the world is in such dire straits, and what it means to be a Christian and the ignorance of Christians will be evident. Most Christians in America today are spiritually stupid and culturally corrupted. No wonder. Scripture means little to the average believer. Sure, we hold our Bibles up high . . . only to place it on a shelf, until next Sunday. We spend more time chasing fads, updating our music ministry, playing the latest messy game with our youth, telling the latest jokes in our pulpits, and complaining about the future in our senior adult ministry than we seek doctrinal fidelity, proclaiming the gospel, and evangelizing the lost. The average church could not care less about the gospel, the Christian worldview, or even what it means to be a Christian. Thus, we have become a body of ignorant, short-sighted, inadequate believers who show up on Sunday to be entertained. As a result, most Christians fail to be challenged, exhorted, or called to reach a world that is hurting and longing for answers in which we are to be prepared to give and yet are all too often too lazy to provide.

The Church is in awful shape! The world walks by and we have nothing to say. Rather than engage our culture with the truths of the gospel, Scripture, sound theology, and the Christian worldview, we passively ignore the realities around us. People are hurting. Families are splitting. Men are growing up not knowing what it means to be a man, a husband, or a father. The sad state of our churches are reflected in the sad state of our marriages, home lives, relationships with the lost, and dysfunctional churches.

What Christians need most is the gospel. Where we turn for such a message is Scripture. Scripture not only shapes our understanding of God, but it also establishes our worldview. If we really believe in the Bible as the ultimate and exclusive source of truth, then we should let it shape what we believe, how we act, how we interact, what we say, and how we engage the culture.

By the looks of things, we Christians honor Jesus with our lips, but dishonor Him with our ignorance, apathy, and unconcern for the hurting, lost world around us. Our hearts are revealed, not in the checks we put in the offering plate for other church members to see, but in how little we care about the dying world around us. We pray more for the size of our wallets than for our responsibilities as ambassadors for Christ.

God save us from our apathetic cowardice!

So what is real Christianity? In our world today, there are extremes. First, there is the fire insurance faith that teaches that once we walk the aisle, say a prayer, and get baptized, we are saved; saved from the wrath of God; saved from hell; saved for eternity. It is true that the gospel is about one’s standing before God and we must not under-emphasize that. However it is much more than just a free-ticket-out-of-hell card. A fire insurance faith cheapens the gospel because it does not address