Archive for the Clarus 16 Category


Mar 18

Songs from Clarus ’16

2016 | by Drew Hodge | Category: Clarus 16

Psalm 126:2 says, “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.'” Like God’s people then, we are exiles longing for our home. We live in an uncertain world with challenging waters to navigate. However, we know our King is on His throne and will come again. In the meantime, we sing.

Below is a list of the songs used at this years conference. May they be used to renew your minds and tune your hearts.

Friday Night:

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Saturday Morning:

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Saturday Afternoon:

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Sunday Morning:

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Mar 7

Clarus ’16 Photo Roundup, Sunday, March 6

2016 | by Ben Moore | Category: Clarus 16


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DSC_5252 DSC_5249 DSC_5248DSC_5256 DSC_5262 DSC_5286 DSC_5283 DSC_5281 DSC_5274 DSC_5269 DSC_5265 DSC_5264 DSC_5259 DSC_5258Conference Photography by Ben Moore. Contact Ben at ben236@me.com.

Mar 6

Session 8 Recap: Taylor, “The Great Adoption to Come: The Public Unveiling of Our Identity in Christ” — Romans 8:18–25

2016 | by Nathan Sherman | Category: Clarus 16

Editor’s Note: Scott Pilgreen is a lay leader and biblical counselor at Desert Springs Church in Albuquerque, NM. This post is a summary of Justin Taylor’s message from Sunday morning at Clarus, March 6, “The Great Adoption to Come: The Public Unveiling of Our Identity in Christ,” from Romans 8:18–25.

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In his book, Knowing God, J.I. Packer says: “If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of…” We might think that Packer would finish his sentence with how much he makes of the Bible, justification by faith alone, atonement, etc. But Packer finishes that statement by saying, “…the thought about being God’s child and having God as his Father.” Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our understanding of adoption.

With an understanding of the overall theme of Romans as, “The righteousness of God as revealed in the saving work of Christ on the cross,” Justin Taylor showed how this theme specifically understood in Chapter 8 through the doctrine of adoption.

The Apostle Paul, contrasts those who do not know the Lord against those now that they know Him. In 8:14-17, Paul introduces a new concept that those who believe in Jesus Christ have gone from death to life and are now called sons of God. Justin then asked the question, “What does it mean to truly be a son of God?” We begin to grasp the answer by understanding that Adam was the original son of God, but because of his sin, he forfeited his sonship and became a slave to sin. We, like Adam, have forfeited our status as sons of God because of our sin. However, John1:12 says we become children of God when we believe on His name and receive Him.

In verse 15, Paul then contrasts the spirit of slavery with the Holy Spirit by showing us that we are no longer slaves that fall back into fear, but we have been given the Holy Spirit who adopts us as sons. We are then able to cry out ‘Abba! Father!’ Russell Moore, in his book Adopted for Life, gives an incredible account of he and his wife traveling to Russia to visit their soon-to-be adopted boys. When infants are not being attended to and no one is hearing their cries, they stop crying. But when they realize that someone cares for them, and they cannot be removed from or rescued from their present circumstances, they let out primal and guttural cries for help.

Justin then asked, “How does it work for us to believe in the invisible Abba, Father, especially when there is an Accuser speaking lies to us? How do we know for sure that we have a Father?” The answer is found in 8:16. According to Scripture and the Apostle Paul, the Spirit bears witness with our spirit to our Holy God. The Holy Spirit is a person. He is powerful and sure, and he bears witness that we are God’s sons.

Paul ends Romans 8 with a series of rhetorical question in order to interrogate our unbelief and our preoccupation with this present age. If we are in Christ, Romans 8:31-39 is for us and about us! We have been changed and resurrected, spiritually raised and adopted, but we live in the age of groaning. There is a physical resurrection coming when God alone gets the glory as He brings His sons and daughters home.

Mar 5

Clarus ’16 Photo Roundup, Saturday, March 5

2016 | by Ben Moore | Category: Clarus 16

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Conference Photography by Ben Moore. Contact Ben at ben236@me.com.

Mar 5

Session 7 Recap: Panel Discussion with Owen Strachan, Justin Taylor, and Andrew Walker

2016 | by Nathan Sherman | Category: Clarus 16

Editor’s Note: Nathan Sherman is the Pastor for Youth and Families at Desert Springs Church and future planting pastor of Christ Church, Albuquerque, NM. This post is a summary of a panel discussion from Saturday afternoon at Clarus, March 5, with Owen Strachan, Justin Taylor, and Andrew Walker.

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Question: What advice do you have for us to help us evaluate blind spots?

Justin: Half of the battle is asking the question. The greatest blind spot of all is to not even have the question on your radar screen. Also, living in community where you can talk openly, giving others the freedom to come to you with humble correction without fear that you’ll be offended.


Question: As Christians, how can we foster love for homosexuals?

Owen: We must actually put our theology into practice. If we are going to make good on the doctrine of the image of God, we must get to know our neighbors and ask questions. We do not always have to share the gospel in the first five minutes of a meeting. We should also be seeking to develop long and deepening friendships.

Justin: Rosaria Butterfield is really helpful in her books (here and here) or Youtube talks (here).

Andrew: Don’t play to the caricature that evangelicals and gay individuals are at odds with each other by virtue of their existence. We must demythologize an Us. Vs. Them mentality. The image of God gives us common humanity – we don’t ask questions about how we can foster love for liars.


Question: Can’t religious liberty be used to justify anything?Religious liberty for Muslims when their theology doesn’t embrace freedom for others.

Andrew: Citizens engaged in a democracy get to decide who they elect to represent them. We have a system of laws. Religious liberty is not an absolute right. If there were a religion that were to break American laws, then religious liberty doesn’t protect. The question then becomes, if the government is going to infringe, they must do so in the least restrictive means possible.


Question: Religious liberty for Muslims when their theology doesn’t embrace freedom for others.

Andrew: If we obesrve Muslims in Europe, where there have been militarized Muslims, this becomes a courage issue with local police. Any people must not be allowed to incite violence and denigrate women. A lot of Europe’s problems have not necessarily been a Muslim problem, but rather an assimilation problem.


Question: Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2 tell us to submit to and honor human governments. When should we disobey?

Andrew: There is disagreement within the church and throughout history. My opinion is that when all last resorts have been exhausted and there in no way to seek redress, then the question of non-violent protest can be considered. If you are being assigned or coerced to do something you think is wrong, you may need to resign your position.

Justin: There is a distinction between me vehemently disagreeing with the government and the government coercing me to violate my conscience. I can disagree with same-sex marriage, but still operate as a good citizen. This would change if they began to coerce me to perform a marriage ceremony.

Andrew: Whenever we invoke this question about civil disobedience, we think our situation is the exception, but we need to really consider if we actually have exhausted every means available to us. Violence against abortion clinics would be vigilante justice because there are legislative and judicial means still available. As Christians, we are not given the sword to wield retributive justice – that’s the State’s responsibility.


Question: How should preachers talk about politics from the pulpit? How specific should they get?

Owen: A lot times people ask this question, wondering if a pastor should endorse a candidate. A pastor is a theologian and an ethicist. The pastor is the ethical activator of his congregation. There is no one whom the congregation should look to more for worldview, ethical, and political counsel than the pastor. Pastors must build a worldview in their people, and then when issues are really pressing – when abortion is on the local ballot – I cannot see myself passing up an opportunity to try to strike down this kind of law. Wilburforce gets most of the attention in ending slavery in Britain, but pastors like John Newton preached to these issues from their pulpits.

Taylor: As much as possible, I think we need to keep it at the principial level. The pulpit is such a sacred place. The preacher speaks for God in explaining his Word. If a pastor were to endorse a candidate, he is communicating that he speaks for God on this issue and can unintentionally bind the consciences of his hearers.


Question: You said that life begins at conception. Should taking a pill like the RU-486 pill be considered an abortion?

Taylor: I think if a contraception acts as an abortifacient, it ends a life. In the next few years, I think we’ll see stats that abortions are going down; that is, the amount of women actually walking into clinics will decrease, but it will be in no small part because of pills like these, which is equally problematic. Abortion thrives on secrecy.


Question: Abortion talks about a woman’s right to choose. Why is this not the way we should speak?

Owen: We don’t talk about a murderer’s “right to choose” when he murdered another adult person. We cannot frame this issue in “choice” language – we must locate personhood as the foundation for this conversation.

Taylor: Two quick strategies: You can say, “I’m very pro-choice when it comes to women. Women should have thousands of choices when it comes to decisions in their life.” But when people affirm a women’s “right to choose”, we should respond with: “Choose what?” The response must ultimately be articulated, “The right to choose to end the life of their unborn child.” Getting people to actually say this out loud is helpful.

Also, I would ask pro-choice advocates, “Do you believe that I have the right to choose my 7-month old son?” No one would say that. “Then what is the difference between a newborn and in the womb?” By taking a tack like this, you can reframe the debate so you’re no longer on the defense.


Question: what about legislation that doesn’t get us all the way like late-term abortion bans?

Owen: We’ve seen states pass more pro-life laws in the past 10-12 years than we ever have. State governments matter a great deal. If we can pass a law banning abortions past 20-weeks, we should do it. We have historical precedence for this: slavery was toppled in Britain because it was chipped away at for decades. But all of those chips matter.


Question: Can women work outside the home?

Owen: I think season of life matters. What Paul has in mind in Titus 2, is that if a woman have children they should raise them as best she can. We know from Proverbs 31 that women can certainly contribute in all sorts of ways, but I would push back against a mentality that asks, “How much work can she do?” rather “How much can she give to her family?” Being able to raise kids is a blessing, and we should’t be seeking ways to export the raising of our children to other people in order for mothers to work.


Question: In general, would you vote for a woman to be President of the United States?

Justin: I think its less than ideal, but there are situations where Christians can vote for a woman. It can create an awkward situation where a woman is the Commander in Chief forcefully directing generals. As we get further away from the church and home, it becomes less clear from Scripture, so we should be less forceful in how we prescribe this for others.

Owen: The identity as helper from Genesis 2 is core to a woman’s identity. My wife and I are not training our daughters as identical to boys in the same way that culture would train them. That doesn’t mean that my daughters couldn’t president, but it would be less than ideal.


Question: How do you counsel gender dysphoria?

Owen: I’d want to peel back why they feel such a disconnect between their body and identity. Is there a definable moment in their life? I want to help folks see that gender dysphoria isn’t primarily a physiological problem; it’s a moral problem which stems from the Fall. I want to help them overcome this issue in gospel terms – if it were simply psychological, then we should just send them to therapy.


Question: Suppose someone had a sex change and then became a Christian? How would you counsel them?

Andrew: There are a range of legitimate options that a Christian can suggest. I would suggest that as that person matures and grows in Christ, they would come to slowly come to more embrace their given and physical sex as they are working on embracing a path forward.

Justin: Russell Moore’s post, John or Joan? is especially helpful in thinking through this on a practical level.


Question: How can a man begin to lead his family?

Owen: The first thing a man should do is open the Bible with your wife and family. Begin instructing your family in biblical teaching. Pray with them. When you begin that, you have begun to lead your family spiritually.

Justin: Donald Whitney’s short book Family Worship is very helpful.

Andrew: The threshold is so low. Just do something.