Today, I finished reading Death by Love by Mark Driscoll. Unlike most books, this is written as a collection of case studies and letters toward those involved in conversation with Driscoll. His goal and desire is simple in word, but more difficult in practice: to show each of the varying situations the power and meaning of the cross and it’s relevance to them.
Like Driscoll, I do fear that the church has lost the power of the cross beyond salvation. We typically rely on the cross in that by it’s power we are saved, but rarely do we explain it’s usefullness in other situations.
Driscoll tells of Jesus on the cross as Katie’s Christus Victor, Thomas’s Redemption, Luke’s New Covenant Sacrifice, David’s Gift Righteousness, John’s Justification, Bill’s Propitiation, Mary’s Expiation, Gideon’s Unlimited Limted Atonement, Hank’s Ransom, Caleb’s Christus Exemplar, Kurt’s Reconciliation, ans Susan’s Revelation.
Having a proper understanding of the power of the cross in all of life – realizing that the cross draws and repels, but it also heals and frees – is necessary in my endeavor to plant a church. Any minister or pastor should read this book. It’s a treasure trove of knowledge that, I believe, points us all in the right direction.
But [Jesus] was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5
