I can still remember Nick (names have been changed to protect the innocent… or not) calling me and asking me, “Elda, what do you know about the Emerging Church?” Truth be told, I didn’t. That’s what set me off in my search. I started reading about it, mostly online from blogs and news articles, pretty much the only places I could find anything about it. Interestingly, it paralleled my own fledgling search to understand Reform theology and doctrine. Having been convinced over time that God was leading me in this direction, I discovered the likes of Mark Driscoll and Tim Keller. That led me further and further on my journey to the likes of Albert Mohler, Mark Dever, and ultimately John Piper. I’d heard of John Piper before. My missions pastor had encouraged me to read “Let the Nations Be Glad” and I did. It was powerful. I wanted to read more, but I was busy with other stuff and didn’t pursue it much after that, until the young adults I mentored began asking questions. I had no real answer for those questions because I’d never really bothered to ask the questions. I’d studied the bible as a young believer, but it had been cursory, shallow. I wanted to dig deeper but never really found anyone to help me. No one that I thought would be able to discuss it seemed interested in discussing a systematic and biblical theology. Or maybe I didn’t know what questions to ask. I do know when I mentioned Reform theology, no one wanted to discuss it; to say anything about it other than dissuade me from discussing it. Or that’s what it seemed to me.
Needless to say, that didn’t stop me. It’s been three years and I’ve only scratched the surface. And that’s what has led me here.
Here is the 2010 West Coast Conference for Ligioner Ministries, titled “Christless Christianity.” Along with John Piper, I’ve also discovered John MacArthur, Michael Horton and RC Sproul and their writings and ministries. I have been wanting to attend another conference after having attended a regional Desiring God conference a couple of years ago. I lamented the fact that many of the wonderful conferences that I heard about were in places like Minneapolis, Chicago, Louisville, Orlando; places I’m not, nor am I close. So, when I heard that Ligonier was planning a West Coast conference, I rejoiced! So, here I am.
Here’s what you can find at Ligonier Ministries describing this conference:
Countless churches are preaching a message that has little if anything to do with the biblical gospel. On March 26–27, 2010, Ligonier Ministries will host our West Coast Conference in Los Angeles, Calif., in order to help the church address this pressing problem. Michael Horton, John MacArthur, Peter Jones, and R.C. Sproul will come together to examine many of the popular misunderstandings of the gospel in our day and seek to equip evangelicals to stand firm with the good news delivered once for all to the saints.
I hope to share what I hear and learn.
All Things Elda 