12 Biblical Values (Part 3)

12 February 2006 word-and-spirit

OK, here is very briefly, my thoughts on John Hosier’s choice of 12 biblical values (see part 1 and part 2).

The 12 biblical values list is not meant to be exhaustive, and Dan pointed out that his book does indeed include quite a few more. John Hosier himself acknowledged from the outset that grace was not included in the list, not because it wasn’t an important biblical value, but rather that it permeated all the other values. Another notable missing newfrontiers emphasis was church planting, and as Ger pointed out in the comments, restoration was not there either. Despite including the controversial subjects of baptism in the Holy Spirit, and modern day apostleship, other potentially explosive issues such as women elders or preachers and eschatology were left out. Other pervasive Biblical themes such as holiness, mission, prayer, suffering and healing were not included either.

Despite these omissions, I am pleased to see churches in newfrontiers taking the time to communicate their biblical values in a structured way. We can too easily assume that sharing a common vision is enough. However, two people may have the same vision (e.g. to build a church of 1000 people), but if their values are different, what and how they build will be very different. As newfrontiers seeks God for more churches, and increased growth in existing churches, I pray that we will truly see these 12 biblical values (and more) at the foundation of all that is built, that the church would truly be “Christ’s Radiant Church” bringing glory to God alone.

2 comments

Ger 13 February 2006

Mark, thanks for this - I really appreciate this discussion. My journey at Regent has included trying to understand the hallmarks of the different movements (ie Newfrontiers, Pioneer etc), how they have changed over the last 10 years and how they now compare with other denominations. ..I note that in the back of Terry Virgo's book 'God's Lavish Grace' there is the following comment: .Newfrontiers is a worldwide family of churches on a mission to establish the kingodm of God by:.- restoring the church.- making disciples.- training leaders.- planting churches....I would like to get Hosier's book to flesh out these points...What is interesting for me is where all these different movements draw their boundaries (eg on believer's baptism/recognition of apostles etc) and on what issues they allow local churches some flexibility (eg possibly over women elders/preachers, eschatology? I dont know if Newfrontiers insists on certain teachings in these areas or not - you tell me!). It is interesting reading Dan's recent posts about CJ Mahaney and SGM/PDI and seeing where they have drawn their boundaries. I grew up enjoying hearing both CJ and Larry Tomzak speak at Bible Weeks, and was saddened to see them go separate ways. CJ clearly moved further to the reformed position which from what I can see has become a .boundary hallmark. - hence the name change to Sovereign Grace! Interestingly, I see from the SGM website that they allow their local churches freedom in their pneumatology - they allow the traditional pentecostal 'baptism in the spirit' position as well as a 'third wave' fullness position. Other movements have drawn boundaries in different areas, eg Ministries Without Borders promotes head covering for women whilst exercising certain giftings and for them I understand that to be a boundary issue. I had a good chat with a chap from Salt & Light the other day, and they seem to allow a lot of elbow room on certain issues - they even permit infant baptism (there is an Anglican church within the network!) - although it will be interesting to see what happens over women elders as I understand they are looking at that presently. ..I must say that I personally appreciate the 'broad' approach of Salt & Light; it is refreshing. A great deal depends on how each movement sees the role of the apostle - I think some see them their role as quasi-papal.
Dan 13 February 2006

Thats an interesting insight on the significance of the names of the movements, that I had been thinking about! Compare these changes over the years ... they do speak volumes!..Coastlands ... became New Frontiers International ... which became NFI (what's that?) ... which became Newfrontiers...That seems to me to mark the emphasis on being a movement and is reflected in their name...People of Destiny Internation ... became PDI (what's that?!) ... which became Sovereign Grace Ministries...Again I think your suspicion is right that rather than seeing their primary role as being a people emphasising their mission, their name and therefore position higlights their .boundary hallmark....In terms of what local churches within the movements are allowed, I've never heard any direction from the apostolic team in Newfrontiers as to what the churches can and cannot do - but I think the teaching at Brighton Leaders Conference makes that pretty clear! Hence something like baptism in the Spirit is marked as being a vital hallmark...This is why the paper by Jeff Purswell is extremely interesting in arguing that local churches are now free to forge their own individual pneumatology. My suspicion was that with no direction from the top, no forging would happen and it seemed that I was right (in the UK situation anyway)...Sorry for the rambling!