The conference was much more than address after address, as significant as they were. There were some other touches that contributed to Renew’s excellence. Here are some of my observations on aspects of the conference.
Singing
Commendation and thanksgiving are in order for the decision to have lots of time for singing. A conference on suffering is a great opportunity to sing the praises of our sovereign and gracious God and to take heart in the truths we sing. Singing theologically robust, yet effectual, songs was a great idea.
Among the songs we sang, with the writers’ names, were:
-- “10,000 Reasons,” Matt RedmanVideo testimonies
-- “Bless Be Your Name,” Matt and Beth Redman
-- “Psalm 62,” Aaron Keyes and Stuart Townend
-- “How Great Is the Love,” Meredith Andrews and Paul Baloche
-- “Glorious and Mighty,” Joel Sczebel, Todd Twining and Bob Kauflin
-- “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” Thomas O. Chisholm and William M. Runyan
-- “Whom Have I in Heaven but Thee,” Billy Luz Sprague and Dave Durham
-- “I Have a Shelter,” Steve and Vikki Cook, Bob Kauflin
-- “I Will Praise Him Still,” Fernando Ortega
-- “Glorious Day,” Michael Bleaker, Mark Hall, J. Wilbur Chapman, Charles Marsh
-- “My Hope Is in You,” Aaron Shust
-- “When the Tears Fall,” Tim Hughes
Members of the sponsoring church, Community Bible Church in Nashville, Tenn., shared testimonies via video of their suffering and God’s grace. Among them were: A former elder who has been afflicted with Parkinson’s disease for 28 years; a middle-aged widow; a mother whose twins died at birth, and a wife whose husband was unfaithful. In addition, Scott Willis shared in person about God’s mercy to his wife, Janet, and him in the aftermath of the deaths of their six youngest children in a fiery crash. These testimonies by Christians who have walked through severe trials or are still walking through such afflictions ministered to listeners and honored God.
Quotes worth remembering
Below are some of the many comments made by speakers that struck me as profound or important – and that I was able to write down or my vastly superior, note-taking wife was able to record. I did not attend the Sunday evening session. I had the pleasure of staying with our grandchildren at their home while the rest of the family attended. Therefore, I was unable to hear Joni Eareckson Tada speak. So I have no quotes to share from her. I might also say the shortage of quotes from a speaker does not mean his address lacked substance. It may partly mean my note taking was lacking. For instance, D.A. Carson spoke twice – delivering a big-picture view of suffering from Scripture and a powerful Sunday morning sermon on Lazarus and the rich man. His messages just didn’t lend themselves to brief pull quotes.
“The book of Job shows us that while God is good, He is not safe.” – Tullian TchividjianSummary observations
“Explanations are always a substitute for trust.” -- Tchividjian
“God’s answer to the why question is to point back to who [Himself].” -- Tchividjian
“While pain is real, it’s not random.” – Tchividjian
“His sovereignty is comprehensive. His sovereignty is sweet. . . . And His sovereignty is like a shock absorber to our pain.” – Tchividjian
“[Jesus] didn’t come to deliver us a divine self-help manual. Self-help was our problem.” – Tchividjian
“We are by nature works righteousness-addicted.” -- Tchividjian
“The gospel is about His performance for us, not our performance for Him.” – Tchividjian
“It’s not what you feel; it’s what you know.” – Gladene Senner (video testimony)
“God has no obligation to explain himself.” – Scott Willis
“Suffering is not a license to whine; suffering is a license to worship.” – Byron Yawn
“It’s not surprising that we suffer but that we suffer so little.” – D.A. Carson
“God’s sovereignty doesn’t mitigate man’s responsibility.” – Carson
“Idolatry is anything that de-Gods God.” – Carson
“The opposite of biblical justification is self-justification.” – Carson
Here are some truths I took away from Renew 2012:
1. God is sovereign over suffering.
This point came through repeatedly. It is a vital truth that holds much hope. Suffering is not without purpose. God is in control of it in our lives. God can be trusted. We may not know the why of suffering, but we can more intimately know Him as we walk with Him through our suffering.
2. Suffering is complicated.
As Tullian Tchividjian said, “When it comes to suffering, there are no pat answers.” The reasons human beings suffer are multiple and often unclear. We normally want to find an explanation for our suffering or that of others. In so doing, our thoughts about suffering become human-centered instead of God-centered. The book of Job is not about why but about who.
3. The “prosperity gospel” is powerless in the face of suffering.
The “prosperity gospel” was barely mentioned, but the conference’s biblical perspective on suffering drove home for me more than ever before its heresy and inadequacy. It is a false gospel. It is a human-centered gospel. It needs to be contradicted by faithful teachers and shunned by disciples of Christ.
4. The saints should mercifully love and care for those who are suffering.
As the church, we have the privilege and responsibility to walk beside, pray alongside, love and compassionately support each other as we suffer.
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