The Gospel Coalition - Chicago 2011

Flying into Dallas from Chicago after a week at the Gospel Coalition conference was an adventure. Strong winds made for a roller coaster descent into Love Field only to land in a smoke screened Dallas skyline. It was back to the reality of ministry in a fallen world and a reminder that the purpose of the conference was not just an escape from that reality but a time to refuel in order to run towards the reality. This years conference theme was preaching Christ from the Old Testament. Not only did I come to understand the significance of gospel centered preaching in the Old Testament but I saw it done with great skill by some of today's best reformed thinkers. D.A. Carson and Tim Keller who organized the conference demonstrated with academic flare that the sermon is still alive and well in this postmodern maze. Other speakers included Southern Seminary president Al Mohler, Matt Chandler, Mark Driscoll, Alister Begg, James MacDonald and the "African Spurgeon", Conrad Mwebe. Combine these great speakers with a giant book store filled with great titles, free book give-a-ways, break out sessions featuring more great speakers and symposiums on current issues such as the reality of hell in light of Rob Bells, Love Wins and you have a preacher's paradise. The highlight for me was having personal discussions with John Piper (who carries on a conversation with the same intensity as he preaches!), C.J. Mahanney, D.A. Carson, Al Mohler (never ask him a question if you are not prepared to be asked one in return!) and Tim Keller. As I listened all week to these gifted men I looked for a common theme and it was not difficult to discern - every aspect of the Gospel Coalition was centered on the greatness and glory of God. I walked away renewed by a vision of God's majesty that will mark my life and ministry from here out. What R.C. Sproul said about such giants as Luther, Calvin and Edwards could be said about their contemporaries, "These men all were conquered, overwhelmed, and spiritually intoxicated by their vision of the holiness of God. Their minds and imaginations  were captured by the majesty of God the Father. Each of them possessed a profound affection for the sweetness and excellence of Christ. There was in each of them a singular and unswerving loyalty to Christ that spoke of a citizenship in heaven that was always more precious to them than the applause of men."
Now, having said all of that I am reminded of a very important truth about the Christian life. Spiritual maturity rarely comes in short mountain top spurts but is, as Eugene Peterson reminds us, a long obedience in the same direction. Conferences are great morale boosters but truly have very little long term growth associated with them. The descent into Dallas was a trip down the mountain back into the reality of life in a broken world and the faithfulness of God to redeem it all one day. Let us all be warned of a version of Christianity that jumps from mountain top to mountain top, from one event to the next. this becomes a religious addiction where the addict is always looking for the next fix. This search is nothing more than idolatry. I am thankful for events like the Gospel Coalition conference but it is simply a means to the end of discipleship and mission, the stuff that really matters and keeps us on that long path of obedience.