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Enjoying God Blog

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My good friend Ray Ortlund is pastor of Immanuel Church in Nashville, TN. Ray and I were at Dallas Theological Seminary at the same time, although he is older than I am (I won’t tell you by how much). Ray was also the primary reason I decided to bring our church into the Acts 29 network. His arguments for joining were persuasive (his arguments on most things typically are) and I’ve never regretted following his advice. Continue reading . . .

My good friend Ray Ortlund is pastor of Immanuel Church in Nashville, TN. Ray and I were at Dallas Theological Seminary at the same time, although he is older than I am (I won’t tell you by how much). Ray was also the primary reason I decided to bring our church into the Acts 29 network. His arguments for joining were persuasive (his arguments on most things typically are) and I’ve never regretted following his advice.

Recently I watched a brief video where Ray shared what he calls the “Immanuel Mantra.” It has three parts.

First, “I’m a complete idiot.”

Second, “My future is incredibly bright.”

Third, “Anyone can get in on this.”

Again, the first part of the mantra is, “I’m a complete idiot.” Before you react, Ray didn’t say that about anyone else. He said it about himself. Whether or not you say it about yourself depends on how honest and realistic you are about your condition apart from Jesus Christ. “The simple fact,” says Ray, “is that there isn’t one nano-second when God looks at me and says, ‘Ooh, that’s impressive.’” If you’ll take a moment and honestly reflect on the biblical portrayal of humanity apart from Jesus Christ and that all you have become is by God’s grace through Jesus Christ, I think you’ll agree with Ray’s assessment.

But the good news is, “My future is incredibly bright.” Why can a “complete idiot” say this? Ray says it is because Jesus lived the perfect life that we should have lived and died the perfect death that we deserved. We only have to receive such mercy with the empty hand of faith.

Finally, “Anyone can get in on this.” It makes sense, doesn’t it? Since it is all of mercy, no one deserves it and yet it is available to all. Since the gospel is all grace and mercy, it can be for anyone, regardless of how idiotic you may be! It can be for you, says Ray, “if it’s not too far beneath you.”

Think about it.

3 Comments

Agree with Daniel, while there is an element of truth in the statement, it too easily feeds the common error that as regenerate saints we are still "totally depraved."

I understand that "I am a complete idiot" is getting at total depravity, which is legitimate when it comes to our helplessness in earning God's redemption (Isa. 64:6, Luke 18:19, Rom. 3:9-12).
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But it seems clear that Ortland shares this mantra because he intends others to adopt the same view about themselves. Pastorally, wouldn't it also be wise and biblical to affirm with point (1), "...but I have human dignity," (Gen. 9:6, Matt. 12:11-12)? This applies to believer and non-believer alike, and might be an inviting message from God for anyone who has been abused and taught to think it's "their own idiotic fault." (That is far too common, as you noted a few posts ago.) In other words, I think the mantra covers "our sin" and "God's forgiveness," but I think it's missing an important piece about "sin done against us" and "God's healing".

My sin imputed to God Himself in the flesh, Jesus Christ the Righteous! His Righteousness imputed to me, the UNrighteous. Unfathomable grace and love to us! Incomprehensible mercy to us! Thank You Holy Spirit for spiritual resurrection! He raises us from the spiritual death we are enslaved by and clothes us in HIS Resurrection life? Great God, thank you!

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