Met Tab School of Theology

I got myself down to the Metropolitan Tabernacle this week for some of the Summer School of Theology as I usually do. I managed less than half the sessions (7 out of 18 or 20) this time round and heard most of the main speakers only once so I can’t give a proper assessment of the conference. It did strike me, however, that the speaking roster was rather top heavy age wise. I also thought the theme of the working church has been well explored over the years. As with the EMA which always falls the week before, there are things I like (Reformed, Baptist, straight, good ethnic and cultural spread) and don’t like (the sometimes negative tone, singing the same song at the end and they don’t stock my books either!). Like all conferences there is development (but not too much). Perhaps Dr Masters is more relaxed and more willing to indulge in a little humour than in past.

Anyway, this year I caught Robert Reymond twice. Dr Masters was effusive in his introduction and clearly Dr Reymond is a gifted and able theologian. His manner of reading his papers more or less word for word and his almost pedantic repetition of certain phrases does not help the listener, however. His first two papers were on Christ’s example, his final paper on Paul’s example. He made 10 useful points there.

American James Grier, a Tab favourite, is always worth hearing and his closing address on the new heavens and the new earth was fine. I also heard Dr Masters himself on Goals for Office Bearers and Members but this seemed very similar to other messages in the past. Sometimes it is difficult to know the targets for his attacks too. Who are the Reformed men who are going to liberal colleges for degrees?

I missed Roland Burrows and Vernon Higham. Jack Seaton’s opener on God’s Sovereignty and the Church’s Work and Chris Buss on Nehemiah with his nice old illustrations were okay. I really enjoyed Nigel Lacey’s second message, however, on Hindrances to the Concept of the Working Church. Despite the negative title this was a really winsome and challenging message. He spoke firstly of the need for thorough Bible teaching, with unction, realism (no attempts to lump over past glories), leadership, gospel preaching, care over other commitments and certainty about calling. Then about how members can be discouraged, sinful, lacking in faith and vision, tacitly believing that the work is to be done by the few; divisive and pre-occupied with other things.