Perfect doctrines unfolded in "progressive, living revelation"

"The temptation to weaken this (objective character of revelation) may become especially strong in Biblical Theology. It would seem as if the idea of a progressive, living revelation, that gradually unfolds the perfect doctrines from their perfect germs, no longer suffices to satisfy the prevailing demand for so-called historical, or, more accurately speaking, evolutionistic treatment of sacred things. Hence many, in an altogether subjective manner, make the religion of Israel the object of Old Testament Theology, either minimizing with Herman Schultz the revelation lying back of it to some undefined, immanent process, or limiting it with Bernhard Weiss to a series of divine acts, then making Biblical Theology the description of the views and conceptions in which these acts were appropriated and interpreted. In either case Biblical Theology will have for its object something relative and human, and will be free to exhibit it as passing through the stages of a human and imperfect development.

"...Divine acts are no doubt an integral part of revelation, but they derive their revealing power only from the divine words preceding, accompanying and following them, by which they are placed in their proper light. The highest form for man to communicate his thoughts in is speech, and in this respect also man was made after God’s image. – Geerhardus Vos, The Presbyterian and Reformed Review 4:143-145. [1893]

Christ: "that great good" and "the great end"

"...the introducing of the Messiah and his kingdom and salvation, is plainly spoken of in the Old Testament, as the great event which was the substance, main drift, and end of all the prophecies of the Old Testament, to reveal which chiefly it was, that the spirit of prophecy was given, in that the angel, in Daniel 9:24, speaks of this event, as that in the accomplishment of which prophecies in general are summed up, and have their ultimate confirmation, in which the vision and prophecy, or all prophetical revelation, has its last result and consummation.

"...And besides, it is to be considered, that this event was that in which the people of God, from the beginning of the world, were most nearly and greatly concerned: yea, was of infinitely the greatest concern to them of all prophetical events; for ‘tis evident from the Old Testament, that the Messiah was not only to be the Saviour of God’s people, that should be after his coming; but that he was the Saviour of the saints in all ages from the beginning of the world, and that through his coming, and what be should do at his appearing, they all should have the only true atonement for their sins, and restoration from the curse brought upon them by the fall of Adam, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal life.

"‘Tis much more reasonable to suppose, that many things pertaining to the state and constitution of the nation of Israel, many things which God ordered and appointed among them, should be typical of things appertaining to the Messiah; because it is evident from the Old Testament, that the very being of that people as God’s people, and their being distinguished and separated from the rest of the world, was to prepare the way for the introduction of that great blessing into the world of mankind, of the Messiah and his kingdom. It seems to be pretty plainly intimated by God, at the first planting of the tree, or founding that ancient church, and separating that people from the rest of the world, in the call of Abraham, in the three first verses of Genesis 12 “Now the Lord had said unto Abraham, Get thee Out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee; and I will make of thee a great nation; and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt he a blessing; and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

It here seems to be manifest, that the introducing that great good, which God had in view, to all the families of the earth, was what God had in view, in thus calling and separating Abraham, to make of him a happy nation. It is therefore much the more likely, that many things belonging to them should be typical of the great future things appertaining to this great blessing, which was the great end God designed by them: and especially considering that we find it to be God’s manner under the Old Testament, in both persons and things, to signify and represent beforehand, that which God made or separated them for, or the special use or design God had in view with respect to them. It was God’s manner beforehand to signify and represent these things, in what appertained to them, or happened concerning them." - Jonathan Edwards "Types of the Messiah, Etc.", The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 6

"The Gospel above everything else is revealed propositional truth"

BreakPoint: Musical Mush

I don't always agree with Chuck Colson. In fact, I don't necessarily agree with everything he has written in this "Breakpoint" editorial. But it's interesting to hear a broadcaster (THE PATH carries "Breakpoint") bemoan what many of us have known for some time: Christian radio has embraced music to the point of making itself irrelevant.

In this piece Colson says, "The Gospel above everything else is revealed propositional truth—truth that speaks to all of life. Sure, the Gospel is simple enough for a child to understand. But if you want to study doctrine and worldview, you need the capacity to engage ideas cognitively. Doctrine and biblical teaching does not consist of dry, abstract notions. It is the truth that must be carried to the heart and applied. And there is no escaping that it is truth that must be learned."

I don't agree that the "Gospel above everything else is revealed propositional truth". The Gospel above everything else is a Person who is Truth Incarnate. However, he speaks to a point that has sadly become THE reality for not only Christian radio, but American evangelicalism: propositional truth is unnecessary to the gospel message. Christian radio managers and directors firmly believe they can convey the gospel in 3 minute song-bites. With that kind of mentality (and theology), Colson is right: the church is "blissfully amusing itself into irrelevance" and throwing a blanket over Christ and His Message in the process.