Dear Friends,
As I’ve said before, I’m ecstatic about the resurgence of interest in the gospel that’s taking place inside the Evangelical church today. The idea that once God saves us his plan isn’t to steer us beyond the gospel, but to move us more deeply into the gospel, is gaining traction in churches of all stripes and denominations. And that’s a great thing. But as far as we’ve come, I’m convinced that God is summoning us to go deeper, to go “higher up and further back.”
As encouraging as it is to see a growing interest in the now-power of the gospel, I still find that there is fear, reservation, skepticism, and nervousness regarding the radicality of the gospel and the hilarious freedom that comes with it. Even those of us who have experienced the unconditional, saving grace of God find it intuitively difficult not to put conditions on grace– “don’t take it too far; keep it balanced”, we say. The truth is, however, that a “yes grace but” posture perpetuates slavery in our lives and in the church.
I wholeheartedly believe that the gospel of grace is way more drastic, way more offensive, way more liberating, way more shocking, and way more counterintuitive than any of us realize. There is nothing more radically unbalanced and drastically unsafe than grace. It has no “but”: it’s unconditional, uncontrollable, unpredictable, and undomesticated. It unsettles everything. There is a dangerous depth to the gospel that needs to be rediscovered and embraced…and that’s what the LIBERATE Conference is all about.
Beginning February 23-25, 2012 at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (and every year thereafter) the LIBERATE Conference will explore the depths and riches of God’s scandalous grace in the gospel. We want it to become a catalytic platform for serious thinking about “a more radical gospel.”
So, to help kick off our first annual LIBERATE Conference, I’ve asked some of my friends to join me–a group of unafraid gospel-addicts, steel-spined soldiers of grace: Michael Horton, Paul Tripp, Elyse Fitzpatrick, Scotty Smith, Darrin Patrick, David Zahl, Rod Rosenbladt, and Doug Sauder. Scott Anderson (Executive Director of Desiring God) will be emceeing and Mark Miller (Director of Music at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church) will be leading us in music.
Whoever you are, we want you here. We’ve intentionally made it as affordable as we can so that finances won’t be an obstacle. We don’t want anything getting in the way of you being able to come. Plus, there’s no place warmer and sunnier during February than Fort Lauderdale!
So, bring your family. Bring your church leaders. Bring your friends. Bring your pastor. It promises to be a time of real refreshing, a genuine grace-fest.
Let the Gospel Revolution Begin,
Tullian
