Who are you?

The Biblical Resource Group of Ethnos360 is probably the best-kept secret in our organization. A few weeks ago, I sent an email to all members of Ethnos360 USA, highlighting some of the doctrinal resources available on the Ethnos360 Members’ Hub. I received one reply with a simple question: “Who are you?”

You might be wondering the same thing—who is the Biblical Resource Group of Ethnos360? Here’s the answer.

The Biblical Resource Group was established by the Ethnos360 leadership team in fellowship with Global Partners. Its members include current and former educators, missionaries, and theologians who provide biblical and theological clarity on issues relevant to our mission and fieldwork.

You might also be wondering about Global Partners. Without going into a lot of detail, Global Partners is the parent organization of Ethnos360 USA.

Another related question is, “What does the Biblical Resource Group do?”

The Biblical Resource Group functions at the discretion of the Global Partners board, under its oversight and direction. Its primary purpose is to offer insight into doctrinal issues that impact the ministries of Global Partners and to provide theological resources that address these issues—helping to maintain the integrity of the Global Partners doctrinal statement. In addition, the Biblical Resource Group serves the Global Partners community by curating and supplying other valuable theological resources to support and strengthen ministry efforts.

In a nutshell, that’s who we are and what we do.

We are currently working on several projects. One of them is a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet about the Biblical Resource Group. We certainly appreciate your prayers, as we have several irons in the fire right now.

Blessings,

Bob

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God’s Herd of Cows

Shortly after the Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924, it almost folded into bankruptcy. All the creditors were ready to foreclose at noon on a given day.

That morning, the founders of the seminary met in the President’s office to pray that God would somehow provide. In that meeting was a man named Dr. Harry Ironside. When it was his turn to pray, he said in his refreshingly candid way, “Lord, we know that the cattle on a thousand hills are thine. Please sell some of them and send the money to us.”

Just about that time, a tall Texan wearing cowboy boots and an open-collar shirt strolled into the school’s business office. “Howdy,” he said to a secretary. “I’ve just sold two carloads of cattle over in Fort Worth. I’ve been trying to make another business deal go through, but it just won’t work. I feel God wants me to give this money to the seminary. I don’t know if you need it or not, but here’s the check.”

The secretary took the check and, knowing of the nature of the business that day, went to the door of the President’s office and timidly knocked. Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, the founder and President of Dallas Theological Seminary, answered the door and took the check from the secretary.

When he looked at the amount, it was for the exact amount of the debt. Then he recognized the name of the cattleman on the check, and turning to Dr. Ironside, he said, “Harry, God sold the cattle.”

The Dangers of Bootstrap Christianity

I recently wrote an article titled “Bootstrap Christianity: Denying the Power of the Gospel.” What is Bootstrap Christianity? It can be summed up with clichés such as: “God helps those who help themselves,” “If you’re not living it, you never really believed it,” and “You must make Jesus Lord of your life in order to be saved.” These ideas might sound spiritual, but they gut the gospel of its power and replace grace with self-effort—pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.

Bootstrap Christianity reminds me of an old joke. Ole had just purchased a brand-new chainsaw that was advertised to cut two cords of wood per day. A few days later, frustrated, he returned to the hardware store. “This saw is defective,” he complained. “I worked as hard as I could, but I could only cut one cord in a day!”

The salesman, puzzled, took the chainsaw, pulled the cord, and the engine roared to life. Startled, Ole jumped back and exclaimed, “What’s that noise?!”

The punchline is simple, but the point is profound: Ole had been trying to do all the work on his own, never realizing that the saw had a power source that would make the work not only possible but effective.

In the same way, when people deny or neglect the power of the gospel—the finished work of Jesus Christ and the enabling of the Holy Spirit—they are left to rely solely on their own efforts. They may labor hard, sincerely, and even with great determination, but it will never produce what only God’s power can accomplish. As Paul wrote in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” The gospel doesn’t assist us in saving ourselves—it saves.

Trying to live the Christian life apart from that power is like trying to cut wood with a chainsaw that is not running. It may be sincere effort—but it’s the wrong method. We’re called not to perform but to believe, not to strive but to trust in the One who has already done the work.

The only cure for Bootstrap Christianity is to return to the clarity and simplicity of the gospel Paul preached: salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The gospel is not a call to self-improvement—it is a declaration of what Christ has accomplished. Any message that shifts the focus from Christ’s finished work to the believer’s ongoing effort robs the gospel of its power and leaves people either unsaved or unempowered. It is the gospel itself that is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” We must never be ashamed of its simplicity—or its sufficiency.

Blessings,

Bob

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Christian Growth

One of the great secrets of growth is looking upon the Lord Jesus as gracious. How strengthening it is, to know that He is at this moment feeling and exercising the same love and grace towards me as when He died upon the Cross for me. —John Nelson Darby