Review of Packer’s ‘Proclaiming Christ in a Pluralistic Age’
“I was eating pizza the other night with two young men, one a Christian, the other a seeker. We talked about what it means to be a Christian and some of the challenges of the Christian life.
The first surprise was that they/we couldn’t get through two family-sized pizzas. The youth of today!
The second was that they thought that becoming a Christian in 2024 was a way of rebelling.
One told how his boss, a Gen X Roman Catholic, explained that young men shouldn’t be going to church but should instead be finding a girlfriend to sleep with and getting drunk. The young man found this boringly orthodox, ignoble, and distasteful. He felt certain that there must be a better way to live.
I’m having conversations like these more and more these days. Are we seeing early signs of a spiritual awakening among young people? I wonder whether the Lord is beginning a new work among these younger generations.
What I know for certain is that the Church must be ready to receive young seekers. That means that our churches must be refuges of radical, self-sacrificial love. Parched and thirsting for meaning and community in today’s desert of online isolation and spiritual desolation, nothing will attract young people more than an actual flesh-and-blood loving Christian community. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
This kind of strange Christ-like love can arise only from an intimate relational knowledge of Jesus himself.
This is where a book like Proclaiming Christ in a Pluralistic Age comes in.
J. I. Packer (1926–2020) was a British theologian, author of the now-classic Knowing God (1973), who for most of his working life was a professor of theology at Regent College in Vancouver. He stands alongside John Stott, F.F. Bruce, Michael Green, Dick Lucas, Martyn-Lloyd Jones and other superb conservative-evangelical British preachers and theologians of the twentieth century.
The book is in fact a lightly edited transcription of five lectures that Packer first delivered at Kuyper College in Grand Rapids in 1978, and then at Moore College in Sydney. …”
–At AP, Campbell Markham reviews J I Packer’s Proclaiming Christ in a Pluralistic Age. (Bold added.)
And you can also see or hear Packer’s five lectures at the Moore College Annual Lectures in 1978 – in glorious grey and white, thanks to the Donald Robinson Library at Moore College.
His series title was “We Preach Christ Crucified”. Very much worth watching.
At about an hour each, why not consider watching these with your Bible Study?
Lecture 1 – We’ve a Story to Tell.
Lecture 2 – The man Christ Jesus.
Lecture 3 – He emptied himself: the divinity of Jesus Christ.
Lecture 4 – The wonderful exchange.
Lecture 5 – No other name: the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.
Related:
The Moore College Annual Lectures 2024 with Tom Schreiner.
14 Lesser-known details about J. I. Packer
“Much can be said about J. I. Packer that, while personal to Packer, is nonetheless generally known, or at least not unexpected to someone who knew him as a public figure. But everyone has a dimension of personality and life that is hidden from public view and known mainly by family members and close acquaintances. I have collected data that belongs to this lesser-known side of J. I. Packer. …”
– At Crossway, Leland Ryken shares some of his research on J I Packer, who was called home three years ago.
Image courtesy Regent College Vancouver.
Many posts about J I Packer elsewhere on our website.
Driscoll, Schaeffer, and Packer on the Size of your Church and the Idolatry of your Heart
Just in time for Sunday, three thought-provoking quotes, via Justin Taylor.
He also mentions the excellent “Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome” by Kent & Barbara Hughes.
Photo of J I Packer courtesy Crossway.
Anglican Network in Canada to open ‘Packer College’
“Next September the Anglican Network in Canada plans to launch its own theological college in St John’s, Nfld, to be called Packer College after world-renowned theologian J.I. Packer.
Dr. Packer, author of the Christian classic, Knowing God, was a member of ANiC who died in 2020. His widow Kit gave permission for his name to be used with ‘much joy’ and ‘hearty approval,’ said Diocesan Bishop Charlie Masters when he made the announcement in his opening charge to the ANiC Synod held online on Nov. 17.”
Photo: J I Packer at Regents College Library.
See also Bishop Charlie Masters’ Synod charge, 17 November 2021.
J I Packer on the Death of Death
Today marks one year since J. I Packer was called home to be with Christ.
It’s very appropriate that the Gospel Coalition has republished his Introductory Essay for John Owen’s Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
“There is no doubt that Evangelicalism today is in a state of perplexity and unsettlement.
In such matters as the practice of evangelism, the teaching of holiness, the building up of local church life, the pastor’s dealing with souls and the exercise of discipline, there is evidence of widespread dissatisfaction with things as they are and of equally widespread uncertainty as to the road ahead.
This is a complex phenomenon, to which many factors have contributed; but, if we go to the root of the matter, we shall find that these perplexities are all ultimately due to our having lost our grip on the biblical gospel. …”
Image: Regent College, Vancouver.
J. I. Packer’s Final Book
“J. I. Packer, who went to be with his Triune covenant Lord on July 21, 2020, was never able to see this final book in print. But The Heritage of Anglican Theology was near and dear to his heart, the one book he wanted to give his last years to. …”
– At The Gospel Coalition, Justin Taylor introduces J. I. Packer’s last book.
Image: Regent College, Vancouver.
J.I. Packer: A Personal Remembrance
“Shortly after the death of Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981), Dr. Packer delivered a lecture-sermon at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary entitled, “Martyn Lloyd-Jones: the Greatest Man I Ever Knew.”
It says something important about Packer that despite the sad falling-out of Lloyd-Jones and the Anglican Calvinists in October 1966, he paid such a glowing tribute to “the Doctor.”
A number of men of my generation will want to join me in saying that J. I. Packer was the greatest man we ever knew. …”
– Terry L. Johnson adds his remembrance of J. I. Packer – at Reformation21.
David Short remembers J I Packer standing for the gospel
As part of an online GAFCON tribute to Dr J I Packer, Canon David Short in Vancouver remembers and gives thanks.
David’s contribution begins here. He goes on to recall the crisis in the Diocese of New Westminster from 32 minutes – but watch it all. Archbishop Ben Kwashi, Dr. Leslie Thyberg and Dr. Joel Scandrett also take part.
David mentions Packer’s essays “Why I walked” and “Speculating in Anglican Futures”.
Most encouraging.
An Evening Conversation with J. I. Packer – A 1999 Interview by Mark Dever
In October 1999, Mark Dever interviewed Dr J. I. Packer in an event at Capitol Hill Baptist Church.
The 59 minute video from 9Marks is a very worthwhile use of your time.
Remembering J I Packer — GAFCON Live event
GAFCON is holding a live event to remember, and give thanks for J I Packer.
It starts at 6:00am Eastern Australian time, tomorrow (Thursday 30th July 2020).
Memorial service for J I Packer now online
After some technical problems with the livestream, St. John’s Vancouver has now posted the video recording of the Memorial Service for Dr. J. I. Packer.
Even though, due to COVID-19 restrictions, only a relatively small number of people were present, many around the world continue to thank God for Dr. Packer.
Canon David Short (pictured) delivered the sermon.
Funeral Service for J I Packer — 4:00am Friday 24th July Sydney time
The Funeral Service for J I Packer will be held at St. John’s Vancouver (his church for 37 years) at 11:00am Thursday 23 July 2020, Vancouver time.
That’s 4:00am Sydney time on Friday 24th July.
The order of service can be downloaded here.
Update:
We Preach Christ Crucified — J. I. Packer at the 1978 Moore College Lectures
The Donald Robinson Library at Moore College has digitised and made available the videotapes of Dr. J. I. Packer’s 1978 Moore College Lectures.
His topic? “We Preach Christ Crucified.”
Wallace Benn’s Tribute to J. I. Packer
“It was announced on Friday 17th July that Dr. Packer had passed away.
It is a sad day for Reformed Evangelicals because we have lost our champion, but not for him as he is now with the Saviour he honoured throughout his life.
He was the best Anglican Evangelical theologian of his generation, and a brilliant communicator of warm-hearted and big-minded classical evangelicalism. His wonderful books will live on, and as they are read by a new generation, will, please God, give them a deeper and more profound understanding of the Christian Faith, and deliver them from a weaker and more muddled modern version…”
– Bishop Wallace Benn shares his tribute to J. I. Packer, and Lee Gatiss links to many of Packer’s articles in Churchman – at the Church Society website.
J I Packer: An evangelical lion
Earlier today, Dominic Steele spoke with Peter Jensen and Mark Thompson to remember and give thanks for J I Packer.
Mentioned in the discussion:
Why I Walked: Sometimes loving a denomination requires you to fight (PDF file).
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…