Matt Chandler Responds to Criticism of 'David, Goliath and the Gospel'

In the video below Matt Chandler attempts to explain how the gospel runs through the David and Goliath story in a mere 3.5 minutes.

Dr. Eric Hankins raised concerns about Chandler’s interpretive approach in the video in his recent critique of ‘Christ-centered homiletics’.¹ However, back in January Mike Riccardi, using Chandler’s explanation in the video as an example, wrote a very thorough and gracious explanation of the problems with such an interpretation.²

Chandler was contacted for a response to Riccardi’s article and he replied.

“Thanks for your encouragement and email. I read Mike’s critique and agree with most of it. The issue was having only a few minutes to try and show how a couple of chapters and a ton of history points toward Christ. I leaned a little too heavy on allegory in the video and could have done a better job of setting things up with more time. Overall I thought the critique was helpful and brotherly. Blessing!”³

Chandler’s response is a gracious and godly example of how to respond to criticism. I know I can certainly learn from it. This type of response also paves the way forward toward a more fruitful way in which Christians might seek to understand each other better.

For what it’s worth…

Mark

Eric Hankins. Jason Allen and The Gospel Project. sbctoday.com ↩
Mike Riccardi. Preaching Christ from the Old Testament: Interpretation vs. Application. thecripplegate.com ↩
George Lu. Matt Chandler Responds….Humbly. gospelpoweredliving.org ↩

tagged as David, Goliath, Gospel, Gospel Project, Gospel-Centered, Matt Chandler in Baptist,Christian,Christianity,Church Issues,Culture,Gospel,Southern Baptist,theology

The above article was posted on October 22, 2012

MarieP

The Bible is a road-map to life because it is the Word of the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I don't think it's either-or but both-and. I think Chandler made some false dichotomies. Didn't Paul say in 1 Cor. 10:11, "Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come." In other words, don't be like unfaithful Israel. Doesn't the author of Hebrews 11 lay out for us what faith is by giving us the example of the Old Testament saints, even mentioning David? I don't understand what Chandler means by "What if the stones miss." David trusted in God- that was the whole point- God was the hero and not David, that was the whole point! Sure, Jesus is David's greater Son, but to say that we can't put ourselves in the place of David honestly sounds similar to the whole "let go and let God" teaching. We have a better covenant, built on better promises! True, Jesus is the true Israel, but we are also called the true circumcision. "Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies" Psalm 60:12.

As for Riccardi's article, I think he's right about disliking the language "shadow and substance" in regards to David and Christ, Perhaps both would be happy with the terminology "type and antitype." My pastor is currently preaching through Job, and time and time again, he's brought out that you can't (or at least shouldn't) read the book without thinking of Christ, who is the ultimate blameless Man who was despised and rejected by men and who was thought unclean because of the scandal of the cross. I think it was Spurgeon who said that he'd rather see Jesus where He isn't than to miss Him where He is. But we also are remembering what James admonished us, to remember the patience of Job so we will endure with like faith. It's both and, not either or.

Mark

Marie, I don't think Chandler made an absolute statement that the Bible is not at all a road map for life, but he qualified it with the word "primarily." I think what he means by "What if the stone misses?" is that if certain passages are completely moralized and a certain event does not go your way then you have lost all hope.

I bet if Chandler fleshed this out more that he (and Riccardi) would agree that it is a both/and scenario.

8 comments

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Hi Ben,

I really don't understand your comment. Would you mind explaining how "Chandler doesn’t understand victory in Jesus over any mountain of sin?"

Thanks for stopping by.

Ben

I'm surprised at how Chandler wants to take the Bible reader out of the story of David and Goliath and place it totally on Christ. It seemed to me that Chandler is saying that you're reading the story wrong to think you're David in the story and I'm saying that's exactly how we should read the story. We're the temples of the Holy Spirit. Christ in us the hope of glory. We're to see that with faith in God like David had we can overcome our Goliath (satan-sin-and death).

Hope this clarifies, thanks for inquiring.

Why is Chandler so guarded against victory in Jesus?! Of course we don't take credit for victory over the obstacles of sin but are we not to have faith in Jesus and His grace to overcome anything contrary to the will of God? Did David take credit for victory over Goliath or did he give it to God? It's really sad that Chandler doesn't understand victory in Jesus over any mountain of sin. - Mark 11:22-25

John Strickland

I took a look at Hankins' article, and my only thought is that while there is probably some truth in "not letting the pendulum swing too far in either direction," I'd rather err on the side of giving Jesus more credit in the story than myself.

John Downey

What? He didn't just dismiss the critic by calling him a "Hater" or a "Pharisee". Instead he was humble and teachable. I think he could teach Steven Furtick and Perry Noble a thing or two. I just wish he'd quit showing up at their conferences...but someone has to preach some gospel I suppose.

John D., I'm with you and I don't understand him showing up at their conferences; not at all.

John S., I would rather err on that side too. I am also not convinced that Hankins made the case he was trying to make against the Gospel Project nor Chandler and the others.

Matt Chandler Responds to Criticism of ‘David, Goliath and the Gospel’

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