Review of The Five Smooth Stones

Robertson McQuilkin provides a biblical approach to the difficult intersection of theology and ministry within the Church.  He identifies the five smooth stones each Christian church must have in order "to prepare for battle against the spiritual Goliaths of the day."

It's fascinating to hear how churches live or die by whether they actively teach and practice these five essential dogmas:

1. Bibliology, the bible.  
   
2. Christology, the lordship of Jesus Christ
   
3. Pneumatology, the Holy Spirit 
   
4. Missiology, the plan of redemption
   
5. Ecclesiology, the church

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Bibliology: McQuilkin's points out that each stone must be viewed through the lens of scripture, pointing out that all Church/Christian actions must be founded and verified by the Bible in a process of three steps: exegesis (what text says), hermeneutics (author's original meaning), and application (modern usage), especially in when dealing with Post-modernism and Therapeutic Theology.

Christology: Christ must be recognized as Lord of the church and each individual, and subsequently as the true leader of a congregation, not just a figurehead for a human usurper.  One of the essential roles of human leadership in the church is to establish a biblical foundation for both unity and purity to avoid moral delinquency and heretical teaching without falling into the sin of schism.

Pneumatology: McQuilkin addresses the need for churches to seek an active 
partnership with the Holy Spirit, who's power and role keeps the spotlight on the Father & the Son.  Regardless of a church's view on cessation, he discusses what the Spiritual Gifts are and aren't (compared to the Fruit of the Spirit and natural talents), while pointing out the lack of precise definitions of the gifts and the overarching need for prayer.   

Ecclesiology: Since God's people are no longer a nation, but a community of believers known as the church, composed of local congregations empowered with all the spiritual gifts as they pursue mandates of: worship, making disciples, member care, and pursuing welfare in the community.

Missiology: Since the whole bible is God's story of redemption carried out by man, McQuilkin points out that the church's primary purpose is the Great Commission, both domestic and abroad through witness (all Christians) and evangelism (those gifted).  The new missions trends of short-term trips and “send money not people” are deemed unrealistic, a violation of biblical mandate, and damaging to both the sending & receiving churches.  Instead a "both/and" of sending your children and financial support bathed in prayer is promoted as paramount.