So What Happened at the Presbytery Meeting?

A Presbytery Report to the Los Angeles Reformed Presbyterian Church:

So What Happened at Presbytery?

The Presbytery of the Pacific Coast met in San Diego this weekend to hold the annual spring meeting. Ruling Elder Hal Reyburn was elected Moderator and commented that he was thankful to be elected and that the agenda of this meeting “could be the most exciting agenda” he has seen in 35 years as a ruling elder.”

All of the reports were in the hands of the presbytery well in advance so that the court could focus on discussion and prayer of the papers and reports before them. This proved to be beneficial because the workload was intense and God glorifying!

The meeting began with the usual business of the election of officers, the calling of the roll, and opening devotional exercises. Pastor Eshelman was again elected as the clerk of presbytery with Ryan Hemphill as assistant clerk. Pastor Mark England opened with devotions around the theme “doing all things lawfully and in order” and reminded the presbytery of it's duties and responsibilities as a presbytery of the RPCNA.

The candidates and credentials committee (C&CC) has quickly become the busiest committee of presbytery. The C&CC introduced Gil Garcia, Paul Ruchtie, and Greg Whitlock to the court as potential students of theology. The presbytery voted to make them students of theology, something for which this writer is abundantly thankful! The C&CC is also working with Mr. Aldo Yannon of San Francisco, CA, who is seeking ordination in the PC Presbytery. He is currently teaching Greek and Hebrew classes to Christians in San Quentin State Prison. Mr. Jason Ryce, a candidate who is eligible to receive a call as pastor, was also introduced to the court as a possible addition to our presbytery's membership. Elder Hector Pino was added to the C&CC since a majority of the C&CC work will be with Los Angeles RPC members. Ask that God would equip all involved since this is a new experience in many ways for our presbytery.

The talk about Aldo and Jason brings us to other exciting news in the presbytery: There is a small group of families in Tucson, AZ who are hoping to see an RP Church planted in that area. Jason Ryce has been invited by the presbytery to come into discussions about how we could make this happen. The court believes that God is moving quickly towards making this a reality and has decided to establish a “Tucson Commission” (a commission has full authority to act on behalf of the presbytery) to oversee the planting of an RP Church in that city, as well as, Lord willing, helping the Ryce family move to Tucson to begin that work. Jason and his wife are in Tucson this week to do “exploratory work.” Elder Huizing and Pastor Eshelman have been appointed to that Commission. Pastor Eshelman turned down the request to have him act as chair to this commission (see, he can say, “no.”). The hope is that Jason would come onto the Phoenix Session as an associate pastor and transition into ful time ministry in Tucson as the Lord sees fit.

The discussions with Mr. Yannon have led to the possibility of a church plant in the San Francisco Bay area. There are a number of families there that participate in a monthly psalm sing and time of study at the home of Yannons. A committee has been established to go to the Bay area and do exploratory work. That committee is Pastors McCracken and Hemphill, along with our very own Elder Pino. Jesus is on the move, folks! Prayers are needed and requested.

The presbytery took time to meditate on the fact that we will be celebrating our 100th anniversary as a presbytery on June 6th of this year. A number of recommendations came from the Los Angeles Session surrounding this special time in the life of our presbytery. There will be a “Solemn Assembly and Day of Fasting” on June 4, 2011, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of our presbytery. There will also be a time of teaching leading up to that Assembly that will give instruction to the churches on the nature, purpose, and validity of fasting.

The presbytery has also set up a “Next 100 Fund” that would be for the purpose of financial gifts (we would like prayers too!) to support church planting efforts for the future of our presbytery. If anyone is interested in a donation to that fund, please see Pastor Eshelman ($20 to $2 million... it all helps). There will also be a Day of Thanksgiving at the Summer Family Conference to give praise to God for sustaining grace over 100 years in the West (what else is 100 years old in the West?)!

Fraternal Greetings were warmly received from the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; the Reformed Church in the United States; as well as from the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. The RCUS Western Classes is celebrating it's 25th anniversary this year and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church is celebrating its 75th anniversary as a denomination. These churches, with whom we have fraternal fellowship, were prayed for as the work of the Gospel goes forth from their pulpits as well.

The presbytery assessment was raised from $10 per communicant to $12 per communicant. It was noted that this fund is strictly for presbytery travel and that the extra $2 per communicant will be helpful due to the number of works that Jesus may bring to us in the next couple of years. Praise God for that!

Friday evening there was a meal that the San Diego congregation hosted. It was followed by a service of worship in which Jason Ryce preached on Matthew 26. Man, can that guy preach!

Much discussion revolved around the Winter Youth Conference that was hosted here in LA this past December-January. The presbytery was pleased with the outcome as well as the spiritual benefit that has already been seen in the lives of some of our youth (keep praying though). The presbytery would like the LA Session along with the Youth Secretaries, Paul and Megan Hemphill, to begin plans on this year's conference!

There is also a youth ministry leadership team that is being assembled by the presbytery. The presbytery is looking for young communicant members in good standing that show exceptional Christian character as well as leadership skills. If you have a recommendation of one of our young people- please let the Session know. Also, use this as an opportunity to get to know the young people as you are looking for one to recommend!

$1500 has been given to the LA Church as seed money for this conference. There was a warm thanks to Sarah Ashleigh for her hard work! I won't say anything more about that- I don't want to spoil the fun. Please be in prayer for next year's conference as the Session along with these young people begin plans. If you would like to serve at that conference- let us know. It's early, but that's okay!

Paul Hemphill was “Skyped” in to present the Youth Secretary Report. This was a first in our presbytery! A talking head on a computer screen giving a report to the presbytery was an interesting experience. It is also a way that the PC Presbytery can meet more often without costing a lot of money for travel. Isn't being a Christian in the 21st century amazing? Praise God!

Each congregation had a time to give some praise reports as well as congregational concerns. For the most part, the congregations appear to be in good spirits. There are some concerns that should be prayed about: The San Diego congregation is still praying for God to raise up office bearers to lead alongside Pastor England. The Fresno congregation has seen a couple of families move on to other congregations. Please be mindful of that body in your prayers. Seattle appears to be doing well with a strong membership and committed people. One of their office bearers has resigned though. Phoenix is still struggling some financially, but still believes God is calling them to participate in helping plant Tucson, AZ RPC. You know about LA, so we don't need to talk about us.

Besides these items, there was great singing, great fellowship, and great energy as the presbytery looks ahead to a bright future under the Son. On more than one occasion this writer overheard conversations that including the idea that it seems that God is moving us out of survival mode and into growth mode. Isn't that the desire of your heart? Wouldn't you love to see Jesus move from the desert places to the coastal lands as He gathers worshipers to give praise to His holy name? I know I would. Please prayerfully consider storming the throne room of grace and pleading on behalf of the Presbytery of the Pacific Coast! Elder Pino led one devotional time where he read from Acts 15. He focused on verse 28 and the idea that “it seemed to good to the Holy Spirit and to us.” Well, the presbytery believes that this year's meeting seemed good to Him and to us. We look forward to seeing what he will do with all of this exciting news.

The presbytery believes that God has given us a season of Winter so that we may blossom in the Spring. I think that I can see things budding already, can't you?

Pastor Nathan

Egyptian Covenanters*- It is Coming, Friends.

How are you praying for Egypt? What do you think should happen as we literally watch power shift before our tweets and livefeeds? I know what I am praying...

What does Egypt have to do with a blog called "presbyterian thoughts?" What is so special about Egypt you may be thinking.

Everything. The Scriptures promise that there will come a day when the nation of Egypt will enter into covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ and they will keep their vows. They will become covenanters.

Isaiah 19:21, "And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord in that day and perform them."

May the Lord Jesus use the current chaos in Egypt as the "fulness of time" for this ancient people. May they reject Islam, reject secularism, reject humanism- and embrace their rightful leader and King. May this be the time of their vowing and performing their duties unto Christ. Does that seem unlikely? No, it doesn't. It WILL happen at some point. And I know this because the Scriptures promise that it will come to pass. Egypt will be covenanters unto the Lord Jesus. They will vow and they will perform their vows.

May this be their hour to bow the knee to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Now get praying!

From Fisher's Catechism:

Q. 63. How do you prove that national covenanting is a warrantable duty under the New Testament?

A. From its being promised in the Old Testament that this shall be a duty performed under the New, Isaiah 19:21 — “The Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and — they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and shall perform it.” Besides, if it was a moral duty upon special occasions, under the Old Testament (as appears from 2 Chron 15:12, and 34:31, 32; Neh. 9:38), it must remain to be the same, upon the like occasions, still; because Christ came not to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfil them, Matt 5:17.

* I don't necessarily mean that Egypt will be Reformed Presbyterian "Covenanters"; but they will enter into covenant with God and keep it, hence covenanters.

Who Is Handing Out Bread in the Bread Line?

It always amazes me how people can make pastors into rock stars. Now don't get me wrong... I listen to many conference messages, I read the latest books by the big names in the Reformed world. I appreciate the ministry of those who have a global ministry. But ministers are but men.

I think that JC Ryle said it well when talking about the roll of the disciples at the feeding of the 5000:

"Now here is a lively emblem of the work which a true minister of the New Testament is meant to do. He is not a mediator between God and man. He has no power to put away sin, or impart grace. His whole business is to receive the bread of life which the Master provides, and to distribute it among the souls of whom he labors. He cannot make men value the bread or receive it. He cannot make it soul saving, or life giving to anyone. This is not his work. For this he is not responsible. His whole business is to be a faithful distributor of the food which his Divine Master has provided; and that done, his office is discharged."

So who is the true minister of the Gospel? He's not a rock star that has fans a mile wide and an inch deep. He's the homeless guy that works at the soup kitchen. He's the guy that is passing out bread and praying that his people will eat and be filled. Is there any room for pride or stardom in that? No. But there's room for humility and service. Now start passing out that bread.

Why Are We Here? A Congregational Meeting Meditation on Ephesians 3:14-21

Ephesians 3:14-21

Why Are We Here?

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, [16] that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. [20] Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Why are We Here? Now that question could be asked in a couple of different ways- but my question is: why are we are here at a congregational meeting of the Los Angeles Reformed Presbyterian Church? And what are we doing here?

Are we just having a business meeting where we will talk about the budget- maybe have a bit of discussion about what we like or don’t like in the budget? Maybe have a few questions or comments about the reports that we will hear from the various reporters in the church.

Well, sure, we are here for that- we need to do this once a year as a part of our doing all things decently and in order- but what is at the core of what is really going on here? Why really are we here?

I would like to very briefly look at Ephesians 3:14-21 and divide the text into two areas that will help us to answer this question. The first division will be theological or historical redemptive. And the second division will be doxological, and contemporary to our particular congregation.

So why are we here? Let's start with the theological.

In verse 14 we have Paul giving praise and prayer that the mystery of the Gospel has been revealed and this is part of why we are here. The mystery of the Gospel was that it was going to be a world-wide phenomeon that would start in a tiny centralized slice of land, and it would spread throughout the ancient world and make its way into Spain in the time of the NT and into Europe and eventually North and South America and throughout all of the continents of the worlds.

We are here because we are part of this inheritance of the mystery of the Gospel.

From this world-wide revelation of the mystery, Paul applies it specifically to the lives of individual believers. Give glory, in verse 16, that the Spirit has applied this Gospel to the nations to us as individuals if we are in Christ. Then verse 17 shows that this personal application has an organic nature and that we are not here just because we are connected to some world wide movement called the mystery revealed to the nations. We are not just here because we have had this individual application of that Gospel.

We are here because we have been made a part of something bigger. Notice verse 17 shows that we have been rooted and grounded in love and then in verse 18- we comprehend this with ALL the saints.

Connectedness, organic, being a part of something bigger- the church. So we are not just a bunch of individuals who are here today who have our own agenda- we are part of an organic union called the church- and we are rooted and grounded together in this.

So why are we here- Because the love of God extends high and low and east and west and it must be applied to you specifically and to us as a congregation- and when people look onto our fellowship they should not even be able to describe what they are experiencing because the love of God in Christ that is applied within the church passes knowledge. And we are called to be filled with the love of God.

This is the theological foundation of why we are here. This should be good enough right? Why are you sitting in that chair with that packet of reports in your hand? Why are you a member of this church? Well, these were good enough reasons:

The Gospel has been revealed to the nations and God, in his providence has revealed it to our lands. Because the power of the Spirit has applied this Gospel to individuals and if you have received that- you are here because of that. Because we have been made a part of the church of Christ- and we are no longer individuals- we are a people rooted together and grounded together in Christ.

But what else? Look at verse 20 and 21. This has been the focus of much of meditation this week. Here we see the doxological aspect of the question, “Why are we here?”

And what do we see? In this doxology or word of praise and glory to God- we see some absolutely amazing words. “Him who is able to do far more abundanty than all that we ask or think.” That is why we are here- we are here because the Lord Jesus does far more than we are able to do, ask, or think.

We are here because about 130 years ago a seminary student from Southfield Michigan had the vision to go to the wild west and to plant churches. This was in a time when the RPCNA did not have established churches past Kansas. We are here because someone knew that God was able to do far abundantly than he could ask or think.

Why are we here?

We are here because people from our churches had the vision to come out to Los Angeles when it was still orange groves, missions, and a midwest sized city. We are here because in God’s providence he drove people West with a desire to see the Reformed faith expanded and grow in places where the Reformed faith had not gone.

We are here because they knew that God was able to do far more abundantly than all they asked or thought.

We are here because as the city of Los Angeles exploded in a population boom- men and woman with vision saw this as a way to expand the work of the Gospel beyond those whose last names originated in the moors and hills of Scotland and Ireland. We are here because these men and woman had the vision the God could be glorified in the RP Church through those with various backgrounds. They believed that God could do far more abundantly than all they asked or thought.

This is why we are here.

We are here because as the city became a city dependant on the motor vehicle and people packed up and moved to the newer parts of the city- Highland Park, Eagle Rock, and to the suburbs of Pasadena and Glendale- there were those that had a vision that God was not calling a church to close, but to expand into a new area- because God is able to do far more abundantly than all that they asked or thought.

This is why we are here.

We are here because a generation of saints that have been going into glory in the past two years, we are here because they lived lives that were radically committed to building the kingdom and sustaining the work that God had been doing here for a number of generations. We are here because of their prayers and their gifts and their devotion to Christ and their radical commitment to the kingdom- we are here because they, many of whom you knew- knew that God was able to do far more abundantly than they could ask or think.

This is why we are here.

We are here because as the prices in LA increased and people migrated back East for cheaper housing and to be closer to the center of the denomination, there were those of you who didn’t give up. We are here because despite some predicting the death of what Christ was doing here, there were those who persevered and prayed and knew that God was able to do far more abundantly than all you could ask or think.

That is why we are here.

We are here because a number of you had a vision for renewal that included many hard things- things that would require change, prayer, intense discipleship, and fellowship. We are here because those who were committed to renewal believed that God was able to do far more abundantly than they could ask or think.

That is why we are here.

We are here because last year we adopted a budget by faith that was somewhat obscene- and we are here because last year the Session challenged us all to pray for three new families- and what have we seen?

We have seen that God is able to do far more abundantly than all we can ask or think.

So why are we are here?

We are here for normal church business, yes. But we are here because we have a vision for what God can do in this city, in Orange County, and even in the Pacific Coast Presbytery.

And today the Lord Jesus challenges us to think big thoughts, and to have big visions, and dream big dreams, and to expect great expectations from him- because he is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.

That is why we are here.

And what should this do for us? Look how verse 21 ends: To him be the glory in the church and in Christ- throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Revive Us! ....But How?

This past week Timothy Keller wrote a blog post on revival and the means in which biblical revival comes. He used the classic book, Sprague's Lectures on Revival of Religion from 1832 to glean five things that are present in genuine revival:

1. Extra-ordinary Prayer

2. Recovery of the Grace in the Gospel

3. Renewed individuals who experience the presence of God

4. Gospel application (counseling) on individuals and and groups

5. The means of grace communicated in a new way.

As helpful as Keller's post was in considering some of the factors that are in involved when God spreads his grace through a congregation, city, or nation in a renewed way; I could not help but think of preaching as the central means that God uses for revival.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, "Is it not clear, as you take a bird's eye view of Church history, that the decadent periods in and eras in the history of the Church have always been those periods where preaching has declined? What is it that always heralds the new dawn of a Reformation or a revival? It is renewed preaching. Not only a new interest in preaching but a new kind of preaching. A revival of true preaching has always heralded these great movements in the history of the Church. And of course, when the Reformation and Revival come they have always led to great and notable periods of the greatest preaching that the Church has ever known." Preachers and Preaching, 24.

Does the Church of Christ want revival? If she does then she needs to invest in good preachers. She needs to be committed to equipping and raising up men who have been called to preach with passion, unction, and clarity. And again- this drives us full circle- to prayer. Pray that Christ would raise up men to proclaim the Word in extraordinary ways. Pray that God would revive and reform- and equip our preachers.

The Christian and the Sabbath Day (Lord's Day)

A number of Christians today struggle with the principle called Sabbath keeping. Many see the Sabbath as an ordinance that was connected to the Mosaic Ceremonies and as a result deny the binding nature of the Sabbath Day on the New Testament Church.

The problem though is not a problem with the text of the Scriptures though. The problem is in the way that we understand the Scriptures. The Christian Sabbath is binding upon the Church and it is both supported by the historical documents of the Church as well as the Scriptures themselves.

Take for instance the Westminster Standards (WCF, WSC, WLC) and the Reformed Presbyterian Testimony (RPT). These documents defend the Sabbath as a perpetually binding obligation to the New Testament Church. Notice the words of our Confessional documents:

As it is the law of nature, that, in general, a due proportion of time be set apart for the worship of God; so, in His Word, by a positive, moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, He hath particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto Him: which, from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, was the last day of the week; and, from the resurrection of Christ, was changed into the first day of the week, which, in Scripture, is called the Lord’s Day, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath. (WCF 21.7)

We reject the teaching that the Fourth Commandment is no longer binding under the New Testament. (RPT 21.11)

Q. What is required in the fourth commandment?

A. The fourth commandment requireth of all men the sanctifying or keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his word, expressly one whole day in seven; which was the seventh from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, and the first day of the week ever since, and so to continue to the end of the world; which is the Christian sabbath, and in the New Testament called The Lord’s Day. (WLC 116)

Of course, these are only subordinate standards. These documents are not the Word of God. What does the Word of God say in regard to the Sabbath Day?

The Sabbath shows up in the Scriptures long before Moses was ever on the scene. The pattern of six days of work and one day of rest is on the first pages of the Scriptures. God did not need rest, but he was setting up a pattern that was to be followed through-out time. We call this a "creation ordinance." This was not something that was connected to ceremonies, but something that God intended BEFORE sin ever came into the story of mankind.

Genesis 2.1-3 records, "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation."

Notice here that God rested after the work was created. What was the reason for God resting? It was so that he could set up the pattern for man to follow. Notice that Moses records that because God rested he blessed Sabbath rest and he made Sabbath rest holy. How is that connected to ceremonial law when sin has not entered the world? The answer is that it is not connected to ceremony, but to creation.

We see this again in the 10 commandments. When God gave the moral law to Moses he did so as a way to reflect His own character and to give a visible representation of what expectations he had on his creatures. Who argues that in the New Testament Church that people are now free to commit adultery or free to steal or free to worship other gods? No Christian would argue that these things are allowed in the Church. How is it that the fourth commandment is ripped out of the text of God's moral and perpetual law?

Also notice in the giving of the fourth commandment that God does not say that the law is connected to ceremony. God himself argues that Sabbath rest is a perpetual obligation on all men because of the pattern that He has set. This is BEFORE sin.

Exodus 20:8-11: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." Again, Moses is arguing that the Sabbath is not connected to ceremony, but to morality. God set this pattern up at creation, and God himself argues from the fact that this is a pre-fall moral obligation that is connected to blessedness and holiness.

The Sabbath principle is found through-out the law, the writings, and the prophets as well. A high point in the prophetic writings argue that Sabbath keeping is connected to the well-being of the Church in the Old Testament. Isaiah 58: 13-14 states, “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

In this text we see that the Sabbath is not connected so much with ceremony either, but with spiritual well-being. The prophets constantly were pointing towards a relationship with God and reminding the people that the ceremonies were only to point towards something better. You would think that Isaiah would use this opportunity to say that the Sabbath only represented something, but he doesn't. Instead he says that the well-being of the Church is connected to the keeping of this moral law. Notice some of the benefits that Isaiah points towards: 1. Taking delight in the Lord. 2. Riding on the heights of the earth. 3. Being fed with a spiritual inheritance.

Has the Church turned from this inheritance? Has the Church stopped delighting in the Lord? Has the Church stopped "riding high" in their relationship with God? If you answer yes, then Isaiah tells us to reexamine our principle of Sabbath keeping. He associates it with revival in the Church, doesn't he?

You may think. Well, Presbyterian Thinker, that is all well and good- but these are Old Testament things. What about the New Testament? Besides the fact that we see the Church in Acts worshiping on the first day of the week, the Lord's Day, as it is called by John, we also see that the principle of Sabbath keeping, or Sabbath rest remains in the Church. Remember this is a moral obligation, not a ceremonial one. The author to Hebrews writes his epistle (or sermon) to defend that Christ is better than all of the ceremonies that were part of the "types and shadows" of the Old Covenant. What an opportunity to let the Church know that the Sabbath keeping is no longer a part of Christian worship.

But he doesn't do that. He actually does quite the opposite- and tells them that despite the fact that all of these ceremonies and types and shadows have gone away- the Sabbath, a Christ-centered, Sabbath rest remains. Hebrews 4.9 argues, "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God." If the author of Hebrews saw Sabbath keeping as something that was done away with as a type or shadow of Christ, then he absolutely fails at this point. Instead of arguing that it is no longer binding, he actually argues that it remains! It is an obligation in the New Testament era.

Now these texts merely scratch the surface of the whole body of texts that deal with Sabbath rest and the Lord's Day. The depth of biblical evidence and historical evidence is overwhelming when one opens their heart and mind to the teaching of the Word of God.

So what's the problem? If the biblical evidence is clear, the Confessional material is clear, and the history of the Church points us to Sabbath keeping, then why does so much of the American Church reject the fourth commandment as a part of God's moral law?

Joel Beeke says it best in the book, Puritan Reformed Spirituality, "The forces of secularization and the rise of the leisure culture, obsessed with pursuing recreations of all kinds, have extinguished concern for Sabbath observance in the general population. Even more tragic is the steady erosion of conviction on the part of Christians. The great damage was done by modernism’s attack on the authority of Scripture, thus undermining and overthrowing all biblical norms for living. However, Fundamentalism must also bear its share of the blame.

Under the influence of Dispensationalism, a growing antinomianism developed in the most conservative circles of American Christians. The Old Testament in general, and the moral law in particular, came to be regarded as monuments of a bygone era. The result has been wholesale destruction of conviction regarding the Sabbath, even among Presbyterians who subscribe to the Westminster Standards–notwithstanding the jarring inconsistency involved! p.112"

Wow! This should really make us do some self-examination! What about today's culture influence the way that we are reading the Scriptures? What about the milieu of modern evangelicalism has actually caused God's law, and the way in which he would have us live, has actually trampled the Word of God? Now a single blog post is not going to change any hearts, but I believe that Christians do need to stop and reflect and ask ourselves whether we have bought into the errors that our culture, and even our church culture has imposed on the Word of God. Is this worth reflecting on? Yes! The Sabbath holds great spiritual freedoms and blessings for the Church- are we putting ourselves in bondage by not walking in this freedom?

Beeke goes on to conclude, "The Sabbath stands as an institution as one as creation itself. It belongs to the order of things as they were at the beginning, before man’s fall into sin. It is as universal as any other creation ordinance, holding the promise of blessing for all mankind. The promise of redemption and its fulfillment only add to the significance of the Sabbath as a day to be observed by the redeemed of the Lord. The Sabbath is a sign of the promise of redemption, both in its fulfillment now, and also the consummation which is yet to be. It is God’s day, a holy day–a day for Christians to keep holy p.115."

Will you reconsider what the Scriptures teach as we walk together towards that Great Day of eternal Sabbath rest?

Level Ground or Slippery Places?

Today I was reading Charles Spurgeon (the Baptist) on Psalm 26 in his wonderful work, Treasury of David. Spurgeon has these great helps for pastors with little theological training called, "helps for the village preacher." When I got to the "help" for verse 12, I was taken back a bit. What did he mean? What a wonderful help for this urban pastor to meditate on in my afternoon meditation.

Verse 12 reads: My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the LORD.

Now here's the help, and mind you, it is not a free sermon from Busy Pastors Dot Com; it really was intended to foster meditation: "Congregational Psalmody, and our personal share in it."

That's it.

That's the whole help for the village pastor.

In my meditation I considered the way that congregational psalmody really does leave us on level ground so that we can praise without being hindered. As a pastor, I have received numerous questions on the theology of certain hymns; or the writer of certain hymns; or questions about the unbelief of modern praise and worship musicians who continue to write; or comments on the Unitarianism of Isaac Watts...

There are so many questions!

Spurgeon tells the village... er... urban pastor... don't worry about all of these questions. Stand where your foot is level. Sing the psalms to God in His praise! Bless the Lord in the Great Assembly without all of the questions and confusion and ignorance. Praise Him with the use of the Psalter, and you will not have to worry about all of this other stuff.

So my question to you.... well, actually, Spurgeon's question to you:

Are you on level ground in your blessing of the Lord, or is your congregation's foot always slipping on new and unique ways of praise? Are you standing firm, or are you sliding into areas that are unseen? It's amazing how worship can do that. We become what we sing.

I want to be on level ground. We'll stick with God's songs.

Three Sided Triangles & Unmarried Bachelors

The term "born again Christian" is redundant. All who are Christians must be born again. There is no other kinds of Christians than those who are born again.

RC Sproul states, "The simple reality is this: everyone who is truly a Christian is born again. There are no other kinds of Christians. There's no such thing as a non-born-again-Christian or an unregenerate Christian. Yes, there are plenty of unregenerate church members and plenty of unregenerate people who profess to be Christians, but a person cannot be in Christ unless he or she is regenerate. By the same token, if you are regenerate, you are a Christian."

The World Went and Got Itself in a Big Damn Hurry

"The world went and got itself in a big damn hurry." These were among the last words of the character, Brooks Hatlen, in the novella, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption.

It's true. The world is in a hurry.

Of course, it always has been. People change. Things change. Times and seasons change. Styles change. Our desires change. Our love ebbs and flows. Our thoughts wander on to different things at different times.

The world is in a big hurry. Brooks was right. There is not much comfort in that. There is something terrifying about it. What's next? What will happen? What will become of me? Change is to be feared because we don't know what is next. We don't know what will happen. We don't know what will become of me.

For Christians, we have a hope, despite the ever changing world around us. We have a focal point to keep us from getting dizzied by the ever blinking lights and changes of this world.

Herman Bavinck summed up this focal point best when talking about the God who does not change. This God who does not change is really the only hope for consistancy in a world that has gotten itself in a big damn hurry. Look to Him- the one who changes not.

Everything changes, but He remains standing. He is and remains the same. He remains who he is. He is YHWH, he who is and ever remains himself. He is the first and with the last he is still the same God. He is who he is, the incorruptible who alone has immortality, and is always the same. Unchangeable in his existence and being, he is so also in his thought and will, in all his plans and decisions. He is not a human that he should lie or repent. What he says, he will do. His gifts and calling are irrevocable. He does not reject his people. He completes what he has begun. In a word, He, YHWH, does not change. In him there is no variation or shadow due to change. Dogmatics. Volume 1, p. 153.

History of this Scene?

I am looking for information on this print. It was given to me by one of my former elders (in the Grand Rapids congregation). It appears to be a kirk session praying over the Scriptures before public worship. Does anyone know the artist's name? The print's title? The names of the characters in the print? Any information would be appreciated.

A Reformation Prayer For Thanksgiving

Often other men have the ability to express my spiritual desires better than I do. Today is such a day as I consider thankfulness to God and what that means for my life, my family, and my spiritual hope. Enjoy:

Lord God,

our Heavenly Father,

we thank Thee for all thy benefits,

which we so unceasingly receive

from thy bountiful hand.

We thank Thee

that it pleases Thee

to sustain us

in this temporal life

and to supply all our needs.

We are especially grateful

that Thou hast regenerated us

unto the hope of a better life,

which Thou hast revealed unto us

in Thy holy Gospel.

We pray thee,

merciful God and Father,

that our hearts may not become

too deeply attached to these

earthly and perishable things,

but that we may always look heavenward,

expecting our Savior Jesus Christ,

until He shall appear

upon the clouds

unto our deliverance.

Amen.

From the “Christian Prayers” of the Dutch National Church Liturgy, 1564.

A Psalm, Hymn, or Spiritual Song for the Lord's Day

Jerusalem Sinners in Need of Reformation

I have lived there.

I have lived in the Jerusalem for Reformed Christians. 12 years of it. I have attended two of the Christian colleges, one of the seminaries. I have worked for a Christian publishing house as well as a Christian psychiatric hospital. I would pass at least a dozen (or more) Reformed churches on my way to Church.

I have been in the restaurants and have heard people talking about BSF or the Catechism. I visited Mars Hill once. I know the difference between Heritage Reformed and Free Reformed. I know the difference between RCA, CRC, URC, PRC, FRC, HRC, IRC and NRC.

I know what happened in 1924 and why that little and insignificant seminary in Grandville is still angry about it. I have been to the intersection where there is a Reformed church on each corner, literally.

I have seen love grow cold, I have seen pastors eaten alive, I have seen the deadness of dead orthodoxy. I have seen the love for anything but Confessional Christianity. I have seen the Jerusalem sinner. I have been the Jerusalem Sinner.

May the Lord Jesus Christ break through the religion and bring true revival and reformation.

Can a Reformed Resurgence Fly in Grand Rapids?

Water Into ANYTHING BUT Wine

As I study the second chapter of the Gospel According to John, I am amazed at how many people doubt Jesus' miracle of turning water into wine. Some claim that the wine is non-alcoholic wine, some claim that it is some unfermented juice, and some even go as far as saying that it was water turned into water.

Here is one example of the text being explained away: Leslie Weatherhead proposes that, "The wine runs out. Water is served. Why that's the best joke of all! They lift their wine cups, as we do in fun when we shout, "Adam's ale the best of all!" The bridegroom is congratulated by the master of ceremonies, who carries the joke farther still. "Why you've kept the best wine until now." It requires only a servant going through the room into the kitchen for a wonderful rumor to start!" (Weatherhead, It Happened in Palestine, p.50)

Friends, a proposal such as the one above takes more faith than believing the Word of God! And the only authority is the author's own imagination. Help thou our unbelief!

As I read and as I meditate, I pray that God would help my unbelief. How often do we find ourselves attempting to explain away the Scriptures? Not just this text, but any text that confronts us with the will of God: Sabbath keeping, sacrificial giving, a circumcised heart. The wedding at Cana is the classic example of the difficulties that we find in our own heart to believe the Word of God.

May we be hearers of the Word, and doers also.

Reformation Day Meditation on Psalm Twenty Five

Some have asked about the Reformation Day Service at Faith OPC in Long Beach in which I participated. Below is the meditation on Psalm 25 that I delivered as we gave thanks to God for the work he has done in the Protestant Reformation.

Reformed Presbyterians have a long history of psalm mediation during public worship. To many it looks like a mini sermon on a psalm. We also have a long tradition of retelling martyr stories from the Killing Times in Scotland when 18,000 Reformed Presbyterians were put to death for their faith in the one true King and Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ. Both of these elements of the RP tradition have been incorporated in the meditation. As you read through, please be in prayer that God would again move through the Spirit of His Son to reform the Church.

MEDITATION ON PSALM 25. 8-15

This afternoon we will meditate on Psalm 25: 8-15, and as we do so, we must remember that as we gather to worship God and to celebrate what he in the Protestant Reformation; we must also remember the price that was paid by many who have gone before us. The price that was paid by the faithful martyrs and contenders for this Reformed Faith.

Revelation 6:10 speaks of those martyrs and says, “They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

Why are they able to stand before God and cry out? Look at our Psalm: Verse 8 reads, “The Lord is good and just; the way He’ll sinners show.” Friends, we gather to celebrate the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ has shown the way to sinners, sinners like you and me, and this psalm is calling on us to respond with praise and adoration and thanksgiving!

Verse 9, “He guides the meek in what is just, that they his path will know.” Friends, do you know this path? Have you bowed your knee to King Jesus as you confess the way to God is only through the son and that by faith alone by grace alone to the glory of God alone?

In verse 10 we see the result of this confession of the Lord Jesus Christ. We will keep his word; we will obey his covenant; our way will be loving kindness and truth! What a wonderful confession from the Psalmist. David here cries out that he knows the way of God and that this way has been revealed to him- and when we pause to meditate on the greatness of this fact, and as we reflect on what it means to live lives as sons and daughters of the reformation, we must be humbled. Humbled to to our knees in praise and thanksgiving. I am not worthy Lord. I am merely a sinner saved by grace. And this si what David does in our second stanza: My sinfulness is great. And great O Lord my blame, O pardon my iniquity, to glorify your name.

David understands that even in the state of grace his praise is hindered, his praise is not perfect. I must have my sin pardoned so that I may glorify your name! Have you considered that? Especially you young people- have you considered that if you are outside of the Lord Jesus Christ then you are unable to live out your chief end as our catechism calls it.

But in verse 12 we see something different. We see fearing the Lord leads to living unto his glory and fulfilling this chief end of man. The soul will see prosperity and the land his seed will own. Who owns the land? The seed, Christ, the inheritor of the nations as we already sang about this afternoon.

And as we move into verse 14, we must pause and think about close friendship with the Lord. Can you speak this way? Do you find this intimacy in your relationship with Christ- is he close to you or is he still out there- out there somewhere?

On May 11, 1684 there were two women who both saw Jesus Christ as their friend. They were both named Margaret. One was in her 60s and the other was only 15 years old. They lived in Scotland, and Scotland at that time was in the midst of a great war as those faithful to Christ were driven into the fields and away from their churches because many faithful Presbyterians would not acknowledge that the King was the head of the Church. They said that Christ was the head of the church, not the king... and because of this testimony they were persecuted.

Our two friends of Jesus, because they would not claim that the king was the head of the Church was arrested, like many others in this time. And not only were they arrested, but they were sentenced to death. They were taken to a little town by the ocean called Wigtown and there two stakes were set up in where the tide would soon come in and cover the poles.

The older Margaret was tied further our and the younger Margaret was tied closer to the shore where she could see Margaret. Friends gathered! Some cried. Others yelled, “Just say the king is the head of the church.” Neither Margaret wanted to betray their friend, Jesus Christ. Their savior and Lord.

The older Margaret struggled as the waters engulfed her and she died. A martyr for the sake of Christ. A martyr for this same Reformed Faith that is still confessed today.

One of the guards yelled to the younger Margaret: What do you see now, Margaret? She yelled back, “What I see is Christ wrestling there!” She knew the Lord was good and just and that close friendship with the Lord was hers because she was faithful to the covenant.

Another guard yelled, “Say God save the king!” Margaret yelled back, “I wish the salvation of all men and the damnation of none!” She refused to speak against her Lord and the Reformed Faith that she loved.

As the waters came to young Margaret they touched her toes and then her knees and then her waist. She began to sing. “The Lord is good and just, the way, he’ll sinners show, he guides the meek in what is just, that they his path will know.” The waters continued to rise and this Psalm that we are about to sing was on the lips of young Margaret as the waters of Wigtown swallowed her up and as she entered into the presence of the one we are here to celebrate today.

Some accounts of her death have her singing stanza 6 in the handout as the waters covered her face. “Close friendship with the Lord will all who fear him know; the knowledge of his covenant he unto them will show. My eyes upon the Lord continually are set; for he it is that shall bring forth my feet out of the net.”

Friends, as we sing this psalm, do so as young Margaret would have sung it. Sing it as if your soul depended on it. Sing it as a prayer that the Lord Jesus would build his church, and reform his church, and make her as a pure and spotless bride. Sing this psalm knowing the value of our reformed heritage, and the value of friendship with Christ.

Amen.

Impotent Christians and the Need for Passion

The rise of Christianity in the ancient world was like wildfire. It spread from Jerusalem to all of the major cities of the ancient world. From there it spread into towns and villages. Christianity was contagious because the Spirit of Christ blessed the faithfulness of the ministry and the parishioners who were faithful in living out and speaking out on behalf of Jesus Christ.

Turtullian wrote in 200AD The Apology. In that work he said of the rise of Christianity, "We are but of yesterday, and we have filled every place among you- cities, islands, fortresses, towns, marketplaces, the very camp, tribes, companies, palace, senate, forum- we have left nothing to you but the temples of your gods!"

What makes the Christianity of the first century a wildfire through-out the ancient world? Maybe the passion for the truth and the faithfulness amongst persecution were blessed by the Spirit. Maybe our lazy, ineffective Christianity needs to learn something from those who went to lions, were burned on posts, and were beheaded for Christ's sake. Maybe we don't need another Reformation; maybe we just need to live like it really matters.

Maybe then our Christianity will "fill every place" among our culture as well. But would really want to see that?

A Reformed Voter's Guide

Sadly, the Christian Church has drunk the Koolaid (no offense, Koolaid Man). Many Christians today will rally around a Republican ticket and make claims such as, "This is the most important election of our life time!" Or, "We have got to win back the keys to Washington!"

What many fail to realize is that the Republican party is not the party of Jesus Christ. For that matter, the Democratic Party is not the party of Jesus Christ. Both parties fail to recognize Jesus Christ as the supreme head of the state, the ruler of men, the savior of mankind. Now, of course, there are those within both parties that are Christians; but that does not mean that what is being promoted by either party is working towards Reformation or towards the Biblical View of the State.

So what is a Reformed voter to do? Do we have a "biblical duty" to vote for the candidate that will wreck the ship later rather than sooner? Do we have to vote for a man or woman who does not understand biblical civil government? Rest assured, dear reader, there are principles that we should consider before voting for a Democrat or a Republican (or 3rd party and independent for that matter).

The Reformed Presbyterian Church has a chapter in her Testimony that attempts to articulate a biblical view of the State as well as sets out principles for voting. As you consider voting this Tuesday in what many will undoubtedly call "the most important race of your lifetime" please remember these principles and vote only according to our Christian standards.

And don't drink the Koolaid- Jesus is King.

Excerpts from the Reformed Presbyterian Testimony on the Civil Magistrate

God has given the exercise of all authority to the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the Divine Lawgiver, Governor and Judge. His will concerning the purpose of civil government and the principles regarding its functions and operation are revealed in the written Word of God. The Holy Spirit enables even unregenerate rulers to fulfill their proper functions. A true recognition of the authority and law of Christ in national life can only be the fruit of the Spirit’s regenerating power in the lives of individuals.

Deut. 4:39; Dan. 4:25, 32, 35; Matt. 28:18; Phil. 2:10; Eph. 1:22; Isa. 33: 22; Deut. 17:18-19; Isa. 45:1-7; Ezek. 36:27.

Every nation ought to recognize the Divine institution of civil government, the sovereignty of God exercised by Jesus Christ, and its duty to rule the civil affairs of men in accordance with the will of God. It should enter into covenant with Christ and serve to advance His Kingdom on earth. The negligence of civil government in any of these particulars is sinful, makes the nation liable to the wrath of God, and threatens the continued existence of the government and nation.

We reject the view that nations have no corporate responsibility for acknowledging and obeying Christ.

It is the duty of every Christian citizen to labor and pray for his nation’s official and explicit recognition of the authority and law of Jesus Christ, Preserver and Ruler of nations, and for the conduct of all governmental affairs in harmony with the written Word of God.

1 Tim. 2:1-2; Phil. 2:9-10; Acts 2:1-39; Ps. 2:8-12; Esther 4:14.

We deny that constitutional recognition of Jesus Christ means union of church and state.

We reject the teaching that Christians should not seek the establishment of Christian civil government.

No particular form of civil government is commanded in the Scriptures. Any form of civil government which observes the duties and limitations set upon it by God in His revealed Word is acceptable to God.

Ex. 18:21-24; Prov. 29:14; Deut. 1: 16-17.

We deny that simply having a democratic or republican form of government insures God’s approval and blessing.

The Christian, when such action involves no disloyalty to Christ, ought to be involved in the selection of and to vote for civil rulers who fear God, love truth and justice, hate evil, and are publicly committed to scriptural principles of civil government.

Ex. 18:21; Deut. 16:18; 2 Sam. 23:3; Rom. 13:3.

It is sinful for a Christian to take an oath which compromises his supreme allegiance to Jesus Christ. It is also sinful to vote for officials who are required to take an oath which a Christian himself could not take in good conscience. Voting involves the voter in responsibility for any act required of the official as a condition of holding his office.

Deut. 10:20; Isa. 45:22-23; 2 John 1: 11; 1 Tim. 5:22.

The Christian must profess publicly and the Church must witness, that Christ is the Ruler of every nation. Whatever the official action of the civil government of a nation may be, the Christian in his civil actions must always exhibit his loyalty to Christ. The Christian must relinquish every right or privilege of citizenship which involves him in silence about, or denial of the supreme authority of Jesus Christ.

Matt. 5:13-14; Prov. 3:5-6; Ps. 37:7; Matt. 22:21; John 17:14-15; Mark 13:9.

When participating in political elections, the Christian should sup- port and vote only for such men as are publicly committed to scriptural principles of civil government. Should the Christian seek civil office by political election, he must openly inform those whose support he seeks of his adherence to Christian principles of civil government.

1 Chron. 16:31; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 2 Chron. 19:6-7; Dan. 2:48; Eph. 4:25.

The Church Planter's Banner

What gives the church planter the right to go into the cities, towns, and villages and to establish a church?

This question should be at the heart of all those that want to see the Word of God increase as it did in the Book of Acts. But what right does one have to plant churches? Of course, first and foremost the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded that the ministry of the Church go into the world teaching and administering the sacraments in the name of the Triune God. That's a given. But what right does Jesus have telling the elders and pastors of the church to go into the whole world and plant churches?

The Lord Jesus purchased that right at the cross. The Lord Jesus is not only the savior of mankind; he is also the King of kings. At the cross, the Lord Jesus earned the right for the heathen (the nations), as his inheritance, to bow to him. It is the job of the church planter to go and to proclaim that the Lord Jesus has set captives of sin free and to preach to those who are spiritually blind. We go as his ambassadors.

Psalm 20 reminds us of this:

May we shout for joy over your salvation,

and in the name of our God set up our banners!

Church planters: Jesus has earned the right for you to plant banners (hopefully blue ones) in the cities, towns, and villages of your presbytery and declare them as land that belongs unto Christ- because it does. Now shout for joy, and set up some banners!

What's a True Pastor's Heart?

As a pastor I often wonder how much we, as pastors, are to love our people.

Do I love them too much? Do I love them enough? Do pastors "balance" extremes; seek a happy medium; or is there another answer?

The Apostle Paul knows:

"I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh." Romans 9:3-4

Hide it Under a Bushel: Where Are the Reformed Urban Churches?

We all remember the little song from when we were kids: "This little light of mine... I'm gonna let it shine..."

I am afraid that most Reformed Churches have decided to hide their light under a bushel. Recently, in a lunch meeting with a retired urban pastor, the description of Reformed churches "hiding under the covers" was used in regards to city ministry. Why is this so? Does not the Apostle Paul say in 2 Corinthians 4 that when the Gospel is hid it is hid to them that are lost? Do we really want to hide the Gospel from those who are lost? Isn't our calling to bring the Gospel to those who are lost?

Thomas Chalmers, the famous urban pastor of 19th century Scotland recorded that "during a period of 100 years while the population of Glasgow had more than quadrupled, only two new Church of Scotland city churches had been built."

Friends, we are no better in this country. Where are the city churches? Where are the church planters? Where are the men who will bring the Gospel to urban America? Are we a city on a hill, or are we content with hiding under the covers sharing the Gospel by flashlight?

Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm gonna let it shine.