The Powerful and Permanent Tool of Language
The fulfillment of the Great Commission requires God’s people to overcome language barriers for His Name’s sake.
Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit to empower us to accomplish the Great Commission. This enablement includes the discipline of mind and heart to learn language sufficiently well to explain Christ where He leads us to go (Luke 24:49). Once we learn a language, that language and the culture embodied in it become part of... Continue Reading
The Double-Edged Sword of Ministry Stress
I would explain to a younger me that I should expect hard things, see them as providential, and respond in a healthy way.
Don’t be a pastor if you want a low-stress job. Remember the doctrine of providence. In addition to this being par for the pastoral course, they aren’t random sand traps. Nothing is outside of God’s sovereign control. God in his infinite power upholds, directs, disposes, and governs all creatures and things.” (2LCF 5:1) The trials... Continue Reading
Is There a Regulative Principle for How We Should Dress?
Questions and thoughts on worship and how we should dress.
The Regulative Principle of Worship has been a part of the worshiping community of the Lord from the beginning. It defines our worship and regulates it to the glory and pleasure of God. Traditionally, the principle identifies elements of worship that should be included in the Church’s offerings whether of the Old Covenant or the... Continue Reading
The Presbyterian Church in America’s Fourth Membership Vow
It is not sufficiently appreciated how grave and strict the requirement in this vow is, and how much it requires of the individual member.
All of this invites questions of great practical consequence: why did we bring into our own denomination a requirement – this vow to support – that was only introduced into our predecessor in the years of her growing infidelity, that was used to coerce and intimidate the faithful remnant, and that was not precedented (in... Continue Reading
What’s in a Title?
Should titles have a different role for men and women in the church?
As the apostolic age is coming to its close, Paul makes provision for the ongoing governance of the church by the continuing offices of “elder” and “deacon,” but not “apostle” (1 Tim. 3:1-13; Tit. 1:5-9). No longer will the church’s governance be invested in apostolic eyewitnesses of the resurrection who have been specifically called and... Continue Reading
Reflections on the ‘Jonesboro 7’ and A Case for Church Discipline
Reflections from one who has seen discipline done correctly, seen discipline done wrongly, and has also watched this case from the beginning.
Ryan Biese has already chronicled this case (Harrell v Covenant Presbytery) quite extensively, complete with a list of lessons to be learned, and his account is well worth reading. I would, however, like to add my own reflections as one who has seen discipline done correctly, seen discipline done wrongly, and has also watched this... Continue Reading
History of Membership Vows, Presbyterian Church in America
The parachurch can provide ministry opportunities and support services beneficial to the work of the PCA, but participation in the parachurch should be considered carefully remembering that the first responsibility of members as affirmed in their vows is congregational and connectional.
When a Christian supports the church, it includes participating in its ministry with time, talents, and skills. A tithe, or even a tithe plus, placed in the plate, bag, or box does not exhaust the meaning of “support.” As the Apostle Paul has said, the church is a body with each member fulfilling a necessary... Continue Reading
For the Jews
We must pray for the Jews: that the Lord would deliver the afflicted through their affliction and open their ears through adversity; that the Spirit of God would pour into their broken hearts and make them new.
The present sufferings of our Jewish neighbors have revealed that they are not the only ones with veiled hearts. My heart (maybe yours too?) has been veiled towards the Jews. Paul confessed, “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from... Continue Reading
The “Jonesboro 7” Submit to Edicts of Session
When the "Jonesboro 7" appealed their case, the Temporary Session of Elders took an additional step to keep the censure in place during the appeal and then resigned from service to the little church.
Despite the “unfair” process deployed against the Jonesboro 7 by the Temporary Session, the men nonetheless demonstrated the strength of their commitment to the Scripture, to their membership vows, to Presbyterian Church government, and to the Reformed Faith. After the Jonesboro 7 appealed the decision of the Temporary Session to Covenant Presbytery, the Temporary Session... Continue Reading
Two Great Men: John And Martin
The Reformation began 506 years ago, resetting the ministry of the Church since then.
It goes without saying that Reformed Faith churches owe their very existence to John Calvin and Martin Luther. And if such a premise is true, isn’t it worth becoming acquainted with them in a more-than-superficial manner? Do we know anything more about Luther than the fact he nailed 95 theses on a church door? Is... Continue Reading
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