The Church in Ephesus

Revelation 2:1-7 states, "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent. Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'"

I remember when I first became a Calvinist.  I knew I had struck the goldmine!  God is completely sovereign in salvation and everything!  He preserves and governs all His creatures and all their actions. It changed my whole way of thinking, but looking back I wonder if I left my first love: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Seems contradictory given the theology of Calvinism, yet it seems so common amongst those who come to the realization of Scripture's teaching.  Perhaps it is pride or idolatry of self that leads to this sin.  This is the danger of many in the Church, especially Presbyterians.  Every single one of us can become so passionate about details that we can't see the forest for the trees.  Examples in the Church, we could say would be something like Postmillennialism specifically in Theonomy (e.g. Bahnsen, Rushdoony), which focuses so much on political overhaul, ethics, and so on, and overlooks the Gospel.  There are those whose great passion is ecumenicalism (Manhattan Declaration, Evangelicals/Catholics Together, and the 'can't we all just get along and not be so narrow' crowd) and thereby redefine and forsake the Gospel.

But above all, as individuals who make up the body of Christ, the Church, we can't leave our first love.  We cannot turn our backs on the Gospel, it is the only reason we have life.  Jesus died on the tree, judged and cursed on our behalf.  He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf, He is our propitiation.  That is God's love for us in Christ, that He did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all.  How could we ever turn from this, how could we ever not have the Gospel in the forefront of our minds and hearts?

"Clasp that cross! Backsliding Christian, go at once to the cross! There, and there only, can you get your spirit quickened. No matter how hard, how insensible, how dead you may have become, go again in all your rags and poverty. Clasp that cross! Look into those languid eyes! Bathe in that fountain filled with blood! This will bring back your first love. This will restore the simplicity of your faith, and the tenderness of your heart." said Charles Spurgeon.

Let not our lampstand be snuffed out, leave not your first love.  Turn away from your sins and turn to Him who gave up all to give you life!

Dealing with Trials

How does one make it through tough trials?  Someone close to you or you yourself receives news that you have cancer, you find out you are losing your job, you lose your house and all your belongings in a fire, and the list goes on...  As I go through a major trial in my own life, I have asked the question just a few times lately.  Though at first it was simple and easy to despair, to question our God, to become bitter, or to point a finger, it was leaning upon the everlasting arms of God where I found comfort, hope, love, One who is slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness, and much much more! 

Think upon some of the great things our Lord tells us that we can trust in:

1 Corinthians 4:8-9, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed..."  O, you say that this was the Apostle Paul, of course he didn't fall to despair, but why?  It was because he had what we have, salvation in Christ alone.  He had the Spirit of Christ dwelling in his heart and therefore the Word in his heart.  And both are what comforted him: the Spirit and the Word.

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." - Romans 5:1-6

Of these verses, James Meikle says,

"Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward. Sometimes God kindly sends afflictions to chastise His people for sin, and curb their carnal affections. Yet, at other times He sends afflictions to exercise and improve their graces. Whatever my affliction is, the wisdom of Him who sends it, should make me embrace and bear it without repining. Afflictions do not spring out of the dust--nor come at random. Some of God's favorite ones have, for wise ends, had the severest afflictions. Affliction deadens the pleasures of sense, and gives the soul a relish for spiritual things. It divorces the soul from the creature, and draws it near to God. Affliction renders the creature tasteless, and the world barren. It dispels the intoxicating juice of carnal pleasures and sensual delights. I should welcome whatever afflictions loosen me from this world, and bring me nearer to God."

Scripture tells us more from Job, who had lost practically everything, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord." and "I know my Redeemer lives!"

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." - Hebrews 10:19-23

And of course that one verse in which much hope is always found, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." So dear Christian, if you are experiencing trials, listen to Jesus, "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer..." for "...there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God."

38th PCA General Assembly (2010): Overture 1 (And So It Begins...)

It's January and that means, at least for me, that I am getting excited about General Assembly.  "Now why would anyone be excited about General Assembly?"  You ask a good question.  Let me tell you.  First, it probably is because I get to spend time with my friends.

As you see in the picture, there I am about to speak (stupid I know, but I couldn't help myself. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, but I didn't have it here) with the other A Profitable Word contributer Kevin Carroll in the background (man with white hair behind me).  Also, I am an odd ball when it comes to church polity and for that matter Presbyterian polity.  I like it!  The PCA's polity is not perfect, but still interesting to me.  But alas it is January and that's when the Overtures start coming.  Overtures are basically requests of Presbyteries for General Assembly to consider and take action on.  Already there are two Overtures listed and I will begin examining Overture 1.

Overture 1 - From New Jersey Presbytery entitled "Ministry to Seniors"

The overture shows there is a need according to Scripture for ministry to Senior Citizens.  Great, I'm on board.  So where is the ministry to them?  Go around your churches, is there a specific ministry to Seniors?  No.  Don't worry.  Programs do not equal ministry.  Some might look at your church and say, "There is no ministry to Senior Citizens, there is no meeting of the Seniors of your church during the week, no attempts are being made to reach out to them."  Nothing on the calendar, eh?  Good!  Most programs that churches partake in are silly anyway.  You have your meeting for men, meeting for women, meeting for youth, meeting for children, and on and on.  Let us divide the church and focus our attention on our differences or might we focus on something else?  Worshipping together.  Seniors are ministered to there.  Deacons, what are you doing?  Are you making sure these Seniors are having their needs met?  Elders are you meeting with those older people of your Church to make sure they are spiritually healthy and growing?

Why a specific ministry to Seniors?  Why concentrate on them particularly?  That is not the churches job.  But it is the role of the Church and everyone in the church to minister to/serve each other.  So the big question is are you ministering to the people in your church?  If not, there is a problem.  Elders there is a problem.  You must equip your people to do this if they are not.  So it isn't about ministering to Seniors or specifically about Seniors ministering, but this is about the service of the whole church to each other.  The focus of this overture is contrary to Scripture. 

Also, what this overture is asking for is beyond me.  It denies our own Confession and Catechisms in point number 4.  It states, "(4) resolve to designate the Sunday after Labor Day as “Seniors’ Sunday,” an effort to give at least minimal formal recognition to people important in our church and community life;"  Do you notice the problem?  The overture is asking the General Assembly to approve a special day for 'Seniors'.  Now I love seniors.  They possess great wisdom and in the church can be great servants for Christ's Kingdom.  But to promote ministry to them and to promote their own ministry to others through a 'special day' is contrary to the Word of God.

You remember the fourth commandment, which says, "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 of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the 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."

Clearly, the day has been set apart for the Lord not 'Seniors'.  It is for the worship of the Lord, not Seniors.  In this Overture, this presbytery is asking the Church to minimalize the Lord's Day and it worship and to honor Seniors above Him.  Why would I say that?  Because the overture denies the very Word of God.  Is Christ head over the Church?  The church isn't acting like it, are they?  The overture as well is calling for the Christian Education committee to promote this 'special day.'  Yet, is not the Lord's Day in itself special, more special than any other day you know?  God's Word seems to show that.  And all of this in the name of promoting ministry or service to Seniors and by Seniors.

This is like taking a VW Beetle and driving down railroad tracks.  You can drive down the tracks and you might get to where you want to go, but you aren't supposed to drive on railroad tracks (for good reason).  Just because you think something is good to do, and the method you want to use to get there seems good, doesn't mean you should do it that way.  God's Word guides us FIRST!  He tells that we need to drive on roads to get to our destination.  So shouldn't we rather equip the saints according to the Word and serve each other, and worship together on the Lord's Day?  O how we would be blessed to do so...