Out of the woodwork

Last night Bekah and I spent some time in fellowship with a small group group of Christians who are involved in the Redeemer Church plant here in Lincoln. The time reminded me of how prevalent brokenness is in our world, in our Church. Usually, all it takes is one or two people who are willing to be vulnerable about their lives; then people seem to spill over with all of their problems. Who knew that so much divorce, marriage/family problems, illegitimate children, addictions (past and present), and financial woes could exist in 10 very clean-cut looking Christians? And how amazing is it for it all to come out of the woodwork into the light of day? People looked relieved, comforted, understood and closer to one another. It was amazing how free flowing it was once it got started.

Publicly Joining Zion

I officially joined Zion Church PCA today. I am now a functioning, publicly recognized church member in Lincoln, Nebraska. Its a good feeling. As long as I am in Lincoln, I have a duty to serve this church to the best of my ability. It is a covenant I am making regardless of how much the church serves me. Even though serving this church (or any) will be difficult in some ways, I am rather pleased to be a part of Zion. There are several aspects of Zion church that I find particularly helpful:

1. Liturgy- Good ole' fashioned "lets confess together" liturgy. It is worshipful to the Father for us to confess what we know to be true about Him and about ourselves, and it is encouraging and nourishing for the body to speak truth.

2. Order of Worship- Zion has a unique order of worship that I find very helpful. There is a good mixture of hymns and spiritual songs with both contemporary and older instrumentation and melody. We prepare to confess our sins together, then kneel and confess our personal sins to God, then hear the assurance of pardon from the atoning work of Christ. We are instructed by the word. We celebrate communion together and are free to enjoy singing or listening to music while waiting for everyone to receive the bread and cup. Since we have already confessed our sins, we are free to joyfully take part in the sacrament with the community of the redeemed.

3. Weekly communion- Not a scriptural command, but it has been helpful to me and I think it is a good practice for any church.

4. Approachable leadership- It has been an honor to get to know some of the elders and pastors and Zion. They seem to be interested in getting to know me. This is a huge encouragement for someone who is thinking seriously about ministry work. I love to have relationships with people who can give godly, pastoral advice to an inexperienced youth such as myself.

5. Families- There are kids running everywhere. There are parents holding their children. It is a beautiful picture of the way that God has chosen to work in our community. People are fulfilling the cultural mandate.

And I am a part of that. I pledged to be. These are the the vows that I took:

1. Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in the sight of God, justly deserving his displeasure, and without hope, except through his sovereign mercy?
2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and savior of sinners, and do you receive and trust him alone for salvation as he is offered in the gospel?
3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes a follower of Christ?
4. Do you promise to support the church in it's worship and work to the best of your ability?
5. Do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of the church, and promise to strive for its purity and peace?

I answered these in the affirmative. If you are not currently a member of a church, I challenge you to think seriously about it. It is a way for you to express your commitment to the growing Kingdom of Jesus. We are all called to serve.

joining the church

I will be publicly joining Zion church this Sunday morning. Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate my becoming part of the visible Church in Lincoln Nebraska. I'm actually transferring my membership from 2nd Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Yazoo City, Mississippi. This decision has been a long time coming, but I feel that it is the right one. It feels good to be part of the local body again. Hope to see you there.

More substantial posts are in the works. Stay tuned.

"Upon The Burning of Our House"

As many now know, my church Zion Church (PCA) burned down early this morning. In the fury of various emotions this afternoon, I remembered a poem that I had studied in high school by the 17th century puritan poet Anne Bradstreet. The poem is as follows:

Upon the Burning of Our House

In silent night when rest I took,
For sorrow neer I did not look,
I waken'd was with thundring nois
And Piteous shreiks of dreadfull voice.
That fearfull sound of fire and fire,
Let no man know is my Desire.
I, starting up, the light did spye,
And to my God my heart did cry
To strengthen me in my Distresse
And not to leave me succourlesse.
Then coming out beheld a space,
The flame consume my dwelling place.
And, when I could no longer look,
I blest his Name that gave and took,
That layd my goods now in the dust:
Yea so it was, and so 'twas just.
It was his own: it was not mine;
Far be it that I should repine.

He might of All justly bereft,
But yet sufficient for us left.
When by the Ruines oft I past,
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,
And here and there the places spye
Where oft I sate, and long did lye.

Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest;
There lay that store I counted best:
My pleasant things in ashes lye,
And them behold no more shall I.
Under thy roof no guest shall sitt,
Nor at thy Table eat a bitt.

No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told,
Nor things recounted done of old.
No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,
Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee.
In silence ever shalt thou lye;
Adieu, Adeiu; All's vanity.

Then streight I gin my heart to chide,
And didst thy wealth on earth abide?
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Raise up thy thoughts above the skye
That dunghill mists away may flie.

Thou hast an house on high erect
Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished,
Stands permanent tho' this bee fled.
It's purchased, and paid for too
By him who hath enough to doe.

A Prise so vast as is unknown,
Yet, by his Gift, is made thine own.
Ther's wealth enough, I need no more;
Farewell my Pelf, farewell my Store.
The world no longer let me Love,
My hope and Treasure lyes Above.

The last verses were particularly comforting for me. Many have already rightfully stated that the building that a church is in is less significant than the actual people of God represented. This is certainly true. But it is also right that God should have a dwelling place with His people. What I find very comforting is that God will establish his Kingdom eternally in the new heavens and the new earth. There, no fire can destroy his actual dwelling place.

Come quickly, Lord.

Interesting Federal Vision Quote

I was reading an article on the Federal Vision this morning and I came across an interesting quote in opposition to the movement:

"Extensive study of their [the Federalists'] oral and written teachings on the special concerns of the Federal Vision convinces me that they have taught, alongside some wonderful truths, some serious errors about covenant theology and its implications for salvation, personal and corporate spirituality and piety, the use and understanding of the sacraments and the conduct of theology and biblical studies in general. Sadly, their mistakes undermine their very laudable goals. Their attempt to assure tender souls who doubt their salvation while they trust in Christ collapses and the poor souls are left more confused than before, because the objectivity of the covenant is inadequate to the task-while the presumptuous, who hear that aspect of their message may be led, inadvertently, to the false assurance of formalism. At the same time, their attempt to destroy the complacency of the presumptuous is in profound danger of promoting a false legalistic notion of works righteousness" (p.306)."

- Cal Beisner

I thought that this quote captured some of my feelings and concerns with the Federalists. I tend to view this movement as mostly wrong but containing some good truths and correctives. The problems are compounded by a lack of direction and unity within the movement. Earlier in the article, the author Anthony R. Dallison states:

"Sadly, the so-called 'Federal Vision' is no vision at all in the end, but a 'Federal Fog', and that of a most serious nature indeed"

I agree that the movement is "foggy" but I am also not ready to come down on it with severe judgement. I disagree with many of its premises, but, in some ways, I also disagree with the way that the PCA is trying to control it. Is this really an issue challenging Justification by Faith Alone? Certainly the doctrine could lead to a misunderstanding of Justification which could be heretical. But how is this different than any other way of organizing theology. Every way to present theology could be taken to an extreme that warrants condemnation. Mostly, I think it is an issue of how we read the Westminster Standards. I favor a fairly loose reading of the confession, so as to allow room for generations to make it applicable to the cultural needs. This is not to say, of course, that the issue of Justification by Faith Alone is a cultural understanding of scripture. But I don't really think that FV proponents want to discard this doctrine.

"In essentials unity,
in doubtful matters liberty,
in all things charity."

-Rupertus Meldenius (via Millard J. Erickson)