What is the Meaning and Purpose of Your Church?

   In today's world, there are more "Christian church" denominations and sections than can be counted. So many of these denominations claim that they have the truth, are the most modern, present the easiest ways to understand the Bible, have the "true" translation of scripture, or even just claim to serve the best coffee around. And in our current world that we live in, these are all deemed as viable options by which we should determine what church is the best and most right to attend.
   I want to present you with a different viewpoint. It is not one of ecumenical oneness of all different beliefs pretending that we like each other for a short while and then can go back to our lines that we have drawn in the sand. But rather, it is the idea that there is but one Truth. That He is all that matters and if we do not follow what He has given us, the Bible, and hold true to it's truths we are not part of the church. The church, the bride of Christ, is not merely a building with chairs or pews, rugs, and a pulpit. Rather, the church consists of those who believe that scripture is the foundation upon which we stand. That scripture is all that we need in order to make decisions on faith and creed. That all we need for salvation is faith (this faith is not ours, but that of Christ imputed to us through salvation). And lastly, that God's grace and mercy covers every part of us. People can be from different denominations and yet fellowship, worship, and praise God together. The issues that divide people and break that fellowship are those that do not hold to scripture as the bottom line, those that do not believe that God's grace is enough, and those that think their comfort rises above the goodness and grace of scripture.
   Our churches are not meant to make us comfortable, rich, or complacent. Our churches should push, strengthen, and strive to equip us to further the reach of the gospel. God calls us in Romans, as well as the entirety of the New Testament, to spread the gospel to all those who have never heard, as well as to those who have heard. Churches are not meant to be safe havens where everyone who enters its doors will never be offended or challenged. Rather, we should be getting challenged in our churches. As Paul says in II Timothy 3, scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training. It is not merely to make us feel good about ourselves or to tell us that we have the option to share the gospel with those in our community, but rather churches are supposed to make us uncomfortable when we hear about something we are doing wrong. They are supposed to challenge our beliefs if they differ from what is written in scripture. Churches are supposed to expose sin and relay the message of salvation and redemption through Christ.
   If churches are not doing these things, then maybe they aren't doing what they are supposed to do. If we were to stop looking for a church that meets all of our comforts and desires, and would rather take part in churches that challenge us to hold to scripture above all else we would see an immense difference in what people would consider Christian churches.
   Many people within "christian churches" make fun of or discredit the Puritans and their pious actions that they demonstrated. Yet, why would they do this? It is because they do not value scripture above all else, they are insecure and think that those who are different in their actions and deeds therefore must be weird and odd. Yet, the doctrines and messages that the Puritans preached to their congregations make most "Christians" today run, or choke. They run because they are afraid to place all of their trust in a God who is sovereign over all of creation. They choke because the message that they hear is one so deep and submerged within the depths of scripture that it sounds like a foreign language, one which they have not learned or taken part in.
   If, in our world today, we can find a church that resembles that of a Puritan church, we would be grateful and blessed. Church is not about all the frills and extras, it's about the Holy Word of God. This is what the church is for. To teach and to train those who are followers of Jesus Christ and to minister and serve those who are not, those who are in need. The members of a church are meant to share in fellowship with each other, just as they themselves fellowship daily with our Lord and Savior. If a specific church does not make you want to know Christ and the beauties of scripture more, but rather encourages you to become involved in everything else the world has to offer, then that church is not one that is following God. Programs and activities are great as long as they are a means to fellowship and share with one another. However, when they begin to take the place of actually learning and digging into the Bible, then they are the easiest and most useful tools of the devil to drawn Christians away from God.
   When we look for a church, we need to look for one that believes that Bible. If they do not do this, but rather hold that other things are on equal ground with scripture, or that other things hold authority above scripture they are not a church that we should be involved with. I think that Charles Spurgeon sums up the heart of the issue nicely. He says,
“That very church which the world likes best is sure to be that which God abhors.”
― Charles H. Spurgeon

Simplistically Beautiful

   Recently, since my son was born, I have been taking greater notice of the wonderful and simple things that God has so wonderfully created. For instance, the simple way that my son looks around at things, his tiny little hands and feet, or the way he already recognizes who is talking. These things are truly amazing to me. God created a small human being that has so many little body parts and yet God created them to be exactly as they are, to work in accordance with his little body and to function as a whole to show the glory that God deserves.
   I have seen the plants in my garden begin to grow rapidly and begin to bear some fruit. To know that they came merely from a small seed, that seems dead until placed int the ground, only to sprout forth new life is truly amazing. The way that plants grow truly shows the wonderful creative and sustaining power of God. He causes plants to grow, bear fruit and sustain us. It is hard to believe that anyone can look at such things and not be amazed by the beauty of God. However, we know that even though the creation screams the existence of God, there are many that choose to suppress the truths that God continually displays to them through His creation. (Romans 1)
   This is one of the reasons that I believe in a sovereign, reigning, wonderful God. There would be no way that we could sustain life, or hold life even together without God's continual sustenance. My son could not make his lungs work, to breathe in and out on his own. He could not make his bowels work to process the food he eats. He could not have even learned how to eat unless God had given him that insight and guided him throughout his formation and life so far. Plants will not just grow on their own. Yes, we know scientifically that there are certain things that are need to make plants grow and live, and yet, why do those things even work? Because God is there causing His creation to continually function in the way that He so sovereignly created it to. There has never been anything created that has always been there without failing to work or deteriorating. So, why then do we even begin to assume to think that God does not guide and shape everything that happens. If He wasn't doing so, the whole world would just fall apart and that would be the end of it. Particles are held together by seemingly nothing, at least scientifically. Yet, things still hold their shapes when created, and grow into the actual things that they sprout from, and little babies grow into adult humans. Why, because God's hands and words commanded it to be so. God sustains every part of creation and causes it to scream that He is there, and yet, so many people just turn away and say that they don't care, that they would rather honor themselves instead of their creator.

My Son is Not Perfect, Merely Perfectly Created

   It has been just over two weeks now since my precious little son was born. During those two weeks I have continually heard people say that "he is perfect". Now, I know what they were trying to say. That he is beautiful, precious, sweet, wonderful, peaceful, joyful, calm, and created by God. However, my son is not perfect. Before you stop reading and think that I do not have a love and utmost pride in everything about my son, hear me out.
    People want to say that my son is perfect, well I cannot and will not ever say or agree to such a statement. To say such a statement, even in trying to say something else, is to say that you think my son is actually perfect. This cannot be. We see in Luke 18 that Jesus, in talking with those around Him says, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone." (Luke 18:19 ESV) So, knowing this, how can I allow people to claim that my son is perfect? If no one except God is even good, how can I, or anyone else, claim that my son is perfect?
    I love my son with every ounce of my being and would do anything and everything for him. He can't take care of himself, feed himself, or even clean himself. Yet, I have no worries about his well-being. Scripture tells us that God will care for all of the needs, not wants, but actual needs of His children. So, not knowing the future or what God has planned for my son, I take my own strength and courage from the fact that God knows everything about my son. He knows that as he gets older, all those people that called him perfect will see his faults and sinful nature begin to show. God knows every piece of my sons body, He created it and knew him before time even began. I mean, if I cannot rest in knowing that God knows my son, created him, and knew him, actually knew him before the world even began, then what hope would I, am mere man, have in making sure that my "perfect" son has everything that he needs? I don't even stand a chance.
   Therefore, I rest. I know that my son has been born with his own quirks and sinful longings. Just because he is so small and helpless and cannot manifest them yet does not mean that they do not exist. In their existence, my son is so wonderful and sweet, and cuddly that I couldn't have even thought that God would bless me in such a way as to be given such a precious bundle to love and care for. And yet, the great part is that I can't even love him on my own, so God gives me love to be able to love my son as He has called me to. I don't have to worry about my ability to love my son enough. If I love God with all my heart and teach my son those same things, then I will love my son enough.
    Now, I know some people may read this and think that I am saying that God created my sweet boy with sin raging in his body. Quite the contrary, I believe that my son was perfectly created by our most wonderful Heavenly Father, but that due to sin entering the world upon the sin that occurred in the Garden of Eden, that my son does have a sin nature. I know that many people think that children learn to sin, but how would they do this? They begin doing things that they have never seen before and therefore they can not have learned them from someone else. This is what leads me to reject the statement that my son is "perfect". Not because I do not love him and think that he is the most wonderful little bundle that I have ever seen, but because scripture clearly tells us that no one is perfect but God alone. It is because of this that I must assert that even though my boy is amazing in every way, God's designs are positively incredible, he is not perfect, but merely perfectly created.

The Foundation

       I recently read a blog post from a Roman Catholic clergy member. In it he stated that the Catholic Church does not believe in scripture alone. This is the idea that if something doesn't line up with what the Bible says, then it cannot be true. Now, my heart broke when I read this. If you can't stand up scripture, then what can you stand on? I think that there is not nearly enough awareness among protestants that the Roman Catholic church does not believe anything in the same way that protestant churches do. We need to stand up the truth of scripture. If we can't do this, we have nothing. Everything else is the mere words of man and hold no eternal weight in comparison to the holy word of God.

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
        I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

(2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5 ESV)

Marriage II

   Today I turned on the computer to the news that a judge in PA had ruled that a ban, currently held in the state of PA was unconstitutional. This was a ban against gay marriage. There are many people that have taken this opportunity to already seek marriage licenses, while there are others that are asking for more than one judge to rule on this issue. My heart breaks for the state of PA and for the country of the United States as a whole. One by one we are turning our eyes further and further from the truth. We bless sin and call it a wonderful event. People call it just and right, people's equality, and many other such things. In truth, it is sin. It is only sin. God has not created us to forsake what is right and true. But rather our sinful desires cause us to turn away from Him, to seek out relationships that promote unhealthy families, and distort every picture that Christ has given us for what a family should look like. My heart breaks for all of my friends, who are at this very moment endorsing these actions through social media, and other avenues of communication. I deeply encourage those who think that these actions are the right ones, to go back and read the book of Genesis again. Please read your Bibles, there is nothing else in the whole world that holds as much weight and truth as the words that are found within its pages. People's opinions and thoughts, if not based upon scripture should hold no weight for those who claim to be Christians. My heart is filled with sorrow at the amount of people that claim to love others, and yet continually endorse the sin that they are so deeply involved in. I pray that everyone would join me in prayer, not for our states or country, but rather for those who claim Christ and yet refuse to seek His face on such issues as this.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."

(Romans 1:18-32 ESV)

Contentment

   What does it mean to be content? So often I hear people complain about one thing or another, in fact there are many times that I catch myself making this same mistake. So often in our culture, the acceptable thing is to complain about whatever situation we find ourselves in, no matter what it is. If it is hot outside, we complain about that, if it is cold we complain about it being too cold and snowy, if it is the perfect temperature we complain that it is raining too much. This cycle continues and continues, and not just with the weather. There are so many times that we complain about our homes, our food, our kids, our work, our time, and so many other endless things. The cause of this endless complaining? I believe that it stems from a deep and unrelenting desire to disregard God's word and His promise that He will care for us, never leave us, and most of all, work all things for the good of those who He has called unto Himself.

   We need to deeply repent as a church. I do not believe that this call is for our country (USA), for even though many of the founding fathers were deeply involved in their churches, our country is by no means anywhere near being Christian. Therefore I believe that this call of repentance should echo forth unto churches only. Churches that say that they believe and teach the Bible. We cannot say that we trust Jesus for our salvation and then turn right back around and complain about everything that we have or come in contact with. Even if we don't really mind it, the world still hears complaints from a person who should be telling them that Jesus takes care of all of our needs. We need to be the body of Christ. We need to say that Christ takes care of all of our needs, and then actually live like it. Can you imagine what the world would see if we lived through every and any situation without worry or complaint for the things that we encounter? Can you imagine the lives that we could change if we gave up our hold on our mere possessions and goods and instead lived in such a way as to have little but give much?

   We complain about the size of our houses, and yet we are only complaining because we want more rooms so that we can have two living rooms, one for each person. Yes, I said each person. It boggles my mind to hear people talk about how they don't like a house that they look at just because there would only be a space for one tv so the couple would have to watch the same shows together. How about you actually get to know each other, if you want to watch tv, great go for it. But do it together. We complain about being single, but then when we find that special someone all we want to do is make sure we have our alone time and space to ourselves. This can't be what the church is called to. We must dig out the roots that have embedded themselves deep in our hearts and made us the most selfish part of the body of Christ in the entire world. Sure, some people would argue that the great USA church gives more money to help those in need than any other country, great for us. WHO CARES?!! We have more money than every other country to begin with. We should be giving more money, lots more money. Not only money but our time and energy to help those around the world in need. We don't have to travel half way around the world to do this, we have plenty of people that we can help right in our own backyards, but we must seek them out. 

   We must be a people with content hearts. "But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you."

(1 Timothy 6:6-21 ESV)

Baptism

   Recently I have been thinking about baptism a lot. Then, this Sunday, there was a baptism at church. It was an infant baptism, which comes from a different doctrinal viewpoint to the one to which I hold. This idea of infant baptism has been one of the main catalysts for my recent thoughts on the subject. However, I do not understand where this idea has it's roots within scripture, for I cannot seem to find them.
   There are generally three different views on what baptism is and does. The first would be that held by Roman Catholics. They believe that those who are baptized are "Already destined for him through Baptism..." (Roman Catholic Catechism). This is why they baptize all of their children. They believe that in so doing they will destine them for heaven/salvation.
   The second viewpoint is that which is generally held by Presbyterians. They believe that baptism does not save, and yet they still hold it as a sign of the new covenant and administer it to the children of their congregation. They baptize their children into, what they call, the covenant family of God. Claiming that all of its blessings are bestowed upon those children who are baptized. Claiming that once they are brought unto salvation that they are merely recognizing what was done for them through the act of baptism.
   The third viewpoint is that which is generally held by Baptists. They believe that only those who have professed faith in Christ and understand what that means are the only ones to whom the sacrament of baptism should be administered. They use the many scriptural passages found in the New Testament which state, "repent and be baptized", as the catalyst for this belief. It is through these verses that they reason that since you must repent to be a Christian, and you must do this before scripture calls you to be baptized, then for that reason baptism must follow after such a profession of faith and repentance.
   I believe that through scripture and the understanding of who the blessings of God are for that the third viewpoint presented is the one to which scripture presents as the right way to view the sacrament of baptism. This view uses the sacrament of baptism as a way for believers to profess their knowledge and belief in the work that Jesus Christ has done to save their souls. Much in the same way with which the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated as a communal event amongst believers to show that they believe in the work that Jesus did upon the cross and the sacrifices that He made for His church. If we were to believe all with the Roman Catholics, we would believe that we are saving anyone that we baptized with a little water when they were a baby. This would be to say that these babies have no need of seeking forgiveness or of believing in Jesus as their savior. But they rather are already destined for Him and no matter what they do will be destined for Him. This does not and cannot align with what scripture says. That a man must be born again to see the kingdom of God. Our human actions, whether they be baptism or other, cannot destine or save anyone. In dealing with the second viewpoint, we can see that the Presbyterians in their view of infant baptism seem to have tried to get away from this teaching of the Catholic Church that basically claims that it saves a child by baptizing them, but they fail to fully step away from baptizing infants and therefore cannot change the meaning of this sacrament, no matter how they word its purpose and design. In so trying to change the meaning and wording to accord with the idea that salvation is wholly wrought by God without any actions of man, they make just as bold of a statement as the Roman Catholics do. By claiming the these children who are baptized receive all the blessing of the New Covenant, they are claiming that they receive the blessings of those who have already had the Holy Spirit work in their heart to enact the salvation of their souls. Therefore, they are claiming that God will give these children the same blessings that He bled and died on the cross to bring salvation to those whom He has called and chosen unto himself. Therefore, if you follow reason, they are claiming that those children have the blessings that God has promised only to the beloved, His bride the church. Saying then, that these children that are baptized are already part of God's church and therefore are already believers.
   Yet, how can this be since there has not been any profession of faith? They would claim that they are not believers, but will one day come to recognize their baptism. What on earth does this even mean? Do they mean that a persons baptism in some way has a certain power over a person that they can one day realize the work that it has done? Are they stating that baptism has more power, or even equal power to the work that the Holy Spirit does? If they are not claiming these things, then what is there to realize or recognize? If baptism is the outward sign of the New Covenant with God, then how can someone who has never claimed to believe that covenant or to hold to the commands of God claim or receive the benefits that He so graciously bestows upon those who do believe in that covenant?
   The answer is simple. If we truly believe that God died for those who He came to save, then we cannot say that babies/infants should be baptized or even come close to "giving" them a piece of the New Covenant. That covenant is for the people of God only! If children grow up in the church and come to a saving knowledge of the grace of God, then they are welcomed into that wonderful and holy covenant, but not until then. No man can be saved through his works or the works of any human being. Therefore the covenant that Presbyterians claim is bestowed upon infants upon the act of baptism is completely untrue and unbiblical.
   We need to teach our children about the New Covenant, but we cannot tell them that they are part of it until they come to a saving knowledge of God. If we tell them as children that they are already part of it, why should they ever need to consider anything else in life since they are already part of such a covenant? They will not, rather it is by God's grace that children or adults are brought to salvation and not because of their baptism.