The latest investigative round into Federal Vision Theology in the PCA occurred today down in Atlanta. The investigation was before the Standing Judicial Commission, the highest court of the PCA.
About a year ago one of our presbyteries, Pacific Northwest, launched an investigation into one of its pastors, Rev. Peter Leithart, who labors out of bounds in a CREC church. The Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches is a new denomination known for tolerating or embracing (depending on who you talk to) Federal Vision Theology. The investigation was publicly invited by Rev. Leithart after the PCA adopted its Nine Point Statement on Federal Vision theology in 2007. The presbytery split on whether his views were outside the bounds of the Westminster Confession of Faith. While the majority voted in his favor a minority filed a complaint which is now before the SJC.
Rev. Jason Stellman, one of those who filed the minority report, was in Atlanta today to testify why he believes Rev. Leithart embraces Federal Vision theology. You can read his report on his blog:
De Regnis Duobus: An Update From Today's SJC Proceedings
It might be a while before the SJC rules on the merits of this case. Apparently they have about six weeks to conduct their work. Stay tuned for more developments. If you'd like some more background on this case see the list to the right and click on "Federal Vision."
Friday, November 20, 2009
Tenth Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia - 50/10 Celebration
It's hard to believe that we are coming up on the ten year mark since Dr. James Montgomery Boice went into glory. Marion Clark, Associate Pastor at Tenth Presbyterian reports the following...
DMC News
No, 50/10 is not a reference to Phil's vision. Rather it refers to the 50 years since Donald Grey Barnhouse's death and 10 years since that of James Montgomery Boice in 2010. There is 50/10 Committee working on ways to commemorate the ministries of these two senior ministers of Tenth. I want to alert you to two Sundays - June 13 commemorating Dr. Boice and November 21 commemorating Dr. Barnhouse.
DMC News
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
An Anniversary to Mourn
I found a good article in our denominational magazine, By Faith, that I wanted to share on the topic of no fault divorce. I write as one who is happily married and whose parent's stuck it out through thick and thin. But you cannot go far in today's culture without facing it head on. I've lost track of the number of couples that have divorced during my time in Midland (at least twenty). Unfortunately that includes professing Christians whose divorces did not meet the criteria set forth in Scripture.
It is hard to fathom the pain associated with divorce -- for children but also for the spouse who has been betrayed. Our culture is reaping the whirlwind for this practice. Click the link below to read the article and learn more.
An Anniversary to Mourn: Assessing 40 Years of No-Fault Divorce
It is hard to fathom the pain associated with divorce -- for children but also for the spouse who has been betrayed. Our culture is reaping the whirlwind for this practice. Click the link below to read the article and learn more.
An Anniversary to Mourn: Assessing 40 Years of No-Fault Divorce
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
RCA - Perspectives: Essay: Mournful Sounds of Implosion
Donald Luidens, professor of sociology at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, has written a thoughtful piece about his own denomination, The Reformed Church in America. From his perspective it is crumbling before our eyes.
I'm not Dutch, nor am I from west Michigan, so I will stay out of this one. But this article surely gives valuable insight into the demise of individual churches and denominations. For us the in the PCA we would do well to study other denominations that are in decline. We need to learn why they slipped and why they couldn't regain their footing. We need to study their leadership structures, their decision-making processes, their poor theological choices, and the unique niche they occupy (occupied) in the American church landscape. We need to learn these things because we are not immune. Recent decisions (or lack thereof) on the 'deaconess' issue is a case in point. To allow extra-constitutional practices to supplant our constitution spells doom.
You can read the article here: RCA - Perspectives: Essay: Mournful Sounds of Implosion Please note that there is a link to a rebuttal of this paper.
HT Heidelblog.
I'm not Dutch, nor am I from west Michigan, so I will stay out of this one. But this article surely gives valuable insight into the demise of individual churches and denominations. For us the in the PCA we would do well to study other denominations that are in decline. We need to learn why they slipped and why they couldn't regain their footing. We need to study their leadership structures, their decision-making processes, their poor theological choices, and the unique niche they occupy (occupied) in the American church landscape. We need to learn these things because we are not immune. Recent decisions (or lack thereof) on the 'deaconess' issue is a case in point. To allow extra-constitutional practices to supplant our constitution spells doom.
You can read the article here: RCA - Perspectives: Essay: Mournful Sounds of Implosion Please note that there is a link to a rebuttal of this paper.
HT Heidelblog.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Separated at Birth? Church leaders and their Look Alikes
Pretty good comparisons of well-known pastors and famous people who look like them (or vice versa).
Church Leader Look Alikes (check back for updates) - SKYEBOX
Church Leader Look Alikes (check back for updates) - SKYEBOX
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Dirty Laundry, II
Stunning and Brazen.
Here's the play by play...
(0:03) Male and female deacons installed together
(0:13) Deb, elected a female deacon, is used to represent further deacons being installed later that morning. Pastor states: "Deb is assuming the Diaconal Role this morning."
(0:20) Nominated by members of Redeemer just as other elders and deacons
(0:28) Extensive Training Process
(0:35) Interviewed by other officers of the Church
(0:41) Elected by vote of congregation
(1:17) Deaconess for Deb is an extraordinary calling
(1:34) She is charged
(4:26) Six Ordination Questions are asked to the woman
(5:09) The Pastor clearly uses the word 'ordination' in regard to what is going on
(6:02) The members of Redeemer promise and covenant to yield obedience to her.
Comments and thoughts?
Monday, November 9, 2009
Dirty Laundry
I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something, something I can use
People love it when you lose, they love dirty laundry
Well, I could've been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear, give us dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em all around
These lyrics are from Don Henley's song, Dirty Laundry. At times blogging involves airing dirty laundry. PCA ministers and colleagues, Tim and David Bayly, are airing some dirty laundry that needs to be seen by those who love our denomination and are concerned about its spiritual health.
Since 2007 the issue of 'deaconesses' in our denomination has consumed much time and energy. For those in the know that is a curious statement for our constitution does not define or recognize this title. However, some churches are forging ahead with innovative practices and using this title as synonymous with 'deacon.' I served on our denomination's committee to review presbytery minutes in 2007 and again in 2008 where we flagged certain presbyteries for failure to comply with our Book of Church Order as it relates to this issue.
The church featured in the link below has been at the forefront of innovation. That it is led by a pastor who has almost 'rock star' status is troubling to say the least. Many churches are following their lead.
Click on the link below to see what I'm talking about. Look for the title, All the pretty language: Redeemer ordains women
BaylyBlog: Out of our minds, too...
Saturday, November 7, 2009
John Calvin's Land Ethic
This is the 500th year since John Calvin was born. I've done my share of reading on this man and attended an excellent conference too. Yet, with all of this discussion I have yet to read anything related to the environment or land use.
It might come as a surprise to many Christians to learn that the environmental movement lays at their feet the charge that the Church is responsible for the misuse of the world's resources. This is based on a misreading of Genesis 1:28 and God's mandate to Adam and Eve: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and have dominion over (it)." It is readily apparent that the Genesis account speaks of stewardship instead of abuse, but this is often overlooked by those who wish to find an easy scapegoat.
A few days ago as I was doing my sermon preparation on Genesis 2:15-17 I came across a stunning quote from John Calvin in his commentary on Genesis. It came in the context of Adam's work in the Garden of Eden. Calvin draws a principle to demonstrate that we, like Adam, are stewards of God's creation. He writes,
The father of the modern conservation movement is Aldo Leopold. In my undergraduate studies we took a class on environmental ethics and closely read his work A Sand County Almanac. I don't think that Leopold was aware of Calvin's opinion when he wrote his Land Ethic. Nor do I think that many Christians are aware of this 'reformation' perspective either. In my opinion Leopold would've been stunned to learn that he wasn't really breaking new ground with his book and landmark essay. I also think that he would be scandalized to learn that CHRISTIANS were talking about a land ethic four centuries before it was fashionable.
It might come as a surprise to many Christians to learn that the environmental movement lays at their feet the charge that the Church is responsible for the misuse of the world's resources. This is based on a misreading of Genesis 1:28 and God's mandate to Adam and Eve: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and have dominion over (it)." It is readily apparent that the Genesis account speaks of stewardship instead of abuse, but this is often overlooked by those who wish to find an easy scapegoat.
A few days ago as I was doing my sermon preparation on Genesis 2:15-17 I came across a stunning quote from John Calvin in his commentary on Genesis. It came in the context of Adam's work in the Garden of Eden. Calvin draws a principle to demonstrate that we, like Adam, are stewards of God's creation. He writes,
"Let him who possesses a field, so partake of its yearly fruits, that he may not suffer the ground to be injured by his negligence; but let him endeavor to hand it down to posterity as he received it, or even better cultivated. Let him so feed on it fruits, that he neither dissipates it by luxury, nor permits (it) to be marred or ruined by neglect. Moreover, that this economy, and this diligence, with respect to those good things which God has given us to enjoy, may flourish among us; let every one regard himself as the steward of God in all things which he possesses. Then he will neither conduct himself dissolutely, nor corrupt by abuse those things which God requires to be preserved."
The father of the modern conservation movement is Aldo Leopold. In my undergraduate studies we took a class on environmental ethics and closely read his work A Sand County Almanac. I don't think that Leopold was aware of Calvin's opinion when he wrote his Land Ethic. Nor do I think that many Christians are aware of this 'reformation' perspective either. In my opinion Leopold would've been stunned to learn that he wasn't really breaking new ground with his book and landmark essay. I also think that he would be scandalized to learn that CHRISTIANS were talking about a land ethic four centuries before it was fashionable.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Kim Riddlebarger - Free on CD
Author, pastor and theologian, Dr. Kim Riddlebarger reports...
John Hendryx (the proprietor of Monergism) is offering a free CD with all thirty-two of my sermons on Revelation, as well as the first fifteen lectures in my on-going series Amillennialism 101.
As one who needs some guidance in the area of eschatology I've already ordered my CD. Click on the link below to order yours. NOTE: the lectures are free but you will need to pay for shipping.
Free Me on CD
John Hendryx (the proprietor of Monergism) is offering a free CD with all thirty-two of my sermons on Revelation, as well as the first fifteen lectures in my on-going series Amillennialism 101.
As one who needs some guidance in the area of eschatology I've already ordered my CD. Click on the link below to order yours. NOTE: the lectures are free but you will need to pay for shipping.
Free Me on CD
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