A tremendous, two-part treatment that anyone identifying with historic Presbyterian should read by my friend, Matthew Vogan.
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Whole doctrine catholicity | “Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners” (Song 6:10)?
Posted in Catholicity, Church of Scotland, Connectionalism & Conciliarism, Ecclesiology, Establishments, Separatism & Schism, The Visible Church | Leave a Comment »
Community is dead. R.I.P. This short article by Dr. Carl Trueman laments the evaporation of community–at least in the West–and of its historically Christian nexus, the Church. He then offers a strategic prescription in the rediscovery of hospitality, no doubt in the spirit of Rosaria Butterfield. I couldn’t agree more. If we are embodied souls living in real places with zip codes and GPS coordinates, we as Christians need to love our neighbors in very tangible ways for their salvation — and as a happy byproduct, recreate community.
But I think this malady requires more than one prescription. Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), the pioneer of the Free Church of Scotland in which Trueman spent many years, was even in his day deeply troubled at the disintegration of then-modern community. The Industrial Revolution had forced masses of country folk into the slums of Britain’s factory-choked cities. It grieved him to his core that these people were living in grinding poverty and were completely falling through the cracks of the Church of Scotland’s traditional spiritual care, forming a bloated underclass of unchurched “home heathen.” And the mechanized web of misery only strengthened its grip by the complete and utter absence of community. His assessment is surprisingly contemporary: “As the matter stands, juxtaposition forms no security whatever for acquaintanceship—insomuch that the members of distinct households might live for years under the same roof, unknowing and unknown to each other.”
Continue Reading »Posted in Free Church of Scotland, Missiology, Moral Suasion, Parish in American Context, Parish Theory & Practice, Parochial Strategy, Social Byproduct, Social Issues, The Gospel & the Poor, Theology of Community, Theology of Place, Thomas Chalmers | 1 Comment »
“Englands sinnes have been great, yea and their mercies great. England hath been a mirror of mercy, yet God may leave us, and make us a mirrour of his justice. Looke how he spake to the people in Ier. 7. that bragged of the Temple of the Lord, Sacrifices and offerings: And what may not God which destroyed Shilo, destroy thee O England? Goe to Bohemia, from thence to the Palatinate, and so to Denmarke. Imagine you were there, what shall you see, nothing else but as Travellers say, Churches made heaps of stones, and those Bethels wherin Gods name was called upon, are made defiled Temples for Satan and superstition to raigne in? You cannot goe two or three steps, but you shall see the heads of dead men, goe a little further, and you shall see their hearts picked out by the fowles of the ayre, whereupon you are ready to conclude that Tilly hath been there: Those Churches are become desolate, and why not England? Goe into the Cities and Townes, and there you shall see many compassed about with the chaines of captivity, and every man bemoaning himselfe. Doe but cast your eyes abroad, and there you shall see poore fatherlesse children sending forth their breaches, with feare, crying to their poore helplesse mothers. Step but a little farther, and you shall see the sad wife bemoaning her husband, and that is her misery, that she cannot dye soone enough; and withall she makes funerall Sermons of her children within her selfe, for that the Spaniard may get her little ones, and bring them up in Popery and superstition; and then she weeps and considers with her selfe: If my husband be dead, it is well, happily he is upon the racke, or put to some cruell tortures, and then she makes funerall Sermons, and dyes a hundred times before she can dye. Cast your eyes afar off, set your soules in their soules stead, and imagine it were your owne condition, why may not England be thus, who knowes but it may be my wife, when he heares of some in torments? Ah! Brethren, be not high minded, but feare, as we have this bounty on the one side, so may we have this severity on the other; therefore prancke not up your selves with foolish imaginations, as who dare come to England, the Spaniards have enough, the French are too weake: Be not deceived, who thought Ierusalem the Lady of Kingdomes, whither the Tribes went to worship, should become a heap of stones, a vagabond people, and why not England? Learne therefore to heare and feare, God can be a God without England, doe not say there are many Christians in it, can God be beholding to you for your Religion? No surely, for rather then he will maintaine such as professe his Name and hate him, he will raise up of these stones children unto Abraham; He will rather goe to the Turks, and say you are my people, and I will be your God. But will you let God goe, England? Why are you so content to let him goe? Oh! lay hold on him, yea hang on him, and say thou shalt not goe. Doe you thinke that Rome will part with her religion, and forsake her gods? nay, an hundred would rather lose their lives. Will you let God goe? Oh England plead with your God! and let him not depart. You should onely part with your rebellions, he will not part with you. Leave us not. We see the Church is very importunate to keep God with them still, they lay hold on God with words of argument.”
From Thomas Hooker’s, “The Danger of Desertion” (1641)
Posted in New England Puritanism, Puritans & Puritanism, The Church in America | Leave a Comment »
[A letter by Professor John Murray]
Badbea, Bonar Bridge, Ardgay, Ross-shire IV2 43AR, Scotland
16 November 1973
Mr. V. Connors
Presbytery Clerk
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Australia
Dear Mr. Connors,
I am in receipt of your letter of the 8th. I very deeply appreciate your request even though I may not be able to provide any definitive advice on the questions asked. Allow me to give my judgement on the second question first.
If the Presbytery becomes convinced that a head covering for women belongs to the decorum governing the conduct of women in the worship of God, then I think Presbytery should declare accordingly. I would not suppose it necessary expressly to legislate. I think it would be enough to make a resolution for the instruction and guidance of ministers, sessions, and people. A higher judicatory has both right and duty to offer to those under its jurisdiction, guidance respecting divine obligation. This has been recognised in Reformed Churches throughout the world.
Your main question turns, of course, on the interpretation of I Corinthians 11:2-16. Permit me to offer some of my reflections in order.
1. Since Paul appeals to the order of creation (vss. 3b, vss. 7ff.), it is totally indefensible to suppose that what is in view and enjoined had only local or temporary relevance. The ordinance of creation is universally and perpetually applicable, as also are the implications for conduct arising therefrom.
2. I am convinced that a head covering is definitely in view forbidden for the man (vss. 4, & 7) and enjoined for the woman (vss. 5, 6, 15). In the case of the woman the covering is not simply her long hair. This supposition would make nonsense of verse 6. For the thought there is, that if she does not have a covering she might as well be shorn or shaven, a supposition without any force whatever if the hair covering is deemed sufficient. In this connection it is not proper to interpret verse 15b as meaning that the hair was given the woman to take the place of the head covering in view of verses 5, 6. The Greek of verse 15 is surely the Greek of equivalence as used quite often in the New Testament, and so the Greek can be rendered: “the hair is given to her for a covering.” This is within the scope of the particular argument of verses 14, 15 and does not interfere with the demand for the additional covering contemplated in verses 5, 6, 13. Verses 14 and 15 adduce a consideration from the order of nature in support of that which is enjoined earlier in the passage but is not itself tantamount to it. In other words, the long hair is an indication from “nature” of the differentiation between men and women, and so the head covering required (vss. 5, 6, 13) is in line with what “nature” teaches.
Continue Reading »Posted in John Murray, Worship, True & False | Leave a Comment »
I’ve noticed on my dashboard a couple of older posts getting a more hits after my latest one, “Micro-presbyterians and church-planting.” Perhaps a brief clarification is in order just in case any should view these as somehow contradictory of the spirit and practice I have just advocated. It certainly would be a “fly in the ointment” if others should actually be confused by them.
In each of these posts, I’ve added clarifying language (here and here) that I could have easily included at the time, had I thought it necessary. In any case, my conscience is perfectly clear that I have never to my knowledge participated in any outreach or church-planting effort remotely out of step with my recent article, and I would be happy to offer pastoral references outside the PRC should any wish to confirm.
In all likelihood, this is nothing. So disregard if this does not apply—but feel free to share if it does.
God bless!
–The management (such as it is)
Posted in Catholicity, Missiology, Parish in American Context, WPE Editor | Leave a Comment »
A sample of my latest course for STR-WA: “Catechesis: Theory & Practice.”
Posted in Care for the Youth, Catechesis, Español, Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts | Leave a Comment »
Este tratado de Thomas Doolittle, escrito por el pastor de la infancia del gran comentarista de la Biblia Matthew Henry, es una obra maestra muy olvidada sobre el tema de la naturaleza, la justificación y los métodos de la catequesis. Es una lectura obligada para cualquier pastor reformado.
Posted in Antigua Kirk, Care for the Youth, Catechesis, Church Order & Discipline, Diets of Catechizing, Español, Evangelistic Catechesis, Family Religion, Ordinary Means Ministry, Pastoral Theology, The Sacred Ministry | Leave a Comment »
Inscríbase en un curso del seminario sobre la teoría y la práctica de la catequesis. El costo del curso es de sólo $10 USD; y hay vacantes disponibles gratuitamente para un número limitado de quienes deseen auditar el curso.
Más información sobre el curso: https://www.facebook.com/str.iprbolivia.org
Comprensión teológica: Los estudiantes adquirirán una sólida comprensión de los principios básicos y las ventajas de la catequesis como disciplina teológico-pastoral dentro de la Iglesia. Serán capaces de analizar y aplicar estos conceptos fundamentales en su vida y práctica cristiana.
Formación doctrinal: El curso capacitará a los estudiantes para formar a otros en las doctrinas fundamentales de la fe cristiana. Aprenderán a transmitir de manera clara y efectiva estos principios, tanto a adultos convertidos como a menores bautizados, fomentando una comprensión profunda y significativa de la fe.
Profesión de fe personal: Los estudiantes desarrollarán la habilidad de realizar una profesión de fe personal y creíble. A través del conocimiento adquirido en el curso, podrán articular su fe de manera coherente y convincente, fortaleciendo así su relación con Dios y su plena pertenencia a la Iglesia.
Página web del seminario: https://iprbolivia.org/strinfo/
Posted in Care for the Youth, Catechesis, Church Order & Discipline, Confessional Subscription, Español, Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts | Leave a Comment »
Though I am Presbyterian, I have for years deeply appreciated the great majority of what the New England fathers set forth here in their Cambridge Platform (1649) concerning why, how, and when church members may lawfully leave their local congregation to join another. Would to God we “eat this scroll,” internalizing its biblical principles. And so may we more and more in this individualistic and non-committal age live out the articles of our ancient creed, “I believe an holy catholic church” and “the communion of saints!”
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CHAPTER XIII.
Of church members, their removal from one church to another, and of recommendation and dismission.
1. CHURCH members may not remove or depart from the church, and so one from another as they please, nor without just and weighty cause, but ought to live and dwell together; forasmuch as they are commanded, not to forsake the assembling of themselves together. Such departure tends to the dissolution and ruin of the body, as the pulling of stones and pieces of timber from the building, and of members from the natural body, tend to the destruction of the whole.
Heb. x. 25.
2. It is therefore the duty of church members, in such times and places where counsel may be had, to consult with the church whereof they are members about their removal, that accordingly they having their approbation, may be encouraged, or otherwise desist. They who are joined with consent, should not depart without consent, except forced thereunto.
Prov.xi. 16.
3. If a member’s departure be manifestly unsafe and sinful, the church may not consent thereunto; for in so doing, they should not act in faith, and should partake with him in his sin. If the case be doubtful, and the person not to be persuaded, it seemeth best to leave the matter unto God, and not forcibly to detain him.
Rom. xiv. 23. 1 Tim. v. 22. Acts, xxi. 14.
Continue Reading »Posted in Catholicity, Christian Conduct, Church Order & Discipline, Communion of the Saints, Ecclesiology, New England Puritanism | 2 Comments »
So a development on our Middle Eastern refugee friend, “Fatima.” The most recent update is here, with previous entries here.
Our original goal for Fatima – on a practical level, at least – was to get her fully on her feet. She has made progress for sure and has saved a good amount of money. We are now trying to help her launch out with a new rental situation. Ideally, we’d like to pair her with another Christian family, couple, or single woman. She could afford about $800-900/mo. for a room or to be a roommate. Fatima is a sweet, gentle soul, about 45 years old, with decent English. Would you have any space to spare? This would be great opportunity for someone to show the love of Christ in tangible ways, help an immigrant acclimate to a new culture, and get some additional income. We’d love to find a situation in R.I. or southern New England. However, she would be open to relocate anywhere with the U.S., and we would be very helpful to facilitate that process with the right situation.
Please feel free to inquire further, reach out to Vincent Gebhart, vincegebhart1 at gmail dot com, 401-743-4162.
Posted in Reformed Parish Mission (RPM) Posts, WPE Editor | Leave a Comment »
West Port Experiment 