Come Down, Lord!

Paul Washer has said, “Do not look for the church nearest to your house. Look for the church closest to the Bible.” By "closest to the Bible," people tend to think doctrine, and for years that was largely my approach. But when I began attending our current church about two years ago—and later joined it—it was not because of some major doctrinal shift. I was there, and remain there, for other reasons entirely. Over the years we have been part of some good churches, including churches that were especially strong doctrinally. When I began looking for a local church, I knew we would be giving some things up. But could I find a place where my family could serve and grow? And what did it really mean to be “closest to the Bible”? I am not sure exactly what Paul Washer meant, but I came to conclude that it means much more than doctrine alone. As I thought and prayed about it, these were some of the things that mattered most to me: Christ-centered preaching . I was looking for preac...

 Please watch and share widely!  

  I have chosen the words for the title of this article carefully and deliberately.  We are facing a crisis, and I fear it is worse than we realize.  I have written before explaining my reasons for refusing the mask.  I have also publicly expressed concern over the decision in some churches to mandate masks.  I believe in doing so those churches are placing a stumbling block in the way of God’s people and legislating where they have no right to legislate.   But I have a growing concern in another direction .  It isn’t with those mandating the mask, but with those on both sides of this issue who have allowed this matter to trump most everything else.  These are people who ordinarily say very little (if anything) about their Saviour on social media, b ut they have plenty to say about masks (for or against).   They have never had the courage to tell the cashier about the gospel, but they can look that same worker in the eye and boldly refuse th...

A number of men have expressed concerns about my previous post , the follow up on our compromise in the face of Covid-19 .  After giving it consideration I have decided to offer some clarifications A. First, I freely admit that there are godly men on the other side of this issue who have arrived at their conclusions through thoughtful study of Scripture.  I believe they are wrong, but I don’t doubt their sincerity.  Nor do I believe that everyone on the other side is reasoning pragmatically.  There is no doubt in my mind that many men who heartily disagree with me are further along in their walk with the Lord.  For that reason I have found myself often hesitating to write or say anything at all.  I know what I am; and I remain painfully aware of the fact that there are numbers of men with whom I strongly differ who are more godly than I.   But I have not written for myself.  I have written (and I still write) for Christ and for truth. ...

The following are the notes I took from Rev. Gavin Beers' (FCC) webinar presentation on April 27. My comments are in italics. The following must be borne in mind in the current debate over whether the Church should or shouldn't submit to the magistrate when the magistrate limits gatherings. A. Biblical relationship between Church and state The Church and State are two independent governments, but both are under Christ.   The Church has the keys of kingdom The State has the sword of justice Neither is to encroach on the jurisdiction of other - Everyone agrees the government shouldn't meddle in the sacraments or church discipline, but we seem to have lost sight of the fact that when the government limits gatherings to 5 it is meddling in the things of religion in the most fundamental sense. They are not simply telling the Church what to do when she gathers, they are telling her she cannot gather at all. She is telling us, in effect, to set us aside the first four commandmen...

Dear brothers and sisters, greetings in the name of King Jesus.  I am writing to you (as I have written to my own Session) because I believe that we - the Church in North America - have let the Lord down.  Like Peter we have made big promises, but in a moment of trial we have in this way denied Him.  We have compromised and we have sinned.  I don't say that lightly.   Many better men than me hold an entirely different position. Still, I believe our decision to submit to the government is wrong.  I believe it’s seriously wrong.  I believe one day we will look back on this with sorrow at how easily we gave in to the pressures of government and society.   I know it’s well intended but still wrong.   As you know churches almost everywhere (including our own) have closed.  Gathering together for worship has been replaced almost everywhere by live-streaming, so that there is no more ‘meaningful’ gathering of believers for the preaching...