12.30.07
400 Years Here or There
This is an excellent question.
An even better question, i think, is this: if it only took 400 years for the Church (a very small minority of the population of the world at the time) to go from persecuted back rooms and catacombs to cathederals and an almost universal Christendom, what have we been doing for the last 400 years (since the time of the Reformation) that has seen the absolute decline of our culture and the Chrstian world at large?
12.28.07
Revised Liturgy: Collect for the Innocents’ Day
The note explaining the celebration of the Innocents’ Day is as follows:
[This Festival, in memory of the slaughtered infants, is celebrated on the third day after Christmas. Martyrdom was regarded by the ancient Church as a heavenly birth. Hence, the day of St. Stephen, martyr both in will and in fact, of St. John, martyr in will, though not in fact, and of the Holy Innocents, martyrs in fact, though not in will, follow immediately after Christmas.]
O God, who out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast ordained strength, and whose praise the slaughtered infants of Bethlehem proclaimed, not by speaking, but by dying; mortify and kill us, we beseech Thee, all evil propensities and wrong desires, and so strengthen us by Thy grace, that the same holy faith, which we own with our tongues, we may confess also by the innocency of our lives: to the glory of Thy great name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
12.27.07
Louisiana Presbytery Rationale (Official Document)
In all the debate i have heard over Rev. Steve Wilkins and his accusation of teaching things contrary to the Confession of Faith, as well as the current (or soon-to-be) trial of Louisiana Presbytery for finding that there was no “strong presumption of guilt” that Wilkins holds or teaches views contrary to the Confession of Faith, one document i have not seen cited at all by either side (for whatever reason) is the officially documented rationale (Word Document) of their finding. Reading through it, i find their rationale very compelling, and having read the indictment of Louisiana Presbytery, i find that many of the accusations of the presbytery’s finding being unsubstantiated are themselves unsubstantiated.
The popular notion around the internet is that Louisiana Presbytery just said “No strong presumption of guilt” and said nothing else about it—and that’s all you’d think they did if all you read was the Puritan Board or Green Baggins. However, on April 21, 2007, they officially adopted this lengthy statement that addresses not only what they view as faulty methodology of the Central Carolina Memorial, but also the actual contents of the memorial and how the presbytery as a whole views Wilkins’ theological positions (based on his written and oral responses) in light of the accusations proffered by Central Carolina Presbytery.
Whether you’re pro-FV, anti-FV, or just non-FV but somewhere in the middle (like i am), i encourage you to read the statement and allow Louisiana Presbytery to have a chance to answer in their own words why they did what they did. Most compelling to me are their quotes from John Murray. For those who may not take the time to read the whole report, here are the wise words from Dr. Murray that all Presbyterians should heed:
“The creeds of the church have been framed in a particular historical situation to meet the need of the church in that context, and have been oriented to a considerable extent in both their negative and positive declarations to the refutation of the errors confronting the church at that time. The creeds are therefore, historically complexioned in language and content and do not reflect the particular and distinguishing needs of subsequent generations.” (“The Theology of the Westminster Confession of Faith,” Collected Writings, IV, p. 242).
“There is the progressive understanding of the faith delivered to the saints. There is in the church the ceaseless activity of the Holy Spirit so that the church organically and corporately increases in knowledge unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ . . . the Westminster Confession . . . is the epitome of the most mature thought to which the church of Christ had been led up to the year 1646. But are we to suppose that this progression ceased with that date? To ask the question is to answer it. An affirmative is to impugn the continued grace of which the Westminster Confession is itself an example at the time of its writing. There is more light to break forth from the living and abiding Word of God.” (Ibid. p. 242).
“When any generation is content to rely upon its theological heritage and refuses to explore for itself the riches of divine revelation, then declension is already under way and heterodoxy will be the lot of the succeeding generation. … A theology that does not build on the past ignores our debt to history and naively overlooks the fact that the present is conditioned by history. A theology that relies on the past evades the demands of the present (Ibid. p. 248).
We may not agree with Steve Wilkins on what he says and what he advocates, but we should see him and the interaction that we should have with what he says as part of the ongoing activity of God the Holy Spirit in the Church to refine our knowledge and to bring us closer to “the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13, ESV). Constant accusations of heresy (for fear that something happening like what happened with the Liberals in the PCUS) do us no good. My own denomination, the ARP Church (it is still my home and the Church that ordained me, though i am currently a member of a PCA presbytery), combatted Liberalism successfully against great odds (e.g, an official statement by the General Synod in the mid-70s dismissing the whole notion of inerrancy outright, about which one of the leading advocates of moving toward a more liberal position said outside of the meeting, “Fundamentalism is dead in the ARP Church”), and they did it without a single heresy trial and without a church split. It’s certainly worth a try in this current controversy.
Revised Liturgy: Collect for St. John the Evangelist’s Day
The note explaining the celebration of St. John the Evangelist’s Day is as follows in the liturgy:
[The Festival of St. John is celebrated on the second day after Christmas, because he was the bosom friend of Jesus, and has most fully unfolded the mystery of the Word made flesh for our salvation.]
Shine graciously upon Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord; that being enlightened by the doctrine and filled with the mind of Thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist, Saint John, whom Jesus loved, it may come at last into Thy beatific presence and enjoy the rewards of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
12.26.07
Revised Liturgy: Collect for St. Stephen’s Day
The note explaining the celebration of St. Stephen’s Day is as follows in the liturgy:
[The Festival of St. Stephen, the first martyr, is celebrated on the first day after Christmas, to symbolize the idea that the terrestrial birth of our Saviour is immediately followed by the death, that is, the celestial birth, of His martyrs.]
As we honor on this day, O Lord God, the memory of Thy blessed martyr, St. Stephen; grant unto us grace, we beseech Thee, to follow his faith and charity; that however sorely tried by the contradiction of sinners, we may be able, like him, to look steadfastly up into heaven, and to commend even our enemies to the pardoning mercy of our only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ: to whom with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end. Amen.
12.25.07
Happy Nativity!
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas.
If you’d like a rib or two, some baked beans and cole slaw, or some of my wife’s Nutella Mousse Parfait, be sure to drop by. 
We’re having our Nativity dinner at 17:30 after drinks and appetizers.
Revised Liturgy: Collect for Christmas Day
Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given us Thy only begotten Son to take our nature upon Him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin; grant that we, being regenerate and made Thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by Thy Holy Spirit after the image of this same blessed and glorious Christ: who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
12.19.07
A Ridiculous Argument
Doug Wilson’s most recent “Auburn Avenue Stuff” post is devoted to an issue brought up by David Gadbois concerning the time of administration of the sacrament and its efficacy.
Let me say this: i think that David Gadbois is arguing for an ineffectual sacrament in his argument. I believe that in trying to make what happens in adult baptism normative, he’s essentially saying that baptism is not an instrument to confer the grace it signifies at all, but only a confirmatory sign (i.e., after the reality is in place). The sacraments certainly are confirmatory signs, but they are much more than that. And, of course, Doug Wilson is trying to maintain this “much more” aspect to sacramental efficacy. The problem is the means that Wilson’s argument takes. He argues for something illogical in order to keep the sacramental efficacy.
Go on over and take a look; my comments there are pretty clear (i think).
12.18.07
Revised Liturgy: Prayers for the Service of Holy Communion
(After a short lesson making use of various Scriptures, the liturgy calls for the congregation to pray this prayer.)
All kneeling.
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who dost admit Thy people unto such wonderful communion, that partaking by a divine mystery of the Body and Blood of Thy dear Son, they should dwell in Him and, He in them; we unworthy sinners, approaching to Thy presence, and beholding Thy glory, do abhor ourselves, and repent in dust and ashes. We have sinned, we have sinned, we have grievously sinned against Thee, in thought, in word, and in deed, provoking most justly Thy wrath and indignation against us. Our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; our iniquities, like the wind, have carried us away. The remembrance of our transgressions and shortcomings fills us with sorrow and shame. Yet now, O most merciful Father, have mercy upon us; for the sake of Jesus Christ, forgive us all our sins; purify us, by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit, from all uncleanness in spirit and in flesh; enable us heartily to forgive others, as we beseech Thee to forgive us; and grant that we may hereafter serve Thee in newness of life; to the glory of Thy holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Here the Minister shall rise and say:
The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, grant unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the yes of your understanding being enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe; according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.
And now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end.
R. Amen.
The whole Congregation now rising, the Minister shall proceed:
The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
R. We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks unto the Lord our God.
R. It is meet and right so to do.
It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, Lord God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.
Thou didst in the beginning create all things for Thyself. By Thy word were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of Thy mouth. The armies of the invisible world, angels and archangels, thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers; the glorious firmament on high, sun, moon, and starts; the earth and all the fulness thereof; all are the work of Thy hands, and all are upheld by Thee continually in their being, as they stand by Thee, likewise, in their appointed order and course.
Thou also at the first didst make man in Thine own image, and after Thine own likeness, and dist set him over the works of Thy hands, endowing him with the excellent gift of righteousness, and forming him for immortality. And when afterwards, through the fraud and malice of Satan, he fell by transgression from that first estate, Thou didst not leave him still to perish utterly in his fall, but wast pleased to raise him up again and to restore him to the joyful hope of everlasting life, by the promise of redemption through Jesus Christ; who, being God of God, very God of very God, dwelling in the bosom of the Father with unspeakable blessedness from all eternity, at last when the fulness of the time was come, came down from heaven, and became man, for us men and for our salvation.
For all Thy mercies and favors, known to us and unknown, we give Thee thanks. But most of all, we praise Thee, the Father everlasting, for the gift of Thine adorable, true, and only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, who by His appearing hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. We bless Thee for His holy incarnation; for His life on earth; for His precious sufferings and death upon the cross; for His resurrection from the dead; and for His glorious ascension to Thy right hand. We bless Thee for the giving of the Holy Ghost; for the institution of the Church; for the means of grace; for the hope of everlasting life; and for the glory which shall be brought unto us at the coming, and in the kingdom, of Thy dear Son.
Thee, mighty God, heavenly King, we magnify and praise. With patriarchs and prophets, apostles and martyrs; with the holy Church throughout all the world; with the heavenly Jerusalem, the joyful assembly and congregation of the first-born on high; with the innumerable company of angels round about Thy throne, the heaven of heavens, and all the powers therein; we worship and adore Thy glorious name, joining in the song of the Cherubim and Seraphim, and with united voice, saying:
Here let the people join aloud in the Seraphic Hymn.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
(At this point, the Minister proceeds into the words of institution, which are quoted from 1 Corinthians 11, with bracketed directions for the minister to take bread and cup at the appropriate time and directions to break the bread at the appropriate time.)
Let us pray.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, send down, we beseech Thee, the powerful benediction of Thy Holy Spirit upon these elements of bread and wine, that being set apart now from a common to a sacred and mystical use, they may exhibit and represent to us with true effect the Body and Blood of Thy Son, Jesus Christ; so that in the use of them we may be made, through the power of the Holy Ghost, to partake really and truly of His blessed life, whereby only we can be saved from death, and raised to immortality at the last day.
R. Amen.
And be pleased now, O most merciful Father, graciously to receive at our hands this memorial of the blessed sacrifice of Thy Son, which we, Thy servants, thus bring before Thy divine Majesty, according to His own appointment and command; showing forth His passion and death; rejoicing in His glorious resurrection and ascension; and waiting for the blessed hope of His appearing and coming again. We are not worthy in ourselves to offer unto Thee any worship or service. Wherewith shall we, sinners of the dust, come before the Lord, or bow ourselves before the most high God? We bring unto Thee, O holy and righteous Father, the infinite merits of Jesus Christ, Thine adorable, true, and only Son, in whom Thou hast declared Thyself to be well pleased, and through the offering of whose body once for all, full satisfaction has been made for the sins of the world. Have respect unto this glorious sacrifice, we beseech Thee, in union with which we here offer and present unto Thee, at the same time, O Lord, the reasonable sacrifice of our own persons; consecrating ourselves, on the altar of the gospel, in soul and body, property and life, to Thy most blessed service and praise. Look upon us through the mediation of our great High Priest. Make us accepted in the Beloved; and let His name be as a pure and holy incense, through which all our worship may come up before Thee, as the odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God.
R. Amen.
Remember in mercy we beseech Thee, Thy Church militant throughout the whole earth. Let her ministers be clothed with righteousness, and her priests with salvation. Build up her desolations; restore her disorders; heal her divisions; and grant unto her prosperity, safety, unity and peace.
R. Amen.
We commend unto Thee especially this particular church and congregation, pastor, elders, deacons, and people, beseeching Thee to accept their piety and faith, and to increase towards them Thy heavenly grace, so that they may come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Amen.
We pray for all estates of men in Christian lands; for kings, princes, and governors, and for the people committed to their charge and care; especially for Thy servant, the President of the United States, and for all the rulers of this land and nation. Make us a righteous people, and give us power to serve Thee in quietness and peace.
R. Amen.
Vouchsafe unto us, we beseech Thee, favorable weather, that the fruits of the earth may ripen and be gathered in for us in due season; and be pleased of Thy great goodness to preserve us from war, pestilence, and famine.
R. Amen.
Send forth Thy light and Thy truth unto the ends of the earth; cause the glorious Gospel of Thy grace to be proclaimed among all nations; and powerfully incline the hearts of men everywhere, that they may hear and obey the joyful sound.
R. Amen.
Regard in tender compassion those among Thy people, who are called to suffer heavy affliction, or sore temptation and trial of any kind; and be Thou graciously nigh unto them with Thy divine help, according to all their need.
R. Amen.
Especially do we commend unto Thee those departing this life; let the arms of Thy love be round about them in their last hour; defend them against the assaults of the Devil; enable them joyfully to commit their spirits into Thy hands; and so receive them to Thy rest.
R. Amen.
O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named; we rejoice before Thee in the blessed communion of all Thy saints, wherein Thou givest us also to have part. We praise Thee for the holy fellowship of patriarchs and prophets, apostles and martyrs, and the whole glorious company of the redeemed of all ages, who have died in the Lord, and now live with Him for evermore. We give thanks unto Thee for Thy great grace and many gifts bestowed on Those who have thus gone before us in the way of salvation, and by whom we are now compassed about, in our Christian course, as a cloud of witnesses looking down upon us from the heavenly world. Enable us to follow their faith, that we may enter at death unto their joy; and so abide with them in rest and peace, till both they and we shall reach our common consummation of redemption and bliss in the glorious resurrection of the last day.
R. Amen.
Here let the people join aloud in the Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Then the Minister shall say:
Almighty God, the Father everlasting, from whom all blessing and power proceed, shed down upon you abundantly the riches of His heavenly grace.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of His body the Church, who holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, and walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, send forth His light and His truth, and guide you in the way of eternal salvation.
The Holy Ghost, the Comforter, the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, come down upon you in His glory, and take up His habitation in your hearts henceforth and forever.
R. Amen.
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
12.17.07
Uncle Sugar’s Sanction Does Not a Marriage Make
The problem i have with this whole scenario is not simply the fact that some crazy liberal UCCs (“Unitarians Considering Christ”) want homosexual marriage, nor simply that the same liberal UCC church wants to perform “blessing” ceremonies for homosexual and heterosexual couples in lieu of marriage ceremonies (so long as actual gay marriage is not legally in place). The problem that i have is the assumption (on both the part of Liberal and Conservative alike, it seems) that there is no such thing as “marriage” unless the government gives its sanction.
What is marriage but a Covenant enacted by God (through his lawfully ordained agent) between two people? If two people came to me and said that they want to be married, but that they were not going to have their marriage licensed by the government, i would not say to them, “Well, then, that’s not a marriage, Folks! Get that sheepskin, or you can count me out!” No, i would look at them say, “That’s fine. You need to understand that your marriage is no less valid, and it comes with no less responsibilities before God on your parts, but if you fully acknowledge that, what date do you have in mind? Let’s start the counselling next week.”
It just goes to show us all that Uncle Sugar has not only conditioned a small portion of the population to be dependent upon it for what they have and do; he has, it would seem, also conditioned all Christians to be dependent upon him (!) for something as sacred and heavenly as the Covenant of marriage. Now that is sad.
