t the conclusion of last year’s Synod meeting, I was commending our some might have misunderstood what I meant, and assumed that I was express- ing a lack of affection or appreciation for our denomination. I do love the ARP member of any other denomination.
A
But sometimes any of us may quite unintentionally take for granted or neglect the very things or people that we should love the most. In that regard, the careful and devotion some of us give to the church and its work, outside of the priority - sis on the priority of worship has been both encouraging and challenging for our Synod. But as this year ends, I want to emphasize that much ministry and spiritual engagement on the part of church members throughout every week is required for the faithful maintenance of this great priority. In our local congre- and our General Synod is vital to the maintenance of faithful worship and wit- ness throughout our denomination. So what happens if there is a lack of love for the church? In any local congre- expect the minister to attend to the needs of a congregation all by himself; if there is no congregational involvement in gatherings for prayer and Bible Study; if there is no initiative among church members to engage others with the gospel and to invite others to church; it is inevitable that worship will suffer from ne- the church and the life of the church throughout the week, our worship, and the spiritual life of the church, will be deleteriously affected. It’s not just the local church that is affected when there is a lack of engagement or investment in the life of the church. Local churches supply those who serve the larger church. Presbyteries and Synod need those who represent our local When there are not enough willing, equipped, and spiritually engaged represen- is weakened.
I’m old enough to remember the debate several decades ago when Synod cre-
or appoint individuals to assist in the work of the courts, it becomes all too easy for presbyters to sit back and just assume everything will be taken care of. The more capable those appointed are, the more likely others will sit on their hands, Synod, I can say that Jamie’s concerns were proven valid. When Elders and church work of the courts of the church, they are put in the tenuous position of acting in
4 behalf of the church. This danger does not exist only
- od. It is ever present when we who ought to love and serve the church of - gagement, expecting others to “pick Synod and Presbyteries, out of neces- get done, and there is not a supply of - ordinators, I have no intention of cast- ing aspersions at any present or past the reality is that when members of our churches are not fully engaged in the life of the church, there is a nega- tive impact on Presbyteries and Syn- od. The work required is not reduced, but the number of those sharing the load may be. As a consequence, re- sponsibility, and even authority, can be exercised outside of the principles of our biblical Presbyterian system of government. The intent of those at work may not be at all malicious. enjoyable, or even intoxicating. One can feel very useful and productive in offering needed service to the church, all the while one is doing work that is properly done through the ministry of the Eldership.
At issue is the priority of the life of
the church in which we are called to worship our risen Savior. We exist for in worship requires a prioritization of the life of the church in our daily service. In an age where regard for long-standing institutions is falling rapidly, from our civil government and political parties to revered edu- cational institutions, the church is not unscathed. More and more, there are those who claim they want to serve God, but prefer to do it outside of the church. There is nothing biblical the church is a called out and gath- ered people. We belong to the Lord Je- sus by right of purchase and the work
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
