Opportunities to Be Hearers and Doers of the Word


ROB ROY MCGREGOR III Moderator


Moderator’s Challenge, I want to consider this verse in its context and see what practical advice James offers us as members of the Church Invisible for putting our faith into practice and growing spiritually in the likeness of Christ. James wrote this letter to Christians who were facing “trials of many kinds”


T


he Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) states that “[g]ood works are only such


as God hath commanded in his holy word, and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pre- tence [sic] of good intention” (WCF 16.1). It also teaches that “[t]hese good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith; and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glo- rify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto; that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end eternal life” (WCF 16.2). In the Moderator’s Challenge in


the July/August issue, where I intro- duced the theme for this year, one of the scripture verses I called attention to was James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” In this


(1:2). He encouraged them to view the trials they faced as opportunities to be- come mature in Christ by developing perseverance, which involves confronting and overcoming pressures and difficulties that call for a steadfast commitment to doing the compassionate and right thing, which is “the perfect law that gives freedom” (v. 25) and is in keeping with a godly life (v. 27). Here James stresses a concern for the plight of widows and orphans, which is a true measure of the kind of compassion that is pleasing to God, who “defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow” and is “a father to the fatherless and the defender of widows” (Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalm 68:5). James’s attention to this scriptural guidance makes it clear that concern for the plight of widows and orphans con- tinues to be a responsibility for New Testament believers. I am glad to take this opportunity to highlight work that is being done by our denomination to help fulfill our Christian call to minister to orphans and wid- ows. The Christmas Benevolent Fund supports gifts to those who have served our denomination in the past as ministers, missionaries, or employees of the General Synod. These gifts are very much needed and appreciated by recipi- ents, and some of the gifts, not surprisingly, go to ministers’ widows. Ministry to orphans is available through the Dunlap Board. According to our Manual of Authorities and Duties, “[t]he Board of Trustees of the William H. Dunlap Or- phanage, Inc., shall govern the corporation which is established to provide care, support, maintenance, and education of orphans, or fatherless, or helpless, or needy children, and to support projects related to such children.” The Board has funds that allow it to provide financial support to residential facilities that have ongoing relationships with Dunlap and to other ministries whose work is consistent with the Dunlap mission. The Board also has funds that allow it to assist families of ARP pastors, elders, and other members in good standing who are in the process of adopting children. These are ways our congregations are ministering and can increase their ministry


to orphans and widows. Let us use these appropriate and concrete opportunities to prepare ourselves and the Church Invisible by being hearers and doers of the word as we look forward to the return of Christ Jesus!?


Dr. Rob Roy McGregor III is Professor of Economics at UNC Charlotte and an elder at Back Creek ARP Church in Charlotte, NC.


Preparing the Church for the Return of Christ Jesus September/October 2020 3


Moderator’s Challenge


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