Pressing Issues?

[JM]

What are the most pressing issues we face today as church (Reformed and Calvinistic)?

Do we have too many goats mingling among sheep?
Is it weak, performance like, worship services?
A lack of understanding the Lord's Table?
Is it a lack of biblical preaching?
Weak Pastoral leadership?
Too many conferences?
Lack of unity?

Yours in the Lord,

jm

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

Good question and much for thought, honestly do not know, I mean I do not have a good enough idea what is going on in the majority of organized Churches today, it is easier to gauge the past, looking to others more in the know. I can make some observations in American society and see a great deal of moral decline (moving away from Biblical principals where they once were held) and how it has effected the doctrinal positions within mainstream major denominations, both Calvinistic and non. It seems there are so many pressing issues that it is difficult to prioritize them, however I would put preaching the Biblical Gospel at the top of priorities, with the Solas of the Reformation a close second. I think if the Church can maintain her priorities, other issues will diminish, they will becomes less of an issue. Sometimes I think about American history and how we got to where we are today. Like why and how and when did the Reformed Churches become...looking for the right words...well it seems we're a minority now, where we used to be a majority. Ah a pressing issue springs to mind, arguably the most pressing, and it might seem strange, but public education and higher education, beginning with kindergarten or first grade. So much public and college education, is indoctrinated with secular ideas and with secular philosophy behind it, people are actually being trained from an early age, to doubt and despise anything resembling the Reformed faith, that people come out of schools like drones out of a postmodernism factory. I could be wrong, because I have no way to measure, but it seems, based on well many things but what has been taking place in mainstream Churches, these kind of people are big players in the organized Churches, they tend to have more wealth, power, and as an extension influence. Tough subject.

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

In short, ideas shape societies, and society has ways of influencing the Church. Ideas can be taught from an early age, and become so ingrained that anything contrary is as a foreign language. Ideas taught and drilled over and over become almost subconscious in peoples patterns of thinking.

 

[JM]

I don't know what the answer is either.

I belong to a very Arminian church (but almost never attend anymore) and they preach verse by verse and still teach and believe all kinds of crap dragged into the pulpit from our current culture. I don't know if verse by verse preaching equals biblical preaching, nah mean bra?

What do you mean by biblical preaching? Could that mean doctrinal preaching? Wouldn't that be Bible Study?

I guess I've noticed that much of we Prot call worship is nothing more than a mental exercise of trying to stay awake during the sermon.

Recently I attend five days of prayer services at a local Anglican church. The service consisted of scripture readings (Psalms, Epistles and Gospels) and collects/prayers before and after. Each service lasted about 22 min. and it was amazing. I left refresh and ready to face the world again.

I think we lack liturgy. That thing that unites our longings and desires and binds us to the past as a community.

I dunno...

jm

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

I don't know what the answer is either.

I belong to a very Arminian church (but almost never attend anymore) and they preach verse by verse and still teach and believe all kinds of crap dragged into the pulpit from our current culture. I don't know if verse by verse preaching equals biblical preaching, nah mean bra?

What do you mean by biblical preaching? Could that mean doctrinal preaching? Wouldn't that be Bible Study?

Are the sermons simply Bible reading with no exposition? Or mix of Bible reading and current culture crapola? Sounds like the former, straying off topic with no exposition or topical/doctrinal teaching and misapplications galore.

I guess I've noticed that much of we Prot call worship is nothing more than a mental exercise of trying to stay awake during the sermon.

I feel ya, been there.

Recently I attend five days of prayer services at a local Anglican church. The service consisted of scripture readings (Psalms, Epistles and Gospels) and collects/prayers before and after. Each service lasted about 22 min. and it was amazing. I left refresh and ready to face the world again.

I think we lack liturgy. That thing that unites our longings and desires and binds us to the past as a community.

So much is lacking, where are the good systematic theologians these days?

“It should not be forgotten in this connection that the minister's duty is increasingly that of an apologist for Christianity. The general level of education is much higher than it has ever been. Many young people hear of evolution in the high schools and in the college where their fathers never heard of it except as far as a distant something. If the minister would be able to help his young people, he must be a good apologete, and he cannot be a good apologete unless he is a good systematic theologian" (pg. 24).”
― Cornelius Van Til, An Introduction to Systematic Theology: Prolegomena and the Doctrines of Revelation, Scripture, and God

 

[JM]

Are the sermons simply Bible reading with no exposition? Or mix of Bible reading and current culture crapola? Sounds like the former, straying off topic with no exposition or topical/doctrinal teaching and misapplications galore.

Kinda like John MacArthur when discussing prophecy you are moving through his commentary on Daniel and all of a sudden it's like, 'yikes!' He tosses in his Dispensationalism. I find a lot of minsters do that. They have a pet doctrine and it shows up throughout their preaching disregarding the text.

I've come to the conclusion that if sola scriptura is true than the Reformed church is the best example of a church based on that doctrine. If sola scriptura is not true it's the worst example.

So much is lacking, where are the good systematic theologians these days?

As someone who suffers from insomnia and spends hours listening to podcasts I can say we have few systematic theologians that offer their gifts to a large audience. Sproul was the best example of a man that didn't have a pet doctrine, he was systematic and dealt with all areas of the faith including church history.

“It should not be forgotten in this connection that the minister's duty is increasingly that of an apologist for Christianity. The general level of education is much higher than it has ever been. Many young people hear of evolution in the high schools and in the college where their fathers never heard of it except as far as a distant something. If the minister would be able to help his young people, he must be a good apologete, and he cannot be a good apologete unless he is a good systematic theologian" (pg. 24).”
― Cornelius Van Til, An Introduction to Systematic Theology: Prolegomena and the Doctrines of Revelation, Scripture, and God

Excellent quote.

 

[Apologetic_Warrior]

Kinda like John MacArthur when discussing prophecy you are moving through his commentary on Daniel and all of a sudden it's like, 'yikes!' He tosses in his Dispensationalism. I find a lot of minsters do that. They have a pet doctrine and it shows up throughout their preaching disregarding the text.

Yeah, generally better to keep the pets outside the Church with the rest of the critters.

I've come to the conclusion that if sola scriptura is true than the Reformed church is the best example of a church based on that doctrine. If sola scriptura is not true it's the worst example.

Sola Scriptura and justification by faith alone, two key doctrines, necessary for any healthy Protestant Church.

As someone who suffers from insomnia and spends hours listening to podcasts I can say we have few systematic theologians that offer their gifts to a large audience. Sproul was the best example of a man that didn't have a pet doctrine, he was systematic and dealt with all areas of the faith including church history.

I had more local Churches in mind, but you are right, thankful to have access to the internet. We need more Sproul's in the Church, we really do.

Excellent quote.

Thought you might enjoy that one.

 

[twin1954]

I would say that the one thing that should be the focus is the doctrines of the Bible as they show us more of Christ. Systematic Theology that doesn't lead us to Christ is nothing more than an intellectual exercise. Find Christ in all the Scriptures and stay there.

 

[JM]

If history can teach us anything...we see a stiff, loveless Calvinist (Baptist and Reformed) in our history and they stressed doctrinal teaching and adherence.

Could it be extreme sectarianism that causes the lack of love by the doctrinally sound?

 

[twin1954]

If history can teach us anything...we see a stiff, loveless Calvinist (Baptist and Reformed) in our history and they stressed doctrinal teaching and adherence.

Could it be extreme sectarianism that causes the lack of love by the doctrinally sound?

I believe that it is a lack of connection of the doctrinal truths to the person and work of Christ. "Calvinism" has become higher learning rather than essential truth.

The lack of love probably stems from the arrogance of higher learning along with being so adamantly opposed by most other churches.

 

[JM]

That's why I left the Puritan Board.

 

[JimmyH]

That's why I left the Puritan Board.

I think staying in and being salt and light is also a good alternative. There may be some that fit your description, but many do not, and every little bit helps. If you hadn't been on the PB I would have never read your blog, and I'd probably still be in an Arminian Baptist congregation instead of the OPC.