The Gospel and the Church

The Church is the congregation of saints, 

in which the Gospel is rightly taught 

and the Sacraments are rightly administered.

Augsburg Confession Article 7.1

There is much solid theological weight in this short sentence.  The Augsburg Confession was written by Philip Melanchthon in 1530, but it was approved by and contained the thought of Martin Luther and the early Protestant Reformation.  Luther spent much of this time and effort attempting to understand and articulate the meaning of the gospel.  His understanding of the gospel includes the full-orbed explanations that is shared in this blog.  In other words, the gospel can not be distilled down to the bare minimum that "will get you into heaven," but it is marked by a life of active repentance and faith.  Such a life impacts every dimension of a believer, and it propels the believer to trust in Christ alone for all of life.  

What does a true Church believe and teach about the gospel?

A true church will teach, preach, and hold dearly to Christ alone as the source and securer of our salvation.

It will cling to salvation by grace alone, and it will emphasize faith alone as the means of living in right relationship with God.

It will also cling to the proper understanding of scripture alone as the revelation of God's will for faith and practice.  I say proper understanding because it will emphasize that one must interpret scripture within and from its proper historical, grammatical, and lexical context while keeping the whole of biblical revelation in mind as one interprets each passage.  Such an interpretation takes thoughtful exegesis and careful application.

Finally, a true church will also be committed and involved in spreading the gospel to all.  It will not just talk about reaching out, but it will challenge both believers and unbelievers to live a life of repentance and faith.  The result of this challenge will be changed lives and conversions.  The true church is never a club for religious insiders, but instead she is an outpost for mission to a lost and hurting world!

I would gladly travel 45 miles on a Sunday to attend such a church.  I probably would even go further!

Why?  Because I desperately need to be reminded of the gospel.  

I think all of us do.  We so quickly forget that life is not all about us and our concerns.  We forget the beauty and grace of Christ, and instead we run to our feelings, thoughts, and efforts as our justification and life.  Friends, we do so to our own peril.

We need a community where were are reminded of the gospel.  We need a church marked by these traits.  I hope and pray that the Lord is developing us at Christ Community to be that type of place.  The Kingdom grows through the True Church, and I want to see the Kingdom grow.

What are the practical implication of this understanding of the gospel 

and the true Church?

First, if you are looking for a church, do not settle for one that has "great youth programs" or anything programmatic.  The most important element of a church is not that the music makes you feel great.  First and foremost look for a church where the gospel is rightly preached and the sacraments rightly administered!  Upon these two factors we should judge the suitability of a church.

Second, if you are part of a church that holds some of these traits but not all of them be very careful!  Try to help the church repent and change.  Yet realize that a system like a church is very hard to change once it becomes set in its ways.  This is particularly true if you are not a leader of the church!  If you cannot move the system back to gospel- and grace-centered, it might well be time to leave.

Why?

The true church needs your help.  Gospel- and grace-centered churches have always been the minority of churches in the land.  Their witness needs to expand.  Join with them and be part of what God is doing!

The Importance of our Faith

One must keep on pointing out that Christianity is a statement which, 

if false, is of no importance, 

and if true, of infinite importance.  

The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.

C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock, 101.  

In essay called "Christian Apologetics"

I am currently back east for a board meeting of the Back to God International Ministry and a visit with my mother.  It has been good.  Yesterday I had the privilege of attending worship at Grove City Church of the Nazarene.  When I graduated from High School, this church was around 100 people.  It was marked by a spirit of judgmental fundamentalism.  Now, 25 years later, it is the largest Nazarene church in the United States.  I always find the folks to be welcoming and the worship to be inspiring.

Yesterday, I heard the above quotation from the pastor who was preaching on the topic of apathy.  I have to confess, I could not agree more with Lewis on this point.

Our faith is true; and as a result, 

it is the most vitally important topic in the entire world.  

Christianity should be talked about and understood by all people.  It is the story behind the story of each of our lives.  It is the foundation of all truth, all morality, all grace, and all love found in the world.  Christianity is vitally important.

Why don't more people think this way?

Because far too many Christians think and live like Christianity is merely moderately important.  It is an opinion.  It is personal.  It might give offense to some, so out of fear of rejection we don't want to be too outgoing about our faith.

As someone called by God's grace to faith at age 18, I have such a hard time understanding why so many who claim allegiance to Jesus play the religion game.  What do I mean?  The religion game is keeping your faith compartmentalized.  It is something you pull out on Sundays, at funerals, or at other times when it is deemed proper.

Personally, I find nothing more boring and foolish than the religion game.  It would be far better to sleep in or play golf on Sundays than go to church to play the religion game.

If our faith is true, then it changes everything.  

It means going to worship is not optional, but something we can't wait to do because it is such a blessing and privilege to worship Jesus with others who believe He is the most important person ever.  It means that Christianity shapes every element of our lives.  It becomes the focal point of everything.

Why?  Because Jesus is still alive.  His Spirit is still at work.  He grace still transforms lives, families, and communities.  Jesus is the light in the darkness.

I end with a two simple questions.  Do you believe and live like Christianity is the most important truth in the entire world?  If not, why not?

Remix: Dry Spirituality, Illness, Depression, and Hope

Another week is about to begin.  I praise God for His faithfulness even in the midst of struggle.  He is truly the Rock, the Fortress, and the Protector.  May He be forever praised.

Today, I finish my 2014 wrap up with my most popular post from last year.  It is from last February.  Its message is very fitting.  I love it when I am challenged or encouraged by my own writing.  May the Lord bless it.

"Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation and my God."

Ps. 42: 5

Psalm 42 begins with the affirmation and cry, "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.  When shall I come and appear before God?"

Today this Psalm brings to mind some other questions.  If I belong to Jesus, the true King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who reigns forevermore at the right hand of the Father, why don't I always feel like it?  Why are some days and even seasons of life so spiritually dry?

In other words, I sometimes find that reading Ps 42 and others like it makes me feel like God and the scriptures are mocking me.  Why?  My heart does not thirst for the living God!  My soul is downcast, and I don't want to praise Him.

What am I to do?  What are you to do if you find yourself in the same place?

I firmly believe that all of us end up in this place.  If our vision of spirituality does not have a place for these feelings, we won't know how to process where we are and why we find ourselves so down.  As a pastor, this place is where I find many honest, sincere, and scared believers.

There is hope.  Jesus does reign and He is Lord.  He loves you.  We must hold to these truths even if we don't feel like it.

The problem is that we live in a fallen world where is victory is already here, but not yet complete.  Have no fear.  In fact, have faith and claim the reality that God is working through it all.  Our struggles, fears, and doubts can purify and perfect our very imperfect faith.

So why do we feel this way?  There are many reasons.  Let me give one.

As I wrote in my journal many moons ago, "It is amazing the tie between our spirituality and our health.  I feel this is so often forgotten or ignored.  When I do not feel well, it is hard to feel Your presence and love.  You might be carrying me (think of the poem Footprints in the Sand), but I do not feel the embrace."

Every week I have the privilege and calling to deal with folks who struggle with depression and anxiety.  I find these folks feel the same way I do when I am sick!  Their physical issues cause a spirit of dryness.

In Psalm 42, the Psalmist confesses that he has been crying and he feels taunted by those who ask, "Where is your God?"  I do not think these folks are mocking him, but saying, "Where is your faith?  Don't you know that God is faithful?"  How often as believers do we do the same to those who are struggling!  How often do we as believers beat ourselves up when we are struggling!

The Psalmist answers his doubts and struggles with an affirmation of the gospel.  He confesses where he is: struggling for his very life and faith!  He then reminds himself over and over again of God's faithfulness in the past.  He also affirms that this present reality of struggle will not last forever.  In fact, he affirms God's faithfulness by repeating the same verse twice in this Psalm.

Why are you cast down, O my soul,

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

my salvation and my God.

Ps 42: 5 and 11

Please remember there is a direct tie between our health (physical and mental) and our spirituality.  Such a tie is a result of being embodied spiritual beings.  Jesus understands as he also was at times tired, emotionally drained, hungry, and deeply saddened.  Illness is not weakness.  It is a result of the Fall, but it is common to us all.

When struggling confess you are struggling and look to the gospel.  Remind yourself of God's past work and His promise of a good future.  I encourage you to use Psalm 42 as a guide.

Why did God allow that to happen?

I am often mystified by how God works and why He allows events to happen.  

Days before our trip across America, we were making our final arrangements.  Part of these arrangements was a final check on our van to make sure it was ready for such a long journey.  The problem with mechanical things is they break.  I sure didn't want that to happen while on the road.

So, I scheduled our van to go to the van doctor (my great mechanic) for a check up on Monday, with a planned leaving on Tuesday.  I knew it might cost something, but it needed to be done for peace of mind.

Then, I had one of those "Why God?" moments.  On Saturday evening, I left a party in my honor to pick up one of my sons from a friend's house.  I picked him up, drove back toward the party, and suddenly the van totally died.  Lights were working but no power, no power steering, and it wouldn't start.

I had to have the car towed to my mechanic.  Could not get it done until Monday afternoon.  Car was to be fixed on Tuesday.  Found out the problem was more extensive and would take an extra day, maybe two.  It would be expensive.  It might not be done for three days.

Why did God allow that to happen?  Didn't He know that I had a plan?  I had job inquiries in two places across the country.  I had a schedule to keep.  I had to leave on Tuesday!

Honestly, it sure seemed like God did not care.

At this place, I could either become angry, bitter, and questioning or I could ask, 

"What are you trying to say Lord?"

In my years of walking with God, I have often wondered if He really cares.  Does He really love me and want what is best for me?  Does He really care about all the evil and pain in the world?

I have learned that God cares more than I can imagine.  He loves me with an everlasting love.  He wants what is best for me.  In this case, He allowed my van to break while at home instead of on the road somewhere.  He had plans for these job inquiries beyond my feeble plans.

How do I know this?  The real message of Christmas answers my questions, calms my heart, and proves God's love for me.  

God did not just tell us how to live.  He did not just give us rules to live by with the promise to obey and all will go well.  No, the God of true Christmas did much more than this.

God became flesh and dwelt among us.  Why?  So He would know, experience, endure, and live through all the pain, all the evil, and all the wrong in this world.  Jesus did that for me.  He did that for you.  He did that as a testimony of God's love for the entire world.

No other religion can make this claim.  None would dare.  It is to scandalous; too crazy.  But it is true.  

We live in a fallen world where things break, where evil dwells, where questions remain.  Jesus came to answer these questions, defeat the evil, and love us in our brokenness with the promise to make all things right someday.  He began the building of the Kingdom of God, and we can get glimpses and tastes of this glory now while awaiting his return to finalize His victory.

In other words, God truly loves you.  He loves me.  He loves us.  This is the true meaning of Christmas.  When events occur that we don't understand, it might help us to remember

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.  

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways 

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55: 8-9

Bless the Lord!

Bless the Lord, O my soul! Bless His Holy Name!

"Let him who walks in darkness and has no light

trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.

Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches!

Walk by the light of your fire; 

and by the torches that you have kindled!

This you have from my hand:

you shall lie down in torment."

Isaiah 50:10-11

This morning was the first cloudy morning in quite some time in Seattle.  It was also warm.  Today I had the privilege of sitting on my porch reading God's word, talking to Him in prayer, and watching the sun come up.  It was wonderful!

Today my heart is at peace and full of joy.  I am often asked what it is like to know God and to "feel" His presence.  Our faith is often hard to express and explain.  We worship a God who is everywhere, but who can't always be seen or felt.  Yet, there are times and place when we are walking in faith when He is so close and real that it is scary.

How do you explain this to someone who is not walking in faith?  I think it is impossible.  All we can do is testify that the Lord is good and He is worthy of our trust.

Today, I testify that the Lord was so kind and gracious to me.  He reaffirmed my birthright as His child.  He reaffirmed His unfailing love.  He will provide and I have followed His leading.  I trust Him because He is worthy of trust.

Today I testify that the Lord honors those who honor Him.  Seek to honor Him in all things!

You can hold to this promise.  It might not feel like it at the time, but it is true.  Often it seems like death to not trust in yourself (particularly if you are like me and you are someone who loves to trust in himself!).  No matter what, seek to honor God.  Follow His leading and His Word.  He will bring about His justice and His truth.

Bless the Lord, O my soul!  Bless His holy name!

To do lists and Walking with God

"Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Mat. 4: 17

I love my Monday morning to do list.  Having time to reflect upon the last week and plan for the new week gets me excited.  I always look forward to what the Lord will do next!

This week, as I am preparing for "what's next" I am amazed at how my life can get caught up in the urgent, but not important things.  Last week, I attempted to tear my ankle off my body while playing basketball.  The result was an entire week with a swollen and painful ankle that needed ice and elevation to keep the swelling down.

What a distraction!

This was coupled with a fast hitting cold that appeared suddenly at the end of week.  It was nothing major, and a box of tissues later I am on the mend.

Still, last week I did not get everyone done that I planned to do last Monday.  The week did not go as I planned!

This Monday, I am making a new list.  I am also reflecting upon the truth that true life is found in the midst of distractions.  In other words, our lives were never meant to be a "to do" list.  In the daily rhythm of life, including all the distractions, we are to discover and enjoy the presence of the Lord.   A mark of maturity is learning to walk with God in the midst of all that life is about.

I must confess that I have been slow to learn these lessons.  I can easily be a driven man- a man who gets many things done.  In fact, I grow in frustration as I find I am not getting done all that I wished to complete.  When I find my frustration growing, I must make a list of all I need to finish, with how long I think it will take to do each activity, and then I make a plan to complete the list.  

The question comes, where does God fit into my often-driven, often-distracted life?  Where does God fit into my to-do lists?

By the Lord's grace, He has gently lead me to grow in several ways.  First, He is the one who has made me to be how I am.  My ability to get much done because of planning is a gift from Him.  It is not sin, but part of my created good.  I must remind myself to make my lists so I keep on track!

Second, even though I do get much completed and I am organized, I am not measured by God according to what I do or accomplish.  This has been the toughest lesson of all!  Jesus loves me even on days I struggle to get anything done on my "to do" list!  I now find that my biggest struggle is believing this truth.

How do I do it?  I have learned that life is not about what I do or don't do, but it is about walking in repentance and faith with my Father.  So even as I complete the many tasks on my radar, I must repent of my heart's desire to use the completion of tasks as the measurement of my life.

I believe that part of my frustration (otherwise known as anger!) with distractions and not completing tasks is my core heart belief that I am measured by what I do.  I need to repent of this idol!  I so much need the love and mercy of Christ poured out within my soul by faith.  When I find my satisfaction in Christ's love, I know joy and love that transforms my day.  It is found when I walk in a state of constant repentance and faith.

Repentance and faith.  There are those words again!  I need them so much.  So do you.  So does the Church.  So does all who live on this fallen earth!

Why have we made our Christian walk about so much else other than repentance and faith?  Why have we made worship of the Living God about everything but repentance and faith?

The first words of Jesus' ministry should give us a clue as to what he was about.  His first message was "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near."  Repent!  Confess the reality of your sin and your need for God's mercy.  This is a message that all of us need to internalize and believe.  It is a message that rings true to the life of a long-time disciple of Jesus as well as the life of the most seasoned pagan.  Repent and believe in Jesus for in Him is the Kingdom of heaven.

Is this message the centerpiece of your life?  If not, why?  What else do you see as bringing you closer to God and thus closer to the person He has made you to be?  Ask the Holy Spirit to search you and point out anything that you trust in apart from Jesus to bring you life and joy.  

Repent and walk in faith so you can keep the Main thing, the Main thing.

Blogging, Curve Balls, and Giving Offense

Life often throws us curves.  I find that things rarely happen as I think they will happen.  When a surprise curve comes, it sometimes makes us rethink our strategy at the plate.  I think this is natural.

Over the course of the fall, I have been personally maligned.  I have been accused of being a liar, and I have been told that I am not really called to ministry.  In fact, I have been informed that I am unqualified to give spiritual direction.  In addition, I have been called arrogant, self-promoting, and someone completely committed to making myself look good.  

This blog has been used as proof.  I did not think it possible to use this material in this manner, but it was done.  As a result, I did not write much that was new and I attempted to stay away from anything that could be seen as controversial.  I did not wish to give reason for offense and I wanted to check to make sure I was not.  In other words, I did not wish to offend my weaker brothers and sisters (Romans 14:13).  I have searched my heart and this blog for what was supposedly personally and professionally offensive.  It has been a good time of growth and the Lord has been so good in speaking to my soul.

What did I conclude?

My time of introspection and my lack of writing because of fear of offending is over.  It is done.  It is time to get back to work.

Today, I declare that I am back as a blogger and writer.  

In life and ministry, people will often not like nor understand what a real pastor does.  This is a fact of life in a fallen world.  That cannot keep us as pastors from being pastors.  If it does, then we have abandoned our calling.  (Same goes for every other professional calling!)

This blog is an extension of my pastoral calling.

Will everyone like or even understand everything I write?  Probably not.  In fact, I often look back at former posts and I do not like what I had to say.  My lack of clarity and my shortsightedness is so apparent.  So what!  The nature of a blog is to write and communicate ideas.  Some might be half-baked.  My hope and prayer is to stimulate thought and action, and I believe the Lord can even use our half-baked ideas to stimulate deeper thinking in ourselves and others.  

Blogging is similar to preaching.  In my 20 years of ministry, I have had people so encouraged that I was preaching to them on a particular Sunday.  I have also had people who were deeply distressed that I would preach at them.  I have to say that in my life, 99% of the time I was not even thinking about these individuals as I prepared or preached the sermon!  Somehow the Lord used it to encourage or to convict.

I believe this blog and my other writing mirror these experiences.

I truly wish to thank you my readers.  I apologize for not writing more over the past couple of months.  I should not have stopped.  Over the past couple of years, my readership has gone from local to worldwide.  It amazes me that in any given hour people from around the world read about the gospel and my thoughts on ministry and life.  Thank you!  

I feel as if I have let you down by not writing.  I apologize for this short-sightedness.  I was thrown a curve and I had to rethink my strategy at the plate.

From this point on, I will continue to write.  I will continue to think, to read, and to reflect so I can organize my thoughts and present something readable.  May the Lord use it to bless.

Please, if you do not like my blog or the topics, ask yourself why.  Do I write something that personally offended you?  Why?  Most likely (99%) of the time, I was not thinking of you personally.  Don't take it so.  If you have questions about my intent or meaning, reply to the a post.  I have many folks who reply and these are moderated by me before being published.  If it is a personal question, I will reply to you but not publish it.

If you are not willing to to that, then I encourage you to stop reading.  I also encourage you to repent of your pride for thinking it was all about you.  Please remember that not everything is about you.  In fact, thank God that not everything is about you!  (As I also must do.  Our need for repentance is universal.)

May the Lord be glorified and lifted up.  May He even use my frail and often incomplete or short-sighted words to bring Himself glory.  May His Kingdom come and His Will be done.

Look at this cool picture from Lake Michigan.  It is surely winter in the USA!

Are we a faithful witness?

Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me.

The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward,

and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person 

will receive a righteous person's reward.

And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of water because he is a disciple, 

truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.

Matt. 10: 40-42

This passage has puzzled me for years.  What does it mean?  It is tucked into a chapter of Matthew where Jesus sends out his Apostles to learn ministry.  In the context, Jesus gives them a mission with instructions (vss. 5-15).  He then tells them they will face persecution (vss. 16-25), but they should not worry because whoever acknowledges him before men He will acknowledge before the Father (vss. 26-33).  Then he concludes with the promise that He came to bring not peace, but a sword (vss. 34-39).  (This is another tough passage!)  His final instructions are included in our passage.  These include a promise that whoever does receive the disciples will get a reward.

In this passage, the controlling verse is 10:40 "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me."  After affirming that His person and message would cause divisions even within families, Jesus promises that those to receive the truth of His person and message will share in the blessings of God.  In other words, receiving the disciples illustrates folks received their message.

Here is where I find the passage extremely interesting.  Why would Jesus say such a thing?  The obvious answer is that His disciples will be telling about and performing miracles to prove the Kingdom of God is here in the person and message of Jesus.  Thus, to receive them means to believe them.  At the very least it means to affirm an openness to listen.  To such openness, Jesus promises blessing and reward.

How does this square with a statistic I heard several years ago that the average Presbyterian USA member invites someone to church every 17.5 years?  This statistic is rather old now, but I doubt the gist of it has changed!  

Let me put it another way, is there enough evidence in your life to convict you of being a sincere and dedicated follower of Jesus if such faith became illegal?  You might be a great person, but what sets you apart from your co-workers and friends who are also often great people?

We are a blessing in society when we live and declare the reality of the Kingdom as we found it in Christ.  Some will be shocked and dismayed by this testimony.  Jesus says fear not for I am with you!  Such a testimony might cause division.  Jesus tells us that such division is part of the game if you wish to be part of the growth of the Kingdom!  He tells us,

"And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." 

Matt. 10:38-39.

In other words, why are you protecting your reputation with others and not concerned with your faithfulness to Jesus?  He is worth some division and persecution!  In fact, as we testify to the reality of His Kingdom, we will find true life as we take our reputation from His love for us.

When we declare who Jesus is with love and integrity, most people respond favorably.  Some do not, but most will listen.  Particularly those who know you!  As they listen with openness, God will call some to faith.  The promise of this passage is that you will be a blessing.  You will be salt and light.  

Do you wish your life to count for something in building the Kingdom of God?  Be open to declaring what God has done in Christ!  Fear not for He will go with you!

What is a Confession of Faith?

"Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints."

Jude 3

Yesterday we had an interesting discussion at First CRC concerning the Belhar Confession of Faith.  The occasion of this discussion was that the Council (which is the church leadership at First CRC) proposed that we rescind our adoption of Belhar as a fourth confession and instead support the denomination's statement concerning Belhar, which affirms it as an important Ecumenical Faith Declaration, but not a confession.  The exact wording of the motion is "Council recommends to the congregation that we rescind our previous acceptance of Belhar as a confession and accept it as an Ecumenical Faith Declaration (which 2012 Synod has accepted) to be in line with the denominational stance."

What does this mean?  Some context is in order. 

First CRC adopted the Belhar Confession before I became the pastor as a fourth confession of faith.  This short statement of faith was written in 1986, and it arose out of the struggles for racial unity and equality in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.  It is a statement against  apartheid and racism, and it promotes church unity.

As with any decision made in a decent sized church, there were many personal reasons for adopting Belhar.  I believe universally there was and is a recognition that racism is wrong.  As a church we desire to see church unity expressed across racial and ethnic lines, and we have affirmed two different sister church relationship across these lines.  In addition, I think the Belhar and apartheid have specific poignancy within the CRC since as a Dutch Reformed church, it was our tradition, though in a different context, that approved apartheid.  Furthermore, in the North American context, the CRC is extremely dominated by white folks, and we have not made it easy because of our ordination requirements for minorities (really anyone who is poor or urban) to become church planters or pastors.

With all of this in mind, the leadership of First CRC was asked to adopt this standard as a confession to help push the denomination to consider it.  This action was taken without direct consultation with our local Classis (all the churches in the area).  In turn, this has caused division.  In fact, the debate concerning Belhar caused great division within the CRC in many different Classes.  In the end, this year's synod of the CRC voted to declare the Belhar Confession an Ecumenical Statement of Faith after much debate.  I was in a different Classis (Classis Atlantic North East), and we discussed Belhar before Synod.  We had at least one church that proposed an overture to synod to support Belhar as a confession and several proposed overtures to synod to decline making Belhar a confession.

All told, I believe there were 35 different overtures and much other correspondence written by Classes within the CRC to support/decline making Belhar a fourth confession.  It was debated and the decision was made to support the prophetic nature of Belhar against racism and to promote reconciliation, justice, and unity.  Yet, it was also decided to retain the three forms of unity as our confessional standards (three forms are the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism, and the Canons of Dort).

So why was this decision made?  Are all these church composed of a bunch of racists (even if they do not realize it)?

I ask such a provocative question because this is how many see the issue.  I do not think this way of framing the question is helpful or to the point!

I believe virtually all in the CRC and at Synod strongly agree that racism in all it forms is wrong.  In addition at Synod was and is an affirmation of the prophetic nature of Belhar against racism, apartheid, and for promoting justice, unity, and reconciliation between all peoples.  Thus, Belhar was elevated to a position honor, but not to confessional level.

Why the distinction?  

Here is the true issue concerning adopting Belhar as a Confession.  It is not a discussion about racism or the themes of Belhar.  It is a discussion about the nature and purpose of a Confession of Faith.

A Confession of Faith is a positive declaration of what is believed.  

As Protestants, we believe that the Word of God alone is our ultimate standard for truth, for our faith, and for our practice.  Yet, because there is such debate over what scripture says and how to interpret it, faith communities wrote confessions of faith to positively declare what they believe scripture to teach.  Some of these confessions have stood the test of time while others have fallen into the forgetfulness of history.  Why?

To be an accepted Confession, a statement of faith needed to be in alignment with scripture.  It had to declare and teach what was found in scripture.  This is the first and most important test.  Yet, it is not the only test.  A Confession also had to be clear in what it teaches.  It had to help aid interpretation, not distort accurate biblical interpretation.

How does the Belhar stack up with both of these tests?  Of course there is debate on this subject!  With a few clicks and a google search, you can find some of these objections.  Let me share one concerning the first point from a conservative RCA pastor named Kevin DeYoung.  As he states, 

First, there are a few lines that cannot be supported by Scripture. Here’s just one example:We believe that God, in a world full of injustice and enmity, is in a special way the God of the destitute, the poor and the wronged. To be sure, the Bible is full of examples of God’s heart for the poor and the oppressed. But it goes too far to say he is in a special way a God to them. The covenant promise—I will be your God and you will be my people (language Belhar echoes here)—is for those who put their faith in God, not simply those who are poor or oppressed. In fact, Abraham, the man of faith and the model for all covenantal blessing (Gal. 3:5-9), was especially rich (Gen. 13:5-6). Is God less of God to him than to the poor man who rejects Christ? Was God a God to Job, Zacchaeus, Mary and Martha in a less special way because they were well-to-do? There are plenty of verses to support the contention that God cares for the poor and oppressed, but are there any verses to suggest that he is their covenantal God apart from faith? Or any verses to suggest that God looks on the believing poor with more favor than the believing non-poor? God does not show partiality to the poor, nor does he defer to the great (Lev. 19:15).

thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2009/05/11/belhar-confession-yea-or-nay/ 

I can hear some objections already that this is merely theological hair-splitting.  Perhaps.  But theological and biblical clarity is the goal and purpose of a confession.  One must be careful about affirming a Confession that is not clearly biblical.

Of greater concern is what folks in the North American context have done with Belhar in terms of application.  The important notion of "social justice" means something very different in our context, as it contains politically coded words to promote a very different agenda than racial reconciliation.  

I first came across those who pushed for the adoption of Belhar while I walked the halls of academia.  In that Mainline and religiously secular context, Belhar was used as a document to support a politically left social agenda.  In particular, I heard it used to support homosexual rights, homosexual ordination, anti-capitalist and pro-communist economic systems, global wealth redistribution to combat global warming, and a host of other political agendas.  

If these concerns match your political beliefs, Belhar as a confession might sound great.  If you disagree, it sounds horrible.  I must confess that when I read Belhar for myself I was surprised by the beauty of its prophetic tone against racism and for reconciliation and unity.  I agreed with so much of it!  Yet, I even as I read it, I could see how my theologically liberal friends could use it to promote their agenda even as I do not believe such an agenda was in it original intent of the Confession.  

The discussion at Synod concerning Belhar revolved around these issues.  Please notice how a discussion concerning racism and the need for reconciliation and unity is lost in our context as we debate these issues.  

In the end, the CRC voted to affirm the substance of Belhar as it spoke against racism and apartheid, while it promoted reconciliation and unity within the Church.  The question was about making it a Confession on par with the three forms of unity.  It was decided that such an affirmation was unwarranted and unwise within our context.  

What does this mean for First CRC of Seattle?  The Council has brought a motion to our congregational meeting to affirm our denominational position.  I do not believe the discussion is really about racism or our desire for racial reconciliation or unity.  As a church we are united in our desire to promote these affirms of Belhar.  Instead, question is about the use of the term "Confession."

There is much more that could and has been said.  I do wish I did not have to write about such tangential issues that can cause division.  I can affirm that I did not bring it up to the Council nor did I participate much in the discussion.  Yet, the issue is before us.  I hope this post provides some context that helps frame our discussion.

As always, discussion and comments are welcome!