Sometimes, we use big words—as in the last post. Don’t be intimidated by them. “Theonomy” is a movement that alleges a love for the law of God. Many theonomists wish to take over the civil government, and to create a society based on their own understanding of Old Testament law. (These people are sometimes called, “Reconstructionists.”)
“Antinomianism” is a term that means “Against the law.” These folks don’t want anyone telling them what to do—be it God, or man.
Ironically, though theonomy and antinomianism would appear to be diametrically opposed to one another, (theonomy liking law [supposedly]; and antinomianism hating it)—they both meet together, and have very similar characteristics.
Theonomists, for the most part, despise authority, unless it is their own, or a brand they approve of. Antinomians just plain loathe authority altogether (unless it fits their lusts).
Both of these movements tend to be at odds with Puritan Christianity, because the Puritans insisted on the power of grace to change lives (and not the law); and the Puritans, following Paul and the rest of the Bible, were big on submission to *all* legitimate authority—even if it was not too nice, or too good.
So, just as communism (leftist) and fascism (rightist) seemed to be at polar extremes; but both employed the same tactics, to the same ends—so is it the case with theonomy and antinomianism.
A better alternative than either of these is Biblical (Puritan) Christianity.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Friday, October 20, 2006
Puritanism: Alive and Well
Sometimes, in ignorance, people mistakenly think that the Puritans failed, or that their movement has ceased. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Puritans are alive and well in the world today—and they always will be, by the grace of God.
Do you need proof? Have you ever heard of the Westminster Confession of Faith? If so, did you know that this was the Puritans’ greatest doctrinal bequeathment to the world?
Everything that is enjoyed in the western world (at least), has a direct connection to the influence of the Puritans. (This includes everything from good beer, to republican democracy.)
The Puritans are largely disparaged, not by those who know what they are talking about, as much as by those who wish to replace their influence with something else. The extremes of both theonomy and antinomianism are sad and unworthy substitutes. The better history books will never mention them in the same breath with the esteemed Puritans.
Did Jesus fail, because He died on a cross? No. Did the Puritans fail, because they were ejected from their pulpits (in 1662)? No.
As Christ is alive and well today—so are the Puritans, who love their Savior, and are willing to suffer and celebrate with Him.
Do you need proof? Have you ever heard of the Westminster Confession of Faith? If so, did you know that this was the Puritans’ greatest doctrinal bequeathment to the world?
Everything that is enjoyed in the western world (at least), has a direct connection to the influence of the Puritans. (This includes everything from good beer, to republican democracy.)
The Puritans are largely disparaged, not by those who know what they are talking about, as much as by those who wish to replace their influence with something else. The extremes of both theonomy and antinomianism are sad and unworthy substitutes. The better history books will never mention them in the same breath with the esteemed Puritans.
Did Jesus fail, because He died on a cross? No. Did the Puritans fail, because they were ejected from their pulpits (in 1662)? No.
As Christ is alive and well today—so are the Puritans, who love their Savior, and are willing to suffer and celebrate with Him.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
The faithful church a “Cult”?
Some professing Christians believe that any church that has the audacity to discipline them, is a “cult.” “How dare they think they have the right to deal with my sin and rebellion!,” they would protest.
But, the truth is, better churches have always sought to honor their Master Jesus by exercising church discipline. As a matter of fact, it is (today) a little-known fact that one of the three marks of a “true” church *is* its loving discipline of its members. (The other two are the faithful preaching of the word; and the proper administration of the sacraments.)
We do not deny that real cults actually exist. The proper definition of a cult, is the imposition on members of its organization rules and regulations not insisted on by God Himself.
Therefore, you are closer to a cult, when you are part of a church that prohibits its congregation from drinking alcoholic beverages (to use an obvious example). But, you are *not* involved in a cult, if the leadership of the church insists, based upon the teaching of the word of God itself, that its covenanted members worship God, as a church, on the Lord’s Day.
So, do not be fooled by self-righteous, legalistic, and Pharisaic religionists who would assail the true church with all kinds of nasty labels, (such as “cult”)—when they themselves are ensnared in their own sin—with no way out—since they reject God’s only provision of His holy church. These people ought to be pitied, by God’s true saints.
But, the truth is, better churches have always sought to honor their Master Jesus by exercising church discipline. As a matter of fact, it is (today) a little-known fact that one of the three marks of a “true” church *is* its loving discipline of its members. (The other two are the faithful preaching of the word; and the proper administration of the sacraments.)
We do not deny that real cults actually exist. The proper definition of a cult, is the imposition on members of its organization rules and regulations not insisted on by God Himself.
Therefore, you are closer to a cult, when you are part of a church that prohibits its congregation from drinking alcoholic beverages (to use an obvious example). But, you are *not* involved in a cult, if the leadership of the church insists, based upon the teaching of the word of God itself, that its covenanted members worship God, as a church, on the Lord’s Day.
So, do not be fooled by self-righteous, legalistic, and Pharisaic religionists who would assail the true church with all kinds of nasty labels, (such as “cult”)—when they themselves are ensnared in their own sin—with no way out—since they reject God’s only provision of His holy church. These people ought to be pitied, by God’s true saints.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
The Primary Covenantal Unit
Sometimes we may hear claims that the family is the most basic, or foundational, or fundamental covenantal unit.
We have shown, in many prior posts on this site, that this is not the case.
Actually, THE most basic “covenantal unit” is Jesus Christ Himself. Consider the words of Paul, as they are taken from Gal. 3:16: “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ.”
So, Jesus Himself, the God-Man, is the essential covenantal entity.
From Christ, and through Him, then, come the “seeds,” the children of Abraham, who also exercise faith in Jesus, just like Abraham did. These people become the Body of Christ, the church.
Families *within* the church, (viz., baptized, covenanted members of the local church), then constitute a subset of the church—and they are, indeed, a legitimate “covenantal unit.”
But, this special status is not due to their being a family. The earth is full of families who have no love for Christ, His gospel, or His church. Their standing as a redeemed sub-community is based on their being in the Redeemer; and this is demonstrated in their faithfulness to His church.
We have shown, in many prior posts on this site, that this is not the case.
Actually, THE most basic “covenantal unit” is Jesus Christ Himself. Consider the words of Paul, as they are taken from Gal. 3:16: “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ.”
So, Jesus Himself, the God-Man, is the essential covenantal entity.
From Christ, and through Him, then, come the “seeds,” the children of Abraham, who also exercise faith in Jesus, just like Abraham did. These people become the Body of Christ, the church.
Families *within* the church, (viz., baptized, covenanted members of the local church), then constitute a subset of the church—and they are, indeed, a legitimate “covenantal unit.”
But, this special status is not due to their being a family. The earth is full of families who have no love for Christ, His gospel, or His church. Their standing as a redeemed sub-community is based on their being in the Redeemer; and this is demonstrated in their faithfulness to His church.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
A Defense of the Ministry
The Christian church’s pastoral ministry has always been abhorred and scorned by all unregenerate people—both from within and without the church—ever since the Fall of Adam, in the Garden of Eden.
The devil is evil, but he is not stupid. He has always known that a weak ministry is the key to the wholesale destruction of all mankind. This is why he is diligent at setting up his own “pastors,” as much as he can.
God, on the other hand, has always designed His world’s (and particularly, His church’s) welfare to be directly proportioned to the extent and the effectiveness of the ministers He calls to their pulpits.
Therefore, it is perfectly understandable why the pastorate is such a difficult, and yet critically-important position.
Pray that God would continue to raise up His brand of pastors, so that they might serve His church well.
Your own spiritual well-being, and that of all future generations of Christians, depends on it.
The devil is evil, but he is not stupid. He has always known that a weak ministry is the key to the wholesale destruction of all mankind. This is why he is diligent at setting up his own “pastors,” as much as he can.
God, on the other hand, has always designed His world’s (and particularly, His church’s) welfare to be directly proportioned to the extent and the effectiveness of the ministers He calls to their pulpits.
Therefore, it is perfectly understandable why the pastorate is such a difficult, and yet critically-important position.
Pray that God would continue to raise up His brand of pastors, so that they might serve His church well.
Your own spiritual well-being, and that of all future generations of Christians, depends on it.
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