Back from the Beach

We're back! We took a few days this week to head down to the Texas coast - Crystal Beach to be exact. We rented a beach house that was right on the beach and just spent our days alternating between hanging out in the water, building sandcastles, and reading in the house. A storm the night before our arrival had the waves up to an unusual 3 or 4 feet of breaking surf. My parents were able to join us as well. All-in-all, a wonderful week and much needed.

We didn't have internet in the house, so if you have been trying to get in touch with me, give me a few days to get sorted out and you should be getting a note.

Matt

Time Marches On...

In both my daily Scripture reading and in interacting with a friend by email recently, I have found myself encouraged to return to some thoughts on the structuring of time from a Christian perspective. (see August 2006 archive)

My reading, particularly Leviticus 23, was a wonderful reminder that God structured the annual Jewish calendar around His blessings. The chapter begins with a strong statement that these temporal markers are from God and for God. Twice they are referred to as "appointed" (ESV) in verse 2, emphasizing that they are from God. In the second instance they are not merely appointed, but are "my" (with reference to YHWH) appointed feasts. We are taught that they are for God when God tells us that they are "feasts of the Lord". Although genitives are always fodder for argument with respect to their intent, the next phrase, "that you shall proclaim them as holy convocations" bears out the fact that they aren't mere temporal markers, but serve to connect YHWH with his people on a temporal and cyclical basis. This is further demonstrated by the nature of the feasts themselves, all of which make reference to the relationship of the people to YHWH.

It is interesting that frequent reference is made in these passages to the length of time that the people of Israel are to observe these things. “It is a statute forever in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.” is repeated in 14, 21, 31, and 41. If we are to take seriously a reformed view of the covenant people of God, then we must take this phrase seriously. Whatever we may argue about the mode of observance in this dispensation of the covenant of grace, the principle remains: forever.

Instead of trying to argue directly about the mode, I am satisfied for now to go for the lowest common denominator: The principle that we are to order our time according to the redemptive work of Christ among His people. This much seems very easy to establish among those of us that take a non-dispensational view of the people of God. WE are that people. And although there is certainly some discontinuity from the the OT to the NT, it seems to be found primarily in two sorts: 1) That which was prefigured in the OT is now remembered in the NT and 2) the forms change according to the fulfillment of that which is figured. In neither case, however, are we relieved of the principle of observance.

So, my musings will proceed on this assumption: That we have in Lev 23 a clear instruction from God that as His people we are to structure our time in such a way that Christ is at its center: celebrated and adored.

Plus venire...

Seeking charity and clarity

As many of you might be aware, the New Perspective on Paul (NPP) and its PCA derivative, The Federal Vision (FV), have been getting much press in PCA circles of late. I must confess that little has so thoroughly intrigued me in recent years as this discussion. I have, separate from this discussion (and I believe, as a result of my journey away from the Baptist church) come to a very particular view of the covenant people of God (which has very corporate implications), a high view of the sacraments that rejects a merely memorial approach, and consequently a burning desire to approach the corporate worship of God by means of a seriously considered and theologically rich liturgy. As an American Christian in my 30s, I have also become convinced that the individualism of the West has driven us into a fatally introspective habit that has turned our attention away from the social aspects of the gospel (a tendency propelled along as a reaction against the theologically empty liberalism of the late 19th century). As a result the church has failed and, in large part, is failing, to meet its responsibilities as a community to communicate the gospel in more holistic ways than simply propositional proclamations of the gospel (ala Billy Graham). What does this have to do with NPP and FV? For those that are familiar with these views, you will instantly recognize my point. I find all the issues I have just enumerated present in the discussion that is taking place! Unfortunately, I find myself attracted more often to the appeals of the NPP and FV proponents. Why unfortunately? Because within my tradition (PCA and Southern Presbyterianism) the NPP and FV are quickly being branded heterodox at worst, and outside the bounds of our confession at best. These conclusions may yet prove to be true, and I am disturbed by some of the language I have encountered in both the NPP and FV polemics. Nonetheless, with polemics raging on both sides, I have found it difficult to wade through the issues and come to a charitable and yet truthful evaluation of the NPP and FV points of view.

In light of this, I offer up an introduction to the issues penned by one who is not in the slightest degree to be mistaken for an NPP or FV advocate. However, contrary to most of the writing I have encountered by "the orthodox" (such as the committee report which recommendations were approved last week at the PCA GA), this report (written in 2005 by Bryan Chapell) is very charitable and a wonderful introduction to the issues. It is not a stopping place, but it is a great place to begin. Simply click on the title of this post to open the pdf document. I highly commend it to anyone that still feels as though they are wallowing around trying to find SOMETHING to latch onto in this debate.

A Study of Calvin's Liturgy at Strasbourg

Once again, click on the title of this post to be magically whisked away to a thought provoking article on Calvin's order of worship while at Strasbourg. It is argued that this order is to be taken as the definitive representation of Calvin's liturgy and was used also at Geneva later. It is then compared to Bucer's Strasbourg liturgy in the German church (and found to be very similar). The greatest benefit in this article seems to me to be the thought-provoking comments on the particular order of the elements of worship as well as an appeal to Calvin's Institutes in order to gain greater insight into his liturgical ideas. Very good stuff all-in-all.

A Reformed Liturgy

Please click on the title above to read an excellent article on liturgy in the reformed church. It assumes (rightly) that many churches in the reformed tradition have abandoned their liturgical heritage with two primary results: First, there is no unity in worship from one congregation to another. Anyone that has visited two different PCA churches has likely noticed this. Second, their is much to be commended in the traditional reformed liturgy which we are missing out on due to our failure in this regard. Because we have either forgotten or rejected our liturgical heritage, we are missing out on the rich theological and doxological worship which might be ours. I commend it to each of you ministering in the reformed context. Reading shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes at most.

Recommended in the article is Terry Johnson's Leading in Worship. This is the second time this week this work has been recommended to me and I am now determined to seek it out and devour it. If you do as well, please return and give some feedback!

The Proper View of Worship

I had a great time this morning over coffee with a dear friend and brother in the faith. We were discussing the various differences between the baptist faith and the reformed/presbyterian faith and we came to the subject of worship. He said that he and his wife had looked at the order of worship from PCPCs website and his wife had an interesting reaction. She was a bit taken back by the thought of being "told" what to say in worship (responsive reading). I pointed out to my friend that worship is to be conducted according to how God has demonstrated that he must be worshiped, not according to our whims. Afterward, on my drive into the office, I continued to meditate on this. Time with Christian brothers is worth more than I can say...always challenging me and teaching me in every situation and conversation.

My thoughts went deeper into this idea of what worship is. There is so much that can and has been said...I don't mean to represent these brief thoughts as all encompassing. But it occurs to me that even more so than worship being prescribed by God and we, his covenant people, obediently worshiping him accordingly, is the microcosm of the Christian life that is worship. When we come to worship, it is not merely an act of proclamation. It is not just that God has said "do this" and so we do it. We, a sinful and stubborn people come to worship, in many ways formless and with nothing to offer. In worship, we find a mold into which we pour ourselves, conforming to the image of Christ, if only just for a few hours. We conform in worship in order to become what we know is true about us in Christ, but which we fail to exhibit in our daily lives. For this reason, we come to worship and should be asking, "How does God instruct us to worship Him?" Because in this question (and more particularly, in its answer) we find God's expression of His image. This is why worship is to be so completely committed to being Christocentric! Christ, in His person and His finished work, is what we aim at in worship. We not only proclaim it, but should model it as well. And since we come to worship asking this question, there should be some authoritative answer for us to latch onto. Presbyterians find this answer in the regulative principle; in the fact that God has answered the question clearly for us concerning how He is to be worshiped. What a wonderful thought and image...that we come to worship to be molded into Christ. To use a common illustration, we are, each of us, a mouth full of crooked teeth, in need of braces to bring us into conformity with the proper image of what a mouth of teeth should be. God is gracious, in that He condescended to His people, on the mountain with Moses, and ultimately in the person of Jesus Christ, to provide us with that pattern to which we must conform. And more so, even, to provide us with the very conformity itself.

In contrast, let's consider other forms of worship...particularly those forms that begin with the question, "How would I like to worship God?" or "What manner of worshiping God pleases me or provides me with the most benefit?" How silly does this seem? What orthodontist, upon examining a potential patient, says "I like to let the teeth decide for themselves where they will rest."? What jello, poured into a generic bowl, pops out conformed to the shape of a star or dog? How can we as believers, both as individuals and as a church, ever be conformed to the image of Christ when we come to worship declaring to God what we are pleased to bring Him...conforming not to the image He has provided, but the image with which we are instead most pleased?

Despite feeling as though I am part of a church that has historically understood this issue, I am humbled by the reality of not only my own past sin in this regard, but even my tendency to continue thinking in this way each week. Such meditation has been very fruitful for me this morning and I commend it to you, inasmuch as it seems right and true, to consider your own approach to worship. Will we be conformed to His standard, or bring instead what pleases us to the offering.

I feel a Part II coming on. I'll leave it for later after I have had a chance to reflect some more...

EDIT: I posted this on the forum... Faith and Practice ...and it is already generating some discussion. Feel free to drop by if you're interested.

Matt

A New Look

I was getting bored with the old look. I decided to take advantage of Blogger's new feature that allows you to have more control over your format, and so far, this is the result! I will also be changing the blog address soon. If you would like to receive notification of the new address, please respond to this post (all three of you...haha).

On tubes...

Well, after a season of ear infection after ear infection, a constant runny nose and cough, our pediatrician referred Xavier to an ENT and he recommended tubes. We scheduled the procedure and he had them put in this past Wednesday. He recovered the same day and is doing great! In fact, although we weren't overly worried about his speech, we have already noticed a marked increase in the amount of talking he does and even some difference in his enunciation. So far, it has been a complete success! Praise God for His providential care for us, His children!

Fathers and Brothers

I just returned Thursday from my first trip to the Presbyterian Church in America's General Assembly. This year's assembly was held in Memphis, TN and was pretty much everything I hoped it would be.

The week began with the two days of Westminster Confession for Today Conference. With speakers such as Carl Trueman and J. Ligon Duncan I was set for a great time. In the end, it was ok...not as good as I had hoped. Douglas Kelly was interesting, as was Carl Trueman. However, in the end I didn't feel like it had been the best use of my time.

I was able to hook up with a friend of mine from DTS, Jason Helopoulos, and spend the better part of the week. It was encouraging to see him again after several years. For a newb like myself at Assembly he offered great insight into the issues and the proceedings. I also got to spend a few hours with Clay Daniel, the RUF minister at Yale and another close friend of mine. In addition to Jason and Clay I was able to find a few other friends and make a bunch of new ones. All in all, a capital week!

Tuesday night was opening worship...very edifying. Wednesday afternoon was the discussion on the FV issue. I posted a blow by blow of the discussion and vote on my forum, Faith and Practice. Feel free to stop by and check it out.

Other than people and issues, I found a few good books and got to hear some bagpipes on top of it all. When you got church polity, friends, books, and bagpipes together in a single week..not much can go wrong (unless maybe the bagpipes just won't quit).