If You Had to Pick. . .

You know how this inquisitive game works. One person says, “If you had to pick one (fill in the blank, car, job, color, number, etc.) what would you pick?” Most naturally, the choices are not choices of good or bad, right or wrong, but of preference or degree. So, let’s play!

Let’s begin with three things that most Christian church members agree on.

• The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
• And the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.
• The mission of the church is to make disciples.

With these foundational truths in front of us, let’s take another step. The next step includes three characteristics of church life. Now, remember, we are not talking about three things that are either right or wrong, but about three different characteristics that are important to all Christian churches (or should be).

1. This church (let’s call it church A) is known for producing. Producing what? Well, producing any number of things. They may produce leaders. If that is the case, many young men and women may be sent out to colleges, universities, and seminaries and go on to lead Christian organizations or initiatives. Church A may produce evangelists and missionaries who love the truth and want to serve anywhere and everywhere. This church may be known for their high doctrinal standards and produce serious-minded Christians who faithfully live out their witness in all kinds of vocations. Whatever Church A produces isn’t the real point. The point is this church is known for this characteristic. This distinction is so clear that people join this church precisely because of this distinctive.

2. Church B is known for its intimacy. In this church, you will find a variety of ways in which people connect and relate to one another. From one-on-one coffee shop meetings to small group affinity groups, to Sunday school classes, and more, these people love to speak into one another’s lives in biblical ways. When a visitor experiences a typical Sunday, there is an atmosphere of energy and affection that is readily perceived. Again, Church B is known as a church where members bear one another’s burdens and people who join this church join for that reason.

3. Finally, Church C is known for its ministry organization. In this setting, you will hear members celebrating the children’s ministry, evangelistic process, or perhaps the incredible music and worship experience. Members of Church C, are appreciative of the support staff of the church and the sensitivity they have for the needs of the members. The programs of the church are clearly defined and the practical needs of the participants are attended to. So, if transportation is needed, or child care is necessary, or special parking and assistance are needed, Church C is prepared. Members who attend this church are drawn to the organizational excellence that makes them feel a part of something bigger than themselves. The programs of this church are known beyond its walls and members are energized by being a part of the organization.

Okay, there you have it. Now, let’s play the game. “If you had to pick which one of these is most important or appealing to you, which would you choose?” Don’t forget, we all agree, all three are important and all three are needed in the church. You may find it helpful to recall that often used phrase, “No one can be all things to all people.” So, if that is the case, which is number one, number two, and number three in order of importance to you?

Which way do we go from here? Once a church has an idea of its strengths, that should reveal something about its weakness(es). If it does, then how should it respond? That’s next time.

As always, your feedback and comments are not just entertaining, but helpful and appreciated.

by Pastor Buz

Many of the disciplines of the Christian’s life have shared traits. For instance, it is always good to pray in concert with Bible study. Though the Bible’s words concerning faithful stewardship are authoritative for the purpose of instructing us in this important topic alone, a closer look will reveal how often it is tied to what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Matthew 6:21 draws a direct connection between the disciple’s treasures and his heart, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Here are three reasons why I believe financial stewardship and discipleship are inseparable.

       1. Faithful Stewardship Is a Gateway to Every Good Work

The context of the all-too-familiar phrase, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7) makes it clear the Apostle is making a point that is more comprehensive than just financial stewardship. Consider verse 8.

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (emphasis mine)

       2. Faithful Stewardship is a Discipline of the Gospel Task

While on his journey, the Apostle Paul wrote ahead to the Corinthians, instructing them to give faithfully and regularly toward the work of the gospel (1 Cor. 16:1-4). The purpose of this instruction and its timing was to make clear that effective gospel ministry was happening in many places and the people of God and their stewardship are vital aspects to its success.

1 Corinthians 16:9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

      3. Faithful Stewardship Reflects the Heart of a Disciple. A Disciple’s Heart Is:

• A Sacrificial Heart – “this poor widow has put in more…” (Mk. 12:41-44).
• A Generous Heart – “for with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38)
• A Rich Heart – “one’s life does not consist of his possessions . . . [but is] rich toward God” (Luke 12:13-21).

For more guidance in the biblical perspective of Stewardship see,

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/steward-the-gifts-god-has-assigned-to-you

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-you-honor-your-maker-with-your-wallet

Please feel free to ask more questions or make comments as we run the race together.

I’ve been planning worship gatherings for the last twenty years.  I think and pray daily about what happens when the church gathers.  I stand at the front of the congregation for about half of the time we are together on Sunday morning.  It’s a responsibility that I don’t take lightly.  I also spend time talking to other Worship Pastors about what is happening in the culture.

The last decade has been an era of unprecedented change for local church gatherings.  The speed and scope of change has been nothing short of seismic. I recently watched a church service which included dancing Storm Troopers to kick of a “Star Wars” themed sermon series.  These changes have affected every part of the corporate gathering, not just music.  These changes have been felt across denominational and geographic lines.   This new reality has caused me to open my Bible and ask the Lord to renew my convictions about the weekly gathering of the local church family.  I’m certain that the new testament leaves the church with some liberty in regards to gathered worship. But what guidelines does God give us?  Why do we order the service in a certain way?  Why do we choose certain songs and not others? Some things change from week to week, but what are the essential elements of our liturgy (order of worship)?  Here are six convictions about our Sunday Worship gathering at First Baptist Boynton.

1. We want every part of our gathering to be saturated with the Word of God, that we might consume it and obey it. (Jam 1:22)  For this reason, our worship time is centered around the expositional preaching of God’s word.  We evaluate every song with God’s word in mind.
2. We want our love for the supremacy of Jesus Christ to be evident (Col 1). We are commanded to love God with everything we are (Luke 10:27).  He is the treasure hidden in a field, the pearl of great price and the treasure of every believer. We believe the glory of God is centered in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  We love to sing, pray and preach these truths.
3. We value congregational engagement in every part of the gathering, but especially in the singing. (Eph 5:19)  While we do use contemporary accompaniment and amplified instruments, we want the defining sound of First Boynton to be the sound of God’s people singing His praise.
4. We choose songs that aim to engage the head and the heart.  God is seeking those who will worship in spirit (heart) and truth (head) (John 4).  We believe that deep thinking about God promotes deep feelings for God. We want to engage our minds and hearts in worship.
5. We plan the Sunday gathering primarily for the believer but make every effort to welcome unbelievers, as well. (2 Cor 3, Heb 13) We do this not to exclude outsiders, but because the great commission is “Go and Tell” not “Come and See.” (Matt. 28:19-20)
6. We believe leading worship is a spiritual service reserved for the members of the family of God (1 Cor 12). While we value excellence and seek to be prepared musically and technically, we are committed to using only church members in the worship team/band (1 Pet 4:10).

I’ll be the first to admit that we don’t achieve these goals every Sunday, in fact, we fall short often.  But it is good to understand our convictions and goals, even if we fall short, because then we know why we gather on Sunday morning.  We live in an “anything goes” world.  I’m extremely thankful to be a part of a local church that has biblical convictions and seeks, however imperfectly, to glorify God, make disciples and love the community outside our doors.

Thank you so much for allowing my family an extended time away during the month of June. As I wrote to you before we left, this has been in many ways, a very difficult year for my family. Nothing sudden, or tragic- just exhausted from the pace of life, work, ministry, school, marriage and parenting.  In one sense a very common scenario, shared by any family. But in another sense, there are very unique struggles known only by those who have adopted children from difficult places. I wanted to take a minute to share with you some of my reflections from our break.

I CAN’T DO THIS ALONE.

One of the most beautiful things God revealed to us while we were away is that we need our church family. Why would I describe that realization as beautiful?  When God saved us, He did not just give us himself, he also gave us his family, because we need both. And that is beautiful.  It is not good for man to be alone. Indeed, it is also not good for a family to be alone.  We need community. We need the church.  Being away from our church family for five weeks caused us to rediscover our need for the family of God.

THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL HERE.

As the weeks went by, particularly on Sundays, we experienced a deep longing to be home, worshipping with you.  We did gather with other saints when possible, which was a blessing.  One thing became clear: First Baptist Boynton is a unique work of God.  I know that sounds sappy.  But it’s true!  Just ask those who have recently joined.  What we have here is special.  I did not say perfect.  The church is made of people.  There are no perfect people and no perfect churches!  However, there exists here an uncommon commitment to the exaltation of Christ and the teaching of God’s Word.  There is a desire for deep gospel-fellowship and our worship gatherings are marked by the sound of congregational singing.  Again, none of these are by any means perfect.  But these are increasingly distinctive values in our world.  We should be grateful! And we should be telling people.

TELL EVERYONE!

Since returning home I have a renewed passion and boldness to share about the Love of Christ and the grace of belonging to the family of God.  These blessings were not intended to be kept, they were commanded to be shared freely.  I can’t imagine life without Christ or his Church.  How can I keep quiet about the grace, forgiveness and love that is freely available to all? Let us pray for one another in this!
It’s so good to be home.  We are incredibly grateful for time away, but even more grateful for an inward assurance that we are where God wants us to be: with you.
For Christ and His Church,

Pastor Keith, Kimmie, Kurt, Kevin, Kamryn & Kassie

Biblical Words

Hebrew

hata = to miss (a mark); to wrong, offend, sin

pasha = to break with, away, from, or “crossed the line” to transgress

Greek

hamartia = sin, miss the mark

paraptoma or parabasis = sin, transgress

paranomia = lawlessness; evildoing

Origin

To suggest that sin began with the act of Adam and Even in the Garden of Genesis 3 would be to imagine that God had no prior conception of it. This would be inconsistent with what the Bible teaches about God’s omniscience (all-knowing and foreknowledge). Theologians discuss the origin of sin (as well as everything else) under the heading of God’s decrees.

Westminster Larger Catechism, 12

God’s decrees are the wise, free, and holy acts of the counsel of his will, whereby, from eternity, he hath, for his own glory, unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass in time, especially concerning angels and men.

Though God is atemporal (not subject to time), our minds cannot comprehend timelessness. Therefore, we speak of a time when God decided to do all his good pleasure in the affairs of his creation. Once again, our minds are too limited to understand simultaneous thoughts and actions, much less all thoughts and all actions being determined simultaneously. Therefore, we speak of God’s decrees plural and we speak of them in a sequence. For instance, we would say that God decreed to create earth before he decreed to make man. In this discussion of sin, the questions arise: (a) when did God decree that sin should be and (b) where does that decree fit with other decrees, and (c) how did he decree that sin would be without being the author of sin (Js 1:13)?

a.When did God decree that sin should be?

The short answer is, we don’t know. However, the Bible gives some indication about what God did and when he did it. God’s plan of redemption through Christ was a decree given before this age began (1 Cor 2:7). The decree to adopt and unite all things was made before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:3-10). God’s decree to create all things (Col 1:16) included his creation of calamity (Isa 45:7). Though we have no comprehension of eternity past, we do know God made his decrees in coordination with, but prior to time, as we know it.

b. Where does the decree of sin fit in a discussion of God’s decrees?

This is perhaps the stickiest question before us. First, we should clarify the   question more specifically and then stress its importance.

Did God’s decree to permit sin’s entrance into the world come before or after his decree to send his son to redeem mankind? Theologians generally fall into one of two camps on this question. For those who believe that God decreed to send his son to redeem his elect before the decree of the fall, the argument centers on consistency. That is, God’s decree to redeem mankind was not based on their being fallen, but on his grace alone. These theologians choose this order of decrees partly from a concern they have that God not be seen as reacting to man, but in ordaining all things. On the other the hand, there are those who argue that if God decreed to send his son before the decree of the fall it makes God appear to be the author of sin.

See John Frames outline:

SUPRALAPSARIAN

1. To elect some creatable people for divine blessing.
2. To create.
3. To permit the Fall.
4. To send Christ to provide atonement.
5. To send the Spirit to apply the atonement to the hearts of believers.
6. To glorify the elect.

INFRALAPSARIAN

1. To create.
2. To permit the Fall.
3. To elect some people for divine blessing.
4. To send Christ to provide atonement.
5. To send the Spirit to apply the atonement to the hearts of believers.
6. To glorify the elect.

How important is this order? How will it change the way you live for Christ? John Frame’s detailed answer is worthy of consideration. He offers eleven reasons why, “. . . we should not take any position on the debate between infralapsarians and supralapsarians.” However, our meditation on the origin of sin will significantly affect our understanding of God, his sovereignty, and our security (more on this below).

c.  How did God decree sin into existence without being the author of sin?

[J.] Edwards answers, “If by ‘the author of sin,’ be meant the sinner, the agent, or the actor of sin, or the doer of a wicked thing . . . it would be a reproach and blasphemy, to suppose God to be the author of sin. In this sense, I utterly deny God to be the author of sin.”

But, he argues, willing that sin exist in the world is not the same as sinning. God does not commit sin in willing that there be sin. God has established a world in which sin will indeed necessarily come to pass by God’s permission, but not by his “positive agency.”

Roger Olson is a leading Arminian thinker and Professor of Theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco Texas. He writes,

John Piper has been at it again. But there’s nothing new in the sermon reported on there. He has been saying this and writing it for decades. According to him, God foreordains sin. He “ordains and governs” it. He stops short of saying God causes is. But the effect is the same: sin is God’s will, even if it grieves him. And he’s talking about about every specific sin, not just “sin in general.” (typos original)

I will not say Piper is not a Christian; I will only say that his view is worse, far, far worse, than open theism. At least open theism preserves the character of God. And I will say I could not in good Christian conscience attend a church pastored by Piper or any of his disciples.

I wish that more moderate Calvinists would take a stand against Piper when he says these things (and against his surrogates when the repeat them). That they don’t really worries me. What are they thinking?(http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogereolson/2012/08/john-piper-gods-sovereignty-and-sin/#disqus_thread)

The Crux

Frame is correct, we need not solve the order of decrees issue. However, asking what God decided to do and when he decided to do it speaks directly to our need to know God, to know the God of the Bible. One might assert, the question is not did God permit that sin should be before or after the decree to send his son, but that if (and he did) God ordained that sin should be to demonstrate the riches of his glory (Rom 9) what is the believer’s disposition toward that level of Lordship?

Does, Olson’s opinion of what God’s character should be usurp God’s self -revelation of who he is? Does God use the sinful action that he has ordained to carry out his will and demonstrate his glory in Lordship, yes or no (Acts 2:22-23; cf. Job 1 and the history of Israel 1 Kgs-Mal)? Frame admits, that God “stands behind sin” so as to make him Lord over its creation, but not a culpable author of its enactment. The fact that he ordained that it should be does not mean he is guilty of committing it.

Consider the Alternative

The possible alternatives include, (a) sin being the exclusive result of man’s actions independent of the will of God or (b) the ancillary creation of a God who hopes his creation will avoid, but is not sure. In either case you have a god who is less than the God of the Bible.

Chapter 21: The Creation of Man: Why Did God create us? How did God make us like himself? How can we please him in everyday living?

The pinnacle of God’s creative activity is the creation of human beings, both male and female, to be more like him than anything else he has made.

1. The use of the Word Man to Refer to the Human Race

1. The usage of the term man has Scriptural warrant (Gen 5:1-2)
2. The Hebrew term translated “Man” is אָדָם (adam), the same term used for the name of Adam and the same term used as of man in distinction from woman. (Gen. 2:22, 25; Gen. 3:12; Eccl. 7:28)
3. Therefore the practice of using the same term to refer (1) to male human beings and (2) to the human race generally is a practice that originated with God himself, and we should not find that objectionable.
4. Gen. 5:2 specifically describes God’s activity of choosing a name that would apply to the human race as a whole.
5. The fact that God did not choose to call the human race “woman,” but “man,” probably has some significance for understanding God’s original plan for men and women.
6. B) Why Was Man Created?

1. God did not need to create man, yet he created us for his own glory. (John 17:5; John 17:24; Isa. 43:7;
2. Eph. 1:11-12; 1 Cor. 10:31)
3. What is our purpose in life?

1. God created us to glorify him (see above) and to find enjoyment in him (John 10:10; Ps. 16:11; Ps. 84:1-2, 10)
2. When we begin to appreciate the nature of God as the infinitely perfect Creator who deserves all praise, then our hearts will not rest until we give him glory with all of our “heart…soul…mind, and…strength” (Mark 12:30).
3. C) Man in the Image of God

1. The fact that man is in the image of God means that man is like God and represents God.
   1. The more that we know about God and man the more similarities we will recognize, and the more fully we will understand what Scripture means when it says that man is in the image of God. (Gen 2:26, Gen. 5:3)
2. The Fall: God’s Image is Distorted but Not Lost (Gen. 9:6, James 3:9)
   1. After the fall we are still like God, but His image is distorted in us.
   2. Humans, therefore, are a useful but still inadequate picture of God’s character
3. Through redemption in Christ we experience a progressive recovering of more of God’s image. (Col.
   1. We are changed into more of His likeness in our thinking (Col. 3:10)
   2. And in our lives and character (Rom 8:29, 2Cor 3:18)
4. 3:10)
5. At Christ’s return we will experience the complete restoration of God’s image. (1Cor. 15:49)
   1. The purpose of God in creating man in his image was completely realized in the person of Jesus Christ. (2Cor. 4:4, Col. 1:15, 1John 3:2)
6. We are like God in a number of aspects…
   1. Moral Aspects:
      1. We are morally accountable before God.
      2. We have an inner sense of right and wrong that sets us apart from animals (who respond from fear of punishment or hope of reward)
      3. We can reflect his likeness through righteous behavior (though, by contrast, we show unlikeness to God when we sin)
   2. Spiritual Aspects:
      1. We have immaterial spirits and can act in significant ways in the realm of the immaterial, spiritual realm
      2. We have a spiritual life that enables us to relate to God as persons, to pray, praise him, and to hear him speaking his words to us
      3. We have immortality
   3. Mental Aspects:
      1. We can think logically and with reason, problem solve (e.g., no history of canine theology) ii. We can use complex, abstract language

1. We have an awareness of the distant future (Ecc. 3:11)
2. We are creative in areas such as art, music, literature, and scientific and technological inventiveness.
3. We have complex emotions

1. Relational Aspects:
   1. We reflect the nature of God in marriage in the fact that as men and women we have equality in importance and difference in roles from the time that God created us
   2. We have been given the right to rule creation (Gen. 1:26, Gen. 1:28, Psalm 8:6-8) e) Physical aspects:
   3.                        We must be careful not to think that our physical bodies imply that God has a physical body.

(John 4:24, Ex. 20:4) Yet almost everything we do is done by use of our physical bodies—thinking, moral judgments, prayer, praise, sight, smell, hearing, etc. iii. Our physical bodies display something of God’s character. They also enable us to bear and raise human beings who are like ourselves.

1. The ways in which we are like God can be enhanced (e.g., our moral behavior can reflect more and more of God’s character through study of the Scriptures and prayer) (2Cor. 7:1, 1Pet. 1:16)

1. As bearers of God’s image, we have great dignity.
   1. We are more like God than any other created thing.
   2. This has profound implications for our conduct toward others (the mentally ill, elderly people, unborn children, etc., deserve equal dignity and rights)
   3. QUESTIONS FOR PERSONAL APPLICATION

1. According to Scripture, what should be the major purpose of your life? If you consider the major commitments or goals of your life at the present time (with respect to friendships, marriage, education, job, use of money, church relationships, etc.), are you acting as though your goal were the one that Scripture specifies? Or do you have some other goals that you have acted upon (perhaps without consciously deciding to do so)? As you think about the pattern of most of your days, do you think that God delights in you and rejoices over you?
2. How does it make you feel to think that you, as a human being, are more like God than any other creature in the universe? How does that knowledge make you want to act?

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.

–C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

A spiritual war is raging. Battles are occurring across the globe and in our city and in our homes. Sadly, some think that we only do battle when we encounter people with spinning heads or guttural voices. Even sadder, some are oblivious that a battle is even taking place.

Instead of having our minds shaped by those skeptical of the spiritual realm or by those who fancy a Hollywood story, let us look to the Scriptures and our theology.

The Combatants

It may be helpful if we examine each of the combatants in relationship to three aspects used to evaluate armies – their location, their intelligence and their might. When we speak about God in theological terms, we attribute to him omnipresence, omniscience and omnipotence.

The King

The Lord is all or omni in all three areas. He is omnipresent, ever present and never absent. He is omniscient, all knowing and unsusceptible to battlefield surprises. He is omnipotent, all powerful and without weakness.

The King’s Host, the Devil and Demons

The Bible describes the army or host of the Lord as being his angels. Since the devil and the demons are fallen angels, they have the same attributes whether good or evil.

They are not omnipresent, but they move quickly. Biblical characters often see them one moment and they are gone the next. They are not omniscient. Jesus taught that they are limited in their knowledge. They are not omnipotent. They have great power, but this is a power still subject to the Almighty.

The Christian and the Church

As to location, human beings are restricted to one place at one time. The movement between places is minuscule compared to the angelic beings. That is unless the human is carried along by an angel or by the Spirit of God.

As to intelligence, humans are far from omniscient. Even of God’s truth, we are dependent upon first revealing himself to us. Our limitations are why the Scriptures tell us to have the mind of Christ. Only then can our feeble minds know enough to do battle in the spiritual realm.

As to might or strength, again we are limited far below that of the others in battle. In the classic passage on spiritual warfare, Paul begins by exhorting us to “be strong in the Lord (Eph 6:10).”

From this quick survey of the omni attributes, we learn that on our own we are no match for the enemy in spiritual battle. But we also learn that our enemy is no match for the Lord himself. The key to victory on the spiritual battlefield has to lie in having the presence, knowledge and might of the Lord.

The Arsenal

God has not left us defenseless. He has provided us the arsenal or armor with which to fight the god of this world. Ephesians 6 paints a picture of what this looks like to the Christian.

Putting On Christ

As we read of the various elements in the Christian’s armor, each piece is a picture of putting on Christ. Whether it be our helmet, our breastplate, our belt, our shoes or our shield, we could say it is simply putting on Christ.

This is a picture of the gospel. We have shed our filthy rags and are now dressed in the righteousness of Christ. We are assured victory when Christ is working through us to battle the wicked one.

The Sword of the Spirit

The final element in the arsenal is the sword. This is the Word of God. Since we have put on Christ, our battles will look remarkably similar to his battle in Matthew 4.

During 40 days in the wilderness, Jesus sharpened his sword. He was meditating on the wilderness book of the Old Testament – Deuteronomy. Each time Satan tempted him, he responded with a quote from that book.

We will be better warriors the more the Word of God saturates our beings.

The Battlefield

Simply put, the battlefield of spiritual warfare is in our prayer closets on our knees. Paul ended his section on warfare with these words,

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.

–Ephesians 6:18-20

How foolish to march into the world (which is the devil’s territory) in our own strength! When we do so we are outgunned and out maneuvered. Prayer is the place in which we wrestle with the temptations of the evil one. It is there that we wrestle with our own stubborn flesh. It is there that we even wrestle with God. We plead with God on the basis of his promises to bless us.

The first battlefield was in Eden between Eve and the devil. In that battle, the serpent challenged the Word of God, twisted the Word of God and appealed to her passions.

The more of Eden you experience, the more some demon will attempt the same with you. So put on Christ and hone your sword. It is time for battle.

This article also appears on FrankGantz.com and serves as an aid to the teaching time on Wednesday, August 26, 2015.

During this past year, we spent our Sunday mornings studying Peter’s First Epistle. Our emphasis was on “Being Prepared to Give An Answer.” We noted that our world is changing all around us and we need to pay closer attention to how God wants us to respond. Well, that’s just what this open letter is intended to do. It is intended to describe how the church should respond to the latest decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS). Here, is not the place to review the details of the Court’s ruling, but only to say that its practical result is the legalization of so called, “same-sex marriage.” In one respect, you could say that the answer to how we are to respond should come from (a) what we have already said from First Peter and (b) what we are currently saying in our series on the Glory of God entitled, “From Him, Through, Him, and To Him”(Rom. 11:36).   We want to respond in a gospel manner for the glory of God and the welfare of all people.

In practical terms, what does this mean for our church? How will we respond to the current cultural crisis surrounding the SCOTUS decisions about gender and marriage with this two-fold goal in mind?

First, we should admit that Satan and sin are real and that sometimes he makes himself known by attacking a person’s self-identity. There are well-meaning people who are in pain and confusion about who they are and some of them choose to act upon their confusion. Many of you may know someone who identifies themself as gay or who may experience same-sex attraction. Furthermore, we want to be sensitive to those in our fellowship who may struggle with these issues. We empathize because, while the ruling does not reflect the Bible’s view of marriage, we also recognize the potential pain, loneliness, and confusion of trying to remain a celibate Christian. Our courts may make legal decisions that effect our culture, laws may be created that affect all of us, and institutions will reevaluate their value systems, but the word of God, like the God of the word is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). A gospel response to this decision and to those it affects calls for God’s people, who all were once under the wrath of God (Eph. 2:3), to declare graciously, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”(1 Tim 1:15). In addition, we should admit we are all broken and apart from the grace of God are without hope. We must be clothed in Christ’s righteousness and ransomed by his blood on the cross to be acceptable in the sight of God (Phil 1:9; Gal 2:20).

Second, we are called to do all we do for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31). At least a portion of that mandate is to value life and human flourishing. All life, like all things, are “from him and through him and to him”(Rom. 11:36). That said, we wish to clearly communicate we deeply regret and disagree with the Court’s so-called legalization of same-sex marriages in the case of Obergefell vs. Hodges. We believe this ruling dishonors our Creator and fails to promote human flourishing and the public welfare.

As we move forward, we will be reviewing all our church documents to insure they reflect what we believe the Bible to teach about gender, marriage, and the roles of men and women in the home and church. At minimum, we wish to assure you that our documents already uphold the biblical position that marriage is a life-long exclusive relationship between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:18-24; Matthew 19:3-12; 1 Corinthians 7). This Open Letter is published as a general description of the position held by the leadership of First Boynton. As a congregational church, we will be presenting any Constitutional or By-law changes in the proper manner prescribed by those documents for the confirmation of the church.

Finally, It is not our intention to single-out the recent SCOTUS decision or to deny God’s design for sexual expression. The Bible condemns heterosexual sex outside of marriage, homosexual sex, and other forms of immorality (Leviticus 18:22; Matthew 15:19; Romans 1:26-28, etc.), while upholding the truth that the marriage bed is pure and undefiled (Heb. 13:4). It is our desire to demonstrate the redeeming love of Christ to all who participate in any activity of our church. However, love without truth does not properly reflect the gospel or promote human flourishing. In all our decisions and directions “we must obey God rather than men,” and “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

By His Grace, We Are,

Your Elders

This year’s Community Month is only a week old and the reports of people loving people are coming in!  Thus far God has:

• Answered some much needed church staffing needs
• Used peoples caring and counseling gifts in the lives of those in need
• Sent people to us looking for a place of His exaltation
• Answered huge financial needs
• Calling out servants for ministry

Here’s a recent response from hearing about the Gospel-centered life:

Here’s the application I came away with:
I need to purposefully lean into the Lord to help me develop Gospel-centered reasoning. This should lift my attention off of the id and put it where it belongs, focused on Christ. This change of mindset would help me form answers that better showcase His glory.

Here’s an encouraging word from folks who have recently joined us:

We prayed about our decision to attend First Boynton.  Already knowing and loving families here, we immediately felt welcomed.   The focus on the sovereignty of God and His word were our main reasons for moving our membership.  However the love our family feels is such a blessing!

God is demonstrating his grace so much that I had to pass it along, and there is so much more.  What is impacting me the most, today is that everywhere I look it’s beginning to happen…people are seeing needs in the church family and rather than wait for a program, they are becoming champions by “esteeming one another more highly than themselves” and going to work.  In ministries where we have needed help, men and women are coming forward. To God Be The Glory!

Don’t miss the joy! Jump in!  If you have questions about where to serve, see Glenda Tobin in the foyer after our time of worship.

You Are Loved!

PB