Great News from Virginia

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia supported by the Episcopal Church sued 11 Anglican parishes last year in an attempt to confiscate their property. The most recent rulings (linked here) indicate that the parishes have all but succeeded in defending themselves. It may be that the diocese and the national church appeal to federal court but they have lost at the state level. This victory probably does not carry much precedent for New York state but it is good news for Anglicans in Virginia.

Here is an excerpt from the press release from the Anglican District of Virginia website:

FAIRFAX, Va. (August 19, 2008) – The 11 Virginia Anglican congregations sued
by The Episcopal Church (TEC) and the Diocese of Virginia responded to the
Fairfax County Circuit Court ruling issued today concerning the Contracts
Clause and the assertion by TEC and the Diocese that the 11 Anglican
congregations waived their right to invoke the Virginia Division Statute.

Judge Randy Bellows ruled that TEC and the Diocese failed to timely assert
their claim that the 11 Anglican congregations contracted around or waived
their right to invoke the Division Statute.  In addition, the judged ruled
that the Division Statute does not violate the contracts clause provisions
of the U.S. and Virginia Constitutions as applied to these properties.  The
rulings can be found at www.anglicandistrictofvirginia.org.  Today’s rulings
mean that there are only a small number of issues remaining to be decided at
the October trial, and the 11 Anglican congregations are hopeful that they
can be resolved quickly.

“We are pleased that Judge Bellows ruled in our favor on these questions.
He ruled very clearly that our congregations are able to rely on the
Virginia Division Statute in order to keep our church property.  We have
maintained all along that our churches’ own trustees hold title for the
benefit of their congregations.  TEC and the Diocese have never owned any of
the properties and their names do not appear on deeds to the property.  The
Virginia Supreme Court has consistently stated that Virginia does not
recognize denominational trusts of the sort asserted by TEC and the
Diocese,” said Jim Oakes, vice-chairman of the Anglican District of
Virginia.  All 11 churches are members of ADV.

“Given today’s ruling, we hope and pray that TEC and the Diocese would put
away this needless litigation.  We have consistently remained open to
exploring avenues for amicable discussions, and have been grieved that TEC
has chosen to continue to pursue a path of confrontation rather than civil
dialogue.  This litigation has done nothing to spread the Good News of Jesus
Christ,” Oakes continued...

First Light Bible Study notes

The First Light Bible Study started to dig into 1st Peter 3:18-21 this evening. This is one of the more notoriously difficult passages in the New Testament. Here's the text as translated in the NIV:

"18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,"

Here is the same text in the ESV (English Standard Version):

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

I've bolded one of the more important differences between the two translations. Notice that the translators of the NIV understood the Greek word "pneumati" (or spirit) in verse 18 as a reference to the Holy Spirit while the translators of the ESV understood the same word as referring not to the Holy Spirit but to the living spirit or soul of Jesus.

Both translations have merit but both lead to very different interpretations. Peter may be referring to what Jesus did in his spirit between Good Friday and Easter Sunday while his body lay in the tomb or he is referring, more generally, to the activity of the Holy Spirit who raised Christ from the dead and through whom Christ proclaimed the gospel in the days before the flood.

If the NIV translation is more accurate then Peter is comforting his readers with the fact that the sufferings they endure as they proclaim the gospel of Christ through the Holy Spirit to an overwhelmingly wicked generation are not unlike those faced by Noah and his sons who proclaimed the same gospel through the same Spirit and they(his believing readers..us...) are saved figuratively through the waters of baptism just as Noah and his family were saved through the deluge.

If the ESV translation is closest to Peter's intent then the apostle points his readers to the vindication that is theirs despite their present sufferings. Christ, in his spirit (after the death of his body but before his Resurrection), proclaimed victory to those disobedient departed spirits in hell (or alternatively "fallen angels") who disobeyed long ago, vindicating the faith of the Old Testament Saints and, at the same time, validating the faith of those who trust and suffer for Christ, a validation made manifest at his Resurrection.

I tend to favor the NIV translation but I could be wrong. For next week, think it through, read some commentaries, come ready to discuss. Here is a good, basic, over-view of the various lines of interpretation from Dr. Robert Deffinbaugh:

The major thrust of Peter’s teaching can be traced in verses 17-18 and verse 22. The problems arise in verses 19-21. The following views sum up the more popular interpretations of this problem passage.

(1) Christ preached through Noah to the people of his day. This view was held by Augustine. Christ has always been actively involved in the world, even from ancient times (see Colossians 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 10:4). He is also vitally involved with the world and His church until He comes again (Matthew 28:20; Acts 9:1-9; 16:7). This view’s main problem is the expression “spirits now¹³⁰ in prison” which does not seem to be one that most naturally would be used and understood in reference to men. It is true, however, that “spirits” is used in Hebrews 12:23 in reference to those believers who have died.

(2) Between the time of our Lord’s death and His resurrection, He descended into the abode of the dead and preached to those who had formerly lived in Noah’s day but were now dead and in prison, spiritually.¹³¹ Matthew 27:52-53 and Ephesians 4:9 are sometimes cited as support. There are several problems with this view. First, why is only this group of unbelieving dead selected and preached to and not all unbelievers? Second, why would the gospel be preached to a group of people who were warned of the coming judgment of God for 120 years and who rejected this warning (see Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:4-5)? It wasn’t as though these people were not warned. Peter tells us they were disobedient (3:20). Third, at least some of those who hold this view also believe these folks are given a “second chance,” but this seems contrary to other biblical teaching (see, for example, Hebrews 9:27).

(3) Between Christ’s death and resurrection, Christ descended into hell and proclaimed His victory to the demonic spirits, who cohabited with women in Noah’s day (see Genesis 6:1-8; 2 Peter 2:4-5, Jude 6; see also 1 Corinthians 15:28; Ephesians 1:18-23; Philippians 2:8-11; Colossians 2:8-15; 1 Peter 4:22). This view seems to square best with Genesis chapter 6, 2 Peter 2 and Jude 6. It appears most consistent with the terms “spirits in prison.” But what does this have to do with Peter’s theme of suffering?

(4) Enoch (not Christ) preached to those living in Noah’s day. This is the view of J. Cramer and J. Rendel Harris. It has no textual support, but only a textual emendation (a change of the text, without the existence of any such text) based upon certain presuppositions. It can hardly be taken seriously.

(5) “I don’t know what Peter means here.” Luther held this view. We can at least respect his honesty

Equality and the Canaanite woman

Sermon: Sunday August 17th, 2008
the Rev. Matt Kennedy

Listen to the audio

A woman pleads for Jesus' help. Jesus ignores her. Egged on by his disciples, he tries to send her away. When finally confronted, he justifies his refusal to help by appealing to his ethnic superiority. He calls the woman a dog. He helps her in the end but only after she's been utterly humiliated.

That's what many people see in Matthew 15:21-28, Jesus acting like the classic bigot. I spent time this week reading sermons based on this text just to get a sense for what others were saying. Here's part of a sermon I found online:

“Jesus as well as the disciples are blinded by their cultural biases. As members of the chosen race they believe they are truly chosen of God and that everyone else is excluded...How does this meeting with the Canaanite woman affect Jesus? His faith journey as a human is much like our own journey. He meets a new idea in the form of the woman's request with silence. How do we meet God? How do we meet those experiences that threaten our worldview? We tend to be silent and hope they will go away which is exactly what Jesus does in his silence.”

Its not the woman who meets God in Jesus it is Jesus who meets God in the woman and Jesus “grows” through the encounter. The woman is, says the preacher...

“the catalyst for change in Jesus. He finally begins to understand his mission is broader than the religious and cultural biases and prejudices of his time and he chooses to respond out of this new insight by doing what the woman asks. This metoina for the human Jesus continues and comes to fruition at the end of Matthew's gospel when Jesus tells the disciples to, " Go and baptize all nations,"

For those of you in the New Beginner's and First Light bible studies, this is a great example of eisogesis, reading something into the text that's not there. The natural human inclination when reading the bible is to read through the lens of our cultural, political or philosophical assumptions and in America, in the west in general, the ideal of equality is especially dear. Perceived prejudice is met with harsh social condemnation. Last week some Spanish Olympic athletes were filmed mocking Asian people by pulling the edges of their eyes back. An avalanche of outrage descended upon them and rightly so. It became international incident involving heads of state. The contemporary aversion to prejudice is so strong that it's difficult not to project it onto scripture and see Jesus' words as an example of bigotry.

Before I go on let me say that the equality ideal is good and it is biblical. All human beings are created in God's image and though we're fallen, that image remains. There is especially in the fellowship of believers, those for whom Jesus died, those whom he's gathered in the Church, to be no bigotry or prejudice. One of the ongoing scandals within the western church is the fact that there are white churches and black churches. No church should be known by its predominant race. In Galatians 3:28, Paul sets the standard, “There's neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Race, class and sex distinctions do not divide us and do not make us unequal in God's sight. We are all equally sinners, and all equally declared righteous through faith in God's Son. We are One in Christ.

But while the ideal of equality is good in so far as it is consistent with God's Word if you read this text with the cultural aversion to prejudice ringing in your ears you could easily miss the point and mis-hear Jesus.

The bible upholds the truth that all humans are equal but it makes a crucial distinction. I'll bet that when I said that the ideal of equality is consistent with scripture some said to themselves, well, what about those passages where Jews are called God's chosen people and told to separate from gentiles or where slaves are told to obey their masters or wives are told to submit to their husbands. How can I say that the bible does not teach inequality? Inequalities are shot through the text?

There are three ways to address to that question I think. And after I've given them we'll have a good foundation laid for digging into the text verse by verse next week.

The first way to come at the question is to recognize that all human relationships are grounded in God's own Trinitarian nature. The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God and yet there is only One God. Let me ask you and maybe you can remember from Sunday school or adult ed, is the Son equal in his divine nature with the Father? Yes. They're coequal. They share the same divine nature. The Son and the Father are coequal and co-eternal.

But how does the Son relate to the Father in scripture? Does Jesus demand his equality? No. Turn to Philippians 2:5, Jesus, “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.” Jesus though equal to God in his divine nature takes on the role of a servant.

The Son submitted to and became obedient to his Father. Though equal he takes, willingly, an unequal role. In the same way the scriptures teach that there is an important distinction in human relationships between equality and role. We're created equal but called to live in relationships marked by inequality. Most of us have bosses. My bishop is my boss. If he tells me what to do, I have to do it. Am I less human than my bishop? No. Not at all but I willingly submit to him.

When you read the bible, you see many examples of equal people being called to unequal roles, some just and some unjust. Jesus, the King and sovereign ruler of the cosmos, is called to submit to the unjust authority of the Sanhedrin and Pilate and he does. Slaves are called to submit to the unjust rule of their masters (1^st Peter 2:18-21) not because slavery is good, unrepentant slave traders, Paul tells us in 1^st Timothy 1:10, will not enter the kingdom of heaven, but because by their Christlike behavior, they bear witness to Christ; they do what Jesus did.

But believers are not only called to submit to unjust authorities, we're also called to submit in every day relationships. Children are called to obey their parents (Eph 6:1-4), wives are called to submit to husbands (Eph 5:22-33) and all are to submit to our bosses and those who hold governing power. These roles do not mean that one person is less than another any more than the Son's servanthood means that he is less than the Father or less than his mama whom he obeyed or the rulers of his day to whom he submitted.

Why am I belaboring this point? Second: the distinction between equality of nature and inequality of role is precisely the distinction we need to have in our heads when we turn to the relationship between Jews and Gentiles in scripture and especially in Matthew 15 between Jesus and the Canaanite woman.

Out of all peoples God chose Abraham and his descents. God's decision does not mean that they were ethnically or morally superior to Gentiles. Who knows what Abraham's family was doing before God chose Abraham? Joshua tells us that they worshiped idols (24:2). They were sinners just like the rest of us. God chose one sinner to begin his work of redemption for all sinners. Once he chose Abraham and his descendants did they suddenly become better than other people? No. Just crack open the Old Testament and you'll see that they were just as messed up as the gentiles.

But if that's so, why did God choose them and why do we read that God wanted them to remain distinct and separate from everyone else? Before entering Palestine, God tells them in Deuteronomy 7 not to relate with the other people:

“Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons” (7:3) He tells his people not to make treaties or take on their customs or adopt their ways.

Why? Racism? No. Are they less human? No.

“for” God says, “they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods.(7:4)

The Lord had a special role for the descendants of Abraham to fulfill. They were called to be a window back into Eden, a picture of what restored fellowship with God is like and other nations, looking on, were supposed to be jealous and want that for themselves. “The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.”(7:6) To fulfill that role they had to maintain pure worship and holy conformity to God's law and that meant keeping themselves to some extent separate.

They were to conform themselves to God and his law so that his presence with them would be a light to the gentiles, leading them to want the same thing, to want fellowship with God. That's the role God chose for them. They're equal but they have a special place.

Was it just for God to offer redemption to all humanity through one chosen group? No. In terms of justice, all groups deserve eternal punishment. For God to decide to redeem at all is an act of infinite grace and mercy and love. Who are we, by nature objects of wrath as Paul says in Ephesians 2, to question the means by which God chooses to offer mercy. If you're shipwrecked and drowning and out of an assortment of life-jackets someone throws you a red one instead of a blue one or a white one are you going to complain that it's not fair? Are you going to protest? No, just take the life-jacket.

And that leads third and finally to a point that people often overlook, the lifejacket” has always been available to everyone, not just the blood descendants of Abraham. Anyone could become a full member of Abraham's family regardless of ethnicity, gender, or race by turning from their idols, commiting to the God of Abraham, trusting his promises and following his law. Rahab the prostitute, Ruth the Moabitess, Namaan the Assyrian, all accepted the offer and became descendants of Abraham, inheritors of his blessing. And many born into Abraham's blood family forfeited that inheritance by turning to idols. The distinction between Jew and Gentile was never an exclusively ethnic distinction. It was and is a distinction of faith.

That's what the prophecy in Isaiah 56 is all about, “foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant-these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.(Isaiah 56:6-7).

The offer that God made to the world through the descendant's Abraham is the same offer he still makes through The Descendant of Abraham, Jesus Christ. Repent, turn away from sin, and come to me. I will forgive you and make you one of my people and I will give you joy in my house of prayer.

end (continued next Sunday)

Adult Christian Education Sunday Preview

Just a reminder: If you are coming to class tomorrow you might want to review the 39 Articles. You can read them here

We'll be looking primarily at the articles that have to do with the relationship between the bible and the Church. Those include Articles 6 and 7:

VI. Of the Sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures for Salvation.
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the Faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. In the name of the Holy Scripture we do understand those canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority was never any doubt in the Church.

Of the Names and Number of the Canonical Books.
Genesis, The First Book of Samuel, The Book of Esther,
Exodus, The Second Book of Samuel, The Book of Job,
Leviticus, The First Book of Kings, The Psalms,
Numbers, The Second Book of Kings, The Proverbs,
Deuteronomy, The First Book of Chronicles, Ecclesiastes or Preacher,
Joshua, The Second Book of Chronicles, Cantica, or Songs of Solomon,
Judges, The First Book of Esdras, Four Prophets the greater,
Ruth, The Second Book of Esdras, Twelve Prophets the less.

And the other Books (as Hierome saith) the Church doth read for example of life and instruction of manners; but yet doth it not apply them to establish any doctrine; such are these following:

The Third Book of Esdras, The rest of the Book of Esther,
The Fourth Book of Esdras, The Book of Wisdom,
The Book of Tobias, Jesus the Son of Sirach,
The Book of Judith, Baruch the Prophet,
The Song of the Three Children, The Prayer of Manasses,
The Story of Susanna, The First Book of Maccabees,
Of Bel and the Dragon, The Second Book of Maccabees.

All the Books of the New Testament, as they are commonly received, we do receive, and account them Canonical.

VII. Of the Old Testament.
The Old Testament is not contrary to the New: for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to Mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and Man, being both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard, which feign that the old Fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the Law given from God by Moses, as touching Ceremonies and Rites, do not bind Christian men, nor the Civil precepts thereof ought of necessity to be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian man whatsoever is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called Moral.

Articles 19 and 20:

XIX. Of the Church.
The visible Church of Christ is a congregation of faithful men, in which the pure Word of God is preached, and the Sacraments be duly ministered according to Christ's ordinance, in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same.

As the Church of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch, have erred, so also the Church of Rome hath erred, not only in their living and manner of Ceremonies, but also in matters of Faith.

XX. Of the Authority of the Church.
The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies, and authority in Controversies of Faith: and yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God's Word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church be a witness and a keeper of Holy Writ, yet, as it ought not to decree any thing against the same, so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of Salvation.

Article 33:

XXXIV. Of the Traditions of the Church.
It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word. Whosoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purposely, doth openly break the Traditions and Ceremonies of the Church, which be not repugnant to the Word of God, and be ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, (that others may fear to do the like,) as he that offendeth against the common order of the Church, and hurteth the authority of the Magistrate, and woundeth the consciences of the weak brethren.

Every particular or national Church hath authority to ordain, change, and abolish, Ceremonies or Rites of the Church ordained only by man's authority, so that all things be done to edifying.

If you are not able to read all of the articles, at least try to get to these. They are the ones that establish the primacy of Scripture for Anglicans and set out some distinctive aspects of Anglican Christianity as compared with other forms.

Note especially the way the bible is used here as the measure or test for the teachings of the Church.

One important question to ask is who has the authority to say that a given church teaching is contrary to biblical teaching?

Secondly, ecumenical implications flow out of the idea articulated in Article 33 that: "It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly like; for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word."?

See you tomorrow.

Good Shepherd Update Friday August 15th, 2008

Dear Good Shepherd,

Good Morning.

Someone from Good Shepherd asked me very recently again why we ought to pray since God already knows what we need anyway.

First, prayer is not just asking God to meet our needs. That is certainly and necessarily included in prayer but prayer is far more comprehensive. It includes and involves praise/adoration, the confession of your sins, thanksgiving for God’s mercy, grace, and blessings, and prayers for other people. Prayer is the way God has provided for believers to relate to him personally. You speak to God from your heart. This ought not to be always through a written form of prayer which can become rote and stagnant. Prayer is a conversation. When you speak to someone you love your aim is to share your heart with them. When I speak to Anne I do not open a book and read to her. I just talk. And she speaks to me. Written prayers are fine and good but your prayer life ought to be broader and deeper than the Book of Common Prayer.

Second, God uses prayer to change you. When you open your heart to God in prayer, especially when you express your desires and longings, you give yourself over to him. You open the door to your mind, heart, and will. God uses prayer as one vehicle through which he moves you and changes you.

Prayer is a two way street. It involves listening as well as speaking. God speaks to you sometimes imperceptibly, through the movement of his Holy Spirit in your will and emotions so that over time you think and act and speak differently. Other times he speaks to you directly and perceptibly. He does this primarily though the bible which is why scripture is an important companion to your prayers. Often during prayer I’ll read a bible passage and the words will cut right to the center of my heart. They will seem to have been written specifically for me at that moment and to apply specifically to my circumstance. Other times he speaks to you through other believers. God uses other believers, especially in your local congregation, to correct, encourage, and help you stay on the path. Finally, God can sometimes speak directly to your heart during your prayer. His voice is not audible, but it is certainly recognizable. This form of communication is often difficult for new believers to grasp. But the more familiar you are with God’s Word, the more tuned your heart becomes to God’s Spirit so that, over time, God’s voice becomes increasingly recognizable.

Third: God’s purposes will be accomplished with or without us and yet, he has decided to include believers, include the Church, in his sovereign providential rule over the cosmos. God chooses, sometimes, to effect his will or bring his purposes to pass, through the mechanism or through the vehicle of our prayers.

God, for example, determined from the beginning of time to heal the lame man in Acts 3:1-10 but he used Peter to accomplish the healing. Peter’s words were not the source of the healing. God was. But God used Peter as the means. Prayer is one of the means God uses to accomplish his purposes. That means that the prayers you pray are vital to your life, to the life of the church and to the spread of the gospel. James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask.” That can be taken out of context and abused rather easily, but the truth to which James points is that God sometimes accomplishes his will through the prayers of his people.

So prayer is a means by which you communicate 1. praise, thanksgiving, your repentance, and your requests to God. 2 God effects change in you through your prayers. And 3, prayer is a means through which God allows believers to participate in his sovereign and eternal plan for the Church and the world.

But what about prayers that are not answered affirmatively? Since we do not always know God’s will, it is important to pray for whatever it is we think we need or others need and leave our requests with God. If the prayer is in accordance with his will, then, Jesus promises, you will receive what you ask for.

Often, as we’ve learned before, we think we are asking for good things, things we think we need, when in reality we are asking for something harmful or that is inconsistent with God’s character and purposes. Often we think we are asking for “fish” when we are in reality asking for a “snake” (Luke 11:11). It is important when faced with unanswered prayer to remember that God’s “no” is as good as his “yes”.

When one of my children comes to me with a request, I have to consider whether the fulfilling the request will result in goodness or harm for my child. It may, for example, make Rowan very happy to eat only Oreo cookies for the next three years of his life, but it would also mean very bad things for his overall health. No good parent says “yes” all the time. God is our infinitely wise and good Father. He loves you too much to say yes to all of your requests.

End.

Update Contents
Website Update
John Piper preaches on Unity and Truth
Spiediefest and Balloon Rally
The Lambeth Conference
Women’s Saturday Bible Study
Cleaning Ministry
Ministry Fair, Ingathering Sunday
Youth Update from Micah
Adult Education Series: Divisions in the Church
Sermons on the Podsite

NEWS

Website Update: Our main website is still down with a virus. Until it is fixed or replaced, news will be posted here. Since this format is something like a blog, you might want to check here fairly regularly. It is easy to post news items, updates and articles and I will be doing so as much as possible. You may also notice that this temporary website has a “comments” option. If you would like to leave a comment after an Update or article, ask a question, or say anything at all that you don’t mind being published (it will show up publicly) just click on the comment button and comment away.

John Piper: A Fantastic Sermon series on the relationship between Unity and Truth. I highly encourage everyone to listen to the audio (here and here) or read the text. Here’s an excerpt:

What Paul commands with the words avoid them, is not no contact at all, but the kind of contact that communicates life can go on as usual between us. It can’t. If you, as a professing Christian, persist in departing from the doctrine the apostles taught, we can’t simply hang out together like we used to.

False Teachers Seem Nice

That brings us finally to verse 18 and the two reasons Paul gives for why doctrinal vigilance is so important. Verse 18: “For such persons [that is, the persons who depart from the doctrine] do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”

Let’s take the second one first. Verse 18b: “By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” The word for flattery is simply blessing. And smooth talk doesn’t necessarily mean manifestly slippery. It just means pleasant and plausible. So the reason we must be so vigilant over biblical doctrine is that those who depart from it take simple people with them by pleasant, plausible speech that presents itself as a blessing. False teachers don’t get a following by being rough and harsh. They get a following by being nice.

Just take two examples from history: Arius (d. 336) and Socinus (d. 1604)—both of whom denied the deity of Christ. Parker Williamson describes Arius like this:

Here was a bright, energetic, attractive fellow, the kind of citizen whom any Rotary Club would welcome. Singing sea chanties in dockside pubs and teaching Bible stories to the Wednesday night faithful, this was an immensely popular man. His story reminds us that heresy does not bludgeon us into belief. We are seduced. (Parker T. Williamson, Standing Firm: Reclaiming the Chastain Faith in Times of Controversy [Lenoir, North Carolina: PLC Publications, 1996], p. 31.)

And another writer describes Socinus like this:

He was a gentleman. His morals were above reproach and he distinguished himself by his unfailing courtesy. Unfailing courtesy was remarkable in an age when even the great Protestant leaders, Luther and Calvin would use vile street language when arguing with their opponents.

This means that it will seldom be popular to resist false teachers in the church because they are almost always perceived as bringing a blessing and speaking with winsome words. They are gentlemen. And Paul says the innocent are carried away. Hence he says, “Watch out for them. And avoid them.”

Spiediefest and Balloon Rally: This week 390 pictures and bookmarks were sent out to visitors at our tent. Without the prayers and hard work of many people this event wouldn't have been successful. THANK YOU EVERYONE! (from Pat Chaney)

A Good Lambeth Conference Summary: This is perhaps one of the better responses to Lambeth yet written. It comes from an English bishop who was there. I have only one quibble with his assessment. He suggests that everything depends on the orthodox leaders cooperating with one another to help reform the church. I agree that orthodox cooperation is essential. But in truth only the Archbishop of Canterbury, at present, has the power to actually “do” anything substantive and so long as he refuses to act to discipline the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion will continue to experience fracture and turmoil.

Women’s Saturday Bible Study: Will be starting up again this Saturday. This bible study meets every week and all women are invited.

Cleaning Ministry: We are still in desperate need for one small group of people step into the cleaning ministry. The commitment would be to clean the church building once a month. If you are willing to help please contact the church office at 723-8032 or speak to Cookie Finch.

Ingathering Sunday is coming up the Sunday after Labor Day. For the last two years there has also been a missions and ministry fair which is an opportunity for those leading various ministries to recruit and for those who may not yet be involved in some form of Christian service to step up to the plate. If you head up a given ministry begin thinking about how you will design your display. More information about all of this will be coming soon.

Youth Update from Micah: Youth Group will be at the regular times this week: Sr. High, 6-8 (Sunday); Jr. High, 6-8 (Monday). Please remember to invite friends. Parents, please remember to offer rides and talk to the parents of visitors. Growing the youth group is a team effort. If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know as well: 607-621-2876. Please start thinking about what nights will work in the coming school year, as well, Junior High parents.

Adult Christian Education Series: Divisions in the Church: This Sunday we’ll continue our overview of the 39 Articles and ask, in particular, what set’s Anglican Christianity apart from other reformation era movements? What is “catholic” about Anglicanism and what is “reformed”? We’ll also take the opportunity to look more carefully at the Articles that have to do with scripture, the sacraments, worship, and the authority of the church. After our focus on Anglicanism we’ll turn increasingly (over about 4 sessions) to the state of the modern ecumenical movement. How have divisions in the church been healed and how have they increased?

Sermon Podcasts: Anne’s sermon from last week will be posted on the sermon podcast site. You can find almost all past sermons posted there as well.

Good News for the Week:
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16:17-20)

Don’t forget to Bring a Friend to Church

Good Shepherd Update

Dear Good Shepherd,

It is so good to be home and to know I don't have to go anywhere else for a good long time. There are lots of loose ends that need to be tied and I've been anxious to tie them.

I've heard many good things about Micah while I've been gone and as a result I’ve decided to fire him. I need job security. Sorry Micah, you're out.

Just kidding.

Thank you, Micah, for your splendid work.

It is a great comfort and blessing to see so many people at Good Shepherd, Micah of course included, using their God given gifts of leadership, teaching, preaching, evangelism and serving. This is precisely the way the church is supposed to run. Pastors are supposed to equip Christians for ministry and then step out of the way so that they can minister. You are doing that. I can leave for two weeks without worry that the place will shut down.

Most recently, I've been taken back by your enthusiasm for evangelism. Two years ago, you wouldn’t have pulled off the Block Party or the Speidie fest booth without a pastor pushing it from behind. Now you not only pulled it off, but you pulled it off with very little help from Anne or from me. You organized, planned, directed and participated in these things yourselves with the insight, wisdom and strength the Spirit of God has given you. That is the Holy Spirit. It does not happen naturally. It tells me that God is here and his purposes and plans for Good Shepherd

We'll face many challenges and trials this year. We've trudged along through some difficult times since the lawsuit was filed in April. The external pressures have produced internal pressures. We’ve lost some members and gained others. At times anger, sorrow, impatience, despair, anxiety have produced conflict and a sense of hopelessness. At other times, the exhilaration, joy, and boldness that comes from standing as one body for the truth of the gospel.

It’s been a wild ride.

It is important during this time to maintain the basics.

Stay connected with Christ: Spend time with him every day in prayer. Listen to his voice daily by studying your bible. If there is an aspect of your life displeasing to God, repent and ask for his help in setting whatever it is aside. If God has called you to some work or service, do it. If you hold any grudges or harbor any anger, forgive as you have been forgiven. Put Jesus first and everything else will fall into place.

Stay connected with the body: Worship the Lord with your brothers and sisters on Sunday. Attend bible study. Go to Adult education and take your kids to Sunday school. Spend time with your brothers and sisters after Church. Share your faith and invite non-believing people to church. Do what you have committed to do and if you’ve committed to nothing, start doing something.

Staying connected to Christ and to his body is the recipe for rich and contented life in every circumstance. These are things that no one can take away.

I have no idea what God has in store for Good Shepherd for the remainder of this year, but I know that he is here. I know he loves Good Shepherd, and I know that whatever comes, whatever we lose or gain, we have all that we need since we’ve been made rich in Jesus Christ.

News and a Few Notes:

I am exhausted. I’m having a difficult time putting one thought in front of another this week so there will not be an Update apart from this. I’ll post it on the website as the Weekly Update and it will be printed in your bulletins on Sunday (by the way, if I haven’t said it, I’ve missed you all and I’m really looking forward to seeing you). Let me run quickly down a list of brief notes:

1. All of the bible studies are back up and running this week and next. The Women’s Bible Study that meets on Saturday morning will start up for the fall next Saturday, the 16^th of August.

2. The Noon Communion service that has been held every Wednesday will be moving to Thursday beginning next week.

3. In Adult Christian Education this week (every Sunday between services beginning at 9:15 am in the parish hall) will continue our discussion on the nature of Anglincanism, this time taking a closer look at the 39 Articles. You can find them in your prayerbook or google them online. I encourage everyone to read them through this week before class.

4. Tom is cooking for Men’s Breakfast tomorrow morning (August 8^th)

5. Open Doors (office hours) will continue from 9:00-1:00pm Tues-Thurs every week. Open Doors hours are the times when you are welcome to come by the church and talk to me about anything without calling or making an appointment. You can meet with me at other times too of course, but you may not catch me without setting up a time.

6. Website problems: our website has been infected by a virus. This blogspot website is just a temporary fix while we work to resolve the difficulties
   

Okay, that’s all I can think of to announce. If you have something I’ve forgotten, please shoot me an email.

Thank you,

In Christ

Matt