Always Ready - Chapter 5-6

Chapter 5: Revelation as the Foundation of Knowledge

The new man in Christ has new presuppositions and a new Lord over his thoughts. He is rooted in Christ and therefore there is neutrality to his thoughts. The Christian presupposes the truth word of God as his standard of truth and direction. This is in contrast to worldly philosophers today who either deny that there is absolute truth or else deny that one can be certain of knowing the truth. However, as Proverbs 22:17b asserts you must apply your mind to My knowledge. Man must think God’s thoughts after him.

David’s testimony was that The Lord my God illumines my darkness. [Ps. 18:28] God’s Word gives us light and understanding. [Psalm 119:30] We believe so that we can know. Similarly Proverbs 5:1-2: Attend unto My wisdom: incline you ear to my understanding in order that you may preserve discretion and in order that your lips may keep knowledge.

When God’s Word is your presupposition, your standard, your instructor, and your guide that means that you must denounce intellectual self-sufficiency which is the attitude that you are autonomous and able to come to knowledge apart from God. All knowledge which we have about the world has been given to us by God. It is only when we understand that the Word of God is the foundation of our knowledge that we will ever be able to have true knowledge. The foundation of knowledge is God’s revelation.

Key Texts: Proverbs 22:17b; Psalm 119:30; Proverbs 5:1-2

Chapter 6: Summary and Application:

God’s Self-Attesting Authority

1. All knowledge is deposited in Christ so that true knowledge begins with the fear of the Lord, and requires submission to God’s Word.

2. Philosophy which does not presuppose God’s Word is vain deception; suppresses truth; submits to human tradition; and leads to a dark mind and futile conclusions.

3. It is immoral to think that you can take a neutral stance in regards to the truth of God’s Word.

4. Neutralist thinking erases the Christian’s distinctiveness; blur the antithesis; endorses assumptions hostile to his faith.

5. The Christian is a new man having a new mind; new commitments; new direction; new goals; and hence new presuppositions in the world of thought. He renounces the human arrogance of human autonomy and unashamedly is grounded in the Word of God.

6. This leaves only two alternatives. Either ground all your thought in Christ’s Word and acquire true knowledge, or else follow the dictates of autonomous thoughts and follow vain philosophy.

7. Therefore, God’s Word has absolute authority for us and is the final criterion of truth.

Our knowledge is a reflection, a receptive reconstruction, of the primary, absolute, creative knowledge of God’s mind. God’s Word must be the standard by which we judge all things and the starting point of our thinking. The Lord Jesus taught with his own authority and anyone who calls the Word of Christ into question is building their lives on sand. [Matthew 7:26-27] The Word of God is self-attesting true and authoritative. It must be the rock bottom foundation of all our thinking. It is our presuppositional starting point. We must not depend on the changing opinions of men but upon the sure Word of God!

Always Ready - Chapter 3-4

Chapter 3 – The Nature of Unbelieving Thought

Word Definitions:

Philosophy – the love of wisdom

So far we have seen that neutral thinking: robs one of knowledge itself; is immoral in character; and is impossible for a genuine Christian. From Ephesians 4 and Colossians 2 let us consider the character of neutralist thinking.

q Paul in Ephesians 4:17 tells us that to have intellectual outlook apart from the LORD is to have a vain mind and darkened understanding. Neutralist thinking is characterized by intellectual futility and ignorance. To do so is trying to see in the dark when there is light available for our path. (Ps. 119:105) God therefore calls such reasoning vain. (Romans 1:21)

q In Colossians 2:8 Paul condemns any philosophy that does not have its starting point in Christ. (Col. 2:3) Any philosophy that does not begin with the truth of God, the teaching of Christ but rather in the accepted principles of the world’s intellectuals – in the traditions of men – is vain deception.

Vain deception is not in accordance to God’s word; is actually in opposition to God’s word; and against the truth of Christ. Paul describes it as the kind of philosophy as according to the tradition of men, after the fundamental principles of the world. Therefore a Christian who strives for neutrality in the world of thought is (1) not neutral at all, and thus (2) in danger of unwittingly endorsing assumptions that are hostile to his Christian faith. All men have their presuppositions; none is neutral. Therefore the question is: what are your presuppositions?

Chapter 4: The Mind of the New Man Rooted in Christ

The believer is directed to avoid philosophy which is rooted in worldly, humanistic, and non-Christian presuppositions. (Col. 2:8) His presuppositions must be the precepts and doctrines of Christ. Neutrality is a suppression of the truth and ultimately a denial of it.

When one becomes a Christian all of his thought patterns change. To receive Christ is to turn away from the wisdom of man and to rest upon the Holy Spirit for illumination and understanding. It is by the Holy Spirit that we have been brought to Christ and it is in him that we stand. Being a Christian means that we submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives. Every thought must be brought captive to Christ. (2 Cor. 10:5) Christ has authority in the area of thought and knowledge.

We are called as Christians to be rooted in him rather than the apostate presuppositions of worldly philosophy. Such firm presuppositional faith will reject the world’s demand for neutrality and reject the unbeliever’s standard of knowledge and truth. The Christian has new commitments, new presuppositions, a new Lord, a new direction and goal – he is a new man.

According to VanTil the Bible does not appeal to human reason as the ultimate in order to justify what it says...but rather calls us to subject our human reason to the authority of God’s Word. Further, as Christians we have not chosen the Christian position because we are wiser than others, but only by the grace of God. The Bible alone is the basis for truth!

Key texts: 2 Corinthians 10:5; Colossians 2:6-7; Ephesians 4:17-24

Always Ready - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Immorality of Neutrality

Word definitions:

Antithesis – a counter propositions and denotes a direct contrast to the original proposition.

Agnosticism – basically meaning without knowledge or the denial that one can know with certainty

Epistemological method – the process by which we can acquire knowledge

Presuppositions – foundational truths with which everyone begins their arguments.

To try to arrive at truth apart from the authority of Jesus Christ is to be robbed through vain philosophy and deluded by drafty deceit. (see Colossians 2:3-8) Therefore a Christian should never surrender his religious beliefs so that he might arrive at genuine knowledge ‘impartially.’ That is to begin a journey which is impossible for the beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord. (Prov. 1:7)

Attempting to be neutral (and we never can be) will mean that it erases the antithesis between the Christian and the unbeliever. The line between the believer and unbeliever is obscured. “Such indiscrimination in one’s intellectual life not only precludes genuine knowledge (cf. Proverbs 1:7) and guarantees vain delusion (cr. Colossians 2:2-8, it is downright immoral.” Paul in Ephesians 4:17-18, commands believers not to walk as the Gentiles also walk, in the vanity of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance in them, because of the hardening of their heart. Therefore for a Christian to live, act, or think like an unbeliever is immoral!

One has to make a choice in his thinking – either to be set apart by God’s truth or to be alienated from the life of God. Either have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) or the vain mind of the Gentiles. (Eph. 4:17) Either bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5) or continue as enemies in our mind. (Col. 1:21) We can never follow the intellectual principle of neutrality and at the same time honour the sovereign Lordship of God. The Christian is completely different from the world when it comes to intellect and scholarship; he does not follow the neutral methods of unbelief, but by God’s grace he has new commitments, new presuppositions, in his thinking.

“It should come as no surprise that, in a world where all things have been created by Christ (Col. 1:16) and are carried along by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:3) and where all knowledge is therefore deposited in him who is the truth (Col. 2:3; John 14:6) and who must be lord over all thinking (2 Cor. 10:5), neutrality is nothing short of immorality.

Does your thinking operate under the Lordship of Jesus Christ or have you become an enemy of God through neutral, agnostic, unbelieving thought patterns?

Key texts: Ephesians 4:17-18; Romans 1:21

Always Ready - Chapter 1

For the next several weeks I'll be posting reading notes on: Bahnsen, Dr. Greg L., Always Ready – Directions for Defending the Faith (Covenant Media Foundation: Texarkana, Arkansas, 1996) These were made to help one of my sons for an apologetics course at Providence Reformed Collegiate. This will probably make this a popular site for some of his fellow students! If you want these notes as a Word document, let me know, and I'll email them to you!

Section One:

The Lordship of Christ in the Realm of Knowledge

Chapter 1: The Robbery of Neutrality

Today you often hear a plea that Christians need to be neutral in their thinking in a number of different areas.

q Scripture – People claim that we should not bring in scriptural notions into their scholar work in other areas. They ask: Is it really necessary to hold to the teachings of the Bible if you are to understand properly the War of 1812, the chemical composition of water, etc?

q Apologetics – Some claim we must have a neutral mind if we are to be open to the perspectives of others.

q Education – Others plea for neutrality in regards to education. They claim that a Christian perspective shouldn’t change the ‘facts’ so public schools can teach that as well as Christian Schools.

However, neutrality in thinking would makes Christians impotent in their witness, aimless in their walk, and disarmed in the battle with the principalities and powers of this world and further, it would prevent sanctification in the Christian life. God’s Word demands unreserved allegiance to God and his truth in all our thought and scholarly endeavors. (Student’s memory cue – witnessing walk in the battle of sanctification)

A key text is Colossians 2:3-8 where Paul notes that All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Christ. Note he states that all wisdom and knowledge are in Christ! Every academic pursuit and thought must be related to Jesus Christ! To put aside your Christian commitment when it comes to defending the faith or sending your children to school is willfully to steer away from the only path of wisdom and truth found in Christ! The beginning of knowledge is to fear God – not the end or middle! (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10)

Paul, in Colossians 2, declares that all knowledge must be related to Christ. This means that neutrality is impossible in our thinking about every subject area! Therefore we must be radically and unashamedly be committed to Christ in all our thinking. To allow anything else is to let secular humanism rob you by means of philosophy and vain deceit. (Colossians 2:8)

Are you rich in knowledge because of your commitment to Christ in, scholarship, apologetics, and schooling, or have you been robbed by the demands of neutrality?

Key texts: Colossians 2:3-8; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10

Why Study the Catechism? Part 2

Means to Study the Catechism for its Purpose

1. Study the Catechism frequently. It is better to study the Catechism for 10 minutes a day for the entire week than to spend one hour on it the evening of catechism class. This is not only best for learning the objective contents of the Catechism but is also the best way for the truths of Scripture as they are expressed in the Catechism to benefit you spiritually! In fact, I have a rule in my class – if you spend more than 10 minutes each and every day on memorizing your catechism and you still have difficulty learning it come and see me and I’ll make adjustments to the amount of memory work you will need to learn. After several years of catechism I’ve never had anyone come to me to ask me to re-evaluated the amount of memory work – and that is not because it is always been perfect – but rather I suspect because they could not honestly say they spent 10 minutes each and every day on the memorization of their catechism. Yes, study your catechism frequently.

In fact, I know a way you can learn your catechism perfectly every week without it taking one extra moment of your time. Do you want to know how? This is what you do. On the morning after your catechism class write out your memory work on a little 3x5 card. In the St. Thomas FRC we even provide the students with this card. You place the card in your pocket and then through the day read it several times – when you’re walking from the bus to the school; when your walking from your car to the shopping plaza; or at any other time when you can read your memory work while doing something else. If you do that 10x per day for 6 days I’m sure that almost everyone will know the answers perfectly; without it taking one extra moment of your time! Study your catechism frequently! It is a way to learn it easily and thoroughly!

2. Learn the precise text of the Catechism. Sometimes students ask at the beginning of the year if it is all right if they simply learn the truths of the Catechism and put it in their own words. This sounds all right – for it seems to reason that if a student is able to put it in their own words that they must have come to understand what they are learning. But I’ve always said – and I’m convinced that it is best – that the actual text of the Catechism should be learned. This will enable you to precisely and completely express the answer. When giving liberty to the students to express it in their own words my experience shows that they often leave out parts – or else they word the answer in a way which is at times even heretical! The precise wording of the Catechism was very carefully chosen and the best way to learn it is as it is written.

Further it is fallacy to think that as a student you need to understand everything that you are learning. Some of you have taught your very young children – or been taught - the answers to questions from a children’s catechism. The reality is that you can teach them the answers to questions which they don’t understand. You can teach them about the Trinity; the covenant of grace; the covenant of works; the necessity of faith; none of which they may fully understand. But why do you teach them? So that they learn that these are truths of Scripture! They may come to understand them – and most of it they will – but there are aspects of Scripture which none of us understand. Who of you can really explain the Trinity? Who of you can really understand the incarnation? Yes, you might be able to explain it somewhat – but that God became man? Therefore, it is best to learn the answers as they are written whether or not you understand them! Don’t make an excuse that you can’t learn them because the answer is beyond your understanding!

3. Study the Catechism by quoting it audibly. This will involve more of your senses in the learning of the Catechism. It has the further advantage of causing one to learn to confess the answers as their own rather than simply objective truth. You will notice as you orally confess the Catechism that it is written in such a style that to audible speak it results in confessing its truths. The pronouns of the Catechism speak of my God, my Saviour, your only comfort, … Let’s just do that for a moment with Question and Answer #1 from the Catechism. Here I use the same version our young people use in catechism classes. I’ll emphasize the personal pronouns. Read it out loud with emphasis on the personal pronouns.

What is your only comfort in life and ?

I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and , to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious , and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him!

Do you see the advantage of quoting it audibly? Now, just imagine doing that 10-20 times a week! Do you see how this will begin to have an effect on your spiritually? Do you see how this will challenge you but at the same time comfort you? You see, it is no comfort at all if it is someone else’s comfort! It is only comfort if it is my comfort! It is no comfort at all if Christ is a Saviour unless he is my Saviour! It is no comfort if God is a Father, unless he is my heavenly Father! It is no comfort at all to know that there is salvation, unless it is my salvation! Do you see the advantage of quoting the Catechism audibly as you learn it? Do you understand how this will lead you not only to be acquainted with its truths but also actually to experience them?

4. Study your catechism by writing out the memory work. Again this will aid you in learning the Catechism more thoroughly and experientially. To write involves a more active part of the mind and requires one to work through the truths of the lesson systematically. It is by writing you will begin to understand the structure of each answer and the way that all the parts work together. If you write it out in the same format each time it will aid you in giving you a visual image of the answer making it easier to recite or write in the future.

5. Look up the biblical cross-references and see how they relate to the answer of the Catechism. This will convince you that the answer which you are learning, precisely and thoroughly expresses a truth of Scripture. Now this is an important truth because it is the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. [Hebrews 4:12] It is the Bible that shall not return unto LORD void, but it shall accomplish that which HE pleases, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto HE sent it. [Is. 55:11] Therefore in considering the biblical references to the Catechism you will become absolutely convinced that the truths it articulates are accurate to Scripture. It will also make you realize the preciousness and beauty of the Catechism. But it is also the study of the Word of God, which is a means that the LORD uses in both giving and nurturing faith! In this way the study of the Catechism accomplishes its purpose.

6. Study the Catechism prayerfully. In order that the Catechism might be something of both the heart and the mind it is necessary to prayerfully consider its contents and its application to daily life. Without the work of the Holy Spirit the truths of Scripture as they are expressed in the Catechism will never enter your heart and change your life.

Just knowing the truths of Scripture as they are expressed in the Catechism is no guarantee that they will impact your soul – nor that you will believe them in your heart. Just think of the unbelief of the Jews as recorded Romans 10. They had received all the oracles of God. No doubt their young people, as they do today, had to memorize large parts of the Torah, but that is no guarantee that these truths brought them to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If the purpose of the Catechism is that you might learn to confess Christ properly from your heart you must pray that the Holy Spirit would indeed work with the Word in your heart!

Learning your catechism involves more than simply reproducing the answers to the questions on Sunday morning or Tuesday evenings – but it requires you to experientially become acquainted with its truths. That requires the Holy Spirit and should drive you to prayer. Just the knowledge of truth without appropriating it can never lead to your salvation. Remember what James said in his epistle: The devils believe and tremble. [James 2:19] That brings us to the next important application:

7. Study your catechism by meditating on its truths. What do I mean by meditate? Well, it means that you think about it; you pray about it; you consider it; you turn it over in your mind; you think of the implications of what you are learning; you consider applications of what you are learning; you think about situations in which you would find it helpful. You consider what you are learning about man in general and your life specifically through the question and answer. You consider what the questions and answer tells you about the character and attributes of God; does it speak about his justice; does it speak about his mercy; does it speak about his love or care. You consider what it says about salvation; how does this question and answer reveal my need; how does this question and answer show me the way of salvation; how does this question and answer show me how I must live before my God. When you meditate on the truths of Scripture as they are revealed in the Catechism you will not only be able you to grasp the objective answer, but also it will help to bring home to your heart and conscience the truth of Scripture. In this way you can take ‘ownership’ of the Catechism – not only memorizing its truths but making them your own. It is through reflection on the truths expressed in the Catechism that they are brought home to the heart.

As we conclude let me remind you again what it states in Romans 10:9-10 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the , thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. In other words, yes, confession must be made with your mouth – but it must ring from your heart. Confession of the mouth without believing in the heart is not an expression of saving faith and visa-versa claiming that one believes in the heart but never confessing with the mouth is also not a proper concept of faith. The subjective truths of the Catechism need to be individually and internally appropriated and these are means to accomplish that end! May the Lord bless each of you who are involved in either teaching or learning the Heidelberg Catechism!

Why Study the Catechism? Part 1

Introduction

If a book is extremely popular it might be in demand for a few months, but the Heidelberg Catechism is still popular over 400 years after it was written. Every year, as churches, we spend a great deal of time both teaching and learning the Heidelberg Catechism. Is this a useful exercise? Is the catechizing of our children an important task of the church? Is the Catechism still relevant considering that it was written more than 400 years ago? Is it really that important that we both teach and learn the actual wording of the Catechism? Isn’t it better that we simply teach and understand the doctrines of the catechism? Would we not be better off studying something more contemporary?

Purposes of Studying the Heidelberg Catechism

To catechize means to teach by question and answer. Therefore catechizing is a teaching tool – a way in which we can learn important truths. Catechism (from the Greek word catechesis) is simply instruction in the basic doctrines of the Christian faith. There are two main reasons in understanding why, particularly, young people should be studying our Heidelberg Catechism. There are probably other reasons that could be given but we’ll only consider two of them.

The first is: The Catechism helps us explain and understand the message of the Bible. Not every doctrine is clearly visible from one verse of Scripture. For instance, there is no individual text of Scripture that fully communicates the doctrine of the Trinity, but Lord’s Day 8 gives us an accurate summary. Similarly, we have to understand the whole of Scripture in order to understand individual texts. For instance, consider the sixth commandment. [Lord’s Day 40] This Lord’s Day brings many elements concerning the 6^th commandment together. The Heidelberg Catechism is an interpretation of the Bible but it is an interpretation that has proven itself over many centuries of study from all of Scripture.

But isn’t the Bible alone sufficient? Why do we need catechisms and confessions? Shouldn’t we just learn Bible texts? Sometimes you hear others say: Our church had no creed but Christ, and we needed no such man-made guides to faith since we depended upon the Bible alone. However, the practice of teaching and learning the Catechism, as properly understood, is the Christian equivalent of looking at the box top of a jig-saw puzzle before one starts to put all of those hundreds of little pieces together. It is very important to look at the big picture and have it clearly in mind, so that we do not get bogged down in details, or get endlessly sidetracked by some unimportant or irrelevant issue. The theological categories given to us in the Catechism, help us to make sense out of the myriad of details found in the Scriptures themselves. Catechism serves as a guide to better understanding Scripture. That being noted however, we need to remind ourselves that Protestants have always argued that creeds, confessions and catechisms are authoritative only in so far as they faithfully reflect the teaching of Holy Scripture. This means that the use of catechisms, which correctly summarize biblical teaching, does not negate or remove the role of Holy Scripture. Instead, these same creeds, confessions and catechisms, as summary statements of what the Holy Scriptures themselves teach about a particular doctrine, should serve as a kind of spring-board to more effective Bible study. When this is the case, these confessions, creeds and catechisms are invaluable tools to help us learn about the important themes and doctrines that are in Scripture.

Another helpful example is what G.I Williamson states:

…the catechism is something like a map. We could ask, “Why bother to study a map? Why not go out and study the surface of the earth instead?” The answer of course, is that one is wise to begin with a study of maps. After all, life is short and the world is big. One person, working by himself, could only map a small portion of the earth’s surface. That is why maps are so invaluable. They exist because many people over many years have made a study of the earth. And while these maps are not perfect, they are quite accurate. Thus, the best way to begin to understand the geography of the world is not to start with the world itself. No, the best way is to start with a good atlas. Then, after getting hold of the basics one can go out and test the atlas by actually visiting some of the places described in it.

It is much the same with the Bible. The Bible contains a great wealth of information. It isn’t easy to master it all – in fact, no one has ever mastered it completely. It would therefore be foolish for us to try to do it on our own, starting from scratch. We would be ignoring all the study of the Word of God that other people have done down through the centuries. That is exactly why we have creeds. They are the product of many centuries of Bible study by a great company of believers. They are kind of spiritual “road-map” of the teaching of the Bible, already worked out and proved by others before us. And after all, isn’t this exactly what Jesus promised? When he was about to finish his work on earth, he made this promise to his disciples: “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you in all truth. (John 16:13) And Christ kept his promise. When the Day of Pentecost came, he sent his Spirit to dwell in his people. The Holy Spirit was poured out – not on individuals each by himself, but on the whole body of Christian believers together (Acts 2). And from that time until this, he has been giving his church an understanding of the Scriptures. It is no wonder that the church expressed itself from very early times through creeds.[1]

The second purpose is that the Catechism helps us to confess Christ properly from the heart. Now this doesn’t mean that learning the Catechism objectively means that it will lead us to confess Christ from the heart automatically. But yet, the memorization of the Catechism will drive home the truths of Scripture to our hearts with the Holy Spirit’s blessings. When we confess the language of the Heidelberg Catechism we should not just do this as a number of facts or truths. We must make sure that these truths we confess from the Catechism are truths which we confess from our heart. Not just a mind, but also a heart religion. Pray that these things might speak to your heart.

Notice that the Catechism helps us confess Christ from the heart because it is extremely personal. It is very easy to say that the Lord Jesus Christ is a Savior but now say the Lord Jesus Christ is my Saviour. The Heidelberg Catechism gives us the impression of warm and living faith not a cold treatise on theology. It explores the breath and depth of personal faith in Jesus Christ. Throughout the Catechism first person pronouns are used. My Lord, My Saviour, My only comfort! Now as you learn these truths and as you meditate on these truths it will result in asking yourself searching questions. Is that really true of me? Can I really make that confession? And the result is not as some claim of presumption – but rather of questioning whether the truths of the Catechism are really true! And this will also lead to the confession of faith in Jesus Christ as one struggles with these truths. Paul in Romans 10: 9-10 speaks of the importance of knowing, believing, and confessing these truths when he states: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Again it shows the importance of audibly confessing Christ. If you learn your catechism by speaking it out loud, as it becomes your own, you will find yourself confessing Christ with your mouth

I remember having to re-learn the Heidelberg Catechism when I attended seminary. (Maybe because I didn’t learn it as well as I should have as a young man). The seminary required us to learn the Catechism perfectly and recite large parts of it audibly for the professor. I used to memorize the Catechism while walking down the road having printed it on little 3x5 cards. I was struck with the personal warm character of the Heidelberg Catechism as I recommitted it to memory. That led me to learn the truths the Catechism expounded not only in the mind but also in the heart over and over again. I don’t think any other confession of the church does this as well as the Heidelberg Catechism. It was a very precious experience for me to spend time meditating and confessing the truths of the Catechism. So learning the Heidelberg Catechism helps us to confess Christ properly from the heart.

So we have outlined two purposes for learning our catechism. The first was that it helps us explain the message of the Bible correctly and the second was that it helps us to confess Christ properly from the heart. Next time I want to give you several means that will assist you in accomplishing these two purposes.

---

[1] G.I. Williamson, The Heidelberg Catechism – A Study Guide (Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1993

Email to the Apostle Paul

From: MissionCommittee@ReformedChurches.com

To: ApostlePaul@Greece.com

We recently received a copy of your letter to the Galatians. The committee has directed me to inform you of a number of things which deeply concern us.

First, we find your language to be intemperate. In your letter, after a brief greeting to the Galatians, you immediately attack your opponents by claiming they want to “pervert the gospel of Christ”. You then say that such men should be regarded as “accursed” and call them “false brethren”. Would it not be more charitable to give them the benefit of the doubt - at least until the General Synod has adjudicated the matter? To make the situation worse, you later say, “I would that they even were cut off which trouble you”. Is such a statement really fitting for a Christian minister? Paul we really feel the need to caution you about the tone of your epistles. You come across in an abrasive manner. In some of your letters you have even mentioned names. This practice has, no doubt, upset the friends of Hymenaeus, Alexander and others. After all, many persons were first introduced to the Christian faith under the ministries of these men. Although some of our missionaries have manifested regrettable shortcomings, it can only stir up bad feeling when you speak of these men in a derogatory manner. Paul, I believe you should strive for a more moderate posture. Should you not try to win those in error by displaying a sweeter spirit? By your outspokenness, you have diminished your opportunities for future influence. If you had worked more quietly, you might have been asked to serve on a committee appointed to study the issue. You could then have contributed your insights by helping to draft a good committee paper on the theological position of the Judaizers, without having to drag personalities into the dispute. Besides, Paul, we need to maintain unity among those who profess belief in Christ. The Judaizers at least stand with us as we confront the surrounding paganism and humanism which prevail in our culture. The Judaizers are our allies in our struggles against abortion, homosexuality, government tyranny, etc. We cannot afford to allow differences over doctrinal minutia to obscure this fact. Questions have been raised about the comments of your letter, as well as your style.

The committee questions the propriety of the doctrinaire structure of your letter. Is it wise to plague young Christians, like the Galatians, with heavy theological issues? In a couple of places, you allude to the doctrine of election. You also enter into a lengthy discussion of the law. Perhaps you could have proved your case in some other ways. Your letter is so doctrinaire, it will probably serve only to polarize the differing factions within the churches. We need to stress unity, instead of broaching issues which accent divisions. In one place you wrote, “Behold, I say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.” Paul, you have a tendency to describe things strictly in black and white, as if there were no gray areas. You need to temper your expressions, lest you become too exclusive. Otherwise, your outlook will drive people away. Church growth is not promoted by taking a hard line and remaining inflexible. Remember, Paul, there is no such thing as a perfect church. We have to tolerate many imperfections. By reflecting on your own past, you might acquire a more sympathetic attitude. Be patient, and give them some time to come around to a better understanding. In the meantime, rejoice that we all share a common profession of faith in Christ, since we have all been baptized in His name.

This fictious letter was adapted from an article by Kevin Reed which originally appeared in the Trinity Review.

Great Manifesto for Church Education! Part 4 - Final

Correct Teaching

In this last and final installment on the "Great Manifesto for Church Education" we consider how the Lord Jesus would have the church provide correct teaching for those who are discipled. He says: that I have commanded you – teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

The church is not free to teach was in accordance with her own fancy, but is to teach the things which Christ has commanded. Now this means that our teaching must be according to the Word of God. Everything we teach must flow from the Word of God. Paul speaks of the sufficiency of the Word of God when speaking to Timothy:

2Ti 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Do you see what he is saying? All teaching is to flow from the Word of God – that is what Christ has commanded! But that further implies that when responding to teaching we must search the Word of God to see whether these things are as they are taught. We can’t respond with simply our opinions or our feelings but only on the basis of the Word of God.

I remember doing a home visit some years ago when the father of the home said that he thought we should sing hymns in the worship service. I asked him if he had studied the Word of God on this issue – to which he responded: No! I asked him whether he had read any books on this topic to which he responded: No, I don’t read books. I asked him then why he thought we should sing hymns in the worship service to which he responded: I just like to sing hymns – I enjoy hymns! And so I encouraged him to study the issue and then make his request on the basis of the Word of God. I never heard back from him again. Regardless of whether or not someone believes that hymns should be sung in the worship service, we must agree that we should let the Word of God be our guide, not our wants or feelings.

But least we are too critical of him, how often don’t we respond in the same way? How often we speak to a matter stating our opinions without ever having searched the Word of God? How often don’t we hold tightly to our position, simply because it is always the way that we’ve done it, without understanding what the Bible states? I could mention so many issues which are like that – hymn singing, bible translations, church discipline, Christian education, etc. etc. People speaking, not on the basis of God’s Word but on the basis of human wisdom, desire, or emotion! Let us speak on the basis of the Word of God!

Now as we close this little series let me give you a few reasons why we have considered this aspect of teaching and why it is so important.

The first reason is simply because in a couple of weeks ago we being a new season of education both in the church and schools. In the church we have catechism classes, young people classes, Sunday School classes and other opportunities for our young people.

• I want to encourage the young people to diligently apply yourself to learning – listening to the instruction you receive – and responding appropriately to it by a change life – a new life of obedience in Christ!
• Parents, I want to encourage you to support the teachers by reviewing your son and/or daughter’s work; by reviewing their memory work; by interacting with them about the material.

The second is that there are also many opportunities for the adults in our congregations to learn. Let us not assume that we are every too old to learn or that we know enough of the Scriptures. No doubt there are many opportunities for you to learn as well whether that is ladies or men's society meetings, Sunday night studies and other opportunities for studying and learning. If you are physically able, are you participating in at least one of these opportunities? And if you are not able to come to any of them for legitimate reasons, are you yet a student in the school of Christ?

The third reason is that I am very concerned at the lack of knowledge that exists in the church today! One text that I’ve never dared to preach on yet, is Hosea 4:6 where the Lord denounces his people:

Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Is that indictment true of the church today? For some it most certainly is – so let us press on making disciples teaching them to observe all that Christ has commanded! And let me end with the last words of Matthew for our encouragement in this task of teaching and learning:

Mat 28:20 "… lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

As crucial as teaching is in making disciples for effective fulfillment we need to have the assurance of the continued presence of the Lord Jesus in our work. All our work; all our teaching; all our learning; would be useless if the Lord didn’t bless our work! So let us go forth with that promise of Christ – I am with you always, even to the end of the age!

Great Manifesto for Church Education! Part 3

Effective Teaching

From Matthew 28:19-20 we learn that the Lord Jesus tells the church she must provide effective teaching for those who are discipled. He says: teaching them to observe or obey.

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Now notice that the emphasis of the Lord Jesus is upon obedience to every biblical area of life. He is telling us that we can evaluate our teaching by seeing whether there is a growing in obedience to the will of God. According to some obedience is contrary to the grace of God. Some feel that as soon as you require anything in the Christian life you have undermined the grace of God. Some people become very critical when teaching becomes very specific in what we must to do to be faithful to the Word of God. However, when one truly understands the grace by which he or she was saved, they will also seek to obey the Lord’s will in their entire life. And then they will welcome very specific ways in which they can be obedient to the will of God. We need to understand that obedience to God’s law is not contrary to the grace of God but actually flows from it.

The problem that some of us have with obedience is that it requires us to submit to higher authority, and if we’re honest submission is not something we do easily or naturally. However, when we are Disciples of Christ then we have no trouble submitting to authority by which Christ rules in his church, namely by the Word of God as taught through the ordained offices of Christ! The teaching of the church comes to you with the authority of Christ.

From the context of our text, it is clear that the teaching of the church – and particularly her officebearers - comes with the authority of Christ. This of course, is necessary so that teaching can be effective in the church. In verse 18 we read Christ say: All authority has been given to me…and then in verse 19 the apostles are told to make disciples by teaching them to observe all things I have command…and then in verse 20 he states: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Therefore, the official teaching of the church comes with a distinct authority in the life of the Christian. This is particularly true of the teaching of the officebearers in the church. As much as possible teaching in the church should be done by the elders – whether past or present - because they come with the derive authority of Christ. When the officebearers teach – even command obedience – it comes with the authority of Christ Jesus!

One older author speaking surprisingly relevant yet today, speaks of how the authority of the officebearers in the church is minimized. He says:

He, speaking of the officebearer, is considered merely in the light of a speaking brother. He has no official distinction or authority. He may compliment like a flatterer, he may beg like a servant, he may woo like a lover; but he is not permitted to command like a ruler. …if he says anything at all, it must be somewhat similar to the soothsayers, for he is only permitted to peep and mutter from the dust.

But teaching in the church comes with a particular authority and should be heard as such and should lead to new obedience in Christ. The aiming of teaching is not just to make someone feel good but actually do good! So much emphasis today is put upon feeling good rather than doing good. Effectiveness in teaching is often evaluated on the basis of how people feel in response to it. However, here the Lord Jesus is teaching that we need to aim for obedience to all that he has commanded. good – but actually

Now this means that the teaching in the church needs to be practical not just theoretical. Theoretical is very comfortable – it is distant, detached – while practical teaching can be very uncomfortable – challenging, compelling or convicting. But if our teaching is to lead to obedience we need to teach how the obedience will look like in the end.

• We need to teach specifically about not only that parents need to instruct their children but the particulars of how this is to be done.
• We need to teach someone not only that they must be sexually pure as taught in the 7^th commandment, but also the specifics how we can promote and maintain a pure life.
• We need to teach not only that wives must be subject to their own husbands, but what this looks like in the context of marriage – and what this looks like when your husband is an unbeliever; what this looks like when you disagree with your husband; what this looks like when your husband treats you sinfully etc.
• We need to teach not only that God created the world in six days, but also practically how to answer the present objections against creationism.

And a thousand more examples could be given of how specific practical teaching needs to be given so that there is new obedience in Christ. We need to hear practical application of the Word of God.

What is your attitude towards specific instruction in practical things of life? Do you see this is legalism – or do you understand it as a necessary aspect of the Christian life? Do you get your back up when you are taught very specifically what you must do in the Christian life? Do you recognize the authority which Christ has ordained in the church to teach you? Do you understand the importance of obedience in the Christian life? Are you growing in obedience towards the Lord? Do you go by feelings in the Christian life – or do you consider what you must do in the Christian life? Effective teaching in the Church of Christ will lead to not only feeling good, but also doing good!

Great Manifesto for Church Education! Part 2

Comprehensive Teaching

From Matthew 28:19-20 it is clear that the Lord Jesus would have the church provide complete or comprehensive teaching for those who are discipled. He says: all things. He says: all things – teaching them to observe all things.

Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

First, this means that for all Christians a lifetime of learning must follow conversion and membership in Christ’s church. If Christ states that we must be taught all things it most certainly means that we must all be students in the school of Christ – for do any of us know all things? Now historically we’ve placed an emphasis on teaching young people in the church, but doesn’t the fact that Christ calls the church to teach all things mean that all Christians should be students in the school of Christ? I think everyone needs to be a student in the School of Christ, regardless of age. No Christian can be happy with the status quo when it comes to his or her knowledge of Christ.

This command to observe all things is particularly relevant in our superficial age. Our culture has become mentally fat and lazy. But in contrast to our culture, Christians are called by God “to be transformed by the renewing of your minds.” (Romans 12:1,2) This transformation is basic to Christian living and is essential in responding to the call to abound in love for God and our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40) If the church is called by God to teach all things then each one of us is called to learn all things also in the context of the church! As Christians we need to be pressing on towards the goal in Christ Jesus. Paul speaks of the effort required in seeking to know all things! He says in Philippians 3:

Phi 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

If this was the way the apostle lived – one who was an inspired apostle of Christ – should we not be doing the same? Are you pressing on? Are you seeking to know Christ and the power of his resurrection in your life? Are you applying yourself to learning in the school of Christ? Are you active in applying yourself to learning in the church of Christ? Do you know more today than last year concerning the gospel of Christ? Has your knowledge of the Word of God increased in the last year? Are you putting yourself under the instruction of the church of Christ?

But second, the fact that the church is called to teach all things means that her curriculum must be comprehensive considering all of the scripture. Therefore as a church we should deal with the areas of Biblical Studies, Christian Doctrine and Christian Living necessary to equip you to live a fully balanced Christian life. In order to do this we need to cover six main areas: Scripture, Doctrine, Christian Living, Church History, Apologetics, and Leadership Training. By the way, all of these cannot be taught effectively from the pulpit – that’s why we do have other classes in the church. These are geared to age – or perhaps are more topically arranged.

Teaching all things means that we must have balance in our teaching in the church. Today, instead of striving to teach all Christ commanded, many are trying to eliminate as much of his teaching as possible, avoiding those matters which are difficult or objectionable. It is easy to teach something on which everyone agrees, but to teach those challenging subjects is difficult or to teach of something sensitive is so easy to avoid, but is it faithful?

Today’s church needs to teach all the things of God – even those things which are unpopular; which are difficult; which are objectionable; which are challenging because Christ has said: Teach all things! It is very easy to be one sided in teaching the truths of the Word of God. Each one of us have our own particular hobbyhorse – and some truths are more palatable than others – but Christ said teach all things – not just some things. The church’s teaching is to be comprehensive!

Great Manifesto for Church Education! Part 1

The last verses of Matthew 28 are well known for their importance when it comes to the church and missions – and properly so – and I have preached on them in the past with this emphasis. There is an outward looking aspect here in these verses. However, there verses also have a lot to say about the church as it looks to be built up on the inside. Here I am thinking specifically of these words in verse 20: teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you… But before we come to these words specifically, there are a couple of things to notice from the context of these words.

The first is that our Lord Jesus is addressing the apostles. He was addressing officebearers who would form the first New Testament churches and subsequently officebearers in the church today. These words are not something which have expired with the of the apostles. This verse outlines specifically the task of the church today. That will be our focus also when speaking of teaching. There are responsibilities that we have as parents in teaching and as teachers in schools, but that is from other texts for another day. Now, our focus will be on the teaching in the church of Jesus Christ as she makes disciples. Often you hear it said that teaching is a parental responsibility and not the church’s responsibility, but this is creating a dilemma that doesn’t exist in scripture. Parents have an obligation – we’ve seen that in the past – the church has an obligation to educate and instruct as well.

The second thing to notice from the context is that the Lord Jesus sends out his apostles with the commission to make disciples of all nations. This is the main verb of this sentence – make disciples. This is what the Lord Jesus is calling us to do as a church – make disciples. The main verb is not go which is often how many have preached on it, but the main verb is make disciples and then there are three tasks the church is called to do in making disciples – going out, baptizing, and teaching. These are three participles in the original: going (which is translated go in our English Bibles), baptizing, and teaching! Now in case you aren’t familiar with those grammatical terms – a participle is the outworking of the main verb. In other words: How do you make disciples of all nations? Well, first of all, by going out; second, by baptizing them, and third, by teaching them. We do see that there is a connection between baptism and teaching, also for the church. Those who the church baptizes she has an obligation to disciple, even until their . Teaching them from cradle to grave. Now our focus is going to be on the last of these three tasks we’ve mentioned – namely teaching, focusing on this phrase in verse 20: "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; …"

There are at least three things we can gather about the teaching of the church from our text.

1. The first is that the Lord Jesus would have the church provide complete and comprehensive teaching for those who are discipled. He says: all things – teaching them to observe all things.
2. The second is that the Lord Jesus would have the church provide effective teaching for those who are discipled. He says: to observe – teaching them to observe or we could say: teaching them to obey.
3. The final thing to note is that in these words the Lord Jesus would have the church provide correct teaching. He says: I have commanded you – teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.

We hope to consider each of these aspects of the teaching of the church of Jesus Christ. In short we could say that Matthew 28:18-20 is not only the great commission for missions, it is also, as one reformed preacher put it, the Great Manifesto for church education!

Our last week in BC! The time has gone by so fast!! Our final big outing is to Vancouver Island. We left the mainland early Wednesday morning and got on to the ferry. That was a cool experience parking our vehicle on the bottom level and spending the rest of the 2 1/2 hours enjoying the sights while Ben and Josh explored every inch of the ferry. Erin of course shopped since there was a gift shop on board :) The weather was gorgeous so John and I spent most of the time on the outside deck. We docked in Nanaimo and drove 30 minutes to our resort in Parksville. We plan to spend three days here and head back on Friday, hopefully in time to catch the evening market in Richmond. Saturday morning we will be housecleaning and packing and then Saturday afternoon our friends from Calgary -Ray & Kathy and Chris will visit us. We hope to go swimming and then order some pizzas for supper. Sunday morning we will be Abblotsford and in the evening back in Langley. Monday morning we head to the airport and hope to land in Hamilton by 3 o'clock.
We are looking so forward to being home again! This has been the most amazing holiday but our hearts and minds are still often in Ontario -- It will be so good to see Scott & Jen and Caleb again.





While the tide was out the kids enjoyed gathering treasures (life and dead) from the tide pools.

Ben was fascinated by the baby crabs, which there were hundreds of!





Our resort here in Parksville is located right on the Pacific Ocean. It is beautiful with hot tubs, pools, complimentary kayaks and canoes. It is fascinating to watch the tide come and go. John has caught on to this neat way to stay in 5-star resorts. As long as you are willing to listen to a 90 minute presentation on time-shares, these resorts are much cheaper than regular hotel rooms. Our resort in Whistler was a condo style 2 level place. It had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, kitchen and dining area, dishwasher, washer, dryer. On the grounds was a pool and hottub. It only cost about $85 per night. Here on the island we are paying $65 per night for about the same style place. We are staying in an ocean view place, with our deck offering an amazing view. This is definately the way to go when travelling with kids and you need some more space and privacy. I am sure we will always look for resorts when we travel again (provided we can listen to a BORING 90 minute speel. )

'Our Old Truck' for a few weeks

This is the vehicle we have been able to use while here in BC. It is a Nissan Infiniti.

This past Saturday we enjoyed a visit to John's friend Martin here in Langley. The kids and John and I enjoyed his quad. After riding it for awhile he took us to an amazing restaurant for supper. It was hilarious eating in there while Ben and Josh's jeans were dirty with cow manure from the pasture they were driving in.








Okay, time for a quad story! We didn't take pictures of this event, another day we were invited to some folks from church for lunch. Well the kids were excited since they had kids plus they had two 4-wheelers. Well Ben, Josh and their son Kyle went out 4-wheeling. They came back awhile later with Ben kinda smashed up. His elbow was bleeding and some skin was kinda just hanging there. Thankfully the mom was a nurse and did some steri-stripping and bandaging to put all the skin back where it was supposed to be. Ben's glasses also came back minus one lense and looking like a lawnmower drove over them. It wasn't until we got back home that Ben admitted privately to some other injuries -- (which shall remain nameless). Thankfully he wasn't seriously hurt and even kept riding afterwards. We're also thankful the quad wasn't damaged.

While we were in Whistler we spend an afternoon at Alta Lake which is at the foot of Whistler Mountain. The water was quite cool but the sun was hot. The view from this park was amazing!