Category: 1

That Restless and Turbulent Anti-Monarchial Spirit

03/09/2012

I'm doing some research on the American Revolution and some of the religious background to it. I found a rousing quote from Loraine Boettner on this page. I liked the part where he recounts the letter that the Loyalist's wrote home:

‘I fix all the blame for these extraordinary proceedings [i.e. the war] upon the Presbyterians. They have been the chief and principal instruments in all these flaming measures. They always do and ever will act against government from that restless and turbulent anti-monarchial spirit which has always distinguished them everywhere.’

Add Comment

True Fear

03/08/2012

0 Comments

I have never once feared the devil, but I tremble every time I enter the pulpit. ~John Knox

Add Comment

Preaching Jesus and His Polity Unabashedly

01/16/2012

0 Comments

My anonymous institutional church antagonist decried the fact that I would dare promote the Biblical form of church government known as Presbyterianism rather than just preach Jesus, like the great ministers of old did.

May we let the record show that he is wrong in his condemnation: Samuel Miller was, like Johnathan Edwards and George Whitfield, a powerful preacher. He was used by God during the Second Great Awakening to stir many souls to faith and repentance. Yet his preaching was not limited to evangelistic messages. He diligently advocated for a proper church government too, as can be seen in his thorough work An Essay, on the Warrant, Nature and Duties of the Office of the Ruling Elder, in the Presbyterian Church.

It ought to be noted that this work was not just a continuation of his Scripture expositions, it was an extension of his work of "preaching Jesus." Miller understood that if Christ was going to be honored with godliness there must be proper modes of discipline exercised. To put it another way, "Effective discipline was a spiritual function of shepherding that must be carried out only through a plurality of elders who alone were authorized to perform it." (Samuel Miller: Discipline on the Frontier).

It may be also noted that the Great Trumpeter of God, John Knox, was one who wrote the Book of Discipline. This work was nothing other than the first Presbyterian church order. After having broken away from the Catholic Church and being wholly devoted to the teaching of Scripture, developed this book as a way to assist the church's reformation and maintenance.

Time does not permit me to speak of the Princeton Seminary men, Thornwell (whose preaching you can sample by clicking the icon on the right entitled, "Judgments, A Call to Repentance"), Dabney and others. Only let it be noted that all of these were not only dedicated to "preaching Jesus", but also dedicated to upholding the polity He instituted in His Word for the better maintenance of the godliness.

Add Comment

Get Your Presbyterian On!

01/13/2012

2 Comments

I've been listening to a great series on Presbyterian Ecclesiology* and I thought I'd link to it for your benefit. While I would differ on a few points here and there from Rev. Morecraft, I find the series quite instructive overall. So far, he has done a smash up job explaining how the church is to be connectional in nature and that each local church is to be ruled by a plurality of elders (rather than by one professional pastor). I look forward to getting through all 22 of the lectures.

What I most enjoy is how he walks through the Scriptures pertaining to his points. I remember when I was being examined for the ministry: One of the questions I was asked was, "Why are you a Presbyterian?" The texts that Morecraft cites do a fine job summing up why.

*Ecclesiology is just the fancy word for "the study of the church."

2 Comments

Presbytery Site Up and Running

12/30/2011

0 Comments

It’s finished! I was charged with the duty of designing a website for The Ohio Presbytery. Feel free to give it a looksy and make any suggestions.

Better yet, if you know anyone who desires a sound church in their area, suggest they give it a glance. There’s a page that lists the churches affiliated with our presbytery.

You’ll also notice that those who are interested in a PCA church plant can begin the conversation through the site. Our presbytery is dedicated to advancing the gospel in northern Ohio through church planting.

Add Comment