I think it would be profitable for all of us (contributors and commenters alike) to take one post per week and use it not for discussing issues but celebrating what God is doing in our churches. It would take the edge of all the conversations to know that we really are together for the gospel, even in disagreements.
So, here’s my download from our Sunday worship at Grace Baptist Church in Merrimack, NH.
- Yet another incredible worship gathering for us. God chose to send us several first time guests – at least two families although there might have been more.
- We shared a message entitled “Oppression” from Ecclesiastes 4. We are currently in a series going through Ecclesiastes and thoroughly enjoying the beauty of this anthology.
- Our music team really pointed us toward Christ and it was amazing to hear the gathered congregation really praising LOUDLY.
- We had a volunteer meeting and there were like 40 people there! We have more volunteers than we have spots, which is awesome. I can’t wait to see how God moves us forward.
Dante
May 26, 2012
Puritans died, in fear, not knowing if they were the “elect”……I don’t think it wise for you to attempt to encourage folks to approach the Lord with this Calvinistic philosophical mindset. I don’t understand what would posses you to think that fleshly music is acceptable to a Thrise Holy God, or that you can go beyond scripture to attack the HIS very character. I realize you don’t believe you hold God’s word in your hand, but surely the book you do carry still says something like this…..”For GOD so Loved the WORLD, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER Believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”
Erik
May 29, 2012
Dante, I am not certain where you are getting your information, but you are misinformed on a number of points.
No Calvinist Puritan I have ever read “died in fear.” The doctrine of election is not about uncertainty. It is about understanding that the “Thrise [sic] Holy God” is the only one capable of doing the work of salvation. There are a great many things I don’t agree with the Puritans on (and why you would bring them up in commenting on my post is a mystery), but I don’t think you understand the doctrine of election very well.
As for “fleshly” music, consider Psalm 84:2 and Psalm 2:26 where the “flesh” is seen to worship. Dividing everything between physical and spiritual is a Gnostic, neo-Platonist error introduced into Christian theology in the Middle Ages. When Paul uses terms like flesh, body, and old man it is not in the context you are using at all.
I don’t even understand what you mean by “go beyond scripture to attack HIS very character [sic]“. All this article contains is encouragement from what the Lord was doing in our congregation two years ago. (By the way, this blog has not been updated in a number of months. The content was relocated to re:fundamentals.
Again, no one ever said that anyone who wrote for this blog didn’t “believe you hold God’s word in your hand”, and this statement alone identifies you as being from a camp that assumes the error and heresy of anyone who does not embrace your position. For the record, the authors of this blog always have and always will believe that the Scriptures are inspired of God and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and for instruction in righteousness. That we do not use a single English version of the Bible does not mean that we do not believe in it.
In frank conclusion, let me recommend that you not revisit this blog because reading it clearly affected you adversely. Since the blog is no longer updated and comments sometimes takes weeks before one of us reviews them, I recommend you invest your energies elsewhere.
Dante
May 29, 2012
The Calvinist placement of intellectual conversation about holiness Over practical Christian living,rings hollow to those who seek to please the Savior. Your words are indeed of great discouragement to me Sir…….good day