6/18/13- True Preaching of the Gospel

The Mark of the Christian Church: "True Preaching of the Word of God"

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! (Romans 10:14,15)

Thoughts: The Church is a community of belief- or faith.  Belief comes when we hear, and hearing comes from preaching.  Preaching is important to belief and to hearing.  Luther often spoke as the "ear" as the organ of the gospel.  While we may come to faith by someone else "telling" us the message, it is rare for someone to believe without hearing the message at all.  Knowledge about God is normally a precedent to knowing God. Preaching not only gives us information to clarify our knowledge, it is a means of grace by which the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts- thus preaching is in a sense, the word.  Preaching classically has been defined as taking the text and expounding on it- making it clear (Nehemiah 8:8).  Preaching is not simply psychologically or experientially based- or it is not the preaching of the Gospel. The Good News (which is what "gospel" means) of Christ is based on the story of the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.  The Gospel is not human ideas of how to get along, or even how to be a better person.  This is certainly a part of our hope and message, but the grace and love of God that reaches us before we can reach Him- is the great news.  Many are continually seeking meaning, hope, purpose but we can never get there on our own.  We are called and sent to proclaim the good news that God became human and offers us forgiveness, hope, and love.  

Prayer: Lord, let me hear your preaching right; Let me have ears to hear and a heart to respond.  May the preaching that I hear be true to your word.  


Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 158. By whom is the Word of God to be preached?

A. The Word of God is to be preached only by such as are sufficiently gifted,w and also duly approved and called to that office.

Westminster Larger Catechism Q. 159. How is the Word of God to be preached by those that are called thereunto?
A. They that are called to labor in the ministry of the Word, are
to preach sound doctrine, diligently,  in season and out of season;plainly,
 not in the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power;  faithfully,  making known the whole counsel of God;  wisely,
 applying themselves to the necessities and capacities of the hearers;
 zealously,  with fervent love to God and the souls of his people; sincerely,
 aiming at his glory, and their conversion,  edification,  and salvation.


(John Calvin preaching)

6/14/13- The Mark of the Church

17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church [Ekklesia= called out ones]; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Thoughts:
What are "The Marks of the Church?" For that matter, what does this old phrase mean?
In Old English- a mark was as sign- that designated or "marked" as something.  It is also a boundary between borders.  So the marks of the Church are both signs that tell us where the church truly is, and the boundaries of the church- which point out where the church is not.

In the Catholic Church the "marks" are "One, holy, catholic, and apostolic" church.  We will look at these in detail later.  In the Reformation, the Reformers realized there are true churches and churches that had slid into abandonment of the Gospel.  For the Reformers, they did not label all Roman Catholic churches as abandoning the Gospel- it was not denominational affiliation that made the church true or false.  It was the right preaching of the Word.  Luther and Calvin specified the right administration of the sacraments as a second mark; Knox, Ursinus and Heidegger added discipline as a third mark of the church.  Some have rightly said that the true preaching of the Word means that the sacraments and discipline are also understood and practiced rightly.  In the 21st century, when many have abandoned the faith; when it is hard to tell the difference between some churches and a civic club; when the discipline and boundaries of the Church are very loose; when the Bible is excused as an outdated history- it is important to think about the marks of the church.

But there is a mark not found in classical theology but is found in the Bible.  In my mind, it is the ultimate mark of the Church- it is the mark of love.  God gives us His Word, His sacraments, His order, oneness, holiness, catholicity, apostolicity all as gifts of His love.  We too easily toss aside this one ingredient.  But love is what draws us to God and to His Church, and the Church teaches us about love- for God and neighbor.
    The question "How do you find a good church?"  Is the same as "Where are the marks of the Church?"  It is a question we need to ask and to answer.
 

Prayer: Lord, help me to discern where you are.  For where two or three are truly gathered together by you in your name- there is the Gospel.

(Border marking at Jungholz)


By the way, as I write this (6/14) it is flag day in America.  The flag is a "mark" or symbol of America.  Where the flag is, there America is represented.  That is why some burn the flag or protest the flag or pledge allegiance to the flag.

5/26/12 Knox's three tests

The Lord disciplines those He loves.  (Prov. 3:12; Heb. 12:6)


These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. ⁹ I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰ Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
(Revelation 2:8b-10- Christ's words to the church in Pergammum). 

 ² I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ³ You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

⁴ Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. ⁵ Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. ⁶ But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (Revelation 2:2-6- Christ's words to the church in Ephesus).

(Jan Steen- 1675 "A School for Boys and Girls")


Thoughts: Knox said in the Scots Confession that there is a false church (a synagogue of Satan as above- with false apostles 2:2) and a true church.  It is not that the true church is a perfect church- far from it.  But the difference is that the true church repents. If the church stops repenting, its love dies (as happened in Ephesus).
   Knox (Scots Confession chapter 18)and Calvin agree that there are signs that show us where a true church is:
1) Right Preaching of the Word of God- always seeking to reform to God's Word not our own thoughts- which can be and often are self-deceived.
2) Right Administration of the sacraments- The sacraments are not secondary to the Christian life.  In America's love with individualism, we need to hear the need for common baptism and communion.  We can't do communion over the internet, and baptism takes more than one.  We also, however, do not need to elevate the sacraments to the basis for salvation.  Salvation comes by grace through faith- not by grace through sacrament. The outward act is not enough- it is a visible symbol of God's invisible grace.  If we only emphasize the outside we become like the Pharisees.
3) Right discipline- "where vice is repressed and virtue is nourished."  That is, the church must encourage each other not only by inspiring, but also by pointing out in frank love, where we fail.  America desperately needs a church that is not overly harsh- but is full of grace and love but also points out wrong.  We know a school without discipline may teach reading, writing, and arithmetic but it will not teach it well.  A school is also to teach kids how to listen, how to follow instructions, how to respect others.  The picture above by Jan Steen (which I saw in the National Gallery in Scotland) is a picture of a school gone wild- which is useless- even as a babysitter.  A church that is unable to say anyone or anything is wrong is headed in the same direction. It is important to be able to speak the truth in love- in love- but not muting the truth.  


Prayer: Help me Lord.  Help me by loving me, and love me by disciplining me- even if it hurts.