October 31, 2024
Today is the 507th anniversary of Martin Luther's nailing the 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. In God's providence, this simple action of using what was essentially the bulletin board of that day to call for academic debate over the question of indulgences became (through the newly invented printing press) a catalyst for spiritual revival and reformation across the entire European continent and the British Isles.
The Reformation was used by God to recover many Biblical teachings that had been lost through the darkness of Romanism that had dominated the preceding centuries:
The good news of justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone - over against works, merit, and the mediation of anyone but Jesus.
The priority and sufficiency of the Bible as the supreme rule for faith and practice - over against traditions of the church or the word of the Pope. The Bible was translated out of Latin and into the common vernacular of the various peoples in Europe, so that even the lowliest who was able to read could study God's word.
The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers eroded the idea that the only way to glorify God was through service in the church, and that the clergy class was somehow more spiritual than the "normal" believer.
The purity of worship was recovered by cleansing the church of the idolatry of the mass and the worship of God by images, the veneration of saints, false views and practices of the sacraments, manmade feast and fast days, and a low view of the preaching of the word of God in corporate worship.
Biblical church government began to be restored to the people of God, and the supreme authority of the Pope was rejected.
There were several different Reformation streams of thought, and not all of them were equally Biblical or edifying. As Presbyterians, we obviously look back with greatest fondness on the Reformed/Calvinistic teachings that took hold in Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Scotland. Men like Ulrich Zwingli, Heinrich Bullinger, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, and John Knox were leaders of the movement (if you're interested in learning more about the Reformation, check out Timothy George's Theology of the Reformers). Give thanks to God today for His mercy in restoring His truth to His people, and pray that we might continue to uphold the truth of the Bible and the gospel.
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At our Session meeting back in August, the elders heard an encouraging report from Cathy Haynie, Head of School at Christ Covenant School. The original thought of the School Board was that it would take more than five years to reach the goal of having 50 students per grade in the Upper School. But the Lord has richly blessed our ministry, and enrollment has grown more quickly than was anticipated. We now have the privilege of serving nearly 600 students in PK-11th grade, and it appears that the desire for a Christ-centered, Biblical worldview model of education is only increasing. The increase in enrollment, both present and anticipated, has put a strain on our current facilities, both for the church and the school.
Therefore, at our September Session meeting we approved several requests from Christ Covenant School:
To increase the grade limitation from two sections to three sections per grade in 7th-12th grade, so that CCS can accommodate future growth of the Upper School. The school is on schedule to finish the construction of the second high school building at 443 Northpark Dr. in time for the next school year.
To pursue the acquisition and renovation of 406 Orchard Park, a building adjacent to the Preschool side of our property, to create more academic space (and to include creating a large, shared classroom on the third floor of the Education Building suitable for adult Sunday School).
To pursue additional campus improvements for athletics (e.g., field expansion, new concession stand/restrooms, bleachers, a Warrior Walk to replace the gravel driveway), working closely with the POPC Diaconate and the Buildings & Grounds Committee to determine the appropriate scopes of work and timelines.
We are excited to watch how this expansion will further the mission of both CCS and POPC as a whole. Please continue to pray for this ministry of our church, and pray for wisdom for the School Board, School administrators, Elders, Deacons, and Church staff as these improvements to our campus are implemented over time!
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As we come upon another Presidential election next week, let us remember that we are citizens of two kingdoms, and thus we are called to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's (Matthew 22:21). As Americans, we have the right to participate in the election of those officials who will lead us, voting as we are led by our conscience held captive to the word of God. No matter the results, King Jesus is still and always on the throne of the universe. He has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, and He "is the ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes, and sets over it the lowliest of men" (Daniel 4:17). God has decreed from before the foundation of the world who will govern us these next four years, and He calls on us to pray for and submit to whomever is elected:
I Timothy 2:8 - "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity."
Roman 13:1 - "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God."
Like Joseph in Egypt, as well as Daniel and all the post-exilic saints in Babylon, we are to serve our country no matter who is leading it, seeking its welfare as those who are sojourners and exiles in America (Jeremiah 29:7), whose true citizenship is in heaven and not on earth (Philippians 3:20-21; I Peter 2:11-12; Titus 3:1-2). May the Lord give us grace to trust Him and to walk in love for our neighbors (even if He calls us to suffer at their hands), and to be the best citizens we can be, so that King Jesus might be glorified by us and by those who come to put their trust in Him through the light we shine in the darkness.