The brazen nature of Tim Keller's revolt against PCA polity, never mind Scriptural teaching, is on clear display in this video of an "ordination" ceremony for deacons/deaconesses in May of this year.
Continue reading "All the pretty language: Redeemer ordains women" »
(Tim) This evening I received the following e-mail from a reader of the post, "Christianity Left Behind." Although I sent an initial brief response to my correspondent covering several matters, I also told him I would post his e-mail here asking our other readers to assist with the work. Would you, dear readers, please help by posting responses to the questions here asked, with loving clarity pointing this lost soul to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ? I'd be grateful.
(Tim, w/thanks to DC) Ted Haggard is welcomed into a pulpit. Tragically, note this view of Gospel ministry unbelievers are left with:
(Tim: This from Rev. Andrew Webb) After two meetings of debate, yesterday (Oct. 27, 2009) Central Carolina Presbytery passed the following overture to the 38th General Assembly by a twenty-eight vote margin:
Overture to the 38th Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly
Amend Book of Church Order 9-7
1. Whereas the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is grateful to God for the outstanding and selfless work done by the women of PCA congregations and freely acknowledges that the ability of the church to minister to a lost and dying world depends in large part on the self-sacrificing volunteer spirit of our female members; and
2. Whereas the PCA also believes that, the officers of the Church, by whom all its powers are administered, are, according to the Scriptures, teaching and ruling elders and deacons (Book of Church Order 1-5) and that in accord with Scripture, these offices are open to men only (BCO 7-2); and
3. Whereas the PCA believes that scripture teaches that the officers of the church are to be ordained not commissioned. (BCO 17,12-5, 8-6); and...
(Tim) This e-mail just went out to the members of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City over the signature of the church's pastor, Tim Keller. The e-mail's purpose is to solicit nominations of men and women for church office. Nominations are to be sent to Jenny Chang, Redeemer's Director of the Diaconate. And for those not keeping track, Tim Keller is the main proponent of woman officers in the Presbyterian Church in America.
What's written here is one more indication of a promotion and practice of woman officers at Redeemer that's contrary both to Scripture and to our denomination's Constitution.
If anyone's still lost in wishful thinking that the practice of woman officers by Redeemer and her sister churches is nothing more than the implementation of deaconesses defended by Calvin and Warfield, please repeat after me: Deeks. Deeks. Deeks...
Reading this to my wife just now, she thought I'd made the word up. Then, I arrived at Tim Keller's e-mail below and, with shock and disbelief, she exclaimed, "I thought you were making it up. That's astounding!"
Indeed.
New words are hard to learn, aren't they? Speaking only for myself, it took forever to get the hang of 'waiter' for 'waitress' and 'actor' for 'actress'. So I'm not looking forward to the next half a year learning to avoid 'deacon' and 'deaconess', trading them in for the gender-neutered 'deek.'
But hey, Redeemer's hip...
(Tim, w/thanks to several readers) A prominent evangelical magazine just did a piece on the complaint by Calvin College faculty reps that Calvin's board has issued policy barring members of their faculty from promoting sodomy. The article starts this way:
The magazine, published in Wheaton, continues:
The case is being watched with interest by other (evangelical) schools struggling to balance compassion and doctrine in their policies on gays.
"Struggling to balance compassion and doctrine?" What on earth are they saying?
Well of course, the point is that the evangelical world today is moving toward the normalization of sodomy and the rubric under which it's being done is the silencing of Scripture's denunciation of sodomy as an abomination before the Lord. Other abominations such as fornication, unbiblical divorce and remarriage, and adultery have already been normalized, and now it's sodomy's turn.
The path to normalization is cleared by much talk of compassion with only an occasional tip of the hat to sin and righteousness and judgment. Which is to say that the Holy Spirit is nowhere present in such discussions since "When He comes, He will convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment."
There's no conviction of sin going on--none at all. Instead, we're busy balancing compassion and doctrine. Wheaton College's "sexuality scholar," Stan Jones, puts it like this...
(Tim: This post is by Bill Mouser) At first, I thought I was seeing things. On an obscure blog, an entry was headlined “Planned Parenthood Director Leaves, Has Change of Heart.” Clicking on the link brought me to a page at the web site for KBTX, a television station in the Bryan/College Station area of Texas where Texas A&M has its campus. The headline was still ambiguous, but the story certainly was not: Abby Johnson, who worked for Planned Parenthood for eight years, the last two as the director of the Planned Parenthood abortuary, had resigned her post on October 8, because she found herself participating in an ultra-sound assisted abortion in the Planned Parenthood “clinic.”
The story has been growing some legs for a while. For several hours it was featured on the front page of the Drudge Report, which linked to a video report archived at Breitbart.com. Breitbart's headline was far less ambiguous: “Planned Parenthood Leader Resigns After Watching Ultrasound of Abortion Procedure.” As of mid-afternoon on November 3, Google News had archived 65 versions of the story.
Two things are prominent in the story of Abby Johnson's change of heart...
(Tim) Please pray for David and Cathron Dodrill and their children as they mourn the loss of their oldest son, Stephen Dodrill, who died in an ATV accident late this afternoon.
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts. Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.
From the Book of Common Prayer:
When they come to the Grave while the Corpse is made ready to be laid into the Earth, the Minister shall say, or the Minister and Clerks shall sing.
Man, that is born of a woman, hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He cometh up, and is cut down, like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and never continueth in one stay.
In the midst of life we are in death: of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased?
Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts, shut not thy merciful ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee.
(Tim, w/thanks to James) Thinking beyond the obvious, those who have trained themselves in discernment will see where the wickedness of our culture will lead us and our children in the coming years. Seeing the mile markers that have flashed by, the trajectory before us will be clear.
First, the church embraced fornication; then it was on to divorce and sinful remarriage. Next came the weekly consumption of soft pornographic television shows in our families' living rooms, followed by the ubiquitous secret viewing of internet pornography by the church's sons and husbands.
On the other side of the sexual divide, women wanted relationships and children so we stopped blushing at the mention of artificial insemination and single parent adoption. It became perfectly respectable for women with little prospect of marriage to choose to become mothers...
Continue reading "Historical markers along the path of sexual perversion..." »
(Tim) Good readers, I apologize for two posts that were auto-posted this morning before they were complete. Andrew Henry's been in the trunk line for way too long and I was excited to see he had completed his post, only to see that, actually, he hadn't (as some of you noted in the comments). I'd set dates on many incomplete posts many months ago and when that date rolled around--October 31st, today--the posts went up automatically. Sorry. Shut up. My brain hurts. Sorry...
Andrew's promised he'll be back with his finished post, along with pics of his craftmanship (custom basses) very soon. We wait with baited breath.
The second post that went up unintentionally was "Historical markers..." In this case, though, I'm going to leave it up hoping readers will bring it to completion.
Finally, some (regrettably including the eminent Bill Mouser) continue to have problems with their comments getting pulled aside by TypePad's spaminator...
Continue reading "An apology, plus a note on comments in the black hole..." »
(Tim) What do you say when Calvin College's confessional Protestant and Reformed faculty members have a hissy fit over their trustees' adoption of a policy barring them from advocating sodomy? What about bestiality--would these magnificent minds object to a policy barring them from advocating sex with animals? And cannibalism--would it be an infringement on academic freedom if they were barred from advocating the haute cuisine of the raft of the Medusa?
One of these is just like the others.
Keep in mind every Calvin faculty member promises, as a condition of his employment, that he will...
Continue reading "Calvin's best and brightest: bestiality, sodomy, and cannibalism..." »
(Tim: This post by our dear sister, Kamilla Ludwig.)
So, here I am at something past 5 am with insomnia for the third night running. I never know what to do, but it seems the best solution is to get out of bed and out of my bedroom for a while. I usually come downstairs to surf the internet. It's amazing the number of people who are voluntarily up at this hour on a regular basis! So, tonight (this morning, rather), with all the news and gossip about the Vatican's offer to disaffected Anglicans, I checked on an AMiA-related blog I hadn't read in a while to see what was going there.
AAAAARRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They aren't discussing married Anglican priests becoming RC priests and how this is the end for clerical celibacy -- nooooo sirreee Bobby. They're discussing Mark Driscoll and Doug Wilson (now isn't that an interesting pairing?) and how evil complementarians are for encouraging -- or, alternatively -- ignoring wife abuse. The blogmaster is making a valiant effort to keep them honest (God bless him!), but it seems to be the lie which simply will not die...
(Tim) Gospel rappers/preachers like shai linne have their roots in slam poetry. From the "Poetry Slam" Wikipedia entry:
In a poetry slam, members of the audience are chosen by an M.C. or host to act as judges for the event. After each poet performs, each judge awards a score to that poem. ...Poetry slams can feature a broad range of voices, styles, cultural traditions, and approaches to writing and performance. Some poets are closely associated with the vocal delivery style found in hip-hop music.... One of the goals of a poetry slam is to challenge the authority of anyone who claims absolute authority over literary value. No poet is beyond critique, as everyone is dependent upon the goodwill of the audience. Since only the poets with the best cumulative scores advance to the final round of the night, the structure assures that the audience gets to choose from whom they will hear more poetry.... Bob Holman ...once called the movement "the democratization of verse."
Who's critical of slam poetry?
Continue reading "Michael Jackson, hip-hop, and slam poets..." »
(Tim, w/thanks to Lucas, Joseph, Michael...) Lucas and Hannah and Joseph and Heidi were together earlier this evening and sent me a link to this comedy club clip by Taylor Mali. Watching it brought on that sickness that always comes when I'm forced to face what men do in the pulpit today.
(Tim, w/thanks to Mike, Jake, Jody, and Phil) If you want to see one fulfillment in our own time of Jesus' promise that the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church, listen to this proclamation of the Gospel. Makes my heart sing for joy.
(Tim, w/thanks to Andy) Readers may have noted my mention of Grand Rapids in the post on False Shepherd Rob Bell. It was purposeful. When a community committed to confessing the most Biblical doctrine turns its back on God's Word in as flagrant a way as the Christian Reformed Church has turned her back on the Creation order of sexuality, God's future judgment will be as severe as His past blessing. To whom much is given, much shall be required.
For clear signs of that judgment, watch the present history of both the mother country, Holland, and the mother institution of the CRC here in these United States, Calvin College and Seminary.
For instance, the Chronicle of Higher Education reports that Calvin's schoolmen are all in a huff over their trustees forbidding the promotion of sodomy and sodomite marriage by Calvin's faculty members. So Faculty Senate (thanks for the correction, Sue) members took a vote...
(Tim, w/thanks to David L.) What if a pastor were to take seriously the Apostle Paul's warning to the Ephesian elders:
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood?
What if he were to read the Apostle Paul's prediction concerning what was about to happen in the church of Ephesus and assume this is also happening in his church right now?
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. (Acts 20:28-31)
Would he test himself? Would he ask the Holy Spirit to reveal whether he himself is a hireling, or a good shepherd? Would he be on the alert? Would he look around for savage wolves? For false shepherds speaking perverse things in order to draw away disciples for themselves?
Would he wonder whether anyone in his own congregation could fairly describe his ministry as a "night and day" work of ceaselessly admonishing each of his sheep with tears?
Brothers, the church has always been under attack from both savage wolves and hirelings. And it's the failure of hirelings not to think about who the savage wolves are...
(Tim) While we're on church signs, last night Mary Lee and I had dinner with our dear friends, Kent and Sue Scudder in Edmonds, Washington. Just a few blocks from their home we saw this sign out in front of the local PC(USA) congregation. Here's a congregation affiliated with the denomination that, for several decades, now, has officially declared that "abortion can be an act of faithfulness before God," and they dare to claim they stand in a two-thousand year line of submission to the Lord Jesus Christ?
And with the PC(USA)--which I remind readers was my denomination until 1992--this official declaration endorsing the slaughter of unborn children is just the tip of the iceberg of its rebellion against our Lord Jesus Christ.
We did a quick U-turn and drove into the church parking lot to take a this pic. Then we saw the other side of the sign...
Continue reading "Praise God the PCA is not the PC(USA)..." »
(Tim) Mary Lee and I were driving down the street when we saw this sign. I took a pic thinking it must be the world's only church so named, but come to find out there's a new denomination called the Institutional Missionary Baptist Conference of America. You learn something every day.
Can't help wondering: if a denomination starts out institutional, what will decay look like?
(Tim) Stephen and Sebra Baker and Mary Lee and I had an excellent time at the Christ Church Ministerial Conference last Thursday and Friday. The conference's subject was "Sexual Orthodoxy" and the MP3s should soon be available from Canon Press.
Make sure you listen to Doug on "The Politics of Fruitfulness" and his son-in-law, Ben Merkle, on "Sentimentalism and the Feminine Ethos." Doug does a good survey of the growing, worldwide birth dearth, following up with the Scriptural doctrine that children are a blessing from the Lord. This cultural critique is needed across the Reformed church, today, where money and degrees are chosen over children. Ben's talk is a helpful reminder of the necessity of letting boys be boys so they may grow up to be leaders (with a particular emphasis on the church). I found all the talks helpful, but thought these two were standouts.
Everything in Moscow isn't the life of the mind, though, and our meals with Doug and Nancy, their children and grandchildren, were a great joy as we see God providing for the leadership of the Church through coming generations. Like the rest of Doug and Nancy's progeny, keep your eyes on Ben. He's a young man married to a strong and prudent wife, Bekah; their children are well-disciplined and happy; and it's obvious God has given him great wisdom. At this point, Ben's plans are to serve in the Academy (meaning New St. Andrews). Spending time with Ben and Bekah, though, I found myself jealous for their gifts to be used in the pastorate.
Then again, what do I know, anyhow?
Summing up, every time we have an opportunity to spend time in Moscow, with Doug and Nancy, their children and grandchildren, and the other members of the CREC/Christ Church/Canon Press/New St. Andrews team, we're reminded our Savior's rule is "by their fruit ye shall know them." Godly homes and families? Living faith? Biblical discernment? Humility? The complete absence of materialism or chest-thumping?
Honestly...
Continue reading "Christ Church Ministerial Conference: Elijah's mantle..." »
(Tim) Thought you might get a kick out of Doug's bumper sticker...
(Tim) Earlier this afternoon as a member of Ohio Valley Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America, I received the following letter from the stated clerk of our denomination, Dr. Roy Taylor. As background to the present controversy, readers should know that a number of PCA pastors and elders are not pleased with our denomination holding membership in the National Association of Evangelicals due to the increasingly liberal commitments of its leaders and their high profile public policy statements.
Here at Baylyblog, we've been careful to document this drift: see here, here, here, here, and here. Now, once more, the NAE is flexing its muscle in Washington D.C.--purportedly in our behalf. But this time, it's our own Roy Taylor who is largely claiming responsibility for the statement.
Compared to our readers here at Baylyblog, I'm guessing that I tend to be more liberal than most of you on the issue of immigration.
Still, I repeat: it's time for the PCA to resign membership in the NAE.
Here then is Roy's response to the criticisms he's received for what he and his NAE friends said to the civil authority in our name on this subject of immigration. Yes, I doubt Roy would agree that's what happened...
Continue reading "The PCA should have resigned from the NAE a long time ago..." »
(Tim) Well, followed a link and check out this screen shot of Derek Webb's home page. Bottom right corner, folks.
Snicker, snicker.
(Tim) By the way, yesterday Herr Professor Doctor Jürgen von Hagen brought us the Word of God at Church of the Good Shepherd. His text was the Rich Fool and it's context, Luke 12:16-34. Concerning the statements there, "he began reasoning to himself" and "I will say to my soul," Juergen made the point that Scripture does not commend a man talking to himself.
This occurred to me watching Derek. Eyes closed, all alone, singing. He appears to be completely entranced with his own music and himself.
* * *
By the way, the sermon is well worth your time. If you're within driving distance, we have a number of men who would be delighted to preach for you--including Pastor von Hagen. Just send me an e-mail with your location and proposed date.
(Tim, w/thanks to Craig) So Derek's trying to say something about something, and he's feeling quite self-righteous about what it is, precisely, he's trying to say. Thing is, when Dylan had his Christian phase, you didn't need a degree in jive talk to get it. His words were clear.
To get Derek's message, though, you might have to do peyote or sniff glue.
On the other hand, we could try just assuming that what Derek's trying to get across is the same kind of crowd-pleasing rhetoric daily featured on the oped pages of the New York Times. Derek is tired of going against the grain and has decided to turn and go with the flow, instead.
My friend Craig says Derek's video is "self-involved," bearing a message of "sexual sedition." I think he's right and that's how Combat Queer Online took it. Reporting on what they saw as Derek's new direction, Christianity Today said...
Continue reading "Derek Webb goes with the flow... like, finally..." »
(Tim, w/thanks to our Redeemer Manhattanite correspondent) Pastor Rick Phillips recently did a post critical of a review of Willow Creek written by the Rev. Dr. Tim Keller. Rick was apologetic as he got started:
But fortunately, truth got the better of Rick and he quickly hit his stride. Check it out.
(Tim) Our brother Andy Webb who serves as pastor of Providence Presbyterian Church (PCA) of Fayetteville, North Carolina, succeeded in getting the PCA's byFaith magazine to run an article he submitted titled, "Those Who Want to Revisit Women's Roles Have Been Heard and Some Are Concerned About What They're Saying."
At this point, the piece is only on byFaith's web site. But readers' comments are calling byFaith to run the piece in the next print version, also. This would make some slight dent in the flood tide of stuff by bigwigs in favor of (and other bigwigs with no heart for opposing) certain feminist tweaking of PCA polity.
So kudos to Andy. Kudos also to those who got byFaith to allow the other side of the dialog to let out a peep.
(Tim, w/thanks to David L.) For the sake of unborn generations, let the electrons permanently record here on Baylyblog that there were some citizens of these United States who, long before the the Peace Prize was awarded to President Obama, already knew the Nobel had become a joke. President Obama a peacemaker? This man of blood?
Back in 1979 when a Nobel still meant something, Mother Teresa won the Peace Prize and had this to say...
Continue reading "Our baby-slaughter President gets the Nobel Peace Prize..." »
(David) I want to say something that will strike some as unfair and ad hominem. So be it. I accept the risk because I see the connection and perceive the logic. If others don't, blessings on them.
My thought and question is this: why do those who promote the idea of a color-blind Church culturally--of the Church as a spiritual kingdom divorced from worldly affectations, power and attractiveness--so often seem to be men who appear personally committed to the pursuit of style and cool?
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