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Volume 46/4 May 2019

WHY we have CONFESSIONS The Confessions – In this postmodern, anti-intellectual, no-creed-but-Christ age, a discussion a lesson from history 3 on the confessions of the is not always a welcome topic. “Just talk to me about the ” is a catchphrase of many who don’t know about The importance of the Confessions 6 these historical documents, or of those who are quite ignorant about how they became so vital within the Reformed and Presbyterian traditions. Are Confessions relevant in the After my conversion I joined a that subscribed to the Westminster 21st century church? 9 Confession of Faith. I really had no idea about the Confession or the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, but took them at face value and learned as much as On being a serving church I could about them. Later on, I found myself attending a Reformed Church Serving the community – how, why in the same city, which as you would expect, subscribed to the Three Forms and what we offer in Christ’s Name 12 of Unity. It didn’t take too long to learn what they were used for. Every member subscribed to the Scriptures and the Subordinate Stand- Outward focus ards – the , and . It Helping our churches be appealing, not appalling 15 set the basis for the systematic instruction of the congregation as well as the foundation for what every member confessed together. That was something Focus on home very new to me, and I found it exciting to see a church that was consistent Gleanings Aucland Presbytery report in what it believed. I grew to love those Standards. Wellington Presbytery report 18 Eventually, I found myself in a congregation in the RCNZ. I was to be surprised yet again! Here was a federation of churches that subscribed to Letters from New Zealand 18 the Belgic, the Canons, the Heidelberger and the Westminster Confession, which seemed somewhat unusual, given the fact that it was the Reformed Books in focus 19 that subscribed to the Three Forms of Unity and the Presbyterians to the Westminster. However, here is an arsenal of objective, systematic truth that has stood the test of time and helps to equip God’s people for a witness to His Word. Published monthly for the Reformed Churches Some years ago, when some of us were involved in prison ministry, we of New Zealand used the Heidelberg Catechism for the basis of our Bible study with the pris- oners. It gave us a beautiful framework to teach the men essential scriptural All correspondence regarding editorial content and truths. We grew to love that Catechism, and even today, I prefer to hear advertising should be sent to: the Catechism preached, more than the other Standards. The Editor: I have learned to value the confessions and the creeds that our churches Walter Walraven Email: see contact form on website subscribe to. It is my hope that future generations will learn to appreciate website: www.faithinfocus.org.nz them, adhere to them, and thank God for the men who helped to frame these ever-so-relevant documents, for the wellbeing of His Bride. Editorial Assistant: Mrs Sally Davey Our contributors give us their insights as to why our churches have con- fessions and why they are vital and relevant in our day. Production Staff: Mr Andre Holtslag provides a lesson in history. Distribution: M. & D. van der Zwaag Mr John Haverland shares his thoughts about the importance of the Design & Layout: Matrix Typography Printed by: Flying Colours confessions. Mr Paul Davey considers the relevance of the confessions today in a Copy Deadline: number of different church settings. Six weeks preceding the month of publication. Mr D J van Garderen provides his third instalment on being a serving Church and family notices are free, subject to sufficient space and editorial acceptance. church. Mrs Sally Davey introduces an article by Mr William Shishko, which deals All correspondence regarding distribution and with the need for our churches to be appealing, not appalling. payment of subscriptions to: The Secretary: Cover: Image of the . Mrs Nicola Wharekawa 79 McLeod Street Upper Hutt The opinions expressed in this magazine are not to be considered the official position of the Email: [email protected] Reformed Churches of New Zealand unless they expound the Biblical system of doctrine contained in the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dordt, or the Westminster Confession of Faith, or reflect the successive Acts of Synod of the Reformed Churches of New Subscription per volume: Zealand. On the other hand, care is taken to ensure that articles and opinions do not directly $40.00 (eleven issues) contradict the official position of the Reformed Churches as contained in the above sources Bulk Rate: $40.00 without attention being called to that fact. Overseas: $60.00 NB: In line with common publishing practice Faith in Focus reserves the right to publish the Electronically Mailed (overseas only): $40 names of all contributors with their articles, unless compelling reasons are given to the editor for not doing so. This applies to both print and online versions.

2 Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 Why we have Confessions

The Confessions – a lesson from history

Andre Holtslag the great work that the LORD had done for Israel. 8 And Joshua the We have them in our thinner green son of Nun, the servant of the books or in the back of the new Sing LORD, died at the age of 110 years. to the Lord hymnals. We usually read 9 And they buried him within the from them just before the sermon in boundaries of his inheritance in the afternoon service. They are what we Timnath-heres, in the hill country spend several years studying if we attend of Ephraim, north of the mountain catechism classes as children and young of Gaash. 10 And all that generation people, or what we need to read and also were gathered to their fathers. learn when we are preparing to become And there arose another genera- a member of an RCNZ church. They tion after them who did not know were written between 1561 and 1646, the LORD or the work that he had and there are four of them – they are done for Israel. our confessions (The Belgic Confession The Book of Judges records the period of Faith (1561), the Heidelberg Cate- of Israel’s history when they lived in chism (1563), the Canons of Dort (1618- the Promised Land and were ruled by 19), and the Westminster Confession of Judges (approximately 1350BC-1050BC). Faith (1646)). This was a particularly evil time in Isra- Now, the RCNZ is not the only con- el’s history and the further you get into fessional church in New Zealand. It is the Book of Judges the more immoral probably fair to say, though, that the and unjust and idolatrous the people confessions play a more prominent role become. In fact, two refrains that are in the regular life of our congregations repeated throughout the book are “in than they do in most other churches. those days every man did what was right Why? Are they useful? Are they relevant? in his own eyes” and “in those days Aren’t they really just relics? If we have there was no king in Israel,” with the the Bible, which is the inspired word of clear inference being that a king (prob- God and “useful for teaching, reproof, for ably with King David in view) would not correction, and for training in righteous- have allowed this wickedness to happen. ness (2 Tim. 3:16),” why would we make The passage before us comes early use of man-made confessions? in the Book of Judges. It functions as a Well, my assignment is to begin kind of foretaste or pattern of what we seeking answers to these questions are going to read again and again in from the Bible. So we will begin with Judges, which is that a period of rela- a couple of very instructive and paral- tive faithfulness is followed by a period lel passages in Judges and Hosea. Here of unfaithfulness, which brings the cov- is Judges 2:6-10: enant curse of invasion and/or famine, When Joshua dismissed the people, which is followed by the Lord deliver- the people of Israel went each to ing His people at the hands of a Judge. his inheritance to take possession of Here it is Joshua who dies, having led the land. 7 And the people served the people into the Promised Land. the LORD all the days of Joshua, And Joshua was a faithful leader of the and all the days of the elders who people, as were the elders who outlived outlived Joshua, who had seen all him (v7). However, just one generation

Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 3 later (v10), a generation arises that “did does but it does not know why. The not know the Lord nor the work He had third generation does not do. Well, this done for Israel.” Back in Deuteronomy 6, is the message of Judges 2 and Hosea parents, and especially fathers, as heads 4 (and Deut. 6). We must teach our of their households, were commanded children who to believe in, what He to teach their children about God and has done, and why we do what we do. about His great works of creation and And as New Testament believers, who deliverance, every day, all day (Deut. know THE work of deliverance that all 6:4-25). The priest and Levites were also of the Old Testament works of deliver- to teach the people the law of God (Le- ance pointed forward to, the cross of viticus 10:11). So the reason that this Calvary, we have even greater reason to generation did not know the Lord nor tell the next generation about who our what He had done for Israel is clearly Triune God is, the great salvation that because the parents and priests failed we have in the Lord Jesus Christ, what to teach them. There was no round the church is, how the church func- the dinner table instruction, there was tions, and our calling as citizens of the no preaching, there were no catechism kingdom of Christ. classes, there was no memory work, Now, it stands to reason, given the The confessions are a there were no Bible studies, there were quote from 2 Tim. 3:16 above, that our no church history lessons, and whatever sole and sufficient authority for teaching precious gift that greatly was taught was undone by the hypocri- is the Bible. After all, the Bible is the sy of the parents and teachers who said living word of God! It is able to “make aids our instruction of one thing but did another. us wise for salvation (2 Tim. 3:15).” It We see the same complaint of the is by the preaching and teaching of the covenant children, new Lord in Hosea 4:1-6: Bible that God brings people to faith in Christ (Romans 10:13-14). It is from the Hear the word of the LORD, O disciples, and every Bible that we learn what the church of children of Israel, for the LORD Christ is and how it is to function. And has a controversy with the inhabit- member of the church of yet, as J. Ligon Duncan said, “The church ants of the land. There is no faith- has had 2000 years of rich reflections fulness or steadfast love, and no Christ. When we make on what the church is supposed to be knowledge of God in the land; and do. And we are not wise to ignore 2 there is swearing, lying, murder, use of the confessions, the great Protestant confessions.”1 Yes, stealing, and committing adultery; the confessions are not our authority; they break all bounds, and blood- we are benefiting Scripture is our authority. In fact, pretty shed follows bloodshed. 3 There- much every confession has as one of its fore the land mourns, and all who from the reflections of first articles exactly that truth – Scripture dwell in it languish, and also the is our authority! Nevertheless, the con- beasts of the field and the birds of believers who have had fessions represent the life and labour of the heavens, and even the fish of believers who were filled with the Spirit the sea are taken away. 4 Yet let no to struggle with the same of God and who spent their lives poring one contend, and let none accuse, over Scripture. To toss them out as irrel- for with you is my contention, O doctrinal and practical evant and not necessary is to deny that priest. 5 You shall stumble by day; the Holy Spirit has been at work in the the prophet also shall stumble with matters that we are church for 2000 years. you by night; and I will destroy your In Acts 15 we see the early church mother. 6 My people are destroyed thinking about today. reacting to doctrinal error by coming to- for lack of knowledge; because gether and agreeing about how biblical you have rejected knowledge, I truth applies in a certain situation, and reject you from being a priest to writing it down so that approved men me. And since you have forgotten could take the letter and read it to the the law of your God, I also will congregations for instruction. This was forget your children. an early ‘type’ of confessional instruc- Why was there no faithfulness or tion. Have a look also at 1 Timothy steadfast love? Why was there swear- 3:16 in your Bible. Most set the ing and lying and stealing, etc? It was words of this verse in a different style because the people had not been taught to the verses around it. They will look about God and His great works on behalf something like this: of His people. Perhaps you have heard this saying Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery before: The first generation does what of godliness: it does and knows why it does it. The He was manifested in the flesh, second generation just does what it vindicated by the Spirit,

4 Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 seen by angels, enant children, new disciples, and every Appendix proclaimed among the nations, member of the church of Christ. When Here is a very simple catechism designed believed on in the world, we make use of the confessions, we are to teach doctrine to children: taken up in glory. benefiting from the reflections of believ- • The Children’s Catechism (opc.org/cce/ ers who have had to struggle with the FirstCatechism.html) And they are set out like this because same doctrinal and practical matters that Below are some modern catechisms/ they are believed to be an early con- we are thinking about today. I could not confessional statements (They have no fession of faith. Very early on in the count the times that I have been in Bible official standing in our churches. They life of the Christian church, it appears studies or private conversations where are merely offered for your discerning to be the case that there were formulas a topic has come up and I have been consideration, especially as they are de- or standards that were commonly taught reminded of Lord’s Day X or Article Y, signed for modern, electronic devices, and maybe even recited as a faithful where there is a helpful answer with and/or address contemporary issues). summary of the person and work of the Scripture references readily at hand • The New City Catechism – 52 Ques- Lord Jesus. And it was not long before (often via my creeds and confessions tions and answers to teach children the great controversies about the , app! Have you got it on your phone?). and adults the core doctrines of the and especially the person and work of Using the confessions to teach also dem- Christian faith (newcitycatechism. the Lord Jesus, arose through heretics onstrates that what we are saying is not com). like Sabellius and Arius. And these con- just our opinion or the opinion of Dad or • The Danvers Statement of 1987, which troversies gave rise to the great creeds – Mum or Pastor X or Teacher Y, but the has to do with biblical manhood and The Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, common belief of the church of Christ. womanhood and our God assigned and the Athanasian Creed, the language I am sure you have heard it said that roles (cbmw.org/uncategorized/the- of which is woven into our confessions. those who fail to learn the lessons of danvers-statement/). All this is why R. Scott Clark calls the history are doomed to repeat them. So • The Nashville Statement – What it confessions “living expressions of an let’s learn the lesson of Judges 2 and means to be created in the image ancient Christian tradition.” Joel Beeke Hosea 4, and make use of the God- of God and what the Bible teaches said, “Confessions are a gift of the Lord given and helpful teaching tools that the about human sexuality (cbmw.org/ to unite the church for instruction in confessions are! nashville-statement). the truth, defense against error, and as a testimony to the world about what Notes Mr Andre Holtslag is the minister in we believe.” 1 This quote and the following quotes are borrowed the Reformed Church in Avondale. The confessions are a precious gift from the recent documentary ‘Calvinist.’ It is well worth watching! www.calvinistmovie.com that greatly aids our instruction of cov-

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Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 5 Why we have Confessions

The importance of the Confessions

the apostle John). The Bible contains a number of different literary genres – his- torical, poetical, proverbial, prophetic, , letter, and apocalyptic. Each of these genres requires its own particular rules of interpretation. All of this demon- strates that the Bible is a comprehensive and complex book that requires careful reading, clear interpretation, and accu- rate understanding. Reading it is chal- lenging! With this in mind it is helpful to have creeds and confessions that sum- Frederick III authorised marise the main truths of the Bible and place them in a systematic and orderly the writing of the arrangement. This is one of the benefits of our creeds and confessions. But there Heidelberg Catechism in are other benefits as well. Let me outline some of these to highlight the value of order to teach children these documents. and adults the central The value of the confessions truths of the faith in his 1. They define the truth over against error province of the Palatinate. John A. Haverland Many of the creeds and confessions were written in the context of theological and Within a few years it You may have met Christians from other doctrinal controversy. The Nicene Creed, was translated into churches and denominations who have for instance, was written after the Council quoted to you the slogan, “No book but of Nicea, which met in 325 AD. This Dutch to be used in the the Bible!”, or “No creed but Christ!” church council was convened to deal They may have said this in the context of with the massive threat posed by the Reformed Churches of a discussion about the creeds and con- . Arius, a priest in Alex- fessions of the church. Many churches andria, agreed that Jesus was the Son of the Netherlands, and was and denominations do not have formal God but claimed that Jesus was created written statements about what they by God, that he was the first being God officially adopted as one believe. They argue that their teaching had made. The Council of Nicea con- and preaching is based firmly and square- demned the teaching of Arius and af- of their confessions. ly on the Bible and they don’t need any firmed the biblical truth that Jesus was other books or statements. and is the eternal Son of God. This was This sounds pious and praiseworthy later expressed in the Nicene Creed and but such an argument is simplistic and ratified by the church in the Council of superficial. I say this because the Bible Chalcedon in 451 AD. This creed affirms is a big book; it is, in fact, a library that Jesus Christ is “the only begotten of 66 books, written by about 40 dif- Son of God, begotten of the Father ferent authors over a period of about before all worlds; God of God, Light of 1600 years (from the prophet Moses to Light, very God of very God; begotten,

6 Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 not made, being of one substance with 3. They are teaching tools the Father.” With these statements the Frederick III also authorised the writing church spelled out that Jesus is the Son of the Heidelberg Catechism in order of God, and is fully, truly, and eternally to teach children and adults the central divine. This truth was accurately defined truths of the faith in his province of the over against the error of Arius and his Palatinate. Within a few years it was followers. translated into Dutch to be used in the The Heidelberg Catechism was written Reformed Churches of the Netherlands, in the height of the Reformation and was and was officially adopted as one of approved in January 1563 by a synod of their confessions. Since then it “has been the church of the Palatinate. It is an ecu- translated into many languages and is menical confession, but some questions the most widely used and most widely and answers were aimed at errors in other praised catechism of the Reformation denominations. For instance, Lord’s Day period.”2 In our own denomination we 18 deals with the ascension of the Lord use this catechism as a valuable teach- Jesus and affirmed that, “in his human ing tool for instructing young people, nature Christ is not now on earth; but inquirers and new Christians the truths in his divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit of the Reformed faith. he is not absent from us for a moment” (Q. 47). The catechism made a particular 3. They preserve the continuity of faith point of this because the Lutherans be- In Psalm 78 Asaph urged the men of lieved in the ubiquity of Christ’s body, Israel “to teach the law of the Lord that is, that his physical body was eve- to their children, so the next genera- rywhere present. They held this to allow tion would know them, even the chil- for their doctrine of the Lord’s Supper in dren yet to be born, and they in turn which they claimed that Christ was physi- would tell their children” (v 6). The law cally present in the Lord’s Supper. They of God, the Torah, is contained in the expressed this by saying that the body Scriptures, but is also explained in our of Christ was in, with and under the el- confessions, along with the key doctrines ements of the bread and the wine. The of the Bible. Teaching these doctrines Catechism, however, affirmed the truth of regularly and faithfully, from the Scrip- the Bible that Jesus is spiritually present tures and the confessions, helps us pass with us wherever we are, over against on this precious faith from one genera- the error of the Lutherans. tion to the next.

2. They are statements of unity 4. They are a witness to the world. The word ‘creed’ comes from the Some of the Reformed confessions were opening word of the Apostles’ and written to explain the Reformed faith Nicene Creeds in their Latin version, to secular rulers who were opposed to credo, which means, ‘I believe’. A Creed this biblical faith. This was the motive of is “the formal statement of a group’s set Guido de Bres when he wrote the Belgic of beliefs”.1 The Apostles’, Nicene, and Confession in 1561. The confession has Athanasian Creeds are personal and cor- this name because it originated in the porate statements of what we believe as Southern Netherlands, now known as individual Christians and as the church Belgium. During the 16th century Chris- of Christ. They are ecumenical creeds, tians in that country were cruelly perse- which means they are confessed by the cuted by the Spanish, who were largely church of Christ throughout the world, Roman Catholic. Guido de Bres wrote the church universal. These three creeds this confession to prove to their perse- unify us with all true churches of Christ cutors that Reformed Christians were historically and geographically; as such not rebels but law-abiding citizens who they are statements of unity. professed the true religion of the Bible. Another example of this comes from In 1562 a copy of the confession was the time of the Reformation in the 16th sent to King Phillip II, along with a letter century. Frederick III was the Ruler of the affirming that these Reformed Christians Palatinate and he held to Reformed doc- were ready to obey the government trines. His area of Germany was made in all things lawful but they were not up of people with different doctrines. He prepared to deny the truth expressed authorised the writing of the Heidelberg in this confession. One of the modern Catechism with the aim of uniting the commentaries on this confession is enti- people of his province in the Reformed tled The Church’s Witness to the World, faith. Again it was intended as a state- which accurately expresses one of the ment promoting unity. purposes of the creeds and confessions.3

Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 7 5. They can be used in public worship al books. In our modern technological In our denomination we use the creeds age many devotional aids are available and confessions in our public worship as Bible apps on our phones and com- services. We often recite in unison the puters. Many of these are edifying and Apostles’ or Nicene Creed as a confes- helpful. But they ought not to replace, sion of what we believe. In this way or be a substitute for, our reading of we identify ourselves with the universal the Bible itself. We need to be reading church of Christ that worships the triune the primary source, the main text. John God throughout the world on the Lord’s Wesley wrote, “O give me that book! At Day. In our preaching as pastors we any price, give me the book of God! I follow the outline of Christian doctrine have it: Here’s knowledge enough for from one of our confessions in one of me. Let me be a man of one book.” the church services of the Lord’s Day. In Devotional books can be very useful, these ways the creeds and confessions but they remove you one step away have a place in our worship services. from the Bible, and they ought not to replace your reading of the Bible itself. The creeds and Two applications My second application is that the My first application is that the Bible must creeds and confessions are no guaran- confessions are no always be our primary book, our main tee that an individual, a church, or a text, and our final authority. A Sunday denomination will continue in the faith guarantee that an school song goes, and remain true to God’s word. We have superb confessional documents but if individual, a church, “The best book to read is the Bible, we do not read them and believe them If you read it every day, they will be of no value to us. It is im- or a denomination will It will help you on your way; perative that we study them and teach The best book to read is the Bible.” them so they are living documents in continue in the faith and our churches. This is simple and true and we seek I could cite many examples from remain true to God’s to apply this in our denomination. We church history of decline and declension refer to our creeds and confessions as from the true faith. One example that is word. We have superb “subordinate standards”, that is, they are familiar to many is that of the Reformed subordinate to the Bible, they are below Churches of the Netherlands, the Ger- confessional documents the Bible in importance and authority. eformerde Kerken of Nederland (GKN). We are not like the Roman Catholics who My parents belonged to this denomina- but if we do not read have two equal sources of authority, the tion, and in the 1950’s it was sound in Bible and the decisions of the popes and faith and doctrine and held to the “Three them and believe them councils of the Roman . forms of Unity”, that is, the Heidelberg Nor are we like the Mormons who hold Catechism, the Belgic Confession, and they will be of no value the book of Joseph Smith as equal to the Canons of Dort. In 1952 my parents the Bible. No, we have one authorita- immigrated to New Zealand, along with to us. It is imperative tive book, the Scriptures of the Old and boatloads of young Dutch men and New Testaments. This is our final court women, who married here, and raised that we study them and of appeal, this is our ultimate authority, their families. Some 25 or 30 years later, this is “the best book”.4 my parents, along with many of these teach them so they are This is why I strongly favour the prac- immigrants, returned to visit their families tice of always preaching from a text of in the Netherlands. They were shocked at living documents in our the Bible in every sermon I preach, how much these churches had changed including confessional preaching. Our in doctrine and practice. On paper they churches. Church Order requires that “Ordinarily at still subscribed to the creeds and con- one of the services on each Lord’s Day fessions but in practice they had moved the Word shall be expounded as sum- far from them. This was also true of the marised in the Confessional Standards”.5 Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in To me it is significant that “the Word” the 20th century which subscribed to the shall be expounded. I read the article Westminster Confession in principle but in the confession, or the question and not in practice. answer of the Catechism, but my text is from the Bible. This highlights that the Conclusion Bible is the final authority and the Con- Our biblical and reformed faith is well fessional Standards are subordinate to it. expressed in the creeds and confessions This also has an application for our of our denomination. This truth must be personal reading of the Bible. Christians held firmly in our minds, believed in our have written many helpful books about hearts, and lived out in our lives; without the Bible, including many devotion- this our confessions are merely words on

8 Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 paper. We need right belief and right person – Jesus Christ – not a message. our lives in a response of joyful and behaviour. At times people have drawn The gospel is an event to be proclaimed, thankful obedience! a false contrast between these. Aldolf not a doctrine to be preserved.”7 And Harnack, one of vigorous proponents Jonathan Campbell states, “To know Notes of liberalism in the 19th century wrote, Jesus is not an event, a ritual, a creed, 1 Cornelius Plantinga, A Place to Stand, Board of Publications of the CRC, 1979, p. 5 “True faith in Jesus is not a matter of or a religion. It is a journey of trust and 2 The Creeds, Confessions and Liturgical Forms of 8 creedal orthodoxy, but of doing as he adventure.” the Reformed Churches of New Zealand”, p. 13 did.” That is wrong – true faith in Jesus These writers pose a false dichotomy. 3 P. Y. de Jong, The Church’s Witness to the World, must be expressed in our conduct and The gospel about Jesus Christ is about Ontario, Paideia Press, 1980 4 The Belgic Confession gives us a fine statement our creeds. the person and the preaching of Jesus, it of the sufficiency of the Scriptures in Article 7 The Emergent Church movement is about the God Man Jesus Christ and 5 Church Order of the RCNZ, Art. 56 of the 21st century has fallen into the his message. We don’t want the truths 6 Brian Mclaren, A Generous Orthodoxy, p. 235 same errors as old liberalism. Brian of the confessions to be “freeze-dried, 7 Erwin McManus, The Church in Emerging Culture, p. 248 McLaren, one of their leaders, is critical and shrink wrapped forever”; rather we 8 Quoted in Kevin de Young and Ted Kluck, Why of those who claim to have truth “nailed want them to be living testimonies of we’re not Emergent”, 2008, p. 108 down, freeze-dried, and shrink wrapped what the Holy Spirit has taught us about forever.”6 Erwin McManus wrote, “The God the Father, God the Son, and the Mr John Haverland is a minister in the power of the gospel is the result of a way of salvation, truths that will direct Reformed Church in Pukekohe.

Why we have Confessions

Are Confessions relevant in the 21st century church?

Paul Davey from the discussion as to the usefulness then those statements tend to be side- of having confessional statements that lined or done away with. Ask a raft of churchmen today, and there are agreed to by a church. No sensible is likely to be a wide diversity of views protagonist elevates confessions to the How are they done away with? expressed. Overwhelmingly, in the wider Bible’s level as to authorship, accuracy In churches with congregational forms of Protestant scene around the world, the or necessity for salvation; or even in government, such as Baptist Churches, response is likely to be a blank look that any way suggests they replace the Bible. confessional statements may be discard- asks the question, “What are confes- ed or adopted, by simple congregational sions?” In this brief article we will think of Who uses Confessional Statements? vote. In episcopal (eg Anglican) and pres- confessions, or confessional statements, Those churches whose roots can be byterial churches adoption or rejection concisely defined as formal declarations traced directly to the Protestant Reforma- of confessional statements is somewhat as to what we believe. tion are more likely to use these state- more complicated, and usually slower. Those who say, “There is no creed ments. The Lutherans and Anglicans have Abandonment of the confessions but Christ”, sometimes sniffily look down used them, often in their written litur- by a denomination is usually a drawn on those of us who see value in holding gies, and perhaps less obviously than the out process, and rarely, if ever, is there good confessions dear. They contend Reformed and Presbyterian Churches. a clear excision. Those who begin to that all they need is the Bible, as God As diversity of doctrine increases in doubt various doctrines their denomina- speaks through that to them. Who can a denomination, or people within a de- tion holds, consciously, or maybe even argue with the latter part of their claim? nomination find themselves more diver- subliminally, then start to move away However, this is an unhelpful diversion gent from the confessional statement, from believing them. The the conscience

Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 9 comes into play. They have to face the the church hierarchy as having “gone off question, “Do we try to take others’ the rails”. And let us not forget, many of thinking with us in this differing belief, these believers had been catechised in do we minimise our shift and talk about their youth between 1910 and 1950. A anything but, or do we leave?” Over the lot of them had had a considerable, West- years there have been various responses. minster theological diet. In the 1960s, One of the more famous illustrations for many, the choice appeared only to of degradation of Presbyterian govern- be between staying with liberalism, or ment and doctrinal purity involved the joining the charismatics. The charismatic Declaratory Act of 1892. In this Act, the movement gained momentum through Free Church of Scotland approved “That the late 1960s, 70s and 80s within the this Church disclaims intolerant or perse- Presbyterian Church. A few of our family cuting principles, and does not consider friends, who were converted, also joined her office-bearers, in subscribing to the Pentecostal churches at that time. This is Confession, committed to any principles such a shame. Fine people with genuine inconsistent with liberty of conscience faith, who I knew until their death up and the right of private judgement.” This to 45 years after these events, were lost paved the way formally, within that de- to experimental of the most nomination, for full and uncompromised mature type. We could ask, “Did the subscription to be modified for officebear- Confessional Standards help in this situ- ers. Subsequently, in 1893, a “second ation?” Clearly not. The Standards, albeit secession” within Scottish Presbyterian- wrongly attributed, were seen by many ism resulted in the formation of the Free as part of the old guard, and contribu- Presbyterian Church in Scotland, and no tors to the problem. doubt eased the way in New Zealand Thus, the PCANZ is now a very mixed for union between the Free Church of denomination. To be sure, you will find Scotland, Synod of Otago and Southland, very fine Christian brethren there. You and the northern churches (with Church will find heretics; people who are con- of Scotland roots). By this stage theologi- fused as to what to believe or how to act; cal liberalism, eg after the mould of the and everything in between. We some- German higher critics, held attraction to times muse as to whether the weaken- some in both denominations. ing of the role of the Confessions is “the horse” or whether it is “the cart”. Can Presbyterians in NZ we say that sometimes these are so in- Tellingly, in many Presbyterian denomina- tertwined in denominations with a strong tions, the doctrines of Westminster (Con- confessional heritage that clear separation fession, Shorter and Longer Catechism of cause and effect is nigh impossible? and the Directory for Public Worship) are not now believed. Rather than for- What about Anglicans? mally throwing those teachings out, they Within Anglican communions, individual are shelved and ignored. There is a crass bishops within dioceses, and synods held type of subtlety in so doing. Nowadays I by the denominations, have sway as to find very few young people brought up the official position of the churches within in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa their realms. My understanding is that the NZ (PCANZ) who know what the West- 39 Articles of the Christian religion, estab- minster Confession or Catechisms are, let lished by a Convocation of the Church alone what they have to say. in England in 1553, still hover in the Being 11 years old in the Presbyterian background of the official position of the Church of NZ at the time of the Geering Anglican Churches. Informal relegation of controversy limited my understanding of the Articles to dusty shelves, rather than the events. Geering, a theology profes- throwing them out, proved effective for sor at Knox College, Dunedin, was ac- those opposed to their doctrine. quitted by the General Assembly of his Reformed evangelicals within the clear heresy. The charges included “doctri- various Anglican churches around the nal error” and “disturbing the peace and world lament the theological, ecclesiasti- unity of the (Presbyterian) church”. The cal and moral laxity of the modern, estab- case, brought before the 1967 General lished church in many countries. 2018 in Assembly of the PCANZ, was too quickly New Zealand became the breaking point dismissed. Geering denied the bodily for some, with various congregations and resurrection and the supernatural exist- individuals departing for a new beginning. ence of God. Successive liberals in the The new denomination, in the process of pulpits throughout the land compromised, formation at the time of writing, proposes some believers, and others rightly saw adopting the 39 Articles (a fine document

10 Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 of Reformation theology) as one of their So what? Confessional standards. These Christians in- We can cite many examples of both dicate that they want historic, sound, bib- confessional churches, and those with lical doctrine to be their light and guide. no confessional statements, that have de- We also muse at the effect of written parted from their roots. Sometimes not liturgical forms, which are so often closely having a clear, confessional statement related to having [had] Confessional Stand- triggered the slippery slope to demise. ards, at least in Anglican and Lutheran In other church examples, causes ap- circles. Though the heart has gone from parently independent of the presence some of these denominations, when we or absence of confessional statements attend Choral Evensong, or other services have led to their declension – factors using the forms, in Anglican churches, we such as wealth, moral impropriety and hear the gospel in the Apostles’ and Nicene personality disputes. Creeds, in the readings from the , canticles and Psalms. Who among us isn’t Concluding Comments constrained to say, “Amen”, at the end of 1. Whether or not confessional state- Cramner’s Prayer of Confession from the ments are valued in a church, the 1662 Book of Common Prayer? The leader health of that church will be deter- may or may not believe, but the words in mined by the integrity, wisdom and the prayer are true. godly devotion of the leaders, and the willingness of the congregants to The Brethren follow their lead, as they follow Christ. The Open Brethren in NZ find their roots We seek heart religion, knowing that in the secession of J.N. Darby, a former the Christian’s heart must be directed Anglican clergyman, to a group of inter- by the true Word. denominational believers in the 1830s. 2. In admirable confessional churches, The Brethren are famous for interesting every agreement, be it a confession, applications as to the priesthood of all be- creed or order statement, will be thor- lievers and their dispensational theology. oughly secondary to the Word of God. All the Brethren men I have talked 3. Confessional statements help Chris- with would not hold to Confessions tians, in concise and precise terms, “of men”. Yet, so often in their prac- to know what their church stands tice they have been structured liturgi- for; what all are expected to follow cally and theologically. These unwritten in the key tenets of Christian faith codes have informed their meetings and practice. (we’d call them services) and thinking. 4. In churches with devout, wise, godly Despite their strong, contrary convictions leaders, holding to fine confessional on some matters we hold closely, many statements is invaluable. When well a Reformed believer has found warm used they save valuable time, effort and fellowship and admirable character in debilitating distraction from having to these dear brethren. rework biblical, theological and practi- What, now, can we say about the cal ground every time there is an issue. Open Brethren Movement in NZ? Surely These good confessions also state key it too is a very different body to the one doctrines and practical applications we knew in the 1970s, let alone between in considered, precise language that the wars or earlier. Within the Brethren most of us are unable to formulate; movement there were no confessional let alone, as it were, “on the trot”. statements. Further, many of those old 5. In short, confessional statements direct brothers knew and loved their Bibles. us to focus our minds and hearts on Perhaps having no agreed upon State- the Lord Jesus and His Word, how ments of Faith/Confessional Standards we are to live, and get on together contributed to the speed of some accept- in His kingdom. ance of the charismatic movement, seek- 6. Thus, within our Reformed Church- er-friendly ideas and other mores of the es of New Zealand, we will honour modern and postmodern church groups? the Lord by knowing, heeding and How many of the erstwhile Brethren as- teaching the truths of our confession- semblies now have “services” rather than al statements, derived from the Word “meetings”, are led by pastors rather than of God. We’d be the poorer without brothers from within the meeting, and, them – so long as we use them well. in their services, have many of the hall- marks of contemporary Mr Paul Davey is a member of the with charismatic hues; or indeed, they Reformed Church in Dovedale, no longer exist? Christchurch.

Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 11 On being a serving church

Serving the community – how, why and what we offer in Christ’s Name

When discussing ways and means of serving the community in which we live and our churches are situated, the ‘how to’ question tends to receive most atten- tion. ‘How best to serve?’ The fact is that there are more openings than you have fingers and toes! It’s a matter of, ‘which one?’ Each community will present its own set of doors. If you think there aren’t any (many!) in your community, you must be deaf, blind and heartless. There will always be opportunities unique to the community in which the Lord has placed you. I recall that when I served as pastor in Bishopdale, the open- ings were among the kids from nearby state homes. ‘Friday Night Frenzy,’ aimed at these kids, the outworking of one of the first Holidays Clubs, continues some 30 plus years later. The Lord provided the door as well as those willing to go Photo by Timon Studler on Unsplash through them and serve. When coming to Avondale, that ap- Dirk J van Garderen proach didn’t work half as well as a ministry to the mentally impaired in that I recall as a young catechism student community. We had some 30 of these studying the Heidelberg Catechism using folks who joined in the special ‘Friendship two books. The green one was called Ministries’. As a one-on-one programme Saved from Sin and the orange one, it involved many of our members and Saved to Serve. Very appropriate. We proved a real open door into the com- were saved from sin through the blood munity and to some of the families of of Christ in order to serve him and, by these special friends. implication, whoever is placed beside Bucklands Beach had its own special us as a neighbour. That, in a nutshell, doorway. Living in an extremely expen- is the teaching of the Catechism. sive suburb by the sea, Asian migrants In this article I want to focus on the with means flooded into the area. Lan- how to and, briefly on the why we must guage and a curiosity about ‘Christian’ serve our communities. Thirdly, and more New Zealand, proved to be a ready- extensively, I want to get you thinking made way of establishing a programme on the fundamental question of what it we dubbed ‘LABS’ (Language Assisted is we want to serve to them. Bible Studies.) The impact of this min- * * * istry continues to this day.

12 Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 The point? Each church communi- and other lost souls (many drug-addict- ty and its members will find openings ed) in Latimer Square. Great. unique to their own community. There But there’s more, much more. These is no ‘one size-fits-all’. What works in praiseworthy deeds, commendable and one place fizzles in another. But there praiseworthy as they may be, are a mere are open doors everywhere. Woe to us entrée, not the main course. When all if we do not seek and venture through is said and done, what our neighbours them, even as we fear and tremble with need more than anything else is to a sense of inadequacy. We can and we receive the Gospel of God. The great- must. After all, didn’t the Lord say, ‘I est news, life giving and life transform- am with you always, to the end of the ing news this planet has ever heard is age.’? (Matthew 28.20) what God’s Son has accomplished for us. * * * Everything else we can offer our com- The ‘why’ question is equally straight- munity shrivels into insignificance when forward. Why should we serve the com- compared to that. Forgiveness, reconcili- munity in which the Lord has placed ation, healing, new life and hope that us? Because as churches and individual does not disappoint or wither away is Christians we are part of the commu- surely the pearl of great price. No service nity, the suburb, city, town or district we can give our community compares where we live. The community is us. with, is more urgent and necessary than Fellow members of the community are what only the Lord Jesus offers. That’s our neighbours – the neighbours God’s what we as Christians offer our commu- Word commands us to love, serve and nities. Nothing trumps it. The truth of the It all begins with Christ. do good to. They may not be our broth- matter is that before we can truly change ers and sisters in Christ, but they are lives through our service activities, hearts Only he can heal and our God-given neighbours. The Lord need to be renewed and transformed by Jesus demonstrates this in the parable the Lord Jesus. Help and hope for the make us new creations. of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10.25-37) future begins with his redeeming work. and Paul exhorts the Galatians and us, This truth was brought home to me It is the heart that is ‘So then, as we have opportunity, let us in an unforgettable manner in Chennai, do good to everyone, and especially to Tamil Nadu, South India. Here’s what deceitful above all things those who are of the household of faith.’ happened. (Galatians 6.10) I had been invited to meet with an and desperately corrupt, * * * Indian Christian doctor/psychiatrist. She It is the ‘what’ question that gets to had an immensely successful practice sick. (Jeremiah 17.9). The the heart of the matter. and a very wealthy clientele. But she had What is it we are to offer our com- also established a special clinic in one dead-in-trespasses heart munity as its servants? What are we of the very poor areas of that immense seeking to give to our communities? city. Her focus there was on women drives and controls the Soup? Pregnancy Help? Free firewood? who worked as prostitutes for Indian Gardening? Budgetary advice? Babysit- truck drivers. When I arrived at her clinic will, not the other way ting service? English lessons? After-school there were at least twenty of them sitting care for school kids? ‘Yes!’ to them all – together in a small, rather stuffy room. around. as openings and opportunities to serve Many were diseased and the victims of in these ways present themselves. They physical abuse. Clearly all of them had are all good and worthwhile means of huge psychological issues. Equipped with serving our communities, loving our a felt board, the doctor was preaching neighbour. Each is utterly commendable the gospel, pure and simple. She spoke and worthwhile. At the very least they of Jesus the healer and transformer of should demonstrate our genuine love a sinner’s heart. This was followed by and concern for our neighbour’s well- lots of singing, praying, weeping. What being. A helping hand is a blessing. We amazed and humbled me was the fact are under obligation to do what it takes that most of these women, young to mid- to serve sacrificially and with a gener- dle-aged, were still actively engaged in ous heart. their ‘trade’. From a human, economic This has come into focus in a very point of view they saw no way out of special way in post-earthquake Christch- the trap in which they found themselves. urch. What began as a late-night min- Their men, pimps really, depended on istry providing hot soup to the many them and, in turn, they would not survive workers clearing up the streets of the without them. Most had children who CBD eventually developed into a once- had to be fed and schooled. It was a a-week, 52 weeks a year, Monday-night matter of prostitution or starvation. soup kitchen focussed on the homeless ‘What are you doing to rescue these

Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 13 women from prostitution?’ I asked the Gospel. This was the ‘gospel’ the late doctor? Yes, she took care of them as Abraham Maslow taught with this ‘hi- a clinician and a competent counsellor. erarchy of needs’ theory. First address But that was not her priority. Far from the ‘basics’ at the bottom of the trian- it. ‘My work begins with preaching the gular hierarchy, and then, step by step, Gospel.’ she explained. ‘Unless and until you will be able to address the ‘higher’ their hearts are made new in Christ, needs – the spiritual which he placed their lives won’t change and their slavery at the apex. to prostitution continues to hold them. Respectfully, that’s pure nonsense. They see no way out. Real help begins Scripture teaches over and over that the “The fear of the Lord is the at the level of the heart, and only the basic human problem, the root of all Lord Jesus can do that.’ our suffering is sin: original sin, actual beginning of knowledge.” I saw just how real this was when, sin and residual impact even as born- Prov 1:7 after the service, one of the women who again believers. Sin is the problem and had been freed from prostitution took until that is addressed – in and through me to her home (hut, really) which she Christ alone! – any other help, counsel THE REFORMED CHRISTIAN had transformed into a place of worship or support for those in need is simply SCHOOL ASSN right in the middle of that communi- a bandage solution. ty where she had formerly plied her What is it that any human being needs Invites applications for the ‘trade’. She told me that she was given more than anything else? What is it that position of the strength to start a new life because will rescue, redeem, renew and give real Jesus was now her comfort, hope and hope to any individual in this broken, strength. She beamed as she told me, sin-sodden and sin-controlled age? The PRIMARY TEACHER ‘First Jesus, and then my life began to answer is Christ alone and before all else. change. Not easy. Very slow. Many fail- When we begin to see and develop YEARS 1-4 ures. But he is my helper.’ strategies to serve our communities and FULL TIME POSITION It all begins with Christ. Only he the many opportunities that present can heal and make us new creations. themselves, it must surely begin with It is the heart that is deceitful above the overarching desire and plan to point The Silverstream Christian School all things and desperately corrupt, sick. to Christ Jesus as the only real hope for is a Christian school set up to provide Christian education to (Jeremiah 17.9). The dead-in-trespasses our community and every person in it. our covenant children. Our aim is heart drives and controls the will, not * * * to develop a biblically consistent the other way around. We are saved from sin in order to world and life view in our students What I learned in that clinic in serve/love the Lord our God and our based on the Reformed faith. We Chennai was that serving the community neighbours. The ‘how’ is never a real believe this Reformed faith to be starts with and flows from the proclama- problem. Every community and neigh- the most accurate expression of tion of the Gospel – good news of God. bour have countless doors. Just open biblical . The rehabilitation of prostitutes, drug or your eyes and your heart! The ‘why’ is Employment would commence at pornography addicts, the unemployed, equally obvious. We are a part of the the beginning of Term 3, 2019 or those living in poverty, and all the other community in which the Lord has placed Term 1, 2020. tragic circumstances that beset our com- us. To fail to love and serve is to deny munities can only be dealt with in Christ. the gospel itself. Applicants must be committed It starts with and must be rooted in him. It is the ‘what’ question that is the to the Reformed faith and to It is not a matter of ‘first get the rest of most challenging. It is tempting to think Reformed Christian education. my life in order and then I’ll attend to of ‘serving the community’ as providing This is an exciting opportunity things spiritual.’ counsel, financial support, help in times to be part of a vibrant covenant community, and we look forward In many respects this truth is coun- of crisis, etc. But as Christ’s ambassadors to your application. ter-intuitive. Ours is an age that believes we offer the solution to the struggles of that you must first get your act together living in a fallen, sin-sodden world. Surely If you have any questions or would before you are ready to hear the Gospel. that is ultimately what serving the com- like more information, please do Work among the homeless, with drug- munity is all about? not hesitate to contact us. Please gies, or rebellious teens to help them (March 2019) forward your C.V. with 3 referees face their demons, and then comes the to:

Contact details: Geoff Doyle Email: You can view our new website on: [email protected] Ph: (04) 9707659 Address: 8 Blue Mountains Road, www.faithinfocus.org.nz Silverstream, Upper Hutt 5019

14 Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 Outward focus Sally Davey

Alongside is what I thought a very good Helping our churches article by well-known be appealing, not OPC minister, Bill Shishko. He makes some appalling good suggestions for William Shishko he was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evan- stirring one another up gelism. He is a consultant to churches Did you know that irritation is of many denominations. And he knows to be more welcoming an important dynamic in helping far more than I do about church re- vitalization, outreach, and evangelism. us to be better servants of the Of course, I’m a Presbyterian (not to to visitors. We all mention an Orthodox Presbyterian), and Lord Jesus Christ? In Hebrews he’s a Baptist, but, on most points, I want our church to be 10:24, the writer urges us to find myself agreeing with him and being helped greatly by his insights into local think carefully about how to – church life and outreach. His work has appealing rather than irritated me to be a better pastor and literally – irritate one another regional home missionary. appalling; and which it to love and good works. In this article, I will pass along some of what I have learned from him about Irritation is our natural response to church outreach, an important although is depends on us. Read suggestions for improvement in our not the only labor of the church. I may personal life or in our church’s life. have already irritated you with my title, on! But the Word of God tells us that such “Helping Our Churches Be Appealing, irritation can actually stir us up to love, Not Appalling.” Now, I’ll ask some ques- that is, to do things for the good of tions and give some of Rainer’s sug- others, and it can stir up good works, gestions that I hope will irritate you to that is, things that are both pleasing to love and good works, bringing benefi- God and beneficial to those around us. cial change to your local congregation. In my work as regional home mission- ary, I find it very helpful to be irritated First impressions by those who have different insights and How does your church appear to visitors? experiences of church life than my own What’s the quality of the signs both and who make suggestions for improve- inside and outside your local church ment that I may not want to implement. building? Remember that signs are not I may not agree with them on every- for church members – we know where thing, but if their irritating suggestions everything is. Rather, signs show our help me do things better, I’m grateful concern for those who are not famil- – or, at least, I try to be. iar with our church. Are they of good One of these blessed irritants to me quality, at the right height, and done is Thom Rainer. with easily readable fonts? Are they old Thom Rainer is a Southern Baptist. and tacky, or no longer accurate? Are the Until recently, he served as president signs friendly? (A sign that reads, “Those and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resourc- bringing food or drink into the sanctuary es. Prior to that, he served at the South- will be asked to leave,” is rather harsh!) ern Baptist Theological Seminary, where Should some signs be added?

Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 15 Ask a few members to do a “sign to visit the individual or family. In many audit” and examine every internal and cases, this prompt, personalized attention external sign. We may think these things by a caring pastor is a key factor in the are frivolous, but people do look at the guest’s decision to return to the church. outward appearance (1 Sam. 16:7). What’s the quality of the church Church websites nursery and Sunday School classrooms? What’s your church website like? Especially Are they tidy, sanitary, and attractive? for those of us who are older, it’s hard to Get rid of the junk that can easily ac- accept that the internet has now replaced cumulate there and spend the money the yellow pages. Thom Rainer and others and effort to make the children’s areas have pointed out that today it’s not the truly delightful. This is a great Saturday worship service but the church website project for church members. Unleash that is the front door of the church. Most them to make these areas appealing and people make the decision to visit a church not appalling, and provide the funds for based on the church’s website. them to do the work well. Are you using volunteer help to cobble Do you have greeters for your worship together a church website, or have you services? Warm greeters give an impor- spent what is necessary and used an or- tant first impression. Choose greeters who ganization or person with expertise to are gifted with people. Train them. Urge build a quality website? (Rainer points them to invite single church visitors to sit out that we should “regard this expense with them. Have them show parents with like paying a church utility bill.” And, it may not be as expensive as you think.) If you are a church leader, you may want to do a church website audit. Pretend that you’re looking for a church online. Is your website geared only for THOSE BRINGING church members? Does it give staff names and titles, including pictures and contact information? Does it include easily acces- FOOD OR DRINK INTO sible information about your ministries to children and young adults? Are there sermon archives in both audio and video? (These will also benefit members who, for THE SANCTUARY WILL whatever reason, were not able to attend worship.) Is there a church calendar? If so, is it up-to-date? Is there a statement BE ASKED TO LEAVE of the church’s beliefs? Are there links to other church social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube? (Church young adults can be immensely children where the nursery is. Better yet, helpful to your local church in establish- take them there. And encourage all church ing a social media presence.) members to reach out to visitors follow- Do you have a church website sec- ing a worship service, rather than gather- retary? The role of the church secre- ing with those whom they already know. tary has changed dramatically with the Holy huddles (let alone unholy huddles) advent of the internet age. Recognizing do not make for welcoming churches! this and making appropriate changes is a Church members should instinctively invite must if we are to get out of the horse- church guests to join them for the coffee and-buggy days of church life and move fellowship, Sunday School classes, congre- into the twenty-first century! If no one gational lunch, and other things. Practice in your local congregation is competent congregational hospitality in every way – to do this, it may be necessary to hire reflecting the hospitality of God. a “virtual assistant.” And, pastors, be sure to contact first- time guests. Greeters should have them Giving gifts sign a guest register or fill out a welcome What gifts do you give first-time guests card with their contact information. You at your local church? Do you do any- should contact the church guest – pref- thing to show your appreciation for visi- erably the same day – by e-mail, text, tors and extend your ministry to them? or phone call, to thank the person for Do you have some kind of “Welcome being at worship, to offer your service Center” for church guests? Consider cre- as a pastor, and to express a willingness ating a “visitor pack” that you can give

16 Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 to all first-time guests. Along with a church mug or tumbler with the church name and logo on it, include a greeting letter from the pastor, particularly giving his contact in- formation. Make it short and to the point. Often, what we should do is clearer when we see it in the light Have a good supply of short Christian books and booklets to give out. Consider of what we shouldn’t do. Here are some suggestions, taken from booklets published by the OPC Commit- tee on Christian Education, evangelistic a helpful pamphlet available online, for the latter. Laugh, but booklets by Matthias Media, and short take note … issue-oriented booklets published by the Banner of Truth Trust, the Christian Coun- seling and Educational Foundation, and other biblically faithful organizations. 20 blunders in welcoming Most importantly, get rid of outdated booklets that look like they were (or really were) printed thirty to fifty years ago. church visitors

Church Invitation Day Here are 20 blunders I’ve seen churches make in greeting visitors to Is your church intentional in its outreach? church. Feel free to add your own in the mix: What are you doing to reach more people? Thom Rainer highly recommends plan- No One Said Hello. ning and executing a day for everyone to invite someone to a worship service or a Bad breath. special church activity. This is not about numbers, but about helping to create an 20 question doctrinal exam to make sure you are acceptable. “invitational culture” in your local church. As a rule, church members are not in the Survey family history and marital status and background check. habit of inviting others to worship or to church activities. Having a day set aside No follow-up contact. for this purpose helps to break that habit. Stale snacks / donuts / cookies. If you are a member, even better than just inviting others, you could offer to pick Bad coffee. them up and drive them to church. Adding a meal to this invitation, either at the Too friendly – smothering and not respecting boundaries. church or in your home, gives another op- portunity to show the hospitality of God to Body odor. others. Give every encouragement to them to be part of the life of your local church. No eye contact. Or eye contact and weak smile, but no hello. And follow up with those contacts! This is Apathy in making a greeting. Whatever. a great way to begin developing a mind-set in your local church. Limp handshake and a weak hello. These are just a few of the irritating in- sights I’ve gained from Thom Rainer. (Read Too much enthusiasm. his books or watch his webinars for more. I especially commend to church officers “Is this your first time here?” the webinar, in four courses, titled “16 Quick Adjustments to Reach More Guests Hugs to strangers. in Your Church.” His books Autopsy of a Swarming on visitors all at once, like flies on fresh meat. Deceased Church, Surprising Insights from the Unchurched, and Simple Church have Unclean bathrooms. been the most helpful to me out of the two dozen he has written.) Unsafe Nursery. May these insights also irritate you – stir- ring you up to greater love for others and Thinking hospitality is evangelism. to more good works that make your local church appealing rather than appalling. Rude staring at hairstyle, body piercings, or choice of clothes (See How Not to Welcome A Visitor about the Secret Dress Code). The author is regional home missionary for the Presbytery of Connecticut and https://www.evangelismcoach.org/20-blunders-in-welcoming-church-visitors/ Southern New York. New Horizons, March 2019. Used with permission.

Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 17 Letters from New Zealand D. G. Vanderpyl

October 1982 Over the years I have often been discreetly advised to mail all the church’s In the North Shore church, all office correspondence directly to the ministers bearers are elected for a period of fifteen so that they can have firsthand knowledge years with ratification every three years, of what is happening. They will then by way of the ballot, (which needs to pass it on to the clerk and session. A have a signature). This also includes their thick file of correspondence, collected minister who is quite willing to submit over a month, does not often get its due himself to this system of ratification and attention at session meetings and many so knows if his continuing ministry still an important item thus disappears in the finds wholehearted support within his archives of the church without receiving congregation. proper attention and the required action. But recently, I came across a letter November from one of our ministers and underneath it read, nicely boxed in: “Please direct How often haven’t we sung the hit hymn all official correspondence to the session ernment that of praise Rejoice in the Lord, always and clerk.” Now, that minister knows his books are not to again I say, rejoice. Rejoice, rejoice and priorities and dares to delegate be treated as or- again I say rejoice, and done it with a authority. dinary consumer swing and gusto that almost makes the Wellington has adopted the products, but that windows rattle and the sound system practice of electing office bearers their educational, scien- scream. during the month of November, tific, cultural and religious As we were singing it last Sunday the elected elders and/or deacons significance sets them apart before the evening service, I was thinking are thus able to commence their from any other merchandise. of all the sadness that has struck so many work at the beginning of the new The sessions of the Christchurch of our homes in the last few years. Homes year and also accept the responsibilities congregations have come up with a where an emptiness and loneliness has of the new year’s budget. The Mangere beautiful plan to share as churches in come due to the loss of a dear one. And church decided on this course of action the burden of the cost of school fees then I also thought of the story of the guy some years ago, and it works! for those children of their congregations who complained that he had no shoes who attend Christian schools. This “joint until he saw someone who had no feet! December responsibility” suggests involving not I finished that song, thinking: “Let’s stop only the parents, but also everyone looking at what we have lost and begin Early this year there was quite a fear else in the church that should share to concentrate on what we have left. that the New Zealand Government this responsibility and burden with the We will then find that we have much, planned to tax God’s Word. Rumours parents. This move for support is still in we can rejoice and be happy about. were rampant that an “across the board” its initial stages and those in favour of this Let’s count our assets then and not our wholesale tax would also include the corporate sharing are asked to indicate liabilities, and we may find that we can book trade. Just imagine a sales tax on to the organisers that they are willing to still sing that popular hit song.” the Sermon on the Mount! But these join. That is what I call “big thinking” in The Dutch Parliament has gone totally fears were thankfully unfounded when God’s Kingdom. crazy, so they reckon in Holland. First the Minister of Finance presented his As a book lover, it pleases me no end there was a national campaign to get budget to Parliament. The “please don’t to see good Christian bookstalls sprouting everybody to leave their cars at home tax books” campaign reasoned that a tax up in a number of our churches. and use a bicycle. The motto was “Be on books would be a tax on knowledge, Hamilton has now also commenced a sport, get fit, use your bike.” And the faith and learning. The value of books such a venture and it seems to be whole of Holland pedalled to work across lies in their intrinsic merit, viz. that they enthusiastically received by the members the dikes. Now parliament has made a can change lives. Apparently, such a tax in that church. Many people can’t law restricting the cyclists to a speed limit would also violate the international prin- seem to make the effort to obtain good of 25km per hour and they must have ciple of freedom of information. Even the Christian literature, but are happy and a rest of 20 minutes after each 80km guillotine- happy French revolutionaries keen to purchase them when good books they have pedalled. If you want to do had to axe the tax on books. I’ve been are placed right under their noses. Of more than 200km per day, you need told that last year the Australian Gov- course, you’ll find that it is always the a permit for the exercise. That’s what ernment had to remove such a tax even same people who keep on buying books I call “clipping the wings of the Flying before it could be implemented. It is very and are willing to invest in that type of Dutchman.” We Kiwis are fortunate, no fortunate that the New Zealand book gold, while many others, including office way can anyone clip our wings. trade has been able to convince the gov- bearers, don’t see books as nourishment

18 Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 to the mind or that they do contain more appreciated this very much and each And to end the news for this month, real wealth than a good bank. day waved to the driver as he passed let me pass on the following anecdote I came across an interesting little story his place. One day the tanker stopped of a preacher who said rather satirically, in the North Shore church bulletin. One and the guy introduced himself and told “I have only one spiritual member in my of their members is presently studying in Bill that he wanted to give him $100 church, and she causes me more trouble the United States and lives there with his for being so nice to him. He insisted on than all the others put together.” wife, along quite at dusty road. Every giving him the money and since then Bill Abridged day a water tanker came by, dampening has had some opportunities to witness to the road to keep the dust down. Bill him. This is a true story.

Books in focus

Love Thy Body: Answering Hard onstrates how and why our present Questions about Life and Sexuality society denigrates the body, but how by Nancy R. Pearcey. Baker, 2018. Christianity offers a better alternative. Hardcover, 336 pages, $15.63 Pearcey reminds us that we have lost a (Amazon). “teleological” understanding of creation. Reviewed by OP pastor Charles B. In other words, we were created, both Williams. body and soul, for a purpose (telos) – the glory of God. Any true morality of Nancy Pearcey contends that abortion, the body, then, must be seen in light of euthanasia, hookup culture, homosexual- this biblical teleology. ity, gender ideology, and modern notions This book has its flaws, however. Al- of marriage hold one thing in common: though she situates humanity within a each stems from a common worldview threefold grid of creation-fall-redemp- that denigrates the body – a worldview tion (45), Pearcey fails to accent the she labels “personhood theory.” importance of the consummation as a According to Pearcey, the Enlighten- distinct category. That is not to say she ment redefined morality. Instead of up- denies the future resurrection, but she holding virtue as an objective external does take some rather frustrating cues truth to which mankind must conform, from N. T. Wright. At one point, for in- modernity disregarded it as the subjec- stance, she scolds a pastor who preached tive opinions of private individuals. By a sermon on heaven as being implicitly severing facts from values, modernity gnostic (41). became a moral wasteland. After two Furthermore, although her fact/value world wars, however, our postmodern distinction provides a (mostly) helpful society now seeks to impose a new set grid for assessing this somatic revolution, of values onto all of society, by redefining it is no silver bullet. Pearcey’s meth- morality after its own corrupted image. odology is overly simplistic. Love Thy One consequence has been the redefi- Body presents a history of “big ideas” nition of personhood, where the notion severed from their historical contexts of “person” (value) is severed from the in such a way that reduces these ideas body (fact). Personhood theory replaces to caricature. Laymen could walk away biology (who I have been created to be) thinking that Platonism, Cartesianism, with psychology (how I feel or think) as Kantianism, and postmodernism are the basis for human identity. As a result, identical philosophies. She also grounds the world does not see the body as in- complementarity within the inter-Trini- tegral to personal identity, because the tarian relations of the Godhead (156, authentic self is no longer seen in the 249, 257, 260). For a work designed to created self. uphold the biblical view of both body The grand irony is that personhood and marriage, this is no small problem. theory has led to a gross depersonali- Marriage emphatically does not image zation: in exchanging loving marriages the Father’s relationship to the Son. for pornography and families for social Marriage images the Son’s relationship contracts, we have exchanged the truth to the church (Eph. 5:25–33). of God for a lie. Pearcey not only dem- Pearcey also endorses Wesley Hill’s

Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 19 rather troubling spiritual friendship thesis readers will undoubtedly disagree with (178, endnote 49). some of them. Even in those cases, they Seventy-five years ago C. S. Lewis will profit from Davis’s analyses of the warned that society was primed to make important issues at stake. men without chests. Now, it seems, we I have only one critical concern. A have made men without bodies. Love large part of what Davis does is to help Thy Body provides a valuable aid to help readers think through difficult end-of-life the layman critically engage personhood moral decisions that Scripture doesn’t theory and stand up for objective truth. address, and to do so wisely, in a way New Horizons, February 2019 consistent with our theological commit- ments. This is good. But, Davis’s way of speaking frequently gives the impression that he’s a biblicist who expects Scrip- Departing in Peace: Biblical ture to answer everything. Throughout Decision-Making at the End of Life the book, Davis writes of what “God’s by Bill Davis. P&R, 2017. Word permits,” what “God’s Word au- Paperback, 300 pages, $15.00. thorizes,” or what “God’s Word requires” Reviewed by OP minister and (or of what’s “biblically permissible,” professor David M. VanDrunen “biblically appropriate,” etc.). In some cases, Scripture does what Bioethical decisions about treatment he says. In other cases, it really doesn’t. and care at the end of life – concern- Consider a farmer who wants to carry ing oneself or others – confront nearly out his vocation in a godly way. The all contemporary Christians. The process question for him is not whether Scrip- of dying has always raised important ture permits him to plant soybeans, or moral questions, but recent advances in authorizes him to harvest in October, or medical technology and the complexity permits him to sell his produce to China. of the health-care system have made God did not give Scripture to answer them exceedingly more complicated. those questions. The farmer must exer- Scripture doesn’t directly address many cise wise judgments about the climate, options we face. What are we to do? Bill soil quality, government regulations, and Davis has offered an excellent resource market conditions. He is authorized to on this issue for Reformed Christians. make such judgments as a divine image- Davis draws on his experience as a bearer created to exercise dominion and philosophy professor, PCA elder, and to love God and neighbor. Farmers had member of local hospital ethics com- such authorization long before Scrip- mittees. He devotes a long early chapter ture existed. to foundational moral-theological ideas A number of the “principles” Davis that guide the rest of the volume. The lays out require similar evaluation. For following chapters are theoretically sub- example, it’s not exactly true that “God’s stantive but have a practical focus. Davis Word authorizes spouses to speak … for reflects upon treatment decisions people each other.” That authorization comes face as death looms, the function and from the nature of the marriage relation- importance of advance directives, how ship as God created it; it existed long financial responsibilities affect treatment before Moses took up his pen. choices, and how to navigate hospital Davis’s topic, end-of-life bioeth- culture. He helpfully utilizes concrete ex- ics, exposes the problems of a bibli- amples to illustrate the process of moral cist mindset. I don’t think Davis really reasoning that leads to godly decisions. is a biblicist. In effect, he helps readers Along the way, he advises readers how to work through moral issues that Scripture interact with people wisely and pastorally. doesn’t contemplate. But if he had used Davis’s primary audience is Chris- words such as “wisdom” and “prudence” tians inclined to think that being pro-life much more often and phrases such as implies an obligation to try to extend life “God’s Word permits/authorizes” much as long as medically possible, and hence less often, I believe he would have com- to accept whatever treatment options municated more clearly. accomplish this. Davis argues that being New Horizons, November 2018 pro-life does not carry such implications. But he also warns readers tempted, in the other direction, to claim autonomous authority to choose life or death as they wish. In almost all cases, I believe Davis makes the right moral judgments. Many

20 Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 A Colorful Past: A Coloring Book school programs of the church. Hope- of Church History fully it will spark further conversations by William Boekestein, illustrated about the church and how God has by Naomi Kamphuis. Reformation been faithful to her from generation to Heritage, 2018. Paperback, 88 generation. And since “there are no un- pages, $6.00. important people in God’s church,” may Reviewed by OP pastor Jonathan this book help our children see their L. Cruse precious place in the body. New Horizons, March 2019 Children love to draw, just as they love to be told a great story. These two pas- sions are combined in A Colorful Past to hopefully produce a third: love for Alphabet of Bible Creatures: the church. In this coloring book of Considering God in His Creation, church history by William Boekestein by Peggy Noll, illustrated by and Naomi Kamphuis, children (and Cheryl DeGraaf. CreateSpace, their adult family and friends) are not 2017. Paperback, 56 pages, $11.95 only introduced to some of the most (Amazon). important figures in church history, but Reviewed by OP member Lois are immersed into their stories as well. Sorkness The book is organized to have at least one important church history figure rep- I tested this book out by reading it to resented from each of the last twenty two of my grandchildren, aged three and centuries of the church. Young artists four. Following my short explanation that begin in the first century with the apostle this was a book about animals that are Paul (depicted in chains under Roman mentioned in the Bible and that there guard) and by the end will have jour- is one for each letter of the alphabet, neyed the whole way to Glenside, Penn- the two were thrilled page after page. sylvania, coloring in J. Gresham Machen They tried to name the animal, made lecturing at Westminster Seminary in the the first sound in that animal’s name, twentieth century. Each picture is accom- then traced the letter with their fingers. panied by a few sentences that explain Each double-page spread consists of the important work accomplished by a simple yet colorful and captivating il- these various figures. lustration. DeGraaf’s art incorporates the Readers will learn that featured capital letter and its animal in helped translate the Bible into English, a scene that fits well with the biblical that Tertullian articulated the doctrine of concept conveyed in Noll’s short rhyming the Trinity, and that Lady Jane Grey stood poems. Each poem is well crafted from, for her faith even in amidst the threat and substantiated by, several Bible verses, of persecution. While the heroic figures which are also written out. The oppos- of the Reformation are well attested, the ing page is neatly arrayed with nine of book also includes lesser-known charac- the same capital letter pictured with its ters: Gottschalk, Vladimir of Kiev, and animal. My granddaughters loved spot- Saint Columba, for example. Budding ting the animal from the right page that artists who use this coloring book will was used in the array on the left. be getting a head start on seminary! Noll’s poems are rich with deep the- A particular strength of A Colorful Past ological truth stated in a child-friendly is that it represents the unity through di- way that is fun to read and listen to as versity of the visible church. Men who well as reverent, which I find rare in would be on different sides of denomina- today’s world of trite Christian children’s tional lines still belong to the “one Lord, media. She demonstrates how Scripture one faith, one baptism” of God’s church. uses animals as metaphors to show the To that end, medieval scholar Thomas characteristics of God, the plight of man, Aquinas, fiery Baptist minister Charles and what God in his rich mercy has done Spurgeon, and brilliant Reformed theo- for his people. God is our refuge and logian and statesman Abraham Kuyper strength as the rocks are for the rock are all in the book, just as they were badger. The psalmist is like a desert owl all used powerfully by God in and for in the wilderness. Our heavenly Father his church. loves us more than the sparrows, each I highly commend this informative of whom he knows and sees. and interactive book. It would be great I was surprised to see “U” is for for use in the home or even in Sunday unicorn, but the King James version of Job 39:9 asks, “Will the unicorn be

Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019 21 willing to serve thee?” Noll handles it versations in the home and sensitively well in her poem: introduces the concept of keeping our bodies and ourselves safe. It gives parents It may have been a unicorn a tool to talk with their children about That God revealed to Job their bodies and to help them under- To show His servant who was boss stand the difference between the appro- Of all who walk the globe. priate and inappropriate touch of others. Each page has a colourful, multi-font and This is a delightful and valuable book modern illustration. for regular teaching of Bible truths and Scripture memory. As a teacher I have one critique. The alphabet should feature the lowercase letters more; children learn to read more readily when taught low- ercase letters first. New Horizons, November 2018

God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies By Justin S Holcomb and Lindsey A Holcomb, (Illustrated by Trish Mahoney), NEW GROWTH PRESS / 2015. Hardcover, $22.44 from Book Depository. Reviewed by Moana Leenders

God Made All of Me is a simple and clear read-aloud picture book for parents to share with their 2-8 year olds. This book teaches children about good and bad touching and starts with the wonder- ful truth that God made our bodies very good! Our private parts aren’t shameful, but they are private. The book assumes mum and dad will be having these con-

“The Father is ready to love and receive; the Son is ready to pardon and cleanse guilt away; the Spirit is ready to sanctify and renew; angels are ready to rejoice over the returning sinner; grace is ready to assist him; the Bible is ready to instruct him; heaven is ready to be his everlasting home. One thing only is needful, and that is, the sinner must be ready and willing himself.” J C Ryle

22 Faith in Focus Volume 46/4 May 2019