Luke 5:36 Jesus
told them this parable: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews
it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch
from the new will not match the old.”
I
love being a Presbyterian because of the deep roots and time honored traditions
in the Presbyterian Church. It appeals to my Scottish way of thinking and embraces
my need for a Reformed Celtic Christianity. I admire the heroes of the past who
devoted their lives to ensuring that the Presbyterian faith would blossom and
grow in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the United States, and all over the world.
I
love Presbyterian missionary zeal which was built upon the great ministries of
people like Mungo Park, David Livingstone, and Mary Slessor. I read their biographical
histories and I connect with their fiery faith and courageous confrontation of
the communities they served.
I
love Presbyterian thinking and its commitment to social justice. When I look
back across the centuries, I see the dedication of the Covenanters, American
revolutionaries, Advocates of the Poor, and Civil Rights marchers who changed
the industrial revolution and shaped the modern world.
In
the midst of all these movements, revolutions, and issues, a Christ-centered Presbyterian
Christian faith was at the heart of them. People protested because Jesus
advocated justice. Presbyterians rallied to reform because Christ redeemed the
world. The Church challenged the world to change its ways so that more people
could turn to Christ and be saved. Faith was revived; society was reformed; and
the Church glorified Christ above all things.
Because
I love being a Presbyterian and because I love all things Presbyterian, I am
sad that we appear to have taken the wrong turn and are going down a path which
may rend, tear apart, and divide the church into many pieces. New patches of
post-modernism seem to be ripping apart the faith fabric of Protestant
Presbyterianism. Instead of growing in Christ by doing what God wants, we’re
giving the world what it wants, and surrendering who we are as Reformed Presbyterians.
The new patches are creating a larger hole in the churches and congregations
across the land; unless we do something soon, we may see the end of Reformed Christianity
this century.
It
takes courage to confront the waywardness of society and to challenge the
characteristics of a civilization that is spinning out of control. But then
again, that’s when Presbyterians in the past have boldly stepped up to the
plate and revived the Church. Maybe it’s time to do the same again in order to
not just repair the godly garment that has been ripped apart, but to restore it
to the glorious goodness of God, the candid constancy of Christ, and the uncompromising
honesty of the Holy Spirit.
Questions for personal reflection
Is the post-modern
Church headed in the right direction? How can we ensure that we are following
Christ’s path and not our own way?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have watched the
path of the Church since its very beginning. You know the outcome of the paths
that we are presently following. Grant us the gift of discernment in order to
recognize Your Way of Truth and Life that we should be journeying on. In Your
Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.
John
Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian
Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s
message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.
Today’s
image is one of John’s latest chess pop art drawings called ‘Three’s a Crowd.’ If
you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7279/7586308216_7d7d189ebc_b.jpg
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