Three Witnesses

Audio version here

Matthew 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. (NIV)

I don’t remember my baptism, but I remember seeing old monochrome photographs of my parents and older sister after the event. The photos were taken with my Dad’s box camera and the prints were 2x2. In one of the photographs, my mom is holding me in her arms whilst my sister is pulling at her skirt and crying. I’m oblivious to all that was happening that day. I’ve got no idea what all the fuss is about.

As well as my family being there with the congregation and minister, there were also three very important witnesses to the whole ritual – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The old pastor who baptized me invoked their presence during the prayers, and even although I was completely unaware of what was occurring, the Holy Spirit must have touched me that Sunday morning.

Baptismal questions were asked and promises were given. And even although my parents were not church-goers, they did see to it that I went to Sunday School – well, at least my mom did anyway. They loosely attempted to keep their part of the covenant, but God made certain that His side of the sacred agreement was fulfilled.

These days, I get asked to baptize babies of folks who have loose connections with the congregation. I wish that some of them would make a greater effort in fulfilling their vows, but in the end I completely trust God to fulfill His part of the covenant. Some of the kids I’ll never see again, but I hope and pray that they will be touched by the Holy Spirit and ushered into God’s Kingdom at some point in their life. Our congregation tries to mentor and guide many of the kids who are part of our faith community, because it also makes a promise to do so. But sometimes getting the parents to come with the kids is an uphill battle, especially if they think, like my own parents did, that church is a leisure option instead of a lifetime commitment.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, many children will be baptized throughout the world this Sunday and sadly, some of them will never cross the threshold of a church door for years. Let Your Holiness prevail in the hearts and souls of these young ones. Let Your covenanted connection to them emerge throughout the passing years of their lives. May all the young ones, who are baptized this Sunday, become faithful servants for Your Kingdom, despite the weak church connections of their families. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Weekend Screensaver - Patrick's Trinity

Tomorrow is Trinity Sunday. This is a Celtic design with Trinity symbols all over it. I dedicate it to St. Patrick, a Scotsman who converted Ireland to Christianity.

Parting of the Way

Scottish audio version here

Psalm 33:11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

John 7: 43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. (NIV)

Today, there will be a sad parting in our Presbytery of East Tennessee. Our biggest church, Signal Mountain of Chattanooga, is leaving the denomination. Throughout the last fifteen years, they have tried to remain with the PC(USA) but after last year’s faith fiasco at the General Assembly, they are now pulling out.

The Progressives and Pluralists in our denomination are causing untold damage across the church. Their insistence in changing the faith of the church to accommodate cultural ways is more about defiance and rebellion. They are not growing the church; they are wrecking it and tearing down the walls.

But the purposes of God’s heart can never be thwarted and what is emerging is a neo-orthodoxy, where people are longing and clinging to the Gospel because they know within their hearts that the truth about life exists in Christ’s words and ways. The pseudo-progressives are actually regressing into pagan, heretical, and heathen ways – the real progressives are those who are walking onward and upward in the Kingdom of God.

So, today will be a sad time for our presbytery, but it will also be a triumphant time for God’s Kingdom. The old ways still remain – the Trinitarian values, qualities and titles that we ascribe to God will still be revered. Our people may be divided, but it’s because there are some who are still devoted to Jesus – not the Historical or Hysterical Jesus – not the Buddhist or New Age Jesus – but the One, True and Living Christ who is accurately revealed to us in the New Testament.

In the end, it’s all about faith and not our preferences. We kneel to no one but Christ. We call no one else Savior and Lord. The Progressives and Pluralists are creating another god, a different Christ, a more culturally acceptable Jesus. They are not reading the Gospel – Jesus was an anti-cultural radical and the true Church has been fighting the good fight against society since it was first established on the Day of Pentecost. And, long after the Progressives and Pluralists are dead and gone, Jesus Christ of the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John will still be worshiped, glorified, and exalted.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, our church is divided because of You. Some of us have taken sides with the world and the devil in order to be more acceptable to society. Others of us have remained loyal to Your ways and words, as we read and hear them in the New Testament. Let Your Holy Spirit fall upon our churches and our people. Let Your true ways be proclaimed and Your Gospel be truly taught. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.