Short devotion - Presbyterian Patches - Luke 5:36

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

Daily devotions: Theological Kudzu - Acts 12

Acts 12:22       They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man."

When our family initially came to Knoxville in 1994, we encountered kudzu for the very first time. It’s an annoying Japanese ivy that covers and practically obliterates every tree in its path. At the height of summer, instead of seeing beautiful oaks, elms, sycamores and fir trees at the sides of the road, all you can view in some areas is a wilderness of kudzu. It smothers the land in a blanket of green ivy. You literally can’t see the forest because of the kudzu.

Theological kudzu is smothering the Western Christian Church. In our scramble to keep from declining, most mainstream denominations have elected to allow the current trends to dictate our policies. We take on non-biblical standards and our theology becomes fuzzy. Being nice and tolerant trumps being faithful and committed. The path that we’re on and the journey that we’re making is given greater significance than where we’re eternally headed. In the end, we can’t see Christ because of the culture.

Because we’re in love with ourselves, our trends, and our culture, we falsely believe that we speak with the authority of God. It’s a Grand Delusion and a dangerous one that is separating more people from Christ inside the Church. Something has gone wrong and because our theology is contaminated and our biblical knowledge is diminishing, we are in peril of sacrificing our sacred beliefs for the sake of appeasing society.

From what I’ve read in the New Testament, the First Christians were faced with similar issues and yet they opposed the predominant Roman culture and were prepared to die for Christ. They didn’t surrender to peer pressure, indulgent lifestyles, or the cosmopolitan culture. They remained faithful to Christ, first and foremost, no matter how unpopular it made them.

I think that it’s time for the mainstream Church to be reformed and rediscover its true roots. If we make changes for changes sake then we will become like the European Church – irrelevant, ineffective and no longer influential. We have to remind ourselves that being Christian is never easy and that every generation has to fight for the faith.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, these are turbulent times for Your Church and God’s Kingdom. We are at a crossroads of our own making and are in danger of taking the wrong path, which will only lead to perdition and self-destruction. Give us the courage to come out of the worldly wilderness and re-find Your True Path. In Your Holy Name, we fervently 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 Savannah series drawings. It’s called River Walk Trolley and features a Savannah streetcar down by the riverside. You can view a larger version of this print at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4802760967_b609e43cba_b.jpg

This Week's Top Ten Presbyterian Blogs

Presbyterian Bloggers has some great writers in its ring. Perhaps you haven't had the chance to read some of them. Here's what I consider to be amongst some of the best for this week.

Jan Edmiston over at A Church for Starving Artists has posted a blog about the newly discovered Scottish singer Susan Boyle and her quote that she’s never been kissed. Jan weaves the blog into a clever post about how we’ve all been kissed by Judas.

Encounter with the Gardener is Carl Wilton’s latest post after Easter. In it, Carl writes about John’s depiction of Christ as gardener after the Resurrection and the Genesis story of the Garden of Eden. Carl asks if John the Gospel writer is symbolically telling us something about Christ cultivating our spirits.

Train your body…prepare your soul is this year’s motto of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon that Adam Copeland is training for. Over at his A Wee Blether blog, Adam writes a post called “Jogging My Memory- I May Have Lost It.” In it, he states that he’s hooked on marathon training and how much Adam is looking forward to running in October of this year.

Bill Tammeus’s post, Facing Up To Differences, is about how we each see religious art differently. He writes about his recent visit to a sacred art exhibition and how different people respond individually to the 200 pieces art on display. Some find the works profound and deeply moving, whilst others only give a casual glance. Bill ponders if this is how we similarly respond to the sacred scriptures and holy rituals.

The future of Evangelicals and evangelism is discussed in John Schroeder’s blog, “Blogotional.” He writes about the need for institutionalism to secure evangelism in the years ahead. John’s blog also contains some great artwork and references to comic book heroes.

Rev Kim has an interesting post about John Madden’s retirement. In it, she writes about her admiration and respect for this great American football icon. Kim is an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, but she has loved the hard work, grit and super analysis that Madden has shown in the commentary box. Like many other Americans, she will miss this giant commentator in the history of the game.

Discernment is a rare and hard to handle gift from God. Nancy over at the Conversation in Faith weblog ponders when and where God has given her discernment in her calling. It’s a problem that all called people experience and she writes about how she wrestles with this gift. It’s an important subject that we all should take time to read and reflect upon.

The issued about violence among today’s youth is posed over at Stewart Pollock’s insightful blog, Not So Reserved Pastor. Stewart writes about the recent discussion at his presbytery where the Peacemaking Panel made a presentation on this very serious subject. Stewart challenges all of us and our churches to confront this culture of violence in all of our communities.

Jody Harrington of Quotidian Grace posts a history lesson for the Governor of Texas. The Governor recently stated that secession for the state of Texas could not be ruled out. Jody sets him straight on what the original Joint Resolution of 1845 actually expresses. Don’t mess with Texas Presbyterians, Guvn’r!

I may not agree with him many times, but I certainly wouldn’t ignore him. John Shuck is always interesting to read, no matter what the subject. As usual, he tackles denominational, religious, and political issues every week. His post about the tax protests this week has already stirred up a heated discussion (mea culpa – mea maxima culpa). So, if you like your theological wheetoos mixed up with some spice and broken glass, John’s blog may be your cup of tea.