Yawn...Stretch

Not quite ready to wake this blog again, but I feel the time may be near.

Calvin on I Peter 1:1

To the elect, or the elected. It may be asked, how could this be found out, for the election of God is hid, and cannot be known without the special revelation of the Spirit; and as every one is made sure of his own election by the testimony of the Spirit, so he can know nothing certain of others. To this I answer, that we are not curiously to inquire about the election of our brethren, but ought on the contrary to regard their calling, so that all who are admitted by faith into the church, are to be counted as the elect; for God thus separates them from the world, which is a sign of election. It is no objection to say that many fall away, having nothing but the semblance; for it is the judgment of charity and not of faith, when we deem all those elect in whom appears the mark of God’s adoption. And that he does not fetch their election from the hidden counsel of God, but gathers it from the effect, is evident from the context; for afterwards he connects it with the sanctification of the Spirit As far then as they proved that they were regenerated by the Spirit of God, so far did he deem them to be the elect of God, for God does not sanctify any but those whom he has previously elected.

The Goal

...till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ...

My First Sermon at COPC

March 8, 2009

Calling All Non-Presbyterians

Do wet babies put you out of sorts? Do rapture gain-sayers get up your ire? Do you think that Calvin should be read only if he's accompanied by Hobbes? If so, I could use your help.

I'm planning a study series for this summer aimed at helping folks at our church better explain and defend from Scripture some of the distinctives of presbyterianism. I'd like to focus, in particular, on those reformed/presbyterian doctrines or practices which non-presbyterians find the most bizzare, mystifying, and perhaps even offensive.

What I could use from you, therefore, my non-presbyterian brethren, are your lists of these objectionable doctrines and practices. Perhaps I can phrase it this way: What are the top ten reasons you would not join a reformed and/or presbyterian church?

Anonymous responses are more than welcome.

CDP at the New BRDhouse

Hey Yocals, If you haven't yet been out to Englewood to the new and improved BRDhouse coffee shop/music store, you really ought. And for a perfect excuse, you can come out Saturday night, February 7th at 8:30 and hear Curt, Tom, and me sing. We ourselves are neither new nor improved, but some folks still find us tolerably entertaining.

Just Passing One On