Belhar Confession II

I have enjoyed reading much of what has been said in other posts, but as I stated in my earlier Post I wish to keep my posts more narrowly defined for continuity of thought.  

In this post I want to address a concern that I have heard from some who are afraid to voice their opinions about the Belhar.  I also want to address the content of what is said in the Belhar, as I noticed an opinion that we are simply talking about application and not about content.

Afraid to speak?:

"Unwrapping the Gift"  If you have not read the study guide to the Belhar that is the title of it.  What concerns me is that if it has been present to us as a gift then would that not put us in the wrong to question the "gift"?  (After all what kind of person rejects a gift!)  It seems so to me.  By presenting it as a gift the expected result is adoption of it.  I don't think I am over stating that assumption.  It could have been presented in any number of ways, but as a "gift" was how we have it.  So, to all those wishing to raise questions, I wonder if you feel the same unspoken pressure?

A different voice I have heard as well is from some afraid to raise questions or speak because they are afraid that any perceived opposition will be labeled as racism.  While I have not felt that in anyway in the blogs I read, their contention is that that will be the atmosphere of the General Synod floor.  As such they have warned me to perhaps just keep my mouth shut for once.  I would like to know if others have sensed this pressure of potential racism in anyway?

Content:

"therefore, we reject any doctrine ... therefore we reject any ideology" 

Here in lies the heart of my trepidation over Belhar.  If we look at the church over the last half century, I believe that the greatest harm that has been done to the cause of Christ has come from those proclaiming the name Christian, is when they become known by what they are against above the one who's name they proclaim.  ie... divorce, smoking, drinking, abortion, homosexuality, war, etc... 

When we look back at the original versions of our current creeds and confessions we have removed such cases of condemnation as those made towards the Anabaptists and the like.  We have moved beyond being know for what we are against and instead being known by what we believe in.  So, to go forward with adopting the Belhar as is, in my estimation, is a going backward to the detrimental practices of the last 50 years. 

A second issue with the statements that conclude the major sections of the Belhar:  "ANY"  I don't know if you are like me but I hate when any, all, never, always are used.  It does not allow for discussion or growth to occur.  In the case of a confession it is like a zero tolerance policy (the likes of which I abhor).  Where is the grace in "ANY?"  Additionally, who gets to decide that any has been violated?  Will we have one classis accusing another of violating any?  If you have read any of the discussions up to this point I think it is clear that the interpretations of any are already being debated and lines being drawn over how "any" can be applied or how to keep "any" contained. 

Were we to consider revision before adoption of the Belhar to exclude the rejection pieces I would see greater agreement about what it means, if we believe it, and how we might use it as a real possibility. 

As it is now I still do not yet have a resolution to how we should vote come June. 

Leighton Seys   

Belhar Confession I

I have much I would like to ask and inquire about the potential adoption of a new confession for the RCA.  However, for ease of discussion I will just write one topic of concern per post.   To find info on the Belhar: http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?pid=2552

I recently read the following:

"Two of the daughter churches merged to form the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) in 1994, and the URCSA is currently in talks to reunite with the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC)." http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?pid=5211

My questions are all concerned with the relationship between separate reformed churches:

1. How would the RCA's actions of adopting the Belhar effect the churches in South Africa and the whole of Africa?
2. Would our action be premature and detrimental to real unity and reconciliation for those who have had to live with such injustice?
3. Will it be perceived as a badge of honor, to be used against other churches, that we have sided with them by adopting the Belhar?
4. What impact would our adopting of the Belhar have our our relationship with the CRC?
5. Have other Reformed churches around the world chosen not to adopt the Belhar? And if we choose to how might that effect our relationship with them or other that choose not to adopt it?

I realize that many of you who read this may not be able to answer my questions and may have other questions. For this post however, please comment on how the Belhar will impact denomination to denomination relations only. I will create other posts in the weeks to come to address different topics. or feel free to create additional post before then. Thanx.

Short Sighted?

Regardless of your side in the economic stimulus/bail out, both side seem to be accusing each other about being shortsighted.  Either too shortsighted to see that if we don't act it will be catastrophic, or too shortsighted to see the long term cost of the actions we are taking. 

So, that got me thinking: 

Does our sin nature cause us to be shortsighted or does shortsightedness expound our sin?

Most would agree that when we sin we are thinking about the immediate gratification and disregarding the long term penalty, both worldly and eternal.  I guess some of the reason for this questions is simply a desire to better address and understand why some sins with obvious consequences seem to me so tempting?  We may know full well we will get caught and know the penalty and still be fully committed to engaging in the sin that we know will harm us.   As Paul says, "That which I do not want to do, I do, and that which I want to do, I do not do."

Perhaps even the very nature of sin is shortsightedness.  It is the self seeking in the now at the expense of the eternal.  Perhaps I'm asking a chicken and egg question.  Perhaps which leads to which does not matter.  Perhaps what most matters is I should desire to each day to grow in my faith and practice and know that I will not fully be like Christ until I am with Christ, and extend that same grace to all.

Leighton Seys

Be RESOLVED instead of making another resolution

I recently came across this as I was thinking about new years resolutions and thought it better than anything I might have to add on the subject.

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humble entreat Him, by His grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ’s sake. [I will] remember to read over these Resolutions once a week:

1. Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence.

2. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.

3. Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

4. Resolved, To live with all my might, while I do live.

5. Resolved, Never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

6. Resolved, Never to do anything out of revenge.

7. Resolved, Never to speak evil of any one, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

8. Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

9. Resolved, Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession which I cannot hope God will accept.

10. Resolved, To ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.

11. Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

12. Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them; what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

13. Resolved, Always to do that which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it.

14. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak.

From the Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 1

Christmas with the Enemy

As I read through this article in the Church Herald one concept stuck out very strongly.  While I wish I could say that is was the opinion of the whole church today, but it instead came from the voice of Satan.  "When God says something, it is trustworthy and true.  God doesn't play tricks or send diversions."  

Satan, knows and understands this simple fact of the matter and it is exactly this that causes him to tremble in fear.  He also acts in accord with this understanding. 

Why then do so many Christians struggle to see and hold to the truth that God will do what He says He will do.  He has said that he will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.  Yet we often cower when we are asked about our faith.  We often shy away from the call to Go and make disciples.  We wait for someone else to do it, like the missionaries or the pastor, and think that they are the only ones able to act on the power of God.

There is also another truth that I see in this article as well.  "Again and again, God willingly becomes small and humble in order to share love with his creation."  God chooses the unworthy, over and over again to do His will.  He chooses the incapable to to great things.  He chooses the least to do the most.  He chose, shepherds over warriors, fishermen over priests.  He chose murderers, slaves, prostitutes, etc... rather than scholars or kings. 

Why then should we ever feel anything but useful in the hands of our God?  Why should we shy away from what he can do through us?  This Christmas season I hope that you do not shy away from every opportunity you have to truly tell of the Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love that God has sent us in sending us Jesus Christ. 

PS.  If you haven't read this article, Go read it!