Thinking about a certain young person of the congregation who recently recited the entire First Catechism in only two settings gave me cause to encourage all of us to be so diligent.  This piece is an adaptation of an introduction recently written for another member of the congregation who has labored incessantly to make these Standards available for his home country, see endnotes.  

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                                  Concerning the Value

                                                of the  

                  Church’s Confessions and Catechisms

It is a folly in human nature to approach life as if we were the first to have lived.  Generally, men count it as wisdom to learn from those living before us.  To our own hurt, the church has not always understood the usefulness and abiding value of her historical confessions and creeds.   So, of what value are we speaking and what dividends do they yield for the believer today?

• They Take Stock of God’s Ways Among Us

Our confessions and creeds are carefully worded affirmations of generationally shared Christian beliefs.  Beliefs which have been founded upon the Word of God.  Beliefs written down for all the world to see, a belief bearing witness to the wonderful grace of God at work in history, an evidence of God’s covenant faithfulness from ancient times to the present.  These are God’s work within us at a given point of time that then become a way of marking the foot prints of God across history, enabling us to take stock of God’s ways among us.

• Our Standards are Meant to Serve Us as We Glorify God

Beyond a testament to God’s work, it is worth noting that a church’s creeds serve the church in a variety of offices.  Our creeds serve as instructors pointing us to the Bible to see Christ alone as our hope and salvation.  They are historians calling us to accurately remember the great works of God in redeeming a people for His name’s sake.  They are communicators with our people and particularly our youth since those who take the pains to acquire this knowledge find a language filled with rich biblical vocabulary to communicate the gospel.  They are watchmen to inform us when the church strays or is threatened. They are evangelical soldiers which battle false teaching.  They serve as apologists to a mocking and often jaded world.  They are evangelists promoting gospel truth wherever they go.  To us, they are friends sharpening friends. They are accountability partners from the past holding the church’s under-shepherds accountable to God’s word.  From them the voice of a comforter points out the security of the gospel.  While they are not the cause of our praise, they are leaders in our praise drawing confession of intelligent and instructed gratitude from our mouths to God our Savior.

• A Key of Learning Giving Access into the Vast Riches of Christ in the Scriptures

The catechism is not a replacement for the Scripture, rather, it is a way into the length, and depth, and width, and height of Holy Scripture.  These are wholesome words which accord with the doctrine of godliness serving as a Divine pedagogy and theology which has been forged on the anvil of time and truth, by tested and trusted Christians.  It is a tool for the mind, an orderly means of categorizing truth and providing a mnemonical method perfectly suited to thinking minds, both young and old.

• The Westminster Standards have Joined the Cloud as a Witness to King Jesus

Among the great cloud of literary witnesses to Christ since the first century of the church, the Westminster Standards have come to take an honored place among the creeds of the Christian church.  The Westminster Confession of Faith published in 1647 and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms published in 1648 are products of the Westminster Assembly of Divines meeting in London, England from 1643 to 1653.  The assembly consisted of over 120 ministers of the gospel and from this body of men Biblical truth was distilled into doctrinal statements and teachable portions for doctors and babes alike.  In a play upon words that remind us how easily a word or term can change from age to age, the Standards have joined the digital cloud as well.  Thus, D.v., ensuring our Standards will easily pass on to yet another generation downstream.

• A Magnetic Like Influence Orienting the Church Toward Christ

The Westminster Standards have left an indelible mark on history and the souls shaped by the gospel of our great God.[i]  The influence of the Westminster Standards over the last 370 years is demonstrated by the vast number of Biblically faithful churches worldwide adhering to the Assembly’s work.  Benjamin Warfield comments,  “It is honor enough for the Westminster Assembly that is has provided this multitude of voluntary adherents with a practicable platform of representative government on Scriptural lines, and a sober and sane directory of worship eminently spiritual in tone; and above all, with the culminating Reformed Confession of Faith, and a Catechism preeminent for the exactness of its definitions of faith and the faithfulness of its ethical precepts.”[ii]

However, the lasting value of the Westminster Standards is perhaps best attested to by what Warfield called, “sound presentations of the truth, not derived from extraneous sources.”[iii]  In other words, the standards commend themselves because of their closeness and dependence upon God’s word.  The resulting triumph is seen in, “the voluntary adhesion of multitudes of Christian men”[iv] acknowledging and submitting to this doctrinal and ecclesiastical expression of the Word of Christ.  

• Certainty of Gospel Hope 

My hope, and I believe it a reasonable expectation, is that by providing faithful and scholarly translations of The Westminster Confession of Faith, The Shorter Catechism, and The Larger Catechism that the labor of our own church’s diligent Pastor-Missionary-Author[vi] , will greatly further the work of Christ in his homeland.  These labors, which were the product of his loving and painstaking attention to detail and skillful wording will yet be used by God to bless the church existing now and yet to be born.  May these works draw together scores of believers and teachers by grounding them in the faith of Christ which was once and for all delivered to the saints.[v]

Greg Stiner ~ Shawnee, Kansas USA

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[i] Is the Shorter Catechism Worthwhile? ; Selected Shorter Writings of Benjamin B. Warfield, Vol 1, p. 382.

[ii] The Westminster Assembly and Its Work; The Works of Benjamin B Warfield, Vol. 6, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI; p 72.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Ibid.

[v] Jude 1:3 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3 NKJ).

[vi] This blog is adapted from a recent introduction written for Missionary-Pastor-Author Dr. Eliah Massey and his translation of the Westminster Standards into the Urdu language – Entitled “Our Firm Foundation.“

How do you prepare for the Lord’s Supper?  

Listen to Instruction From God’s Word

• Learn from the Example of Others

When God descended on Mt. Sinai, He told the Israelites to take three days to prepare themselves for His arrival (Ex. 19:10).  When Paul wrote the church at Corinth about partaking of the Lord’s Supper, he addressed the need to prepare ourselves for communion with the Lord (1 Cor 11:17–34).  Our preparations will greatly facilitate our blessing at the Table.

• As God’s People it is Good to Note that We Need Correction from Time to Time – Verses 17-22

But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you. Therefore, when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.

• Recall What the Supper is About – Verses 23-26

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

• Fence the Table in Your Heart – Verses 27-32

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

• Think On the Needs of Others – Verses 33-34

So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.

*All verses above are taken from New American Standard Bible.

Reflect on this Special Celebration and Your Local Church’s Practice

On the Lord’s Day of August 9, we eagerly anticipate the celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper during the morning worship service.

We are not casual about this observance.  Rather, we look upon this remembrance of our Lord’s death as a holy and precious experience!  The Scripture promises rich blessing to those who approach it rightly and warns of spiritual harm to those who don’t.

Because of this instruction in God’s Word, and for the good of everyone concerned, our church asks that all who wish to participate in the receiving of the bread and the cup, first meet with our elders to make a profession of their personal faith in Jesus Christ, describe their relationship to a true branch of Christ’s Church, and discuss the meaning of this sacrament.

An informal interview can be arranged for the convenience of each person interested, please speak with an elder if you desire to partake with us. Please, also bear in mind that due to time constraints it may not be possible to arrange an interview the morning of the service.

In any case, we hope this day can be a great blessing for you, as you hear God’s Word preached, join in His praises, and witness this celebration which recalls the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ for His people.

May you experience God’s grace and love abundantly!

 See the Shawnee RP Hello to our Members unable to attend>>>

Wisely Discern and Differentiate

A man was treated unjustly by the very authority charged to keep him safe and as all the world now knows, he lost his life instead.  The man I’m speaking of here is Jesus Christ.  There were no after-action mobs protesting His death.  No pillaging, looting, plundering, or burning government or private property.   After watching Jesus breath His last the mob proudly beat their chests and went home (Luke 23:48).  They thought that they had gotten rid of their problem by killing Jesus.

Fifty days later, the name of Jesus Christ was spreading through the world in such a powerful manner that mobs, Molotov cocktails and raging anger can never accomplish.  That great and holy name has lasted and has become the Salvation of the world.  Jesus Christ came into the world to save us from mayhem and hooliganism not to place His approval upon it.   In His own day Jesus evaluated the human condition saying,

“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. “For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke. 6:43-45)

Own the Problem

As citizens of this country we all must demand justice for Mr. Floyd of Minneapolis.  At the same time, we must all own that angry mobs can never accomplish a true and civil justice.  Christians must be on guard against those inciting crowds of people to commit further acts of violence or worse actually taking part with them in those acts.   We must also be on guard over our own hearts as we all can too easily fall prey by watching the same viral video over and over again or listening to the incessant reiterations of the event by news media coverage working their audience into a mad frenzy of shame.  Be aware that these are methods of anarchists and they tend to the subversion of the rule of law in a civil society and in this they do not differ from police abuse.  This is not the way of peace and reconciliation.

Before you enter the crowd at the office or in the public square, before joining around your television with family and friends, recall that God tells us we must not follow a crowd to do evil (Exodus 23:2) not even in our hearts.

A Better Way

Follow instead the multitude of principles given to us by God in the Bible.  Deescalate the tensions that exist by speaking and living in a manner meant to build up your neighbor by speaking the truth in love.   Calculate the response to the words you are about to speak using the words of the old adage, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov. 15:1).

Affirm your underlying principles, like those found in Paul’s letter to Roman Christians.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:16-21 ESV)

Point to God’s Lasting Justice

Offer the hope of the gospel to those who are dispirited by the recent actions concerning Mr. Floyd’s death.  It was heart wrenching to see a man asking for air to breath.  Why shouldn’t we be incensed to learn this man was denied his request?  But let that indignation be quelled in sea of God’s grace by taking them to the cross of Christ.  Tell them of the love of God in Christ toward a world that was filled with a raging enmity against the very One, the only One who could save them, even in the face of unparalleled hostility (Psalm 2).  Let the world once again see both the brutality and obscenity of the cross as well as the beauty and wonder of the cross of Christ.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Pet. 2:21-25 ESV)

Take the angry unruly hearts of our land to the cross of Christ to see the example of how God’s grace rules in a sin cursed world.  Friends, I’d rather live in an imperfect society ruled by grace than in an imperfect world driven by anarchy.