Author Archives: reveds

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About reveds

Occupation: Pastor, Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, Lennox, SD Education: BS - Christian Education, Sterling College; MDiv. - Princeton Theological Seminary Family: Married, with Four children. Hobbies: Running (will someday run a marathon), Sci-Fi (especially Doctor Who and Sherlock), Theater, and anything else my kids will let me do.

PCA GA Day 1

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This week I have the privilege of serving as a commissioner to the 51st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America, meeting in Richmond, VA. This is my 4th time to attend the PCA-GA, and I thought it would be helpful to share what’s happened so far, what I’ve been a part of, and some of the great things that are happening in our Church.

First, I was sent by the Siouxlands Presbytery to serve on the Committee of Commissioners for Reformed University Fellowship. Here’s what that means… Each Permanent Committee of the General Assembly (MTW, MNA, RUF, etc…) meets through the year and conducts their business and makes their recommendations to the General Assembly. Then commissioners meet before the Assembly starts and review the work of the Committee, and either give consent to the committee’s recommendations, or propose substitute motions instead. The RUF Committee of Commissioners met on Monday afternoon and heard a very positive report on the work of RUF (the college ministry of the denomination) and gave overwhelming support to the permanent committee’s report.

Most of today was spent networking with other presbyters and learning about different ministry opportunities through the organizations that are present in the Exhibition hall. One of the fun things to do is gather GA Swag, and I think I scored some pretty nice T-Shirts and a great MTW Cap.

This evening the General Assembly began in earnest with our opening worship service and preliminary business.

Worship was excellent! Over 2,000 men, women, and children, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to the glory of God, confessing their faith and reading the scriptures together. TE Fred Grecco, the outgoing Moderator, preached a powerful message on the Blessing of the Bible, based on 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5.

Ruling Elder Steve Dowling was then elected moderator of the 51st PCA General Assembly. The technology executive from Covenant Presbyterian Church in Auburn, Alabama, was chosen by unanimous acclamation.

Most notably, the Assembly voted to receive and adopt 3 amendments that had been approved by the 50th Assembly, then affirmed by a majority of the Presbyteries. This was the final step in these three amendments becoming finalized in our Book of Church Order. The amendments passed this evening were (amended portion underlined):

ITEM 1: Amend BCO 7-3, regarding titling of unordained people, by the addition of a sentence 7-3. No one who holds office in the Church ought to usurp authority therein, or receive official titles of spiritual preeminence, except such as are employed in the Scripture. Furthermore, unordained people shall not be referred to as, or given the titles of, the ordained offices of pastor/elder, or deacon.

ITEM 2: Amend BCO 8-2 and 9-3, to require officers ’conformity to Biblical standards for chastity and sexual purity in self-description, by the addition of the underlined wording.
8-2. He that fills this office should possess a competency of human learning and be blameless in life, sound in the faith and apt to teach. He should exhibit a sobriety and holiness of life becoming the Gospel. He should conform to the biblical requirement of chastity and sexual purity in his descriptions of himself, and in his convictions, character, and conduct. He should rule his own house well and should have a good report of them that are outside the Church.
9-3. To the office of deacon, which is spiritual in nature, shall be chosen men of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly spirit, warm sympathies, and sound judgment, conforming to the biblical requirement of chastity and sexual purity in their descriptions of themselves and in their convictions, character, and conduct.

ITEM 3: Amend BCO 38-1, regarding confessions and offended parties (adding the following text)
In any instances involving a personal offense (BCO 29-3), the court shall attempt to inform the offended person(s) of that part of the Confession the court deems pertinent to the offense against him or her. The court shall invite the offended person to provide the court comment on the Confession prior to final approval of the Confession by the confessor and the court. The court shall encourage the offended person to enlist the help of an advisor in preparing any such comments. In all instances, the court shall report the way such offended persons were informed of the parts of the Confession pertinent to them.

Tomorrow will be a full day of business at the Assembly. We will hear many reports, and vote on several overtures that have been brought before the Church. Overall, there is a tremendous feeling of brotherhood, fellowship, and love for God, for one another, and for the Church. It is such a blessing to be part of a Church that is committed to being Faithful to the Word of God, True to the Reformed Faith, and Obedient to the Great Commission.

SDG

On the Decrees of God

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Q. What are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

The Shorter Catechism of the Westminster Confession of Faith glorifies God by placing all things under His sovereign decree. This is what the Scriptures clearly teach that God “works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Eph 1:11) As G.I. Williamson writes in his study of the Catechism,

“What we see happening in the world is not just a matter of chance or accident. Things do not just work out the way they do for not reason at all. No, there is a reason for everything. and the ultimate reason for everything is the great plan of God. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” (Rom 11:36).

Williamson, GI, The Westminster Shorter Catechism

When we say that God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass, we certainly do not mean that God is the author of sin. While God’s plan for all things certainly includes the sin that takes place, the Scriptures are clear that God is not the author of sin (1 John 1:5; James 1:13; Proverbs 8:13). God created angels and men, and they were very good when God made them. But, as free agents, sin arose in those creatures, and they rebelled from God. In fact, the Bible says that Satan is the author of sin (John 8:44; 1 John 3:8).

Neither does the decree of God rob man of his personal responsibility. God’s eternal decree does not make us automatons, so predetermined that what we say and do have not lasting consequence. It is true that God has chosen His people unto salvation, and not one will be lost from those whom He has called. God has determined from the beginning the destiny of every man and woman, some to eternal glory (Eph 1:4), and others to eternal damnation (Jude 4). Still, the scriptures also teach that those who are ultimately lost are lost by their own choice.

Look to the story of Pharaoh and the people of Israel. God hardened Pharaoh’s heart, bringing about the oppression of the people of Israel, so that greater glory would be revealed in their deliverance. But Pharaoh also hardened his own heart, and acted viciously.

The point is this: God controls by divine decree and sovereign power everything that happens to His own purposes, but that does not remove any responsibility from those who sin. Sinners sin because they are sinners. Evildoers do evil not because they are forced to, but by their own evil intent.

Let us uphold the glory of our Sovereign God who has ordained all things according to the counsel of His will, learning always to seek His will and live in righteousness for His praise and honor.

SDG