Speak Evil of No One

So, there has been a comment recently over the man John Calvin and his manner of life. Now this blog is not to be a defense of Calvin, because frankly I do not care. But I just want us as a Church and as the Body of Christ to learn and grow in Christ through this.

What I would like to say is this: let us grow to love… Let us grow to display the glory of Christ and strive to be conformed to His image. Paul tells Titus in Titus 3:2-3 to remind the church, “… to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray…” While men are not perfect, and there are horrible wicked men out there, we should love and strive to speak evil of no one, whether it is John Calvin or Jacobus Arminius, John Wesley or Charles Spurgeon. Let us guard our tongues. Let us learn from our great Lord Jesus Christ, who was beaten and mocked by evil men yet did not say one word against them. Even Jude warns us not to bring a flippant charge against Satan himself, the evil one… When I look at our Church, I want to see us as loving and respectful men and women whose tongues have been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit…

Reading

Reading and Reading

It has been a while since I have posted anything on this blog. I really want to because I long for our Church to see our hearts, and maybe, through the grace of God, would be encouraged to look to Christ and rest in Him. But to just throw a little post out here, I wanted to let you know a little bit about what I have been reading. I just finished reading The Freedom of the Will by Jonathan Edwards. All I can say is delish! It was wonderful. I think I may write a blog upcoming on it and just sum it up. It was very encouraging and helpful in my understanding of the Sovereignty of God and the will of man.

But, primarily, I wanted to invite you all to read something with me. In 2009, the blog known as reformation21.org is blogging through and reading through The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin. Now, they have already started, but all this week is just the introductions and prefaces, which you could read quickly. I would greatly encourage you to take on this effort. In case you were wondering, The Institutes were not written for high-minded theologians who reveled in their superior knowledge. Rather, they were written for the commoner, the layman, the plain Joe-blow Christian. And so far in reading the preface, I am greatly encouraged. It is beautiful to see the humility worked on Calvin’s heart by the Lord. One thing that just jumps out is this: that Calvin wanted no glory for Himself. He did not want to be recognized. He did not want to be known. He did not care about being liked. He wanted all the glory for everything to go to God and His Son Jesus Christ.

So I would encourage you to pick this up and read it. If you want a reading schedule, you can email our buddies at reformation21.org and they will send you one. Or just ask me and I will email you one. May the Lord get all the glory for everything, now and forevermore. Soli Deo Gloria.

Aaron M Addison

TIME CHANGE!

Hello Everyone,

Remember the time change this week.  We will be meeting at 3pm instead of 7pm from now on starting Sunday January 11.  Also, we will be meeting for corporate prayer at 2pm.  I love you all dearly.

Heb 13: 20-21

Brandon