Last week Phillip Shroyer, Stephen O'Mara, and I attended the PCA's General Assembly in Dallas. Phillip had the opportunity to serve on the MTW committee, while Stephen and I served on the Overtures committee. The overall tenor of the assembly was quite encouraging. I was especially encouraged by the words of the moderator Paul Kooistra which were repeated throughout the week, namely, that most of the problems (if not all) in the church today are caused by people who think they are SOMEBODIES and so they look down their noses at everyone else. We need to remember, he said, that Christ, the only true SOMEBODY, became a NOBODY for us so that we, who are true NOBODIES, might be SOMEBODIES in Him. And we need to follow His example in our lives.
Considering ourselves SOMEBODIES is one of those "respectable sins" of ministers and Christians in the 21st century. We laud SOMEBODIES, don't we? And we look down on NOBODIES. What a reminder Kooistra gave us! It is one that we need to remember and heed, especially as we move ahead together as a denomination.
Without making comment upon the things we discussed at GA (there are enough comments available on line from people who are more insightful than I am...see the "By Faith" website, for instance), let me say that as old and new issues come before us as a denomination we need to remember Paul Kooistra's words and take them to heart. Maybe that will help us to converse with one another in a spirit of brotherly love and charity.
On a different note, about 30 youth and adults just returned from a week-long mission trip to Cherokee, NC, to work on the Cherokee Indian Reservation there. The team will be giving a full report in church on Sunday immediately following the morning worship service. From what I have heard, the trip was absolutely incredible! Please join me in praying that its impact will continue to last both in our church and in Cherokee, NC.
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