David Young Unity Changing World David Young
Unity.Changing.World.North.Boulevard.Elders.Preachers: 20/20 Vision CAST for Instrumental Music
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Tradition or Traditional 20 Times
Style or Styles 16 Times
Method or Methods 9 Times
Customs 2
Language 7 Times
Heritage 2
Freedom 22 Times--something WE give YOU.
Opinions 11 Times
A Statement from the North Boulevard Elders and Preachers February 1, 2009
In the last recorded prayer Jesus offered before His crucifixion, He spoke these words: “I pray also for those who will believe in me ... that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you …. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:20, 23).1
Ever since our beginning in 1947, the North Boulevard Church of Christ has sought to live up to Jesus’ prayer for unity among our members. We seek to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). We want to obey the biblical exhortation “that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought” (1 Cor. 1:10).
God has largely granted North Boulevard a spirit of unity and peace throughout the past six decades.
As the congregation grows larger, however, and as more people come to us from diverse backgrounds,
we must work harder to maintain the unity of the Spirit.
Today more than ever we find among our members different expectations, maturity levels, styles, customs, needs,
and ideas about how to do the work of the church.
The call to connect the message of Christ to so many different people challenges us every day at North Boulevard.The Scriptures provide certain non-negotiable guidelines for how to live out the message of Christ, including how to do ministry, how to witness to the culture around us, how to live holy lives, and how to conduct our assemblies.
Jesus did not grant himself any freedom to speak anything based on His own liberty. A Son of God is one who OBEYS what the Father says and does not look for legalistic loopholes:Beyond these non-negotiable instructions, however, the Scriptures permit Christians and churches
to exercise considerable freedom and to apply God’s Word in merciful ways.
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
John 12:47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not:The only Liberty He has extended to us is to be free of Laded Burdens and Burden Laders
for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
John 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words,
hath one that judgeth him: the word [logos] that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Rejected: athet-eō , athetos) A.set at naught a treaty, promise, etc., “pistin” Plb. 8.36.5; “thusian” LXX 1 Ki.2.17; “diathēkēn” Ep.Gal.3.15; “theon” 1 Ep.Thess. 4.8; 3. deal treacherously with, break faith with,John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself;
1Thessalonians 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter:
because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
1Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
1Thessalonians 4:8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God,
who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. [His Word John 6:63]
but the Father which sent me,
he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
John 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting:
whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak
Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time
hath in every city them that PREACH him,
being READ in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Jesus defined the INCLUSIVE and EXCLUSIVE Word for any disciple to speak:
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying,
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name [singular] of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Jesus didn't give the Apostles as the pattern for evangelists any liberty: a herald has no liberty to change his destination or the message which he gets no authority to improvixe.Disciple of Christ will not seek the LIBERTY to break the bands and go out intentionally sowing discord.
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.
Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (James 2:12-13).How do we exercise the freedom Christ has given us
in such a way that reaches the most people with the Good News
while at the same time maintaining the unity of the body?
Most churches wrestle with this tension. So do we at North Boulevard.This document and the accompanying spoken lessons delivered at North Boulevard on February 15 and 22, 2009,
represent the general position of the North Boulevard elders and preaching ministers
regarding how to maintain the unity of the body
while at the same time exercising the freedom Christ has given us
in order to communicate the message of Christ to a changing world around us.This document is not a creedal statement, nor is it intended to summarize every core belief at North Boulevard. There are many important matters of faith not treated in this document.
Rather, this document is intended to explain to the congregation the spiritual criteria the leadership at North Boulevard
uses to make decisions about how to do ministry,
how to communicate the Good News,
how to conduct our assemblies, and the like.
Furthermore, this document is not a planning document intended to prepare the
church for any particular changes we might make as a church.
Rather, the document is intended to describe our general approach to the work of the church—an approach that we hope honors God both by engaging our heritage and by speaking intelligibly in a changing world.
The document is also intended to encourage you, the members of North Boulevard, to join the leadership
as we seek a balance between this continuity with the past
and a sincere effort to communicate the Good News in the language of the present.
We know that such an effort may pose a constant challenge,
but with God’s help and with patience and forbearance on the part of the church,
we believe taking the challenge head on will be well worth the effort in reaching the lost and helping the saved to mature.The North Boulevard Elders, John Risse, and David Young
STATEMENT FROM THE NORTH BOULEVARD LEADERSHIP1. We intend to be obedient to the Scriptures.
We Believe
All of North Boulevard’s leaders want North Boulevard to be a church that obeys the clear teachings of the Bible and that seeks the same experience of Christ that the New Testament church sought. We believe what the Psalms declare:
The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11)
Psalms 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
Psalms 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me:
then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Our desire to be a biblical church is so strong that none of us,
including any elder or preacher, would want to remain in the North Boulevard congregation
if the North Boulevard church were knowingly and deliberately to abandon its biblical foundations.
We believe that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17).When we approach the message of the Bible, we want to accept it “not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:13).
We Acknowledge
We acknowledge that because of our sinfulness and imperfect human judgment,
there are areas where we have not fully obeyed Scriptures or have not fully understood their implications.
This will always be the case since we remain weak and our world constantly changes. As James reminds us, “We all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2). To say that we are a New Testament or Bible based church is not to claim perfection. It is to describe our commitment to take the Scriptures seriously and to submit to them as the Word of God as fully as we know how.
We Commit
As leaders at North Boulevard, we commit to the ongoing process of studying the Scriptures, seeking to submit to them, and measuring what we do as a congregation by the teachings of the Bible. We want to be like the people of the ancient city of Berea, who possessed noble character because “they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day” (Acts 17:11). The New Testament teaches us to test ourselves: “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5). We pledge to the church that we will continually test ourselves using the truth of 3
Scripture. We also pledge that we will not deliberately lead the church away from the Word of God.
We Ask
We ask the congregation to make this same commitment to follow the Scriptures in life and in doctrine. We ask the congregation to study the Word of God, to integrate it into your hearts and minds, and to walk daily by its precepts.
“Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart” (Psalm 119:2).
Psa 119:45 And I will walk at liberty:
.......... for I seek thy precepts.Psa 119:46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings,
.......... and will not be ashamed.Psa 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments,
.......... which I have loved.Psa 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments,
.......... which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.We also ask the congregation to work lovingly and gently with the leadership as together we continue to seek to become everything the Scriptures teach us to be. We want the entire congregation to practice Paul’s admonition: “Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16).
2. We want to extend freedom in matters of opinion.
We Believe
North Boulevard has a heritage of granting freedom in matters of opinions, styles, and methods. We believe that North Boulevard should continue to practice the freedom of Christ where no clear teaching of the New Testament is involved, so long as that freedom is guided by appropriate principles of love for others, godly wisdom, justice, and mercy.
Freedom is a central theme in the New Covenant of Christ:
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17).
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). “
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love” (Gal. 5:13).For this reason we believe that God wants us to extend freedom in areas of opinion
and that God is dishonored when we create a legalistic or judgmental environment
or an environment dominated by human traditions or frequent controversy.
“The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other” (Gal. 5:14-15). “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human traditions and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (Col. 2:8).
“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him” (Titus 3:8-10).We believe in practicing liberty in matters of opinion, and we seek to speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where it is silent. We will try to honor the ancient maxim: “In matters of faith, unity; in matters of opinion, liberty; in all matters, love.”
We Acknowledge
We acknowledge that this is not an easy commitment to keep. As humans, each of us has strong feelings for particular styles and traditions that we, for various reasons, don’t want to give up. As humans, we acknowledge that some of us simply do not like change but instead value stability. And as humans we confess our tendency to want to have things our own way, even in church.
Just as the early church faced tensions over various cultural and traditionsal issues, we know that we will face the same. We also acknowledge that it is not always easy to determine
whether a particular issue is a clear biblical teaching or a mere private interpretation or stylistic preference.
Knowing what is a matter of faith and what is a matter of opinion is difficult in some cases
and may often require long periods of prayer, study, and conversation, but the result is worth the effort.We also acknowledge that, though many things may be permissible, not all things are helpful (1 Cor. 6:12). There are things that the Scriptures allow Christians to do in theory that may be harmful or even wrong in our particular context. 2 For this reason, we acknowledge the need to balance Christian freedom with Christian responsibility, exercising our freedom in love (1 Cor. 16:14), for edifying others (1 Cor. 14:26), and for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). In matters of opinion or judgment, we acknowledge the need to ask the question, “Will this help us to do what God wants done?” We do not wish to create an environment where freedom is exercised without concern for how such freedom will impact others.
We Commit
As leaders at North Boulevard, we commit to the instructions of Ephesians 4:2: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
We pledge to extend freedom in matters of opinion and to encourage people to flourish within the freedom that Christ offers,
so long as this freedom is used responsibly and in loving ways that edify others and glorify God.We Ask
We ask the congregation to be discerning between matters of faith and matters of opinion.
We ask the congregation to be willing to accept
that some of the things we have done in the past at North Boulevard
are traditions and that these traditions
may not be necessary for following Jesus.
Indeed, we ask the congregation to join us in recognizing that, from time to time,
our traditions may eclipse the Word of God or even hinder God’s work.
Jesus found the traditions of the Pharisees to do just that:
“Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition” (Matt. 15:6).
We do not want to be like the Pharisees. We ask the members of the body
to appreciate that we have many different opinions and traditions
and that we ought not to give our traditions the same weight as we do the Word of God.
We ask every member to be open to consider when a tradition no longer serves its original purpose
or when it is preferable to alter a tradition or adopt a new custom or .
We further ask that every member exercise care not to judge other members merely on the basis of cultural, traditionsal, or stylistic norms. As Paul concludes “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment
2 Paul’s discourse on eating meats that had first been sacrificed in the name of idols demonstrates this truth. Paul admits that there is nothing wrong with such meat and that Christians may eat it with clear consciences. At the same time, however, Paul warns his Corinthian readers that they might inadvertently lead a former idolater back into paganism by exercising this freedom. He even expresses concern that one might end up mixing the table of Christ with the table of demons by eating such meat. Paul shows a careful balance between freedom in Christ and Christian responsibility—a balance we must practice today as well. See 1 Corinthians 8-10.
1 Corinthians 10 Mount Sinai
not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way” (Rom. 14:12-13).
We remind ourselves that we will be judged with the same strictness we apply to others.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matt. 7:1-2).
“Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:11-12). And we remember that God takes our complaints about one another very seriously. “Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!” (James 5:9).
We ask every member to practice the fruit of the Spirit in our dealings with one another. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23).
3. We want to stand firm on the unchanging Gospel while constantly seeking culturally sensitive ways to communicate the Gospel to an ever-changing world.
We Believe
We the leaders of North Boulevard are committed to the timeless Gospel as revealed in the Scriptures.
We believe that the Scriptures cannot be changed and that the Gospel must not be compromised.
At the same time, we acknowledge that the way we communicate the Gospel, including the language we use, the styles and methods of communication, even the moods, methods, and technologies of our assemblies, must constantly be adapted to our ever-changing culture if we are to communicate the Gospel in a way to win people to Christ and help the saved continue to mature.3
We believe that speaking the Gospel in fresh, contemporary ways can help others, even our own members, appreciate its profound beauty and truth and respond in life-changing faith. We stand on Paul’s ministry philosophy:
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free
3 We acknowledge that a primary purpose of our Sunday assemblies is to encourage and inspire those who are already Christians (this is implied in such texts as 1 Corinthians 14 and Hebrews 10:24-25).
Ephesians 3
Nevertheless, even those who are already Christians need the message of Christ communicated to them in understandable, relevant, challenging, as well as appropriate ways.
Jesus as Holy Spirit promised to be with Paul and guide him into all truth. Peter and Paul WROTE their revelation for our "memory." Poor God, poor Jesus, poor Paul and poor Ephesians: they need rhetorical skill to be able to READ the same text as the elders read and may be better Bible students.
Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward:
Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;
(as I wrote afore in few words,
Ephesians 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men,
as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit
Colossians 4:16 And when this epistle is read among you,
cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans;
and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
1Thessalonians 5:27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
The Command from the wilderness onward was to PREACH the Word (only) by READING the Word.
2Corinthians 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Corinthians 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face,
that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Corinthians 3:14 But their minds were blinded:
for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament;
which vail is done away in Christ.
2Corinthians 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
2Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
As Paul says regarding the Corinthian assemblies: “Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you.
Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church” (1 Cor. 14:8-12). For this reason, we should continually test our assemblies to assure that they are speaking Christ’s message in styles, methods, and languages that twenty-first century people, including Christians, can understand and appreciate. from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. (1 Cor. 9:19-22)
Just as Paul was willing to change his method in order to connect with his audience,4 in the same way we are willing to explore and try new traditions, new styles, and new methods of communicating the Gospel to an ever-changing culture around us if it helps bring people to Christ and mature them as disciples and so long as such changes do not dishonor God or prove to be ineffective in accomplishing His will.
This applies to our ministries, our leadership styles, our preaching and teaching styles, our singing, and the general feel of North Boulevard.
We want to be like the men of Issachar, who “understood the times and knew what Israel should do” (1 Chronicles 12:32).
1Chronicles 12:33 Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war,
with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.
1Chronicles 12:34 And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.
1Chronicles 12:35 And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
1Chronicles 12:36 And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.
1Chronicles 12:37 And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.
1Chronicles 12:38 All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
1Chronicles 12:39 And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.
Not a single leader at North Boulevard is willing to
see the congregation or the Lord’s church at large suffer under
ever-increasingly archaic, obscure, or irrelevant styles , methods, or traditions
just because our fathers practiced those same styles, methods, or traditions.We Acknowledge
We acknowledge that change is painful. We acknowledge that many of us wish we did not have to make any changes to communicate to people, even though we are committed to making the effort. We also acknowledge that we leaders often don’t know the best way to communicate the Gospel in an age that is becoming more vulgar and more hostile to Christ.
Sometimes in the short run, it would be easier just to stay the same, even though it might slowly deplete our spiritual fervor. We also acknowledge that sometimes we have difficulty agreeing even with one another on what changes are worthwhile and how best to implement them. We acknowledge our need for grace and understanding from the body at North Boulevard as
we try to live by Paul’s premise to “become all things to all men”
in a church that has so many different tastes, traditions,
and strongly held feelings about how the work and worship of the church ought to be conducted.Indeed, a church family as diverse as North Boulevard—in education, economics, ethnicity, generations and backgrounds—is a seedbed for potential disagreement. But our diversity also provides us with a great opportunity to demonstrate the unity of Christ by forbearing with one another and by learning to love one another in spite of our differences. Our diversity actually enhances our ability to demonstrate the beauty of the body of Christ:
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober
4 For an example of how Paul actually practiced this philosophy, compare his sermon in Acts 14 with that of Acts 17. In Acts 14 he preaches to Jews in a synagogue in the city of Antioch of Pisidia. His lesson is derived from the Old Testament, he quotes many Scriptures, and he shows that Jesus is the fulfillment of Scripture.
In Acts 17 Paul preaches on Mars Hill to pagan philosophers in a strikingly different style. Here, he quotes no Scripture, but instead quotes two pagan philosophers, whose quotations actually referenced the pagan god Zeus! He begins his message not with a reference to the Old Testament, but with a reference to a pagan shrine. And he says little about Jesus, but rather speaks of the universal God in a language these philosophers could appreciate. Paul’s skillful adaptation of his message to the people around him helps account for Paul’s wild successes as one of the first Christian missionaries.7
I beg your pardon!
Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica,
where was a synagogue of the Jews:
Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them,
and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Acts 17:3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead;
and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Acts 17:4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas;
and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
Acts 17:5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Back to the Bible!
Acts 17:17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
Acts 17:18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
Acts 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
Acts 17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription,
TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
THE UNKNOWN GOD IS MADE KNOWN
“No one has ever seen God, but God One and Only, who is at the Fathers side, He has made him known to us.” John 1:18 Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein,
seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, [pointing, raising, clapping or Picking]
as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth,
and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him,
though he be not far from every one of us:
Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being;
as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God,
we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold,
or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Live in harmony with one another. (Rom. 12:3-5, 10, 16)
We Commit
As leaders of North Boulevard,
we commit to exercising wisdom as we strike a constructive balance
between maintaining our continuity with the past
while at the same time trying to speak a language that communicates to a diverse world in the present.
We remember the counsel of Solomon: “By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established” (Prov. 24:3).
Proverbs 24:1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Proverbs 24:2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
Proverbs 24:3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
Proverbs 24:4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Proverbs 24:5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety.
Proverbs 24:7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Proverbs 24:8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
Styles, traditions,
and methods
will change with or without us.
We commit to making
changes wisely, carefully,
and with the consensus of the leadership team.
We commit to seeking to give the church adequate explanation for changes WE make and to giving the church fair time to process the changes. We commit to listening to the church as it seeks to understand what the leadership at North Boulevard is doing.
We will try to work slowly and wisely so as to avoid disorder, disunity, and needless confusion as we try to speak the Gospel in a world with multiple opinions and tastes.
That's what Hitler said in Mein Kampf!
Plato knew how to use gradualism: we call it Boiling the Frogs by predestined frog boilers or Quack Spirits.We know, from the statements in Job, that among patriarchal tribes that had nothing whatever to do with Mosaic institutions, but which adhered to the pure faith of the patriarchs, idolatry in any shape was held to be a crime, to be visited with signal and summary punishment on the heads of those who practised it.
"If I beheld the sun," said Job, "when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; and my heart hath been secretly enticed, and * my mouth hath kissed my hand; this also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for I should have denied the God that is above" (Job 31:26-28).
Now if this was the case in Job's day, much more must it have been the case at the earlier period when the Mysteries were instituted. It was a matter, therefore, of necessity, if idolatry were to be brought in, and especially such foul idolatry as the Babylonian system contained in its bosom, that it should be done stealthily and in secret. *
Even though introduced by the hand of power, it might have produced a revulsion,* It will be seen by-and-by what cogent reason there was, in point of fact, for the profoundest secrecy in the matter. See Chapter II
and violent attempts might have been made by the uncorrupted portion of mankind to put it down; and at all events,
if it had appeared at once in all its hideousness, it would have alarmed the consciences of men, and defeated the very object in view.That object was to bind all mankind in blind and absolute submission to a hierarchy entirely dependent on the sovereigns of Babylon. In the carrying out of this scheme, all knowledge, sacred and profane, came to be monopolised by the priesthood,
who dealt it out to those who were initiated in the "Mysteries" exactly as they saw fit, according as the interests of the grand system of spiritual despotism they had to administer might seem to require.<>
Thus the people, wherever the Babylonian system spread, were bound neck and heel to the priests. The priests were the only depositaries of religious knowledge; they only had the true tradition by which the writs and symbols of the public religion could be interpreted; and without blind and implicit submission to them, what was necessary for salvation could not be known "music and gymnastic (must) be preserved in their original form, and no innovation made. They must do their utmost to maintain them intact. And when anyone says that mankind must regard...
The newest song which the singers have, (Odyssey)... "they will be afraid that he may be praising, not some new songs, but a new kind of song; and this ought not to be praised, or conceived to be the meaning of the poet; for any musical innovation is full of danger in the whole State, and ought to be prohibited.
"So Damon tells me, and I can quite believe him; he says that when modes of music change, the fundamental laws of the State always change with them..."
"Then," I said, "our guardians must lay the foundations of their fortress in music?" "Yes," I replied, 'in the form of amusement: and at first sight it always appears harmless'." (The Great Dialogs, Plato, Classic edition, p. 312)
Dr. KERR, Reformed Presbyterian Church of Scotland, Glasgow, Their plan of campaign would be marked by the following stages at considerable intervals:
1. adverse comments on the simplicity of the worship observed;
Tradition or Traditional 20 Times
Style or Styles 16 Times
Method or Methods 9 Times
Customs 2
Language 7 Times
Heritage 2
Freedom 22 Times--something WE give YOU.
Opinions 11 Times
2. a choir, who would alone sing;
3. a hymnal, with hymns from Romish sources, and
4. frequent use of hymns by Newman and other notable Romanists;5. a harmonium in the Sabbath school;
6. an organ in the church (a gift if possible);
7. occasional references to Protestants as bigots;
8. frequent use of the terms "the church," "holy communion," and "holy orders;"
9. a new church in shape of a cross, with chancel, nave, organ loft, apse, altar, and reredos;10. introduction of saints' days and holy days, including Ash Wednesday, Maunday Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday; crosses, crosiers; candles; incense; thurifers; and so on.
We want our roles as leaders to reflect God’s purpose for leadership as described by Paul:
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:11-16)
We Ask
We ask the congregation to join us in thinking as missionaries think—that is,
trying to speak the Gospel in a language and a style
that reaches as many as possible in our increasingly diverse community as well as in our world.
We ask the church to be patient and grace-filled as we continue the ongoing work
of seeking to communicate the Good News in styles,
languages, and traditions that include as many people as possible.
We ask the church to join us in seeking to enjoy here on earth the great diversity of people who will worship God in heaven in the hereafter.
“And they sang a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation’” (Rev. 5:9-10).
12.28.13
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