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Showing posts with label Confessional. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Confessional. Show all posts

Thursday, March 27, 2014

Make sure you believe what you believe.

I believe I have mentioned before that I am a confessionally reformed baptist and that I gladly and willingly am a member of an Orthodox Presbyterian Church.  The Duchess of Hips is in the same boat as I am.  We were discussing infant baptism, and she had some really good questions.  While she is studying through it I was reminded that we should always make sure we believe what we say we believe.  I'm a Credobaptist, but have I studied both sides?  Well, actually, I have.  Several times.  But am I willing to have my mind changed by scripture?  I sure hope so.  In light of that, when I stumbled upon a book called "Covenant Children Today:: Physical or Spiritual", I was intrigued.  And when I saw that it was written by Alan Conner I couldn't resist it!
Alan Conner was my Pastor at Northwest Bible Church when we lived in Oklahoma (many moons ago).

This book is only 122 pages long, and has 15 chapters and 4 Appendix.  I find this interesting because after the 15 chapters it was like he couldn't stop and just kept thinking of one more thing to add.  It reminded me of my series on Modesty with all my preface's.

Anyway, he had so many well thought out arguments that I had never even thought of, or come across in my studies before.  He also had the normal ones about household baptisms (ch 14) and circumcision (ch 10).

Pastor Conner brings out the beautiful contrasts between the Old and New Covenant and urges his reader to not bring the "old, worn-out skins of the Old Covenant" into the New Covenant.  He does this by doing a wonderful word study (I did just call a word study wonderful, I LOVE them!) on the word New.  It does not mean Renewed.  He also brings out passages of the Bible to show what God said about the New Covenant, such as Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:13.  The latter verse says, "When He said, 'A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete.  But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear."

This book is not a highly academic book that only a Pastor or student in seminary would read.  This is a book that is chalk-full of scripture, and it is a book for the masses.  I was so very blessed and renewed in my belief that the Bible does in fact teach a credobaptist view.  And if you are a Presbyterian, I would share with you two things about the book::

  • Pastor Conner starts the book with a Preface in which he makes clear to his reader that he does have love for his Presbyterian brethren.  I think this is important because he is realizing that these views, while important, are not a cause to break fellowship!
  • He does use the word "obviously" a lot.  Why do I bring this up?  Because for someone disagreeing with where he is coming from, it is NOT obvious.  Please, still read the book, just go into it knowing it will be there and don't take offense where it wasn't meant.
You can find the book here for only $9.00.  A great value, and I guarantee you will learn something!

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Mysterious Queen





While I am not at liberty have no desire to divulge to the world my true identity, I can let my reader know a little about me.  

First of all...and this will be shocking...I am not actually a Queen.  Yes, that would be truly fantastic if I were.  Yes, I would be a magnificent Queen, but the Bible clearly states in Hebrews 13:5, "Be content with such things as you have." And so, I am content with my tape, pine trees, et al.  

Secondly, I am technically a Baptist that holds to the 1689 Confession of Faith.  I happen to attend a Presbyterian Church, and I happen to love being in a fully Confessional, Reformed, and theologically sound Church.

Thirdly, I'm spastic.  Yesterday I may post a blog about an awesome book, today a weird (albeit completely inspiring and well written) post about myself, tomorrow maybe a magnum opus on how truly terrifying and evil clowns are and how great that there is a shortage!

Lastly, I'm actually working on a real post and it is another book review.  What can I say, I apparently didn't write enough book reports in school.  

I have a sister, the Duchess of Garbage Sinks, that pressured me into writing a post today, so you can blame her for the crazy that you just endured.