We celebrate communion on the first Sunday of every month. It's a time to reflect upon the great gift that God had given his people: the death of His son.
As the elements are handed out, the pastor regularly reminds us that "this is only for Christians; for those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you don't share in that profession of faith, don't take part. As Scripture says, you are eating and drinking judgment unto yourself."
We regularly have five busloads of university students attending our morning worship services. But the biblical warning is as much for us pew-sitters as it is for those who have come to check out the worship service.
When it comes to children at communion, I would hope that parents -- at minimum -- have had that conversation with their children beforehand to determine if they indeed do profess their faith in Christ. I would also hope that a parent has enough spiritual maturity to tell one child that he or she isn't quite ready to take that step.
We seem to equate communion with a church potluck; enjoy the feast because we're all part of one happy family. So, whose responsibility is it when a child, or a teenager, or a mature adult takes communion without truly professing Christ as lord and Saviour? What does it mean to eat and drink judgment to one's self?
Lambert: You seem to be applying that there is no need to have Preparatory Sunday prior to communion, nor to have us examine ourselves and our hearts prior to taking part in communion, nor to go to those whom we have wronged to ask for forgiveness before taking part in communion.
I agree with your conclusion: "I urge all of our congregations to be thoroughly consistent and open the sacraments to members of the covenant community." The covenant community, I take it, are all those who confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That still begs the question as the cup and wine are passed: "Do you believe that Christ died for your sins and rose again?" That question applies equally to adults as it does to young people and children.
We tend to use the term "covenant community" too loosely. We have the mistaken notion -- but I grew up with it too -- that all those who sit in the pews on Sunday in any CRC are part of the covenant community and, consequently, are saved. As Christ himself has said: "Some of you may say 'Lord, Lord' but I don't know you." I know of too many men and women who call themselves Christian but who don't live a Christ-like life. In fact, to call themselves a Christian could be considered blasphemy.
Communion is a time of personal, spiritual reflection: reflecting on God's great gift to us ... to me. What kind of personal, spiritual reflection does a child experience when he/she takes part in communion? Are they even capable of understanding? After they've had the juice and the bread, they may long for that peppermint.
The response to the conflict depends greatly upon the nature of the conflict. I have seen congregations divided over whether or not to pave the parking lot, over the time of the worship service, over the cancellation of the second service. These can be worked out through patience and dialogue.
I have seen congregations divided over an Article 17 separation of pastor from congregation, or the pending installation of an elder of questionable character, or the gender issue when it comes to selecting office-bearers.
Rule No. 1. Never, ever try to solve conflict by email. It invariably fails.
When dealing with potentially church-dividing conflict, take it slow and easy. Don't make rash decisions. Bring in an outside mediator. Never allow the pastor(s) to get caught in the middle of a conflict and having to choose sides (unless they are the subject of the conflict).
Lastly, but most importantly, spend considerable time in prayer, praying for wisdom, patience and a civil tongue.
Dave, it's been decades since I was first installed as an elder. We've come a long way since that time in providing proper orientation for elders (and deacons).
I mourn the selection process for elders these days. We seem to be more concerned with having 'a warm body' in an elder's chair than to have someone who is spiritually mature, who at least appears to live a holy life, and someone who knows scripture.
I would like to see congregations nominate potential elders, then have them go through a series of classes that review the church's doctrine -- yes, the creeds -- with a firm understanding of the Catechism. Potential elders should be asked about their spiritual lives (ie devotions, walking with God each day), their relationships to their spouse and children, and whether or not they feel qualified to become one of the congregation's spiritual leaders. They should display gifts of leadership and decision-making.
We have, in my estimation, taken the office of elder too lightly. As overseers of the preaching of the Word, and as overseers over the spiritual lives of folks within the congregation, elders have an obligation to know their scripture so that they can carry out their office appropriately.
Your very last question -- How do you seek to know what God wants from you? -- is quite different from the heading on this piece -- Knowing what God wants you to do -- and yet the answer is the same.
God wants our obedience. God longs to have us depend on Him for all that we need, want, are.
Several years ago, after a long and varied career in communication and journalism, I took six months off to discern God's will in my life. To ask God: "What's next?" Through that intimate time of devotions, I learned to 'let go'; that it didn't really matter that I had to find out what God has in mind for me. God has it all figured out.
It took time but I did develop that mindset of 'letting go'. Depending on God. I developed this image in my mind of a bicycle built for two. I'm sitting on the back; God is up front. And each day -- I still do this -- I ask God: "Where to today? Who will I meet? How can I be used by you?" And each day His answer is the same: "Never mind; just keep peddling."
God steers and directs my life and I'm along for the ride. But this isn't a passive ride. If you stop peddling a bike, you fall off.
So, I do my work. I facilitate a pile of breakfast meetings where I expose Christian business leaders to biblical principles that apply to leadership.
Matthew 6 regularly comes to mind. "Why worry about life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear." Since God oversees Creation, he cares even more about me.
So, what does God require from me? Obedience. Being open to God's leading every day. There is, therefore, no need to worry about anything.
Here's my rule of thumb: "Only worry about the things over which you have control. Then fix them. Anything that isn't under your control is in God's hands. Let Him worry about that."
Good point about elder visits. I clearly recall being installed as an elder the first time at age 23. Newlywed, young kid. I made my first 'home visit' to a seasoned elder. He sat me down in his living room, pulled out a blank sheet of paper and drew three concentric circles ... like a target.
He said that the bulls eye was one's relationship with Christ. Circles that moved away from that involved one's relationship with family, involvement in 'church life' and in Christian organizations.
He said that sometimes folks like to talk about their faith right away; their devotions and their love of God. But sometimes they're reluctant to talk about how their faith impacts their other relationships: family, church, community.
He said that sometimes folks like to talk about everything BUT their relationship to Christ. They can talk about church involvement, chairing various committees, heavily involved in organizing 'churchy' things, but have a difficult time articulating their personal relationship to Christ and their personal devotional life.
That one-word comment also sums up the kind of teaching, training and mentoring that I received when I was first elected an elder some 40 years ago.
With the benefit of hindsight, I was probably chosen to be an elder because
1. I seemed like a nice Christian guy.
2. I went to church twice on Sundays (back when they had two morning services).
3. I displayed leadership skills.
4. I loved the Church (ie its structure, Church Order, systems, etc.)
I was never interviewed for the position of elder; never asked for doctrinal positions on matters before the church's assemblies; never grilled -- or even asked -- about my devotional life and my knowledge of Scripture. It was 'assumed'.
I was probably asked if I loved the Church -- and I would have responded enthusiastically.
I was never asked if I loved Jesus, if I was striving to live a holy life, if I felt comfortable talking to parishioners under my pastoral care about their faith and my faith.
My view of elders today? Many aren't qualified to provide spiritual direction to those under their pastoral care simply because they aren't steeped in the Word and their daily devotional life is lacking.
Elders today (and undoubtedly for the past generation or two) seem to be administrative leaders more than they are spiritual mentors over the congregation.
That's absolutely not true, Carol. I wasn't selected because I was a male. Gender wasn't an issue back then. All elders and all deacons were men; no debate and no discussion.
In fact, the opposite began to happen in the 1970s with the advent of 'women in office'; women were chosen because they were women AND because they were qualified.
It is my hope and prayer that elders are never selected because of their gender but because they're qualified as spiritual leaders who lead godly lives.
Interestingly, at least for me, we have five married daughters. Four of them attend a PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) where men, and men only, serve as elders. For life. While they initially resented the fact that there were no women as elders, 'gender' has not become an issue. What is even more impressive that that those men who are chosen to be elders are incredibly godly men. The church takes the role of men as spiritual heads very seriously.
So, when they select new elders, 'gender' is never an issue. That's all they have ever known.
In the same way, when I first became an elder 40 years ago, gender was not an issue. Men were elders and deacons. Period. There was no thought, no desire to have women serve as elders.
During my early years in journalism, I used a typewriter with carbon paper. That's all I knew. I never longed for a laptop, desktop or anything digital.
I used to go to church twice on Sunday and I always wore a shirt and tie.
Times have changed. That applies equally to technology and church culture.
We shouldn't dismiss those earlier years in church when we 'only' had men as elders (in fact, there are undoubtedly hundreds of CRCs that still do) as something archaic ... where women were longing for the day when they could speak to a pastoral elder who was a woman.
The Church, and I speak of the CRC here, has often been too sensitive to the culture around us. Feminism led to the demand for women in office (though many denominations such as the PCA have resisted that).
I think I signed in with my "hello " almost a year ago. I don't think that much has come of the conversation, discussion or dialogue over the past year.
After serving numerous terms as an elder, usually as chair of council, I have discovered recently that I wasn't really qualified.
Sure, I checked all of the boxes, especially gifts of administration and organization, but I didnt have a sound biblical foundation. I couldnt easily quote scripture to parishioners when it came to providing wise counsel to families.
I readily proclaimed my love for the church and its institutions but, on hindsight, I didnt have a living, breathing relationship with Jesus.
So, the number 1 criterion for serving as an elder: have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and be immersed in scripture.
... just a quick note about time limits on speeches at Synod.
We have fallen victim to a Twitter society where everything needs to be said in a very few words.
I served as Synod delegate back in the early 1980s. Synod lasted two weeks and we'd spend hours ... hours .. in heated, wonderful debate on several major issues. Synod back then was indeed a 'deliberative body', filled with thoughtful dialogue and arguments.
We have lost that for the sake of efficiency and expediency ... and that is a shame. I cringe at the thought of having a meaningful debate in 2021 when the gender issues comes to the floor of synod. With speeches being confined to a two-minute soundbite, very little of substance will be raised.
When it comes to a meaningful discussion on things that shape the future of this denomination, what's the rush? Turn off your cell phones, shut down your Twitter account and become engaged in a robust, thoughtful debate. It takes time to listen, it takes time to be heard, it takes time to form a reasoned opinion before a decision can be made.
There is something almost 'holy' about bringing your offerings to the Lord on Sunday during worship. This isn't archaic or old-fashioned.
I think that a blend of technology and stewardly giving might accomplish both the church's need for regular giving and the worshipper's need to give ... and to be seen to give.
Using PAR or some similar form of electronic automatic withdrawal gives the church treasurer the assurance that the budget is being met (more or less). Parishioners are encouraged to tithe and to make that regular commitment each week or each month.
But when the offering plate is passed down the pew and it remains empty, what message is that sending to our children and grandchildren? That the offering is an option.
I suggest that the bulk of our offering be given electronically but that our true giving (as the Lord has blessed us that week) goes into the offering plate. Furthermore, our children should also be actively involved in the offering, giving a portion of their weekly allowance or income to the church. Unless children get into the habit of giving to the church, they will grow up with the view that passing an empty offering plate down the pew is some sort of archaic ritual. For many it has become precisely that.
Posted in: Peppermints, Mentos, and Communion With Children
This deeply disturbs me.
We celebrate communion on the first Sunday of every month. It's a time to reflect upon the great gift that God had given his people: the death of His son.
As the elements are handed out, the pastor regularly reminds us that "this is only for Christians; for those who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. If you don't share in that profession of faith, don't take part. As Scripture says, you are eating and drinking judgment unto yourself."
We regularly have five busloads of university students attending our morning worship services. But the biblical warning is as much for us pew-sitters as it is for those who have come to check out the worship service.
When it comes to children at communion, I would hope that parents -- at minimum -- have had that conversation with their children beforehand to determine if they indeed do profess their faith in Christ. I would also hope that a parent has enough spiritual maturity to tell one child that he or she isn't quite ready to take that step.
We seem to equate communion with a church potluck; enjoy the feast because we're all part of one happy family. So, whose responsibility is it when a child, or a teenager, or a mature adult takes communion without truly professing Christ as lord and Saviour? What does it mean to eat and drink judgment to one's self?
Posted in: Peppermints, Mentos, and Communion With Children
Lambert: You seem to be applying that there is no need to have Preparatory Sunday prior to communion, nor to have us examine ourselves and our hearts prior to taking part in communion, nor to go to those whom we have wronged to ask for forgiveness before taking part in communion.
I agree with your conclusion: "I urge all of our congregations to be thoroughly consistent and open the sacraments to members of the covenant community." The covenant community, I take it, are all those who confess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That still begs the question as the cup and wine are passed: "Do you believe that Christ died for your sins and rose again?" That question applies equally to adults as it does to young people and children.
We tend to use the term "covenant community" too loosely. We have the mistaken notion -- but I grew up with it too -- that all those who sit in the pews on Sunday in any CRC are part of the covenant community and, consequently, are saved. As Christ himself has said: "Some of you may say 'Lord, Lord' but I don't know you." I know of too many men and women who call themselves Christian but who don't live a Christ-like life. In fact, to call themselves a Christian could be considered blasphemy.
Communion is a time of personal, spiritual reflection: reflecting on God's great gift to us ... to me. What kind of personal, spiritual reflection does a child experience when he/she takes part in communion? Are they even capable of understanding? After they've had the juice and the bread, they may long for that peppermint.
Posted in: Elders and Conflict
The response to the conflict depends greatly upon the nature of the conflict. I have seen congregations divided over whether or not to pave the parking lot, over the time of the worship service, over the cancellation of the second service. These can be worked out through patience and dialogue.
I have seen congregations divided over an Article 17 separation of pastor from congregation, or the pending installation of an elder of questionable character, or the gender issue when it comes to selecting office-bearers.
Rule No. 1. Never, ever try to solve conflict by email. It invariably fails.
When dealing with potentially church-dividing conflict, take it slow and easy. Don't make rash decisions. Bring in an outside mediator. Never allow the pastor(s) to get caught in the middle of a conflict and having to choose sides (unless they are the subject of the conflict).
Lastly, but most importantly, spend considerable time in prayer, praying for wisdom, patience and a civil tongue.
Posted in: What Do You Wish You Had Known When You Were First Installed?
Dave, it's been decades since I was first installed as an elder. We've come a long way since that time in providing proper orientation for elders (and deacons).
I mourn the selection process for elders these days. We seem to be more concerned with having 'a warm body' in an elder's chair than to have someone who is spiritually mature, who at least appears to live a holy life, and someone who knows scripture.
I would like to see congregations nominate potential elders, then have them go through a series of classes that review the church's doctrine -- yes, the creeds -- with a firm understanding of the Catechism. Potential elders should be asked about their spiritual lives (ie devotions, walking with God each day), their relationships to their spouse and children, and whether or not they feel qualified to become one of the congregation's spiritual leaders. They should display gifts of leadership and decision-making.
We have, in my estimation, taken the office of elder too lightly. As overseers of the preaching of the Word, and as overseers over the spiritual lives of folks within the congregation, elders have an obligation to know their scripture so that they can carry out their office appropriately.
Posted in: The Path of Discernment — Knowing What God Wants You to Do
Your very last question -- How do you seek to know what God wants from you? -- is quite different from the heading on this piece -- Knowing what God wants you to do -- and yet the answer is the same.
God wants our obedience. God longs to have us depend on Him for all that we need, want, are.
Several years ago, after a long and varied career in communication and journalism, I took six months off to discern God's will in my life. To ask God: "What's next?" Through that intimate time of devotions, I learned to 'let go'; that it didn't really matter that I had to find out what God has in mind for me. God has it all figured out.
It took time but I did develop that mindset of 'letting go'. Depending on God. I developed this image in my mind of a bicycle built for two. I'm sitting on the back; God is up front. And each day -- I still do this -- I ask God: "Where to today? Who will I meet? How can I be used by you?" And each day His answer is the same: "Never mind; just keep peddling."
God steers and directs my life and I'm along for the ride. But this isn't a passive ride. If you stop peddling a bike, you fall off.
So, I do my work. I facilitate a pile of breakfast meetings where I expose Christian business leaders to biblical principles that apply to leadership.
Matthew 6 regularly comes to mind. "Why worry about life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear." Since God oversees Creation, he cares even more about me.
So, what does God require from me? Obedience. Being open to God's leading every day. There is, therefore, no need to worry about anything.
Here's my rule of thumb: "Only worry about the things over which you have control. Then fix them. Anything that isn't under your control is in God's hands. Let Him worry about that."
Posted in: What Do You Wish You Had Known When You Were First Installed?
Good point about elder visits. I clearly recall being installed as an elder the first time at age 23. Newlywed, young kid. I made my first 'home visit' to a seasoned elder. He sat me down in his living room, pulled out a blank sheet of paper and drew three concentric circles ... like a target.
He said that the bulls eye was one's relationship with Christ. Circles that moved away from that involved one's relationship with family, involvement in 'church life' and in Christian organizations.
He said that sometimes folks like to talk about their faith right away; their devotions and their love of God. But sometimes they're reluctant to talk about how their faith impacts their other relationships: family, church, community.
He said that sometimes folks like to talk about everything BUT their relationship to Christ. They can talk about church involvement, chairing various committees, heavily involved in organizing 'churchy' things, but have a difficult time articulating their personal relationship to Christ and their personal devotional life.
Posted in: Any Current or Past Elders?
"Hello."
That one-word comment also sums up the kind of teaching, training and mentoring that I received when I was first elected an elder some 40 years ago.
With the benefit of hindsight, I was probably chosen to be an elder because
1. I seemed like a nice Christian guy.
2. I went to church twice on Sundays (back when they had two morning services).
3. I displayed leadership skills.
4. I loved the Church (ie its structure, Church Order, systems, etc.)
I was never interviewed for the position of elder; never asked for doctrinal positions on matters before the church's assemblies; never grilled -- or even asked -- about my devotional life and my knowledge of Scripture. It was 'assumed'.
I was probably asked if I loved the Church -- and I would have responded enthusiastically.
I was never asked if I loved Jesus, if I was striving to live a holy life, if I felt comfortable talking to parishioners under my pastoral care about their faith and my faith.
My view of elders today? Many aren't qualified to provide spiritual direction to those under their pastoral care simply because they aren't steeped in the Word and their daily devotional life is lacking.
Elders today (and undoubtedly for the past generation or two) seem to be administrative leaders more than they are spiritual mentors over the congregation.
Thus endeth my 'Hello'.
Posted in: Any Current or Past Elders?
That's absolutely not true, Carol. I wasn't selected because I was a male. Gender wasn't an issue back then. All elders and all deacons were men; no debate and no discussion.
In fact, the opposite began to happen in the 1970s with the advent of 'women in office'; women were chosen because they were women AND because they were qualified.
It is my hope and prayer that elders are never selected because of their gender but because they're qualified as spiritual leaders who lead godly lives.
Posted in: Any Current or Past Elders?
Interestingly, at least for me, we have five married daughters. Four of them attend a PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) where men, and men only, serve as elders. For life. While they initially resented the fact that there were no women as elders, 'gender' has not become an issue. What is even more impressive that that those men who are chosen to be elders are incredibly godly men. The church takes the role of men as spiritual heads very seriously.
So, when they select new elders, 'gender' is never an issue. That's all they have ever known.
In the same way, when I first became an elder 40 years ago, gender was not an issue. Men were elders and deacons. Period. There was no thought, no desire to have women serve as elders.
During my early years in journalism, I used a typewriter with carbon paper. That's all I knew. I never longed for a laptop, desktop or anything digital.
I used to go to church twice on Sunday and I always wore a shirt and tie.
Times have changed. That applies equally to technology and church culture.
We shouldn't dismiss those earlier years in church when we 'only' had men as elders (in fact, there are undoubtedly hundreds of CRCs that still do) as something archaic ... where women were longing for the day when they could speak to a pastoral elder who was a woman.
The Church, and I speak of the CRC here, has often been too sensitive to the culture around us. Feminism led to the demand for women in office (though many denominations such as the PCA have resisted that).
Posted in: Any Current or Past Elders?
I think I signed in with my "hello " almost a year ago. I don't think that much has come of the conversation, discussion or dialogue over the past year.
After serving numerous terms as an elder, usually as chair of council, I have discovered recently that I wasn't really qualified.
Sure, I checked all of the boxes, especially gifts of administration and organization, but I didnt have a sound biblical foundation. I couldnt easily quote scripture to parishioners when it came to providing wise counsel to families.
I readily proclaimed my love for the church and its institutions but, on hindsight, I didnt have a living, breathing relationship with Jesus.
So, the number 1 criterion for serving as an elder: have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ and be immersed in scripture.
Posted in: Synod 2019 Top Tweet(s) - Wednesday, June 19
... just a quick note about time limits on speeches at Synod.
We have fallen victim to a Twitter society where everything needs to be said in a very few words.
I served as Synod delegate back in the early 1980s. Synod lasted two weeks and we'd spend hours ... hours .. in heated, wonderful debate on several major issues. Synod back then was indeed a 'deliberative body', filled with thoughtful dialogue and arguments.
We have lost that for the sake of efficiency and expediency ... and that is a shame. I cringe at the thought of having a meaningful debate in 2021 when the gender issues comes to the floor of synod. With speeches being confined to a two-minute soundbite, very little of substance will be raised.
When it comes to a meaningful discussion on things that shape the future of this denomination, what's the rush? Turn off your cell phones, shut down your Twitter account and become engaged in a robust, thoughtful debate. It takes time to listen, it takes time to be heard, it takes time to form a reasoned opinion before a decision can be made.
Posted in: Electronic Giving and YOUR Church
There is something almost 'holy' about bringing your offerings to the Lord on Sunday during worship. This isn't archaic or old-fashioned.
I think that a blend of technology and stewardly giving might accomplish both the church's need for regular giving and the worshipper's need to give ... and to be seen to give.
Using PAR or some similar form of electronic automatic withdrawal gives the church treasurer the assurance that the budget is being met (more or less). Parishioners are encouraged to tithe and to make that regular commitment each week or each month.
But when the offering plate is passed down the pew and it remains empty, what message is that sending to our children and grandchildren? That the offering is an option.
I suggest that the bulk of our offering be given electronically but that our true giving (as the Lord has blessed us that week) goes into the offering plate. Furthermore, our children should also be actively involved in the offering, giving a portion of their weekly allowance or income to the church. Unless children get into the habit of giving to the church, they will grow up with the view that passing an empty offering plate down the pew is some sort of archaic ritual. For many it has become precisely that.