January 2005
Welcome to the first edition of 'The Reformer.' This is the first issue of the Australian Reformed Baptist Outpost's revamped ezine dedicated to the reformation of the church. Aussie Outpost put out two issues of the 'The NRBC Reformer' back in 2001 and then dis-continued the ezine when the Northlakes Reformed Baptist Church (NRBC) disbanded. In those two issues I began a series on John Calvin's 'The Necessity of Reforming the Church.' In this first issue of 'The Reformer' I again run this classic work, but this time I provide a link to the full work as posted on the web site.
I'm not sure just how often this ezine will be produced, but it's most likely to be of a quarterly nature.
I send forth this latest ezine for the purpose of encouraging the Biblical reform of the church. In sending forth this ezine it is not the purpose of the Aussie Outpost to suggest that I have arrived as a reformer in the modern church. Rather, I am seeking to encourage the ongoing Biblical reformation of the church, including myself in the need for this encouragement.
Reformed believers have no need to be told of the poor spiritual state of the church today. We all mourn at the decline of the church's spirituality, quickly recognizing the falling away of the apostate sects and less biblical denominations. However our purpose is not to be finger pointing at such groups, even though they hold the numerical majority in the 'church' today. Our purpose is to seek the reformation of the reformed churches to a more Biblical model. Yes, we need to face the issue of reform, especially as so many 'reformed' churches give way to compromising with a more acceptable model of Christianity in today's world.
Brethren, we must again consider the Biblical norms and principles upon which our various churches are grounded. We need to again consider the old paths of catechisms, confessions, etc, in order to return to the faith of our more orthodox fathers. We do not want to clone the Puritans or the Reformers, but to faithfully declare and live our faith in our age. There is a need to re-visit our theory and practices in the areas of evangelism, worship, ethics, etc.
More and more we face pressure from the world to conform to its image and to often we have yielded to it. We must honestly face this reality and repent, reforming our now unBiblical and ungodly beliefs and practices in order to return to that to which we ought to be conforming. Let us then approach this task together, in the power of the Spirit and in accordance with the Word of our God.
What's on This Page:
THE NECESSITY OF REFORMING THE CHURCH - JOHN CALVIN:
This important work by John Calvin is a good introduction to the work of reformation today. Perhaps we would not all agree with everything he puts forth in this important work, nor in the manner in which he states it, yet it is still a strong encouragement for the work of reformation today - as it most certainly was in his day.
The Necessity of Reforming the Church sets forth the reason as top why the Reformers believed it essential to reform the church, how the church was to be reformed and the importance of immediately bringing about the reformation of the church. For these reasons I believe this work is still of great importance to the church today.
To read this work visit the following link:
http://particularbaptist.com/library/calvin_necessity.html
WEB SITE FOCUS:
In this issue's web site focus we look at the site, 'A 21st Century Puritanism.' This site is maintained by Mitch Cervinka and is concerned about encouraging Biblical Christianity today. It is all about reforming the church and Mitch gives an introduction to the mission of 'A 21st Century Puritanism' right on the home page of the site.
The site hosts a number of articles and books dealing with the various issues relating to reformation today. Many are written by Mitch Cervinka himself. A number of these articles written by Mitch I have read and found them to be very good. I especially appreciate the articles dealing with church leadership and structure.
One of these articles is at:
http://www.planetkc.com/puritan/Articles/ChurchOrganization_f.htmOne article written by Mitch deals with the issue of drinking wine. This has become a major issue in some circles, even of Reformed Christians, with believers being more or less exiled because they enjoy the odd glass of red, etc. This article gives a very good, balanced, Scriptural view of the issue. Believers who enjoy a glass of wine with their meals ought not to be excommunicated by their weaker brethren, who have not been made to stumble by their stronger brethren. Have a read of the article, it's very good.
It can be found at:
http://www.planetkc.com/puritan/Articles/IsWineEvil.htmMitch seems to think in very similar ways to me and that may be the reason why I find this site to be very impressive :-) But really it's the Biblical approach and simplicity that really attracts me to this site. I heartily therefore recommend this site to all.
Visit the site at:
http://www.planetkc.com/puritan/
THE LORD'S SUPPER:
A couple of years ago I preached a series of sermons on the Lord's Supper based on the 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 portion of Scripture. These sermons provide a Scriptural understanding of the passage considered and provide some Biblical application of the principles outlined in that particular passage of Scripture. The Lord's Supper remains an area where the church today requires some real work of reform. There are four sermons in the series and the text of these sermons can be found at the link below:
http://particularbaptist.com/sermons/sermons1cor.html
The home page of 'The Reformer' is at:
http://particularbaptist.com/reformer.htmlIf you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe from 'The NRBC Reformer' ezine, please clearly indicate to me your wish by emailing me at:
nrbcpastorkev@yahoo.com.au.Perhaps you would like to add an article dealing with reform to an upcoming issue of 'The Reformer.' If you would, please let me know and I will consider the article or articles. This can be done by Email also, at the address below:
nrbcpastorkev@yahoo.com.au.Consider joining the Aussie Outpost Reformer Mail Group at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRBC_Reformer/.
15/10/2006
AN OUTPOST PRODUCTION