Written by Ginger M. Blomberg |
Sunday, January 21, 2024
By teaching our children both law and grace, we can help them see the tragedies of both legalism and prodigalism. We can show them the beauty of God’s goodness and mercy through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son who loved us and paid the penalty for us. Once we see God’s grace to us, we can extend it to others in love.

Good Intentions
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever opens with this dire judgment: “The Herdmans were absolutely the worst kids in the history of the world.” The book’s narrator then quickly runs through a list of just what made the Herdman kids so bad, saying, “They lied and stole and smoked cigars (even the girls) and talked dirty and hit little kids and cussed their teachers and took the name of the Lord in vain.” Later, the narrator also introduces Alice Wendleken, who wants very badly to play Mary in the church’s Christmas pageant. Alice plays Mary in the pageant every year “because she’s so smart, so neat and clean, and most of all, so holy-looking.” This year, though, Alice is stunned when she ends up losing the part of Mary to Imogene Herdman. Alice starts keeping a list of every naughty and irreverent thing the Herdman kids do, hoping that someone will realize how bad they are and kick them out of the pageant and out of the church.
As Christian parents, we want our kids to do the right things. Some of us have found, though, that in trying to avoid raising Herdmans, we are inadvertently raising Alice Wendlekens, kids who follow the rules not out of love but for control. How do we teach our children to be discerning, both to recognize and to do right, but at the same time to show God’s love and care for the imperfect people around them?
Law
It is vital for us to teach our children what is right, but it is also vital for us to examine our goals in teaching. An old comedy skit said, “Parents don’t want justice; they just want quiet,” and, oh boy, has that been true for me sometimes. I am sorry to say, I have sometimes taught my children the law because I just wanted them to act decently and not embarrass me at church.
But why did God give us his law? For one thing, he knows what is best for us, and he has revealed rules in his word to teach us to act in ways that may seem hard but will usually be for our good and the good of those around us. If we avoid lying, then most of the time people will trust us more. If we honor our parents, we are likely to have a good relationship with them.
Much more importantly, though, God gave us the law to reveal his character. Our God is holy, just, and good. He cares about people who are marginalized by society. He hates when innocent people are harmed. He loves when people do right and are kind to each other. His law teaches all these things about him.
In teaching us about God’s character, the law (and Israel’s history of trying to follow it) also shows so clearly both our need for God and our separation from him. Paul says in Romans 7:13 that through the law, “sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandments might become sinful beyond measure.” We need there to be goodness and justice in the world. We also need a way to get to it. God’s law shows the standard of his character and also how far we are from reaching it.
We want to teach our kids to follow the law, in the sense that we want them to know and do what is right. As Christian parents, and really just as humans, most of us want our kids to know enough to be happy and to be “healthy, wealthy, and wise” (as non-theological lawgiver Benjamin Franklin advises).
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Those whom the Lord regenerates are new creations and the Lord’s Law is in their hearts, but they must still work out what God has put in them. Of course, the Lord will empower them to do so. These are the ones who have peace with God even in the maelstrom of this sin sick and demon infested world.

1 My son, do not forget my teaching,But let your heart keep my commandments;2 For length of days and years of lifeAnd peace they will add to you. Proverbs 3:1-2 (NASB)
The Protestant Reformation was not a reforming of Christianity, but a rediscovery of God’s Truth that had been covered up, squandered, perverted, and misrepresented by the Roman Catholic Church for several centuries. Christianity has once again reached a point of contention where there are those who claim that the Protestant Reformation went astray and we need another reformation. I agree that the Church is very sick right now. However, the fault isn’t with the Reformers or what they did. The problems seem to be centered on a complete loss of godly wisdom spawned by there being no fear of God. Man is seen as sovereign and God is seen as subservient to Christian leaders.
This environment has been the breeding ground of neo-evangelism that is so devoted to evangelism that it suppresses and does away with Bible Study, discipleship, and all other things that distract from their evangelical push. They do this to such an extent that evangelism has become their golden calf. Admittedly, there has been much wrong with the church since the end of Spurgeon’s time. Aberrations of Christianity has always plagued the Church, but it seems that since the latter part of the 19th Century with the passing of Spurgeon and Broadus and their contemporaries, there has been an increasing emphasis on man-focused religion. The current push into neo-evangelism and the emergent church movements are actually quite natural expressions of rebellion against what these folks see as deadwood religion. If we take a look at TBN, for example, it is clear that something is very wrong.
The answer is not the reforming of our churches into the seeker-sensitive, post-modern, flesh-pleasing enterprises that are run by marketing experts and MBAs. Their solution is to build churches based upon what sells. If we study the ministry of our Lord and the Apostles we find very quickly that they did not use that model for a very good reason. Christianity is not supposed to be an evangelical push. Instead, it is a declaration of the Good News that there is peace available between God and men made possible by the work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross and His subsequent resurrection and ascension. The call to this Good News is to those who will believe in Jesus as Lord and Saviour as they die to self and live out their lives for Him. That is not a message that will sell well. However, that is not the point. The point has never been about quantity of converts. Instead, it is about quality.
Puritans would never allow people to profess Jesus openly and join their church without examining them first. They understood that the call to salvation could produce false converts. They knew that they did new converts no favor if they indulged any false conversions. That is something to ponder in our time when anyone can claim to be a Christian simply because of his or her religiosity or feelings.
Again, what is the answer?
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The vote for Recommendation #1 to dissolve Second Presbytery passed 254 yes to 43 no. Second Presbytery will be dissolved…. The Canadian Presbytery of the ARP Church, humbly petitions the 220th General Synod the ARP to release our presbytery for the formation of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Canada beginning with our Fall Presbytery meeting, September 2025.

Moderator Alan Broyles introduced his Synod Emphasis for the year, “To the ends of the Earth together, Acts 1:8.” Agency Directors held a banner on stage to show the denomination working together.
The Special Committee to Study Church Officers and Secret Societies was discussed. The report showed a summary of findings from other denominations as well on Freemasons along with Bible proofs and Westminster Confession references. A motion was passed at this point, “That the Officers or Officer nominees who are members of a secret society be encouraged to consult with their session on the questions every believer must ask before they join a secret society.”
Following that motion, another one was passed stating, “That the 220th General Synod explicitly and forthrightly declare that Freemasonry is incompatible with Christianity.”
The Special Committee to Study the Work of the Office of Deacon report was discussed.
The summary of the report says, Those whom Christ is calling to exercise spiritually-centered authority, He sets apart by gifts including an ability to teach (Ephesians 4:11; James 3:11). In order that those officers might focus on the ministry of the Word and prayer, Christ calls others to serve as deacons and care for the physically-oriented needs of the Chruch (Acts 6:3-4; 1Timothy 3:8-13).
The scope of the office of deacon is to undertake those tasks entrusted to them by the Session in order to facilitate the Session’s attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:2). Such tasks may include, but are not limited to, caring for physical needs through the collection and distribution of goods/resources and administrative duties (Deuteronomy 16:10-15; Psalm 68:18-19).
The authority of deacons is the authority of Christ Himself, delegated to them through the giving of spiritual gifts from Christ and the laying on of hands (Acts6:6). Just as Christ the King came to serve rather than to be served (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45), so His lowly service is to be an exemplar not only to all Christians (Philippians 2:3-11), but especially to those who exercise authority while serving in His Name (John 13:14-17).
There was a motion to adopt this as an official position paper for the denomination. The discussion continued after dinner that if it was adopted, it would make it an authoritative position which women can not hold. The report was not made an official paper.
The Special Committee to Investigate Second Presbytery’s Handling of Allegations Against Chuck Wilson was next on the agenda.
The committee’s report expressed multiple challenges including the massiveness of the case and the difficulties in dealing with members and officers of Second Presbytery. The committee completed their investigation and presented 20 events that happened. Two of those were deviations from our Book of Discipline. Others were lack of records after requested and how things were handled. The recommendations from the committee were as follows

That Second Presbytery be dissolved as of September 1, 2024.
That the bounds of Catawba Presbytery be changed to include the entire state of South Carolina.
That the bounds of Tennessee-Alabama Presbytery be moved to include the entire state of Georgia.
That the General Synod encourage members of Second Presbytery to transfer their credentials to Catawba or Tennessee-Alabama presbyteries (depending on their geographical location).
That the Moderator appoint a commission in order to oversee the transfer of assets and dissolution of Second Presbytery.
That the General Synod encourage Catawba and Tennessee-Alabama presbyteries to use assets received the for purpose of church strengthening, already existing church plants, and new church planting, giving special consideration to the geographical areas of the former Second Presbytery.
That the General Synod review Catawba and Tennessee-Alabama presbytery boundaries after a period of three years.
That the Moderator appoint a committee to review and revise The Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Churchwith special emphasis on the church discipline process in the Book of Discipline and special emphasis on the Form of Government, as it relates to judicial commissions.

Due to the weight of this issue, James Almond offered prayer. There was heavy discussion as delegates worked through the understanding of this report. The question was called and the vote for Recommendation #1 to dissolve Second Presbytery passed 254 yes to 43 no. Second Presbytery will be dissolved.
Delegates heard from both Catawba and Tennessee-Alabama Presbytery clerks that their presbyteries are willing to accept men as long as their views have not changed. These Presbyteries cannot decline a church.
The following two motions were made to clarify the original recommendations from the committee’s report:

That the moderator establish a commission to oversee and distribute funds to fulfill and continue the existing financial obligations of Second Presbytery and that the same commission study the best use of the remaining funds for the furtherance of the gospel in our denomination. ­
That the moderator direct the commission to deal with funds of Second Presbytery and be allowed to deal with the dissolution of Second Presbytery and to handle any requests for churches in Second Presbytery to change from their new presbytery.

A report was heard from Iglesia Presbiteriana Asociada Reformada de Mexico and it was approved to move to Fraternal Fellowship. Scott Moore translated as three representatives addressed Synod. “Missionaries were first sent to Mexico in December 1879. It is our desire and prayer that fellowship can increase and be strengthened,” the IPAR delegate said.
Reverend David Walkup, pastor of Chapel by the Sea in Florida was elected Moderator Elect and Frank Hunt, III was elected Vice-Moderator Elect.
The Memorials Report was next with the reading of the Canadian Presbytery Memorial.
Therefore, The Canadian Presbytery of the ARP Church, humbly petitions the 220th General Synod the ARP to release our presbytery for the formation of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Canada beginning with our Fall Presbytery meeting, September 2025.
This Memorial brought a lot of discussion. “We share the expression of affection. This has been a wonderful home for over 30 years. The only agenda we have is to be faithful to the Word of God. We pray to continue to have cooperative relations,” Jeff Kingswood said.
“I am thankful for the wisdom of these men. My heart doesn’t want to let them go,” Rick Anderson said.
The Memorial passed.
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