Theological Fitness: Part Ten

This is the last chapter, "Active Rest", of Aimee's fine book, Theological Fitness, and I am full of things to write for the Sunday after Easter--tomorrow. Of course not as many people will be in church the Sunday after Easter as the above graphic shows. And, those who follow "the regulative principle" will certainly cringe. My church in Florida of which I am a member does observe that principle. But I moved. How I am attending a Reformed church (EPC) that studies TULIP and the Confessions, but also does an Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday with foot washing, some years Good Friday, probably always Easter Sunrise and to top it off had a flash mob that joined the choir for the "Hallelujah Chorus" last week on Easter. Even though I am a senior citizen, I have never had the cross on my forehead and had my feet washed in a service until this year. My worship has been heightened! It is pure legalism if I look to those services for salvation, but I do not. Worship means ascribing worth to our LORD. The visual and physical expressions of faith are not my idols, but a way to celebrate the cross and resurrection. 

Hebrews 10:23-25

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope

without wavering,

for He who promised is faithful.

And let us consider one another

in order to stir up 

love

and good works,

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,

as is the manner of some,

but exhorting one another,

and so much more as you see the Day approaching."

Having moved to a new city (Huntsville, Alabama) and meeting new people, I am so surprised by the "minimalist Christians"*, maybe also called "evangelical" by the politicians. They do not practice that assembling and accountability of the church. One new friend watches TV preachers religiously and only! 

Again, Aimee Byrd's questions from the end of her book are in red and my answers are in black. 

1. Has this chapter changed your thinking about proper rest?   For instance, when we consider how the Lord rested after creation, how does that affect your understanding of rest?  I notice that especially since I am a senior citizen I need to take advantage of Sabbath rest. Rather than feel guilty, I have finally realized, Sabbath rest is proper. 

2. What is the relationship between rest and fitness, both physically and spiritually? We recover physically and spiritually through rest. In other words how does something that seems so counter-productive factor in to our conditioning and stamina? Have you every seen the Gaither's on TV? Lots of those saints, I am afraid to say, need physical conditioning. We recover physically and spiritually through rest. 
3. What is your relationship to work? I am semi-retired and finishing up a seminary counseling dissertation on dementia caregiving.  How does the change of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday under the new covenant represent the way we should think about work? We are looking for the rest to come as we celebrate His resurrection EVERY Sunday. Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament law. 

4. When you consider the rest that we have now and the eternal rest that is to come, does that make any difference to the way that you view your typical Sunday?   Having read Randy Alcorn's Heaven I look forward to the eternal worship of God.  What are your thoughts about how we should observe the Sabbath?   I need to wake up and make it special! Instruction in adult Sunday School or teaching of Sunday School, corporate worship and fellowship with believers specifically are part of my Sunday. Often I eat out after worship with believers from the church. My special day! 

5. Do you ever find yourself striving for validation from sources that could never satisfy? Absolutely! I have to guard against pride in areas of my life.

6. How do we strive for rest?  I think we need to plan for Sunday as we plan for our work week. We need to wake up Sunday morning and enjoy the day--it is a celebration of His resurrection just as much as an Easter celebration is a celebration. Every Sunday is special.   

7. How is being a "summoned being" related to being in a covenantal relationship with God? Not sure of the word liturgy, but really like what Aimee wrote on p. 183. 

Yet thinking about the emotion that validation brings, I remember that there is a reason for this longing--we will be validated in Christ. Once day, all those covered in his righteousness will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." We crave validation because we should. We hear that blessing every week in the covenant renewal ceremony of Sunday worship. But on that great day, we will hear God himself say that he is pleased with us. And he will be our great reward.

What, then, is the significance of theological fitness in this liturgy? 

What is this eternal rest that we anticipate? Is it merely inactivity? As we learn about the Sabbath, we see that Christ is our rest. In one sense, rest is a place. Verses like Hebrews 4:1, 3-5, 8 and 10 use Greek words that can be translated "abode"or "to colonize". The context here reminds us of the land of Canaan that was to be the Israelite's rest, as well as the rest of God after creation. On Sunday, Christ's covenant community assembles together in a local place for worship. Here we are given Christ and all of his benefits. (p. 183-184 of Theological Fitness)

Carol, here,

just as excited about the Sunday after Easter

*Heard that term at Ligoneer in February--see last blog post. 

Chapter Ten, "What About Sunday"

How was your Sunday? I do love Sundays, although it is always a special effort to get my husband out of the house to church. One Sunday my husband couldn't go and I went without him, not knowing if this would be the norm, or if I would be staying home from then on and watching the worship service on Skype.

Fortunately I do have a volunteer caregiver Christian neighbor who helps get hubby to church. Kenny even lifts the wheel chair into the back of our SUV--a task too difficult for me. Kenny is even choosing to go to our Reformed church, leaving behind his Baptist background. I gave him Nicene Council's DVD "Amazing Grace" and "The Late Great Planet Church".  Several years ago I had purchased extras of these DVDs not knowing who would get them.

Aimee writes:

We are called out from all of our own working to receive. What are we receiving? It is so much more than moral instruction, or how to have Christ reign over your finances, fix your marriage, and help you attain your best life now. We are actually receiving Christ and his benefits through the preached Word and the sacraments. (p. 194) 

Amen, Aimee. I get it. Those humanistic topics in the sermons really bother me and I am glad that I do not receive them in our worship service.

These are reflective questions from pp. 200-202 of Housewife Theologian by Aimee Byrd. The questions are in red and my answers are in black.

• How would you describe your current attitude toward regularly attending church on Sunday mornings? Highlight of week. How do you think your attitude affects your family's view of the church service? My husband and I love our church and I love the fact that we worship at 2 pm now. 
• Do you consider the church as consisting of both holy people and holy place? Yes. How would that then affect: Your preparations before you Go? The ways you view and treat others there? How would you protect this time and space? Prepare for the worship. 
• How is God uniquely present with us in our worship service in a way that is different from the rest of the week? How are we much more privileged in this way than the believers of Old Testament times?
• God in his majesty is graceful in both the spiritual and civil governments. What are the similarities and differences of how his grace affects believers and unbelievers?
• Why is the language of the temple so important throughout Scripture? This is where God dwells, or tabernacles among us. What is the meaning of the temple, and why is it so significant?
• How is your own weekly routine a story about nothing? I am going to read up on Seinfeld--the show about nothing and reflect. Is that what Monday through Saturday is supposed to be for us--insignificant? Not really. Every day is significant. I enjoyed the significance of what my husband was able to do this morning. He participated more fully in his getting dressed and walked without the walker to his spot in the den. 
• What difference does Sunday make to our story? In other words, how is our worship service an act of the future breaking into the present, reorienting our thinking and living between the already and the not yet? Since I worship in a Reformed church, I often hear "already and not yet". I do not have to just sing Soon I will be done with the troubles of this world, Going home to meet my LORD. I have His presence already and already celebrate this reality on Sundays. 
• In looking at our worship service as a covenant renewal ceremony, what covenant are we renewing? Would the answer be "the covenant of grace"? Aimee wrote I think it goes without saying that the implications of being included in the covenant of grace make life much more challenging for the Christian in some ways. (p. 495) In light of this, should we be preparing and accommodating our services primarily for unbelievers who may be visiting?  We don't. Should our service look the same as our weekly entertainment venues to appear more attractive and updated? No. 
• How do our responsibilities as citizens of God's heavenly kingdom have stronger implications than our citizenship in the common society? What may be some circumstances  where this would become apparent? How does this actually benefit unbelievers?
• Do you find it hard to offer grace within the community of God's covenant people? Sometimes I feel I need others to say a word or encouragement for my caregiving journey for my husband. For example, my friend who is a caregiver also wants her pastor to ask how she is doing.  Have you ever taken an injustice rather than asserting your own righteousness? My righteousness is as filthy rags and I need to forgive any injustices. Aime writes In the spiritual realm, justice has already been served and grace reigns. (p. 195) Do you teach this to your children? I teach what to do about bullies to students when I substitute teach. 
• How has the church throughout history tried to impose its rule on the world? What dangers have come from that? Do you struggle with confusing these two kingdoms in your own politics? What are the particular challengers of this for American Christians?  I have seen so much debate about two kingdoms when John Framer's book came out criticizing Michael Horton whom I respect. Two years ago I wrote about this HERE.  Aimee, I want everyone in the Reformed world to get along. Theology hurts sometimes. 

What doesn't hurt is the Sabbath. How much I do need that weekly Sabbath rest and observance. I wrote once HERE about Christians who are not in worship service.  I hope to challenge some people I know on that issue also of non-church attendance. 

Six days ago I posted chapter nine of this book. There has been one comment from my dear social media friend and only 9 views but that's okay--this blog is not my idol. However, yesterday I posted on my caregiving blog HERE and in 24 hours there has been 236 views including a new caregiver Christian who needs that blog for her journey. Thank you, LORD!

Also thank you for the Sabbath that gives 

us rest from our labors. 

"God Makes House Calls"

A gentleman who read my book said it made him think about his faith, but when I asked about his church attendance, he quipped "God makes house calls." This was his reason for not belonging to a church and being a solo Christian at home. I don't think that he has thought enough about the Christian faith, however, and this post is dedicated to him.

Perhaps God makes house calls to the sick and those in the hospital and in prisons who can't come to churches in our cities. Chaplains serve in hospitals and prisons and minister to the needs of the ill and the prisoners. However, I do not think that God excuses other people who have not found a church home.

Yes, there were churches in homes in the New Testament in the book of Acts. But these churches were gathering of believers, but not just one family.  Soon the New Testament has Paul writing to churches in various locations. In only two books does he write to individuals--Timothy and Titus.

Pastor Kevin De Young wrote that it is not a good idea to swap church for serving the community on Sunday. See DeYoung's Blog Someone commented on his blog that the real sacrifice would be to serve the community instead of watching a football game on Saturday not by skipping services on Sunday.

Can't find a worthy church? Burt Parsons writes about a true church in Table Talk magazine from Ligonier Ministries. He quotes Calvin:

The Reformers looked to Scripture alone to determine what comprises a true church. In his Institutes, John Calvin wrote, “Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, and the sacraments administered according to Christ’s institution, there, it is not to be doubted, a church of God exists” (4.1.9). Calvin and the Reformers understood that the pure preaching of the Word and the right administration of the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which includes the practice of church discipline, were essential elements of a true church, with the implicit repudiation of false churches that did not conform to these fundamental biblical qualifications.

God can be glorified in all we do, but also in worshipping Him in His prescribed way on the Sabbath in our local church. To change that is to miss out on glorifying Him in fellowship with other believers. To not have fellowship with other believers is to open up ourselves to error and pride--pride that God will negate centuries of history of his church and visit us and our family in our homes but perhaps not those in churches.

No perfect church? There are also no perfect people who do need church instruction, discipline and fellowship. That church also needs their gifts.

Faith comes by preaching of the Word of God (Romans 10:14) and we are told to not forsake assembling of ourselves together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:25). Let's remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.