ADD & ADHD: A Child Misdiagnosed

Recently, my wife was informed that a family member's son was either diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, or the parent believes the child has it. From what we know of the child, he does not have autism or anything organic like that.

What then is going on here? HE'S A KID, AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE ENERGETIC!!! Such labels are mostly an excuse to not take the initiative to parent as God commands, which takes work. It's much easier to give out comatose pills or write off bad behavior as ADD or ADHD, but that's not what the Lord desires us to do as parents.

It is true that bad disciplinary habits, which includes too much multi-media like tv and videogames, fuels a childs inability to act with restraint. However, a child has an enormous amount of energy. What a child usually needs is structure in his or her life and some time to run around outside or expend energy in some other physical way if at all possible.

Therefore, reduce activities that hinder imagination and increase activities that encourage the senses to act instead of merely absorb vegetatively. Take responsibility for your child's upbringing instead of allowing the tv to raise your child into a mind-numbing sedentary lifestyle.

Economic Class Warfare: A Biblical Response

A prevailing influx of marxist ideals has flooded American economics. Socialism has been present for over a century, but it is far more open today than ever before. At the root of this is class warfare, which states that one group should have its wealth redistributed to another less wealthy group. It is the philosophy that everyone should have the same amount of wealth. How do we think about this as Christians?

We are commanded to give freely and cheerfully to those in difficult impoverished situations and to the ministry of the Word. However, should the government force one to do this? It works like this. The government elite establishes a tax system takes from a wealthier group and then redistrubutes this property to whomever it wishes.

Besides the problem of determining how much should be taken and redistributed, the very heart of this system is an abolition of the 10th Commandment of Thou Shalt Not Covet. If my neighbor earns more money than I do, I should not covet and demand that he redistribute part of his hard earned wealth to me.

Nothing in Scripture demands that my neighbor nor I be compelled by the government to redistribute our property. Ultimately, this system stifles economic growth because it disincentivises people to work hard. Why work hard when I have to give half of it to my lazy neighbor? Even before the Fall, man was commanded to work by keeping the garden, and Adam would have gained the fruit of his labor. The difference now is that labor is arduous and not always as pleasant as we'd like it to be.

Therefore, be content with your wages as Christ commanded, and do not covet your neighbor's property, for that is evil and wicked in the eyes of the Lord! Rather, rejoice when others are blessed financially in diligence of their labor! To Him be the glory! Amen!

Don't Ask, Don't Tell: Continued Loss of Moral Authority

As a former active duty military officer, I cringed when I read about the of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Besides the uncomfortableness of close quarters in barracks and showering with openly gay service members, the decline of moral authority ought to be our primary concern as we think about this Biblically.

The major enemy that we fight today is set within an Islamic context. This repeal gives muslims one more reason why they have the moral authority in this war and why we are losing it. Male soldiers parading around in lipstick and dresses (many gay men and women are cross dressers) will definitely not give America credibility in the Islamic world but only worsen our image as the show piece of immorality.

Though I abhor Islam, Sharia Law, and Islam's various idolatries, I find myself agreeing with them on several moral issues like abortion, pornography, and of course the detestation of homosexual sin. However, if we are fighting a war because we believe we have the moral authority to do so, that proves difficult as we become more debauched.

Piece by piece we are rapidly losing our moral authority to wage war against our enemies. Did not Israel of old face the same dilemma? Once they lost moral authority and became worse than their enemies, exile was close at hand. For this reason, our economic class warfare woes that are usually on the front page are only a tip of our moral depravity.

Might we repent before we are ravaged by an enemy who is slowing gaining in moral authority as we turn to the Baals and the Ashteroths in our desire for liberty to worship any god except the One True God.

2010: A Great Year

2010 held an incredible amount of ministry opportunities both inside and outside of the home. We settled into our new home (at least new to us) and spent countless hours with family and friends in our 'Casa Fiesta'. We love to host folks and look forward to that again in 2011.

With the arrival of Shiphrah in mid-August, we were all maxed out on the energy scale, so I had to take some time off from everything going on with the Nepalese, which was a difficult but critical family decision.

Nevertheless, the Nepali work over 2010 went exceptionally well. We were introduced to several new families, and I was able to spent a tremendous amount of time in their homes on a regular basis, which is something I was not able to much of 2009.

I was also able to squeeze in an Apologetic Conference out in Dallas and a small one for a home school co-op here in Atlanta.

Though much of my focus has been at home for the past four months, I have not bee idle in my studies. On the contrary, I have been able to spend an incredible amount of time in Hebrew and Greek. I continue developing my linguistic skills in order to understand the Bible at a deeper level and to use these skills for future language work. Linguistics are a lot like mastering an instrument; it takes regular time over a number of years. It can seem like you are treading water with grammar and vocab forever, but the light at the end of the tunnel starts to appear as
words and concepts start to cement in your mind. Before you know it, the text begins to leap off of the page like never before!

We continue to pray about the focus of the The Jeramy Anderson Evangelistic Association this next year, and much of that will be dictated by my work schedule which may or may not change in a few months. In time, I hope to be able to put more time into this exciting ministry, so please pray for a change of schedule that will better accomodate this.

To Him be the glory! Amen!

Myth: Secular Public Education is Neutral & Tolerant

When I hear the phrase "public education", I cringe to my very core in angst and disgust. Besides the impotence of public education to actually educate anyone in a meaningful and efficient manner, two of the great lies which lie at the heart of its incompetency are neutrality and tolerance.

First of all, public education is not neutral because no education is neutral. Every form of education will have some type of interpretative lens by which it grounds itself and views reality. That form in the public education arena is that of atheistic humanistic socialism with a flavor of pantheism; all in all a loose pluralism. We send children to be trained by Caesar, and we're shocked when they come home as Romans as Voddie Baucham would say. We are fools if we think the public education system and even most of our private Christian schools for that matter (which are just more expensive versions of public education) are fountains of truth and righteousness.

Secondly, public education is not purely tolerant, for every education system is exclusivistic at some point. It is impossible to be otherwise. It is better to say that they are intolerant of Christianity because the Bible is an assault on relativistic thought. Ironically, in their hatred for the Bible as the chief source text for understanding the overarching schematic of the world, they reject that which keeps man from grasping at straws. After all, to reject the Bible is to be left with the endless philosophies of man that not only internally contradict themselves but also have no legitimate foundation for the knowledge these bankrupt systems seek to advocate! Only the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom!

For this reason, a doctrinally sound Christian based education is essential in bringing up a generation in the fear and admonition of the LORD, not to mention any meaningful incentive to learn anything at all. Truly, if we all just turn to ash at the end of the day then why learn anything? For this reason, nihilism or the philosophy that all is meaningless prevails in various forms today. By the way, if you think that is novel, go back and read Ecclesiastes, for Solomon was well acquainted with what happens when you take the LORD GOD of HOSTS out of the picture.

Therefore, be on guard against the tolerant neutrality claim when it comes to education (or anything for that matter), for that is a myth used to pull wool over the eyes of parents in an attempt to indoctrinate children into the godless unrighteous based education venues that prevail in America today.

To Him be the glory! Amen!

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Closing Statement and Signatories

Closing Statement & Signatories

We the MINISTERS, and MESSENGERS of, and concerned for upwards of, one hundred BAPTIZED CHURCHES, in England and Wales (denying Arminianisim), being met together in London, from the third of the seventh month to the eleventh of the same, 1689, to consider of some things that might be for the glory of God, and the good of these congregations, have thought meet (for the satisfaction of all other Christians that differ from us in the point of Baptism) to recommend to their perusal the confession of our faith, which confession we own, as containing the doctrine of our faith and practice, and do desire that the members of our churches respectively do furnish themselves therewith.

Hansard Knollys, Pastor, Broken Wharf, London
William Kiffin, Pastor, Devonshire-square, London
John Harris, Pastor, Joiner's Hall, London
William Collins, Pastor, Petty France, London
Hurcules Collins, Pastor, Wapping, London
Robert Steed, Pastor, Broken Wharf, London
Leonard Harrison, Pastor, Limehouse, London
George Barret, Pastor, Mile End Green, London
Isaac Lamb, Pastor, Pennington-street, London
Richard Adams, Minister, Shad Thames, Southwark
Benjamin Keach, Pastor, Horse-lie-down, Southwark
Andrew Gifford, Pastor, Bristol, Frvars, Som. & Glouc.
Thomas Vaux, Pastor, Broadmead, Som. & Glouc.
Thomas Winnel, Pastor, Taunton, Som. & Glouc.
James Hitt, Preacher, Dalwood, Dorset
Richard Tidmarsh, Minister, Oxford City, Oxon
William Facey, Pastor, Reading, Berks
Samuel Buttall, Minister, Plymouth, Devon
Christopher Price, Minister, Abergayenny, Monmouth
Daniel Finch, Minister, Kingsworth, Herts
John Ball, Tiverton, Devon
Edmond White, Pastor, Evershall, Bedford
William Prichard, Pastor, Blaenau, Monmouth
Paul Fruin, Minister, Warwick, Warwick
Richard Ring, Pastor, Southhampton, Hants
John Tomkins, Minister, Abingdon, Berks
Toby Willes, Pastor, Bridgewater, Somerset
John Carter, Steventon, Bedford
James Webb, Devizes, Wilts
Richard Sutton, Pastor, Tring, Herts
Robert Knight, Pastor, Stukeley, Bucks
Edward Price, Pastor, Hereford City, Hereford
William Phipps, Pastor, Exon, Devon
William Hawkins, Pastor, Dimmock, Gloucester
Samuel Ewer, Pastor, Hemstead, Herts
Edward Man, Pastor, Houndsditch, London
Charles Archer, Pastor, Hock-Norton, Oxon

In the name of and on the behalf of the whole assembly.

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 32: Of the Last Judgment

1._____ God hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the world in righteousness, by Jesus Christ; to whom all power and judgment is given of the Father; in which day, not only the apostate angels shall be judged, but likewise all persons that have lived upon the earth shall appear before the tribunal of Christ, to give an account of their thoughts, words, and deeds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil.
( Acts 17:31; John 5:22, 27; 1 Corinthians 6:3; Jude 6; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36; Romans 14:10, 12; Matthew 25:32-46 )

2._____ The end of God's appointing this day, is for the manifestation of the glory of his mercy, in the eternal salvation of the elect; and of his justice, in the eternal damnation of the reprobate, who are wicked and disobedient; for then shall the righteous go into everlasting life, and receive that fulness of joy and glory with everlasting rewards, in the presence of the Lord; but the wicked, who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ, shall be cast aside into everlasting torments, and punished with everlasting destruction, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
( Romans 9:22, 23; Matthew 25:21, 34; 2 Timothy 4:8; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:48; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 )

3._____ As Christ would have us to be certainly persuaded that there shall be a day of judgment, both to deter all men from sin, and for the greater consolation of the godly in their adversity, so will he have the day unknown to men, that they may shake off all carnal security, and be always watchful, because they know not at what hour the Lord will come, and may ever be prepared to say, Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Amen.
( 2 Corinthians 5:10, 11; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7; Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:35-40; Revelation 22:20 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 31: Of the State of Man after Death and of the Resurrection of the Dead

1._____ The bodies of men after death return to dust, and see corruption; but their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness, are received into paradise, where they are with Christ, and behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell; where they remain in torment and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day; besides these two places, for souls separated from their bodies, the Scripture acknowledgeth none.
( Genesis 3:19; Acts 13:36; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:1, 6,8; Philippians 1:23; Hebrews 12:23; Jude 6, 7; 1 Peter 3:19; Luke 16:23, 24 )

2._____ At the last day, such of the saints as are found alive, shall not sleep, but be changed; and all the dead shall be raised up with the selfsame bodies, and none other; although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls forever.
( 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Job 19:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 15:42, 43 )

3._____ The bodies of the unjust shall, by the power of Christ, be raised to dishonour; the bodies of the just, by his Spirit, unto honour, and be made conformable to his own glorious body.
( Acts 24:15; John 5:28, 29; Philippians 3:21 )

The Mind of God Sundays: Proverbs 11

Proverbs 11 (English Standard Version)

¹A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
but a just weight is his delight.
²When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
³The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.
⁴Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
⁵The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.
⁶The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.
⁷When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,
and the expectation of wealth perishes too.
⁸The righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked walks into it instead.
⁹With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
¹⁰When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.
¹¹By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
¹²Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man of understanding remains silent.
¹³Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
¹⁴Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
¹⁵Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.
¹⁶A gracious woman gets honor,
and violent men get riches.
¹⁷A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.
¹⁸The wicked earns deceptive wages,
but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.
¹⁹Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
but he who pursues evil will die.
²⁰Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD,
but those of blameless ways are his delight.
²¹Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
²²Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.
²³The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
²⁴One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
²⁵Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.
²⁶The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.
²⁷Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
²⁸Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.
²⁹Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.
³⁰The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.
³¹If the righteous is repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Heart of God Saturdays: Psalm 12

Psalm 12 (English Standard Version)

To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David.

¹Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone;
for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.
²Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;
with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

³May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,
⁴those who say, "With our tongue we will prevail,
our lips are with us; who is master over us?"

⁵"Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
I will now arise," says the LORD;
"I will place him in the safety for which he longs."
⁶The words of the LORD are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times.

⁷You, O LORD, will keep them;
you will guard us from this generation forever.
⁸On every side the wicked prowl,
as vileness is exalted among the children of man.

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 30: Of the Lord's Supper

1._____ The supper of the Lord Jesus was instituted by him the same night wherein he was betrayed, to be observed in his churches, unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance, and shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death, confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof, their spiritual nourishment, and growth in him, their further engagement in, and to all duties which they owe to him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other.
( 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; 1 Corinthians 10:16, 17,21 )

2._____ In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sin of the quick or dead, but only a memorial of that one offering up of himself by himself upon the cross, once for all; and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God for the same. So that the popish sacrifice of the mass, as they call it, is most abominable, injurious to Christ's own sacrifice the alone propitiation for all the sins of the elect.
( Hebrews 9:25, 26, 28; 1 Corinthians 11:24; Matthew 26:26, 27 )

3._____ The Lord Jesus hath, in this ordinance, appointed his ministers to pray, and bless the elements of bread and wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to a holy use, and to take and break the bread; to take the cup, and, they communicating also themselves, to give both to the communicants.
( 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, etc. )

4._____ The denial of the cup to the people, worshipping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and reserving them for any pretended religious use, are all contrary to the nature of this ordinance, and to the institution of Christ.
( Matthew 26:26-28; Matthew 15:9; Exodus 20:4, 5 )

5._____ The outward elements in this ordinance, duly set apart to the use ordained by Christ, have such relation to him crucified, as that truly, although in terms used figuratively, they are sometimes called by the names of the things they represent, to wit, the body and blood of Christ, albeit, in substance and nature, they still remain truly and only bread and wine, as they were before.
( 1 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Corinthians 11:26-28 )

6._____ That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ's body and blood, commonly called transubstantiation, by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason, overthroweth the nature of the ordinance, and hath been, and is, the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross idolatries.
( Acts 3:21; Luke 14:6, 39; 1 Corinthians 11:24, 25 )

7._____ Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this ordinance, do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually receive, and feed upon Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death; the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally, but spiritually present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward senses.
( 1 Corinthians 10:16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 )

8._____ All ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ, so are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and cannot, without great sin against him, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries, or be admitted thereunto; yea, whosoever shall receive unworthily, are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, eating and drinking judgment to themselves.
( 2 Corinthians 6:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 11:29; Matthew 7:6 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 29: Of Baptism

1._____ Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.
( Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2;12; Galatians 3:27; Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:4 )

2._____ Those who do actually profess repentance towards God, faith in, and obedience to, our Lord Jesus Christ, are the only proper subjects of this ordinance.
( Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36, 37; Acts 2:41; Acts 8:12; Acts 18:8 )

3._____The outward element to be used in this ordinance is water, wherein the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
( Matthew 28:19, 20; Acts 8:38 )

4._____Immersion, or dipping of the person in water, is necessary to the due administration of this ordinance. ( Matthew 3:16; John 3:23 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 28: Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper

1._____ Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of positive and sovereign institution, appointed by the Lord Jesus, the only lawgiver, to be continued in his church to the end of the world.
( Matthew 28:19, 20; 1 Corinthians 11:26 )

2._____ These holy appointments are to be administered by those only who are qualified and thereunto called, according to the commission of Christ.
( Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 4:1 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 27: Of the Communion of Saints

1._____ All saints that are united to Jesus Christ, their head, by his Spirit, and faith, although they are not made thereby one person with him, have fellowship in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory; and, being united to one another in love, they have communion in each others gifts and graces, and are obliged to the performance of such duties, public and private, in an orderly way, as do conduce to their mutual good, both in the inward and outward man.
( 1 John 1:3; John 1:16; Philippians 3:10; Romans 6:5, 6; Ephesians 4:15, 16; 1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Corinthians 3:21-23; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14; Romans 1:12; 1 John 3:17, 18;Galatians 6:10 )

2._____ Saints by profession are bound to maintain an holy fellowship and communion in the worship of God, and in performing such other spiritual services as tend to their mutual edification; as also in relieving each other in outward things according to their several abilities, and necessities; which communion, according to the rule of the gospel, though especially to be exercised by them, in the relation wherein they stand, whether in families, or churches, yet, as God offereth opportunity, is to be extended to all the household of faith, even all those who in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus; nevertheless their communion one with another as saints, doth not take away or infringe the title or propriety which each man hath in his goods and possessions.
( Hebrews 10:24, 25; Hebrews 3:12, 13; Acts 11:29, 30; Ephesians 6:4; 1 Corinthians 12:14-27; Acts 5:4; Ephesians 4:28 )

1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith--Chapter 26: Of the Church

1._____ The catholic or universal church, which (with respect to the internal work of the Spirit and truth of grace) may be called invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ, the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
( Hebrews 12:23; Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:10, 22, 23; Ephesians 5:23, 27, 32 )

2._____ All persons throughout the world, professing the faith of the gospel, and obedience unto God by Christ according unto it, not destroying their own profession by any errors everting the foundation, or unholiness of conversation, are and may be called visible saints; and of such ought all particular congregations to be constituted.
( 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 11:26; Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:20-22 )

3._____ The purest churches under heaven are subject to mixture and error; and some have so degenerated as to become no churches of Christ, but synagogues of Satan; nevertheless Christ always hath had, and ever shall have a kingdom in this world, to the end thereof, of such as believe in him, and make profession of his name.
( 1 Corinthians 5; Revelation 2; Revelation 3; Revelation 18:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12; Matthew 16:18; Psalms 72:17; Psalm 102:28; Revelation 12:17 )

4._____ The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the church, in whom, by the appointment of the Father, all power for the calling, institution, order or government of the church, is invested in a supreme and sovereign manner; neither can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof, but is that antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalteth himself in the church against Christ, and all that is called God; whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.
( Colossians 1:18; Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11, 12; 2 Thessalonians 2:2-9 )

5._____ In the execution of this power wherewith he is so intrusted, the Lord Jesus calleth out of the world unto himself, through the ministry of his word, by his Spirit, those that are given unto him by his Father, that they may walk before him in all the ways of obedience, which he prescribeth to them in his word. Those thus called, he commandeth to walk together in particular societies, or churches, for their mutual edification, and the due performance of that public worship, which he requireth of them in the world.
( John 10:16; John 12:32; Matthew 28:20; Matthew 18:15-20 )

6._____ The members of these churches are saints by calling, visibly manifesting and evidencing (in and by their profession and walking) their obedience unto that call of Christ; and do willingly consent to walk together, according to the appointment of Christ; giving up themselves to the Lord, and one to another, by the will of God, in professed subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel.
( Romans. 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Acts 2:41, 42; Acts 5:13, 14; 2 Corinthians 9:13 )

7._____ To each of these churches thus gathered, according to his mind declared in his word, he hath given all that power and authority, which is in any way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which he hath instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power.
( Matthew 18:17, 18; 1 Corinthians 5:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 2:6-8 )

8._____ A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which he intrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons.
( Acts 20:17, 28; Philippians 1:1 )

9._____ The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself; and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted therein; and of a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.
( Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; Acts 6:3, 5, 6 )

10.____ The work of pastors being constantly to attend the service of Christ, in his churches, in the ministry of the word and prayer, with watching for their souls, as they that must give an account to Him; it is incumbent on the churches to whom they minister, not only to give them all due respect, but also to communicate to them of all their good things according to their ability, so as they may have a comfortable supply, without being themselves entangled in secular affairs; and may also be capable of exercising hospitality towards others; and this is required by the law of nature, and by the express order of our Lord Jesus, who hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.
( Acts 6:4; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17, 18; Galatians 6:6, 7; 2 Timothy 2:4; 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 9:6-14 )

11.____ Although it be incumbent on the bishops or pastors of the churches, to be instant in preaching the word, by way of office, yet the work of preaching the word is not so peculiarly confined to them but that others also gifted and fitted by the Holy Spirit for it, and approved and called by the church, may and ought to perform it.
( Acts 11:19-21; 1 Peter 4:10, 11 )

12.____ As all believers are bound to join themselves to particular churches, when and where they have opportunity so to do; so all that are admitted unto the privileges of a church, are also under the censures and government thereof, according to the rule of Christ.
( 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14, 15 )

13.____ No church members, upon any offence taken by them, having performed their duty required of them towards the person they are offended at, ought to disturb any church-order, or absent themselves from the assemblies of the church, or administration of any ordinances, upon the account of such offence at any of their fellow members, but to wait upon Christ, in the further proceeding of the church.
( Matthew 18:15-17; Ephesians 4:2, 3 )

14.____ As each church, and all the members of it, are bound to pray continually for the good and prosperity of all the churches of Christ, in all places, and upon all occasions to further every one within the bounds of their places and callings, in the exercise of their gifts and graces, so the churches, when planted by the providence of God, so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it, ought to hold communion among themselves, for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.
( Ephesians 6:18; Psalms 122:6; Romans 16:1, 2; 3 John 8-10 )

15.____ In cases of difficulties or differences, either in point of doctrine or administration, wherein either the churches in general are concerned, or any one church, in their peace, union, and edification; or any member or members of any church are injured, in or by any proceedings in censures not agreeable to truth and order: it is according to the mind of Christ, that many churches holding communion together, do, by their messengers, meet to consider, and give their advice in or about that matter in difference, to be reported to all the churches concerned; howbeit these messengers assembled, are not intrusted with any church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any churches or persons; or to impose their determination on the churches or officers.
( Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23, 25; 2 Corinthians 1:24; 1 John 4:1 )

The Mind of God Sundays: Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10 (English Standard Version)

¹The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.
²Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
but righteousness delivers from death.
³The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
⁴A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
⁵He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.
⁶Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
⁷The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
⁸The wise of heart will receive commandments,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
⁹Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
¹⁰Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
¹¹The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
¹²Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all offenses.
¹³On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.
¹⁴The wise lay up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
¹⁵A rich man’s wealth is his strong city;
the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
¹⁶The wage of the righteous leads to life,
the gain of the wicked to sin.
¹⁷Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
¹⁸The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever utters slander is a fool.
¹⁹When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
²⁰The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
²¹The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
²²The blessing of the LORD makes rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it.
²³Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,
but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
²⁴What the wicked dreads will come upon him,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
²⁵When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
but the righteous is established forever.
²⁶Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.
²⁷The fear of the LORD prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked will be short.
²⁸The hope of the righteous brings joy,
but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
²⁹The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the blameless,
but destruction to evildoers.
³⁰The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
³¹The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.