He is no mere spectator

Thou art Jehovah, even thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their hosts, the earth and all things that are therein, the seas and all that is in them, and thou preservest them all. Thou art Jehovah, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham (Nehemiah 9:6-7)

It was no accident that brought Rebecca to the well to welcome Abraham’s servant, or that sent Joseph into Egypt, or guided Pharaoh’s daughter to the baby in the Nile, or directed the millstone that crushed Abimelech’s head, or winged the arrow shot to smite the king in the joints of his armor. And it is no accident that God has providentially delivered my church into her current state of affairs. Every historical event is an item in the orderly carrying out of an underlying Divine purpose. We must be acutely aware of the real and controlling presence of Him who gives even the lightning a mark which to strike (Job 36:32). Our God is the God who secures the complete fulfillment of His plans. Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation was “to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” (Daniel 4:17) This precept in no way contradicts the free agency of men, but rather establishes it, for in His image were we made. Throughout the annals of history the varying fortunes of individuals are ever attributed to God’s providential control. He is Immanence and He is Transcendance. Almost everyone admits that God determines when, where and under what circumstances each individual is born and shall live and die. To some He gives riches, to some honor, to some health, and to some various talents. Others are poor, unknown, victims of disease, living lives of wretchedness. Some He brings through faith to salvation; others are left to perish in unbelief. Both Scripture and experience teach us that God gives to some what He withholds from others. And when we would ask “Why?” we would do well to look to our Savior’s words “Yea, Father, for so it was well pleasing in thy sight.” Beloved, remember these precepts of our Father today and exult in them, and be greatly encouraged, fueled by these truths to good works.

Assessment of the situation

It is clear to me that the only way there will be a win/win for the glory of God at my church is if there is no formal split. A split under any circumstance will at the very least say to the world that the church, in this case my church family specifically, is weak and factious and full of rebellious and self-seeking folk who refuse to repent and turn from their arrogance and be reconciled to each other. If we split, whether we like it or not, that is what the world (our community, association, etc) will see. That is what will have proven itself to be true about us. Most of you know me and where I stand with regard to the Truth. I refuse to compromise on the doctrine that has been passed down to me from my former pastor – because it is Bible doctrine. We must not compromise on the Truth. But I am convinced that there is a way that we can be reconciled to each other. If we have Christ and He has us, we can, we MUST be reconciled.

1 Peter 2

After teaching the faithful that their regeneration was by the very Word of God (1:22-25), he reminds us again that as we are regenerated by the Word, so also by it are we sustained and grown (2:1-3). In verses 4-10 he proceeds to teach principles which are foundational to understanding the church of Christ as the people of God. Peter identifies the living Stone – the cornerstone of the spiritual building he proceeds to describe – as Jesus Christ himself. He is the foundation of the living. Note the parallelism used by Peter in verse 5 to the OT sacrificial system. The OT dwelling place of God, the temple, was built with stones hewn by the hands of men. But this house Peter describes is made from “living stones” – those who have been made alive in Christ. The OT sacrificial system has been fulfilled in the person of Christ. The OT temple has been replaced by the church – God dwells among and in the midst of His people through the person of Jesus Christ. The comparison here is between the church and the OT temple. The type that was given by the institution of the OT temple has been realized in the church itself. O how this amplifies divine grace! How much more excellent is reality than the type! Peter then gives the reason that God has established this “spiritual house” (v.5) built from “living stones”: it is that we might “declare the virtues of the One who called you out of darkness into His amazing light.” (v.9)