Article XXIX of the Belgic Confession of Faith

I know this still isn't what I said my next post will be...I keep procrastinating on my research for it! But in the meantime here is a post on a Confession that we talked about in Sunday School today. I won't put it in the exact words because it can get a little long and you have to be 100% awake in order to understand it sometimes...but if you want to get it word for word you can find it here: http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/BelgicConfession.html

Many groups call themselves under the name church...but few assume what it really means to be a true Church. We are not referring to the hypocrites who invade the churches are attempt to poison it with their heresies, but rather the Church as the bride of Christ. This is distinctly different from those who call themselves the Church but teach false preaching.
The real Church will have certain marks or characteristics that will show itself to be the true Church. It will 1) preach the true doctrine and principles of the Word 2) it distributes the sacraments properly and in accordance to Scripture and 3) and they actively discipline those who are living in error or sin...basically following intently to the every word of the Bible, dispelling those things which oppose the Bible, and having Christ as our only king. This is how we are to see the true Church as separate from the false Church. 
Also, there are true and false Christians. They too can be known by certain characteristics that show themselves forth in their life. Namely, by faith, and by after they receive Christ as the only Savior, they avoid sin, follow after righteousness, love the true God and their neighbor, neither turn aside to the right or the left (remaining steadfast in their faith), and crucify the flesh with the works that are to originate out of selflessness. All this is not to say that they are perfect...everyone is sinful and is constantly making mistakes, but they are to consistently fight against the temptation of the flesh every day of their life...they are to refer themselves back to the blood, death, passion, and obedience of Christ with whom we have all our sins forgiven and we are covered in His righteousness.
The false Church can be seen by its need to collect to itself all power and authority, deciding of itself apart from Scripture how it will operate and worship. Also, it will not obey or follow the words of Christ, nor will it administer or give out the sacraments as Christ gave them to us in the Bible, but it will add and take away whatever they want. They also will rely upon man as opposed to God, and they will hound after and violently attack those who live rightly and according to God's written Word...and attempt to reprimand it for its errors, covetousness, and idolatry.
By these characteristics we can easily see the marks of a true Church and a false Church and who the chosen people of God are by how they act.

Thoughts?

Some interesting statistics

Now I know this isn't what I said my next post would be on...but I found this and had to post it...a little long but I'll post some key parts of what I read. You may still think it's a tad long but hang in there...some stuff in there you don't want to miss! If you're interested in reading the whole post you can find it here: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:tdsM01iZVDEJ:www.irfi.org/articles/articles_51_100/bible_reading_declines.htm+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us


According national surveys conducted in 1992, by Barna Research, almost half of the Christian adults read from the Bible during a week.  In 1995, that figure came down to less than one-third.  In 1999, the figure rose to slightly more than one-third.  The evangelical pollster (George Barna) is convinced that "traditional Christianity" is losing its grip. And a 1997 Barna Research poll showed 12 percent of Christians think Noah's wife was Joan of Arc.  A recent study by Christian pollster George Barna showed 63% couldn't name the four gospels of the New Testament.


About 92 percent of Christian Americans own at least one or portion of the Bible (the New Testament) in their homes, and the average household has three. Two-thirds say it holds the answers to the basic questions of life. However, the number of Americans who consider the Bible as infallible and wielding authority over their lives is decreasing distinctly .


"Most Americans consider the Bible to be a collection of inspired writings, but 'not everything in it should be taken literally.' This moves toward understanding the Bible as the inspired, and not necessarily as the actual, word of God, is one of the most dramatic shifts in religious beliefs since 1960s. As recently as 1963, two persons in three viewed the Bible as the actual word of God, to be taken literally, word for word.  Today, only one person in three still holds to that interpretation."


Ten Commandments are considered to be the moral health of American society, however six out of 10 Americans can't name half of them, or any of the Ten Commandments.  To the question "Can you name the first and last books of the Bible? "  An  older man answered “First Testament...and I think second one."  They think  "Moses" gave the Sermon on the Mount?


When a True or false question was asked whether the Bible teaches "God helps those who help themselves?"  A young man answered it to be  “True”. Actually, Ben Franklin said that.  About 80 percent of born-again Christians believe it is the Bible that says, "God helps those who help themselves."



Just some thoughts to chew on!

Wednesday class notes: History of Christendom and Worldview

Sarah Bacon
History of Christendom
Week 21

The seventeenth century was a century of grave controversy. We've already seen this to some degree as we looked at the Tudors and the Stuarts and the move toward civil war in what was once Merry Old England. but at the heart of the controversy were really two great men: friends and comrades, sharking both political and religious conviction. One of them was a poet, one of them was a soldier. one of them produced one of the greatest works of English literature, the other produced the model that would lay the foundations for the American experiment in liberty. The two men were Oliver Cromwell and John Milton.

Henry VIII of England was succeeded by his son, Edward VI, who rewrote the Book of Common Prayer in a Reformed mindset. Henry's niece Lady Jane Grey ruled for 9 days after Edward. Bloody Mary took the throne after her and ruled for 5 years before succumbing to illness. Her half-sister Elizabeth I ascended to rule but never married or had children.

James V of Scotland left his throne to his 9 day old daughter, Mary Queen of Scots. Scotland was bound in a strong alliance with France at the time. After Mary, James VI took the throne with strong Calvinist roots, but was known for his unfaithfulness to the faith. He sought to unite England, Scotland, and France. Later in life he became James I of England. The Crown hated the Covenanters because they had a King above the king. What followed were the Scottish Rebellion (1638-42), the Short Parliament (1640), the Long Parliament (1640-53) and the Westminster Assembly (1643).

Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658)
He was born to a royal family (his uncle was close to the king) and was trained at Cambridge. He then launched his Parliamentary career. He was known as a Champion of Popular Causes. Cromwell believed that Charles I had violated the bounds of his sphere of the Divine Right of Kings, and in opposition to that he raised an army (called the New Model Army) against the king. With courage and cunning he led them to many great victories even though his men had never fought as they were common farmers. Cromwell never meant for Charles I to die, but when it was found that he intended to launch a civil war against his own nation, he was deemed guilty by the courts and executed. Shortly after this, Oliver Cromwell was elected the Lord Protector.

John Milton (1608-1674)
He is most commonly known for his remarkable and controversial work of art "Paradise Lost". He was raised in a well-to-do family and received private tutoring and then went on to study at Christ College Cambridge. After that, he stayed home to write poetry and independently study meticulously. He knew multiple languages and write in them all. He read and studied so much it is said he was the most learned man England ever produced. Milton traveled for 15 months, speaking and meeting with many great learned men, one of which was Galileo. After returning home, John Milton wrote many pointed and accusatory pamphlets. He was well known, but well hated...often a sign of a strong Reformer. His brother married into the royal family and stayed true to the king..always a sore spot for Milton. Soon, Milton became very handy to Parliament and was nominated the Royal Secretary, even though he was blind. From him, we see once again education is so very essential to a life well lived to the glory of God. His wife died leaving him with three daughters, one of whom was mentally ill. His second wife died in childbirth, the baby dying also. His third wife, however, cared for him for the rest of his life. John Milton dictated most of his book "Paradise Lost" to his second eldest daughter and it was published in 1667. We can see from his life that no matter what adversity may come our way, we remain true to God and He is faithful to bless us in every circumstance


Sarah Bacon
Worldview class

Marxist Ethics:
As history moves forwards so does morality. Good and bad are determined by whether it advances Communism or the state. The state is the farmer and the people are the animals. If the animals is deemed sick or diseased then too bad for it. Fear is one large part of how they rule. They are not afraid of shedding blood to get their way. They believe the state has complete and total authority with the last word

Marxist Law:
Law is whatever the state says it is. This isn't a huge deal different then their ethics. The state has the last word on anything and can make whatever law it chooses. The standard of "just" fluxuates as their mood changes.

Marxist Politics:
The complete world will be ruled under one authority or rule someday. Their goal is to get it under a New World Order. Communism will reign at that time. Everyone will be equal and the same with no distinctions. There will be unity but no diversity.

Marxist Theology:
The rich are wicked and the poor are righteous. This leads to a redistribution of power and wealth. The white Christian is seen as the mean bad person. We are constantly under attack because Christianity is seen as coming from the white people. Instead, we are daily pumped full of guilt and regret because of how cruel we can be (racism and sexism).

Weather and to come!

Hey...isn't this weather AMAZING? It smells and looks like spring...every day I wake up hopeful to see some buds on the trees! It's nice to only have to wear a light coat, jacket, or hoodie wherever I go as well. :) Thank God for the many blessings that He sends us in the "small" ways! Also, this post is to tell you that I haven't forgotten you, readers. I am crunching some numbers at the moment for my next post. If you're confused...let me clarify what my post will be on: ABORTION. So...that being said, I will get back with you as soon as I have the numbers worked out and some online time on my hands! Have a great week :)