Tom,

Okay, here's my assessment of that article.

  1. I think the author is 100% correct in regard to the source of that joy of which he is addressing. 1) What it is NOT... it is not superficial, i.e., a basic emotive expression. This is decidedly not, for example, the same or even similar to an expression of joy (ecstatic) when your favorite team wins the pennant, or the world championship, etc. It does not evoke one to jump up & down, scream "Hallelujah", run around waving your hands in the air or any such thing! nope 2) What it IS... it is a deep, inexpressible "warmth", shall I say, that penetrates one's very soul. This joy is knowing that you have been reconciled with the most holy and almighty God of all creation due to the infinite love of God for you in Christ. It is that assurance that you have been adopted as God's son/daughter through faith; that your sins have been washed away in Christ's blood and that there is an incomprehensible future awaiting you when Christ shall return and gather you to Himself. This joy is sober vs. ecstatic. At the real risk of diminishing the reality of this Spirit-given joy, I might suggest it is that 'feeling' that you get when your mother or father wraps their arms around you and pulls you closely in a loving embrace. I think Paul sums up my understanding in this way:

    Quote
    Ephesians 1:3-14 (KJV) "Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; [even] in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
  2. What I have to disagree with is the author's estimated reason for the lack of joy in Reformed churches/people: "Second, I think we are joyfully deficient in the Reformed church because we are perpetually circling the theological wagons." This may be true according to his limited experience but I would say that his experience is far too narrow to make such a sweeping judgment. For, my experience is totally opposite. My acquaintances do indeed have that Spirit-given joy. But whether this is true to a greater degree in most Reformed churches I could not say. What I can say, however, is that it is all too true that TRUE doctrinal preaching is sorely lacking in many Reformed churches. How can I know that? Well, because I have visited the websites of literally hundreds of alleged Reformed churches and their doctrinal statements (What We Believe) is NOT "Reformed". Many of them practice profane worship, i.e., contemporary emotionally-based revelry which is not in accord with the Regulative Principle, even if understood in a broader way.

    Secondly, even if true doctrinal and expository preaching does exist, can we say with absolute assurance that the majority of the members of such churches are truly regenerate? Sadly, the pure Gospel of Christ is not commonly preached from pulpits in our day and thus there are many false 'conversions'. Consequently, this "joy" will not and cannot be found among those who own a temporary faith.

    Lastly, is having this wonderful joy something which should be our focus? Or, should the church focus upon that which God requires of His Church; the pure preaching of the Gospel and the edification of the saints through faithful teaching and its right application and in the administration of discipline? Since this "joy" is of the Spirit, it is not the responsibility of the Church to spend its energy on trying to produce it. Rather, it should be diligent in the faithful use of the means by which the Spirit works in the minds and hearts of believers.

That's my [Linked Image]

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simul iustus et peccator

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