Having confessed our sins is there a way to know that we are forgiven? The assurance of forgiveness comes from the pronouncement of the minister: “Your sins are forgiven.” If the confession of sin makes low-church evangelicals uncomfortable, the assurance of pardon makes them downright concerned. Can the minister really pardon sins? That is the …
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Assurance Of Pardon
Posted Apr 30th, 2009 By Brian in Pastor Brian's Blog, Why We Do What We Do With | No Comments -
The Confession of Sin
Posted Apr 23rd, 2009 By Brian in Pastor Brian's Blog, Why We Do What We Do With | No CommentsAn element of traditional worship has curiously dropped out of much Protestant worship. I am speaking of the confession of sin. After my conversion I never attended a church service wherein the congregation confessed their sins during worship until coming to New Life. For many, the confession of sin smacks of sacerdotalism, at best, and …
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Regulated By Scripture II
Posted Apr 16th, 2009 By Brian in Pastor Brian's Blog, Why We Do What We Do With | No CommentsRecently I had an interesting and enlightening experience. One of our high school students was given the opportunity to receive extra credit for a class if she would attend an Ash Wednesday service. So I took Trinity along and we joined her family in attendance at a local Episcopal Church. You might be thinking my …
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Regulated by Scripture I
Posted Apr 2nd, 2009 By Brian in Pastor Brian's Blog, Why We Do What We Do With | No Comments
These are not good days for worship in evangelical and mainline churches. While the Roman Catholics, Lutherans, and high-church Episcopalians/Anglicans have for the most part stuck with their traditions, evangelical and mainline churches have opted for a “newer” and “fresher” approach. There seems to be no end to their “creativity.” I have been awestruck by …
