Providence Points: Top Ten For This Year, & Last Year, &...

[shawn...@gmail.com]

Providence Points:
Biblical, Devotional & Informational
January, 7 2007
Vol. 3, No. 1
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Let us start out the new year an attitude of gratefulness and wondrous
expectation:

People like top ten lists. I like top ten lists. I've read a few over
the years ranging from the top Christian music and sermons to more
ambitious top best things happening in Christendom.

This list will be in the latter category. But with a twist...

Top Ten Christian
People & Organizations

Big Names:

1) Banner of Truth: The work of this organization has not been praised
enough. They brought me to the Reformed faith through their book, The
Forgotten Spurgeon. Their magazine and books are found wherever there
are thoughtful Christians seeking Reformation of their doctrine and
lives.

2) Founders Ministry: Although I am not intimately knowledgeable of
this organization, I do know they are trying to infuse the gospel of
free grace back into the Southern Baptist Convention--that is
inestimable.

3) White Horse Inn: Another group that helped me along my path to
Reformation. They have a dialogue with a Reformed Baptist and a
Lutheran, but always in the context of self-conscience
confessionalism, while not downplaying their differences. A must in
this day of public compromise. The Gospel of free justification is
already transforming the lives of general Evangelicals who hear this
program.

4) Ligonier Ministries: Although mostly associated with R. C. Sproul,
Sr., this ministry should last beyond him. His winsome style and
uncompromising public stand for the Reformed faith in all its
offensive glory has influenced many souls toward a revival of doctrine
and manners.

5) Reformed Worldview Thinking: The Reformed denominations, OPC, RCUS,
etc., are officially dedicated to thinking God's thoughts after Him.
These sister denominations, even with their differences, are a small
but strong witness in the face of the withering Protestant branch
known as Evangelicalism. Their churches are small but their hearts are
big. Determined to stand for the truth in love, I pray the Lord to use
them in a mighty Second Reformation.

Little Names:

6) Reformed Presence: Both locally and internationally, through the
radio and internet, in publishing and lectures, schools and
seminaries, the Reformed doctrine and practice is surely spreading. It
includes not simply the big names but, in many ways more importantly,
the little names. We easily forget, that although Luther was the straw
that broke the Roman Catholic back, he was not alone.

7) Faithful People: The leaders of faithful churches depend upon the
prayers and support of faithful members. No man is an island and no
pastor is an island. The people need to faithfully attend the means of
grace, seeking God's will in the Commandments. It is in the pews,
amongst the laymen, that the Gospel of our Sovereign Lord is
propagated among the masses through private luncheons, email debates,
neighborhood picnics and everyday witnessing.

8) Everyday Pastors: It is easy to hitch the wagon of revival to the
big, noticeable names because they draw the crowds. But in reality
God's revivals of yesteryear spread simultaneously amongst faithful
preaching of the Good News. Such pastors stand unswervingly upon the
Truths of the Reformation, in public and private. They counseled with
one another, admonished one another, and reinforced each other's
ministries. Oh, that the Lord of the Harvest would bring unity amongst
the leaders to preach and teach all of God's counsel, especially
against the reigning heresies of this day.

9) Faithful Churches: It is not enough to have individual piety, or
church piety, there must be collective sanctification as well. When
the churches work in harmony (both publicly and privately), casting
out hate and suspicion in their hearts by the power of the Spirit,
there God is working mightily. Corporate prayer and church cooperation
is imperative: God is not pleased with a divided Church any more than
with the divided Israel of old.

10) Faithful Understanding of Reformation: This last point is about
the sum total of what Reformation entails--it is the organizational
and organic, individual and collective, doctrinal and moral revival on
a larger scale. It is returning to the Word without shame and a clear
trumpet call. It is preaching, teaching, writing and admonishing,
through all mediums possible, the truth of man's total depravity and
God's total sovereignty. It is radically returning the church to her
roots in the free righteousness of Christ. The church in America today
does not need more "does" and "don'ts"--it just needs the Ten
Commandments as a means of convicting them of their sins and need of a
Savior. The church needs the Gospel crystal clear.

Reformation is not reformulating old truths, refocusing on doing, or
revamping the family. Judgment begins in the house of the Lord, so
reformation will begin in the house of the Lord. As Elijah the prophet
was to bring the hearts of the family together, so the preachers of
today must preach Christ and Him crucified to bring the heart of the
church together.

SDG