September 09 Beacon

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September 2009

Volume4#9

Wading River Baptist ChurchP.O. Box 438, 1635 Wading River-Manorville Road, Wading River, NY 11792(631) 929-3512; 929-6022

www.wrbc.us [email protected]

The Search for IntimacyReflections on the Ephrata Cloister (Part 1)

For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you to one husband,so that to Christ I might present you as a pure virgin (2 Corinthians 11:2).

This summer, while on vacation, I visitedthe famed Ephrata Cloister in Ephrata,

Pennsylvania. Maureen and I spent a fas-

cinating afternoon experiencing the history

of the Brotherhood, a Brethren sect that

flourished there in the mid-eighteenth cen-

tury. Our tour of the Cloister brought to

mind some spiritual concerns which con-

tinue to be relevant to evangelical Chris-

tians. This month and next month, I want

to share some reflections on two biblical

issues raised by the history of this settle-

ment.

First some history. The Ephrata Clois-ter was founded by Conrad Beissel. Beissel

was born in Eberbach, Germany in 1691.

His father died before he was born and his

mother died when he was eight. Moving to

Heidelberg, he learned the bakers trade

and associated with the Pietists (disillu-

sioned Lutherans who wanted a more ex-

periential religion than they found in their

own church). He was jailed briefly for his

religious beliefs, and upon release was en-

couraged to go to America, and specifically

to Pennsylvania, where the colonys charter

guaranteed religious freedom. Arriving in

Boston in 1720, Beissel journeyed to Ger-

mantown, Pennsylvania. There he became

a weaver, and under the influence of Peter

Becker, a member of the German Baptist

Brethren, an Anabaptist group, moved to

the Conestoga territory (what is now Lan-

caster) and lived there briefly as a hermit.

In 1724, he was baptized and joined the

Brethren, and by virtue of his personal

charisma, powerful persuasive charm, and

natural leadership abilities, he soon be-

came an influential leader.

Beissel, however, developed highly

mystical views of the Christian faith. He

broke with the Brethren in 1728, and four

years later, moved the short distance toEphrata and there founded a colony which

drew adherents from the Brethren. By

1750, there were 300 residents there, di-

vided into three groups: the Brothers (celi-

bate men); the Sisters (celibate women);

and the Householders (married couples

and their families). Members of the colony

pursued a life of asceticism. They were

vegetarians. Their schedule was strictly

regimented, requiring long hours of work

and prayer but allowing little time for

sleep. The Ephrata Brotherhood is still

remembered for its printing presstheirprinting operation was one of the most

important in America at the time. They

translated and published the Mennonite

1500-page Martyrs Mirror(still available

today). Beissel was a prolific composer,

developing a unique style of seven-part

unaccompanied hymn singing. The Breth-

ren were known for their unique style of

German calligraphy called Fraktur-

schriften. Following Beissels death in

1768, the community declined. The last

celibate member died in 1813, and the re-

maining Householders formed the German

Seventh-Day Baptist Church, which cotinued meeting at Ephrata until 1934.

Conrad Beissel was convinced of t

overriding importance of two beliefs: Sa

batarianism (Saturday worship), and ce

bacy (the superiority of the unmarr

state). This latter position was part of h

pilgrimage to join God in Heaven. Und

the influence of the German mystical p

tist, Jacob Boehme, Beissel believed th

the Christian was a virgin reserved for i

timate union with Christ in Heaven, a

therefore should not engage in a mari

relationship in this life. His basis for th belief was the words of Paul in 2 Cor

thians 11:2: For I am jealous for you wi

a godly jealousy; for I betrothed you

one husband, so that to Christ I might pr

sent you as a pure virgin. Beissels je

ousy at this point was the source of h

virtually dictatorial authority at Ephrata.

Conrad Beissels House

Beissel, however, diverged from t

mainstream Pietist movement to follow t

minoritys mysticism. This was not t

mysticism we see invading evangelicalis

todaya mysticism with its roots in Eas

ern religions. Rather, it was the mysticisof Post-Reformation Europe, a spiritual

which sought to move beyond the orthod

creeds of a spiritually dead Lutheranism

a more vital relationship with Chri

Given the low level of spiritual vitality

seventeenth-century Germany, we can a

preciate this passion. Beissel, howev

was an extremist who sought to achieve

degree of intimacy with Christ nowhe

taught in Scripture.

A case can be made that Beiss

tragic loss of his parents and his difficu

continued on page


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continued from page 1

upbringing by impoverished relatives can

explain, at least in part, his passion for

intimacy. He was starved of the experience

of deep, emotional love as a child, and

seems to have sought it all of his life. Fail-

ing to find it, he saw such intimacy as pos-

sible only in the next life, the full enjoy-

ment of that intimacy being accorded only

to those who had preserved themselves as

chaste virgins in this life.Although Pietist spirituality is a relic of

history, the contemporary fascination with

Eastern contemplative mysticism shares

something of this same search for intimacy

with the Lord. Many professing believers

in evangelical churches have sought emo-

tional fulfillment in the Christian faith that

they have been denied in their dysfunc-

tional homes. Divorced parents . . . feuding

parents . . . parents too busy to care and

love . . . this is the tragic experience of

many younger followers of Christ today.

Emotionally starved, they have resorted to

forms of hyper-spirituality foreign to the

Bible.

Reflecting on this quest for intimacy,

what are we to conclude? How does a

Christian find intimacy with the Lord? Is it

a mystical experience neglected by most

Christians, or is it an impossibility in this

life? Let me offer the following two obser-

vations.

1. The biblical image of the church

as the Bride of Christ is a vivid symbol of

the corporate union of the church with her

Lord. This corporate union is the result of

the union of each individual believer to the

Lord Jesus which follows faith in Him and

is outwardly symbolized through baptism

(Rom 6:5). The nature of this future union

is our being transformed into the likeness

of His resurrection (Phil 3:20-21; 1 Jn 3:2).

Beissels erroneous doctrine of celibacy,

specifically denounced by the Apostle Paul

as a doctrine of demons in 1 Timothy 4:1-

3, emerged as a result of taking the Apos-tles obviously figurative description of the

church in 2 Corinthians 11:2 literally. The

church will be united to Christ as His Bride

in Heaven some day (Rev 19:6-9), but that

spiritual union does not require the rejec-

tion of marriage in this life.

2. Intimacy with Christ in the Chris-

tian life now is achieved through obedi-

ence to the Word of God. Thats what Paul

says in Romans 6, where having spoken of

the union of the believer with Christ in the

future, goes on to emphasize the impor-

tance of present obedience (Rom 6:16-22),

using the imagery, not of marriage, but of

slavery! John underscores the same truth

in 1 John 3:3, namely that those who have

the hope of future physical likeness to

Christ purify themselves now in the image

of His spiritual purity. But it could not be

more clearly expressed than it was by the

Lord Jesus himself in John 15:1-10. For

example, Abide in Me, and I in you (v. 4) .

. .If you abide in Me, and My words abide

in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will

be done for you (v. 7) . . . If you keep My

commandments, you will abide in My

love; just as I have kept My Fathers com

mandments and abide in His love (v. 10

Thus, this union is a union of obed

ence; and Gods Word, the Bible, is th

pathway to the intimacy with Christ that

available to every believer in the prese

age. Jesus prayed to His Father: This

eternal life, that they may know You, t

only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Y

have sent (Jn 17:3). Throughout Scriture, knowing is associated with t

marital union (Gen 4:1, 17, 25, and ma

other passages). How is this intima

achieved? The Lord Jesus continue

Sanctify them in the truth; Your word

truth (Jn 17:17). This is the way that t

followers of Christ may be in Him and

His Father (v. 21) I in them and You

Me, that they may be perfected in uni

(v. 23).

There is no greater spiritual intima

than this. So to the Pietistic mystics of t

past like Conrad Beissel and to the cotemplative mystics of the present, the me

sage is the same. There is no mystery; t

intimacy with Christ that you crave is rea

ily available now, not through asceticism

mind-emptying meditation, but throu

consistent obedience to Gods Word.

Next month, Part 2: The Reproach

Christ

Pastor Ron Glass

Missionary of the Month

The Wading River Baptist Church has

selected Michael and Debbie Bannon as the

missionaries of the month for September.

Coincidentally, Michael and Debbie will be

celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary

in the month of September, on the 8th. Of

their 30 years together, the Bannons have

been associated with World Venture for 28

years.

the KTG as it is now involved in a website

ministry, an English language camp for

teens, and international womens Bible

study, an orphanage ministry, a Good

News Club for children, a Samaritans

non

It was not until 1997 that Michael andDebbie, through World Venture, began

working in Lithuania. We must remember

that Lithuania was under Communism and

Russian control until 1990 when Lithuania

became the first of the Soviet republics to

declare its independence.

Since then, the mission field has ex-

panded, forming a team called KTG, mean-

ing The Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Their prayer requests continue to include

Purse program, Friendship picnics, an

the distribution of Christian books/video

The Bannons prayers also include a prai

for an incredible two weeks of the Engli

camps for 172 Lithuanian teens, each wi

a heart-wrenching story, where brok

lives were redeemed and a brand new l

given to those placing their trust in Him.

Other prayer requests would inclu

their daughter, Krista Bannon, who will attending a boarding school in German

for continued financial support for

events, rent of facilities, etc.; for the Ba

s Lithuanian language skills to im

prove; for Gods wisdom in how to best u

computer technologies for evangelism an

discipleship; and, most of all, for Lithu

nias authorities to permit an atmosphe

conducive to preaching the Gospel to t

people.

Michael and Debbie Bannon

Joan Tyska


3/10

Le

Upon meeting Edward Martin Tolf,

Jr., it would be reaso

ts Get Acquainted with Ed Tolf

nable to think Ed is a

native of the southwestern US due to his

love for that part of the country. Knowing

this, it is most surprising to see him find a

comfort zone here in New York. Even

more surprising is to find out he was born

in Chicago, Illinois, November 21, 1949,and remained there for 23 years.

His father, Edward Martin Tolf, Sr.,

was a Captain for TWA and served in the

US Navy during WW II as a pilot. His

mother, Shirley Jean Tolf, was a wife and

mother to her only son, Ed.

His Christian parents provided an out-

standing environment for Ed that brought

him to know his Savior at age nine at a Free

Church Camp. He was active in the church

youth group throughout grade school and

high school and even into his college years.

He taught Sunday school as a high school

student and led a couple of Bible studies

while in college. Ed was the chaplain in his

fraternity while at Arizona State University.

He has attended Baptist churches as well as

Bible churches throughout his life. In

some of these churches, he worked the

sound systems. He was also a Boy Scout,

earning the level of Star Scout a level

reflecting participation, leadership, service

and self-directed advancement through

merit badges offered by the scouting pro-

gram.

Many summers were spent at hisgrandparents home in Michigan on Gull

Lake. There he acquired many fond

memories swimming, water skiing, boating

and going to the Bible conference youth

group with his local friends.

As a young boy, he began developing a

cowboy image and took to the basement of

his home to target practice. Ed still likes to

target practice, but not in the basement any

more! And then there was the Saturday

ritual of watching the westerns on TV, from

the first one on through the last one. And

those were truly the days when Saturdays were not filled with cartoons but with the

good ole westerns.

Then there were those winter family

vacations in Phoenix, Arizona that intro-

duced him to the dude ranch. It did not

take him long before he practically lived at

the stables, working from sunup to sun-

down volunteering to help with horses,

even cleaning their stalls. He rode 3 or 4

times a day, sometimes 6 or 7 days a week.

He only left the stables to eat lunch or to do

a few hours of school work. It is quite pos-

sible that it was at this time his love for the

Old West began developing, a fondness

that would eventually bring him into the

heart of the west where the west would

begin to settle in his heart.

His high school years were active with

a variety of activities. He played the saxo-

phone not only in the school band but also

in the high school jazz band. He was very

much athletically inclined and was the ath-

letic trainer for 2 years at his high school.

He also played tennis and football in high

school.

After graduating from Lake Park High

School in Medina, IL, Ed continued his

education at a variety of schools of higher

education. He first attended LeTourneau

College in Longview, Texas for 1 years

before getting his Associates of Arts degreefrom College of Du Page back in IL. He

received his Bachelor of Science from Ari-

zona State University and his Master of

Arts Degree from Trinity Southern Univer-

sity in Dallas, Texas.

His activities while in college contin-

ued in a pattern much like his high school

days. Ed was in a college jazz band, was an

athletic trainer for a year in college, par-

ticipated in intramural tennis and swim-

ming, and was also an ambulance atten-

dant for a semester at LeTourneau College.

While at Arizona State University and

attending a Campus Crusade for Christ

event, Ed met his wife, Denise, now mar-

ried this November 29th, 34 years. They

have 2 sons; William Edward Tolf, 30 years

old, and Edward Martin Tolf, III, 27 years

old.

In 1974, he joined the naval flight

training command as a pilot/officer, even-

tually flying DC-6s and C-130s out of Bar-

bers Point Hawaii & Guam throughout the

Pacific and Pacific Rim countries. 1984

1988 he flew P-3s out of Whidbey Islan

WA while in the Naval Reserves.

likely initiated by his father, has spillover into his career as a pilot. His resum

is quite impressive, flying the Gulf Strea

aircraft as well as other turbo jets, mul

engine and single-engine planes. Not on

did Ed fly in the US Navy, but for a corp

ration for over 21 years and for chart

aircraft owners for 7 years. His mo

recent employment is with Excelaire

MacArthur Airport.

We can praise the Lord that Ed is

cancer survivor! When he was in El Pa

in the mid 1990s, he went through a toug

time with an operation, chemo and radi

tion. He is now cancer free.

Ed has traveled the world over and h

lived in remote places, but has never f

more at home than when he lived in A

zona and Texas. In the 16 years that

lived there, the southwest entered into h

very soul, never to leave him.

This would explain the John Wayn

image that one might see in him with h

cowboy boots and styles of the southwe

He loves the tales of the old west and

good John Wayne western. He likes

horseback ride and to target shoot. H

would never turn down an invitation to

Texan BBQ, especially if the grill was loo

ing like a pistol!

It is not ha

to see that his lo

for flying, mo

Ed takes a strong liking to Corvette

having owned a couple in his lifetim

Other interests includes coin collectin

wood working, real estate, home remod

ing/building, reading, swimming, wat

sports and boating. Not surprisingly,

loves reading western novels and has re

over 200 in the last couple of years.

Eds wife, Denise, found WRBC in t

yellow pages just two short years ago.

that time, Denise has become the chur

secretary and Ed has become a strong pa

of the churchs fellowship. Both of the

have been a blessing to our church.

Joan Tyska


4/10

Ba on

pes and

cher

as

.

se to

the

Me,

t of

evotional leader,

stayed with the

a

vie

of WRBCsA Sacred Conce

Sundays church ser

Shannon, Sarah and

the announc

men

in d

g; e

annon was

arrated Scriptur

infusing the power of the Word of God an

the testimonies of the hymn writers in

the musical performance. The coffee ho

that followed this sacred concert allow

for the congregation to acknowledge the

gifted musicians and to enjoy fellowsh

with

ck to Basics Senior Saints Lunche

The Back to Basics Senior Saints

luncheon on August 1st was truly a basic

event: from the decorations, hymn singing,

food served, and to the devotions received.

Decorations were quite simple and

basic; black-eyed Susans, sunflowers and

marigolds were all arranged on dinner ta-

bles clad in flowery garden-print table-

cloths. Fruit bowls of fresh gra

ries on the tables offered a decorative

as well as an edible item.

Dinner itself was basic and unusually

well received. After an appetizer of chicken

Praise the Lord with harp: s

Sing unto Him a new son

wings, a summer garden

quite elaborate, was

many garden-fresh vegeta

A dessert featur

ished the meal.

And what fun it was to go back to some

basic childhood songs and sing them with

renewed appreciation. W

learn that there were mu

old familiar songs like

The B-I-B-L-E, This

Mine, and Kum A La.

John Piraino, the d

salad bar, though

basic featuring

bles as possible

ing local fresh peaches fin-

hat a surpri

ltiple verses of

Jesus Loves

Little Ligh

theme and

brought some

basic thoughts

concerning the

Bible. It was

obvious that

To God Be the Glory was not only

the opening congregational hymn of the

church service on August 2nd, but also a

reflection of the content of the service. The

featured musical artists, Shannon Piraino

(violin) and Steve Heuzey (piano),

presented to WRBC a service filled with

lot of research was revealed in

Johns presen-

tation, bringing

a new apprecia-

tion of some

basics that are

overlooked in how the Bible is interwov

into our daily lives.

Wanting to give the seniors a pre

rtscheduled f

vice the next d

Linea Piraino pr

sented a basic concert of hymns to ever

ones delight. A moment of deep apprec

tion for the Piraino family was offered

the end of their musical presentation.

Normally, Trash to Treasures wou

qualify as a basic collection of old knic

knacks of the seniors brought in for

equal exchange. But for this luncheo

mysteriously anything but basic treasur

appeared overnight to the pure delight

the seniors. We thank the anonymous d

nor.

Already plans are in the making for t

next luncheon earmarked for the middle

October. Keep a watch for

t of the date. We are looking forwa

to seeing some new faces then.

Joan Tyska

A Sacred Concertg unto Him with the psaltery an

play skillfully with a loud nois

musical praise through a display of some of

the awesome talents within the church.

The entire service was given over to these

most talented young people, prior to their

return to college. Sh

an instrument of ten strings.

(Psalm 33:2-3, KJV).

accompanied by her sisters, Sarah a

Linea. Chris Hallstrom n

and footnotes throughout the servic

them.

Joan Tyska


5/10

( al

grow

book next month). Gilley, a graduate ofMoody Bible Institute, has been pastor atSouthern View Chapel in Springfield, Illi-nois, for thirty-three years.

This Little Church Went to Marketexplores the phenomenon of new para-digm churcheschurches identified by aphilosophy of ministry intentionally de-signed to effect numerical growth (p. 17).These are churches which have adopted

methods based on market strategy, busi-ness techniques, and demographics, ratherthan on the New Testament. The authorgives particular attention to the WillowCreek (Seeker-Sensitive) and Saddleback

endso creating an at-

mosphere of fun, and that in fact fun haseplaced holiness as the churchs goal. The

imary means to this end are entertain-ment, market-driven philosophy, and psy-chol

cumbed tture attuned to the dynamic

cial television. This, explains the author,caters to that cultures insatiable appetitefor amusementa culture where thefoundational values of character and integ-rity have been replaced by personality andimage. If entertainment is societys stan-dard, then how can the church compete inthe worlds marketplace unless it becomesa bastion of entertainment (p. 31)? Be-cause God designed Christianity to be athinking faith, insists Gilley, the antidoteto this trend is in-depth study and applica-tion of Scripture.

The market-driven technique exempli-fied by the Willow Creek Association fo-cuses on selling its product by meetingpeoples needs. But, as Gilley points out,this entails a destruction of the Gospel it-self. New paradigm, market-drivenchurches claim to have changed theirmet

of psychology, apparentmos

which is the fact that psychology is man-centered (seeking his happ theBible is God-centered (seekingHe traces the roots of thGospel back to Robert Scused on giving the unchu wanted; and it worked. G

that today truth doesnt stagainst success (p. 61).

Thus, American evanlonger committed to trutha cult of self-fulfillment.are brought back to tparadigm mantra: methmessage stays the same.message is shaped by the method. In mar-keting, the product must be modified tomeet New

needs (pp. 68-69). Or, to say it another

ence of entertainment in greater detail.The church has become conformed to the worlds obsession with amusement largelythrough its desire to experience Godthrough feelings. According to chapter 8,however, genuine biblical worship is cen-tered on truth, and that entails an intellec-tual component. Truth is contained inGods Word, but today, the Word of God isincreasingly taking a back seat to themanagerial and the therapeutic (pp. 86-87). New paradigm churches have lostconfidence in the sufficiency of Scriptureand have therefore abandoned the system-atic expository preaching of the Word.Truth has also been lost as the source ofmusical worship in new-paradigmchurches (chapter 9). Genuine worship isa response to divine truth, but contempo-rary evangelicals are choosing their

the basis of the music, ignomandate that the author

of S

wiT

r

n of the Bible (pp. 112-114).

itself. show itself relevant, the church has alwa been to t ththat is not appreciably different from t world has marginalized itself throcompromise and is unnecessary (p. 116

fand itmplod

Out of the inevitable ruin, we can trust th

cted today, they are of fund

believer who is serious about being or bcoming a member of a God-honorichurch, and every leader serving in a Gopel-preaching church, read this book, asorb the principles it expounds, and commit himself to being part of a truly Gohonoring congregation.

Next Month: This Little ChurchStayed Home

Pastor Ron Glass

This Little Church Went to Market

A Review ofThis Little Church We

by Gary Gilley

In the last few years, several critiquesof contemporary approaches to church

nt to Market: The Church in the

Darlington, England: Evangelic

sumer-oriented message advocated bymarket-driven churches today.

Perhaps the strongest influence be-hind the new paradigm churches, however,

is the invasion

Age of Entertainment,

Press, 2005)

His glory).is psychologizedchuller, who fo-rched what theyilley reminds us

and a chance

gelicalism is no, but has becomeOnce again, we

he nave new-ods change, the

However, the

churches oning the biblical

th have appeared. One of the best Ihave read is Gary Gilleys brief book, ThisLittle Church Went to Market: The Churchin the Age of Entertainment. This is actu-ally the first in a series of three this littlechurch books evaluating current trends inevangelicalism (I will review the second

(Purpose-Driven) models. Gilley contthat they are committed t

rpr

ogy.

Evangelical Christianity has suc-o an entertainment-oriented cul-

s of commer-

the consumers perceived needs.paradigm churches contend that theunchurched have not rejected God, buthave rejected the church because it is ir-relevant, boring, and fails to meet their

This is the direction of the new paradigchurch todayan apparently successchurch, but a compromised one;only a matter of time before it i

hods, but not their message. Gilleyrightly insists that this is impossible, sincemethod is intrinsically linked to message.In fact, in this environment, the appeal tofelt needs has eviscerated the Gospelpreached in most churches, and Gilley ex-plains the troubling dynamics of the con-

way, I believe has been replaced by Ifeel (p. 71). This is all a denial of the Bi-bles teaching that the goal of a Christianslife is not self-fulfillment, but faithfulnessto the Lord.

In chapter 7, Gilley explores the influ-

God will raise up a stronger church, omore concerned about feeding the shethan entertaining the goats, a church thknows the difference between worship anamusement (p. 117), a church that is nashamed of the Gospel.

Gilleys book is short and to the poinIt is readable by members of the congregtion, not just by members of the clergyAlthough the principles addressed here awidely negle

t conspicuously in the Seeker-Sensitiveappeal to felt needs. The biblical messageaddressing sin, salvation, and sanctifica-tion has been psychologized into a thera-peutic message. At this point, Gilley high-lights several contrasts between psychologyand Scripture (pp. 49-52), chief among

iness), while

Pu

cripture should dominate our singi(pp. 94-95). When it comes to mustherefore, Gilley makes the case fswimming up stream against the fads the moment (p. 102).

The author entitles chapter 10, TGospel According to Warren, charging tpastor of the Saddleback churchmodifying the Gospel. Referencing

pose Driven Life, he shows how Waren has distorted the biblical message salvation to one that amounts to find Gand you will find yourself (purpose). Hthereby trivializes Scripture, belittles dotrine and replaces them with psychologmysticism and worldly wisdom (p. 11Gilley makes a strong case for returning

the foundatio This Little Church Went to Markconcludes by reminding the reader that ttruth of the cross has always been the ofense of Christianity. To remove that fense is to abolish Christianity

tempted do jus at, but a chur

mental importance to the future of evagelicalism. I highly recommend that eve


6/10

l c h

tell

E

Five evenings ofVacation Bible Schoo

worth a thousand words as each picture

the VBS volunteers and students of VBS.

an ardly be squeezed into one issue of

s a story, a story of the manyGod Sightin

ach of the following pictures represents ju

the

g

s

Beacon but hopefully pictures can be

s, evidence of God in the daily lives of

t a slice of the total. Joan Tyska

Behind the scenes Sing & Play Swamp Stomp Rockys Prescho

Fearless kids, preschooler

olers

s, crew leaders and even a Mom!


7/10

Snack Shack Sing & Play Swamp Stomp

The Director Miss Katie

Spotlight Drama

Gator Games

ockside Drive-InDBible Bayou

Tech Advisor on Snack Break

Skeeter SkeeterSkirditaFriends of the Bayou


8/10

Bible and Baseball, 2009

During the week of Monday, August 3,

to Friday, August 7, WRBC held a camp

that we entitled Bible and Baseball. Six

days before the start of the camp, I called

Pastor Ron and said to him, I need a

shoulder to cry on. Why? Despite send-

ing out cards, advertising the camp in the

Community Journal, and prayer, only 4

kids had signed up. Pastor Ron exhorted

me to not lose hope; so as Monday, August

3, approached, I was mildly optimistic.

However, when all was said and done,

the camp far exceeded any of my or any of

the other staff members expectations.

Only 3 other kids signed up in the final

week, but with the participation of some of

our church family both kids and adults

the camp was an overwhelming success.

I gave an opening Bible lesson eachday by the bleachers and, at times, on the

field. On the first day, we evaluated the

kids skills. But from Tuesday to Friday, we

played doubleheaders. In five days, the

kids played nine full 6-inning games. In

between games, we went inside for snacks

and also for the second

the day. On Monday, Tues-

and Friday, our Child Evangelism Fel-

lowship missionary, Phil Ormsby, taught

the lesson. On Wednesday and Thursday,

hils g, 17-year-old

ter Hamble n.

As most of you have already heard,

made

professions of faith. We praise God for

working on the hearts of these young peo-

Lets continue to pray for their spiri-

ell-being.

By the time Friday came, I dont b

lieve that any of us (adults include

wanted to see the camp come to an en

We really had fun! On Friday afterno

we went back to our house for lunch a

pool time.

I would like to thank all of the adu

who served in the camp: Carl Chapma

Peter Albrecht, Phil Ormsby, Peter Ham

n Tyska, a

llstrom a

Sue Hart. I also extend my appreciation

Bill Ambrosini and the Shoreham-Wadi

River Little League for their generous d

nation of baseball equipment.

Most of all, we praise God, because d

spite my mild optimism, He allowed th

camp to exceed our expectations; Now

Him who is able to do far more abudantly beyond all that we ask or thin

according to the power that works with

us, to Him be the glory in the church an

in Christ Jesus to all generations forev

and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

e Visconti

Open Theism

Dr. Gary Gilley, pastor of Southern

View Chapel in Springfield, Illinois, and

author ofThis Little Church Went to Mar-ket (see book review by Pastor Ron Glass

on page 5), has also written on the subject

of open theism. I will concisely review

Gilleys four-part critique of open theism,

acces

and refreshme

sson of

nts,

blen

o

, my wife Geraldine, Joa

ur drama players, Jackie Ha

Bible le

day,

P assistant-in-trainin

n, gave the lessoPe

three kids one boy and two girls

ple.

tual w

Stev

sible through his churchs website

(www.svchapel.org).

As we studied together i

n

School on July 5, 12, and 19, open theism i

a description of God that emphasizes mans

libertarian freedomthe ability to make a

choice for each one of a number of alterna-

tives, no matter how contrary some of

those options might be to a persons char-

acter. Open theists insist that for such

freedom to be genuine, our decisions must

be immune from Gods interference.

The free will of man is the crucial pre-

supposition that open theists have held to

in formulating their doctrine of God, and it

is also the lens through which they exam-

ine the Word of God. Gilley explains,

Open theism takes all the scriptural evi-

dence for the omnipotence, sov

control and foreknowledge of God, stra

it through the grid of personal freedom,

producing an image of God barely recog-

nizable by previous generations of Chris-tians.

Gilley labels the redefinition of the

knowledge of God as the preeminent doc-

demanded by open theism.

e knowledge to the

past and the presentall that can be

nown, they claim. Open theists deny that

the future infallibly due to the

degree of uncertainty in human decision-

making. Consequently, God can anticipate

only the future of highest probability, and

He risks being taken by surprise.

The biblical testimony to Gods fore-knowledge, particularly that within Isaiah

40-48, pulls the rug out from under open-

ism, Gilley writes. God repeatedly affirms

His knowledge of future events and His

sovereign control in bringing them to pass:

Behold, the former things have come to

pass, Now I declare new things; Before

they spring forth I proclaim them to you

(Isa 42:9); My purpose will be estab-

accompl good

pleasure(Isa 46:10).

The publication of The Openness

Godby Clark Pinnocket al. in 1994 help

propel open theism from a stirring on tfringes of evangelicalism to a more mai

stream conception of Gods attribute

Gilley identifies writer Philip Yancey an

theologian Gilbert Bilezikian as two pop

lar figu aged erroneo

open-theistic views in attractive format

enabling open theism to sneak in throu

the back door of the [evangelical] camp.

Open theists would have us b

that God is continually learning from an

adapting to our supposedly free decision

that we have entered into a give-and-tak

relationship with God and cooperate wiHim to determine the outcome of histor

However, this exaltation of mans freedo

comes at the great cost of Gods sove

eignty, omniscience, and immutability

three biblical attributes of God. Gilley co

cludes by quoting from Psalm 50:

(You thought that I was just like you

in pinpointing a profound error of op

theism: their God is too human.

Peter Albrecht

trinal shiftres who have packOpen th sists limit God

Sunday

s

k

God knows

elie

ereignty,

ins, and I willlished ish all My


9/10

s rs

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September 2009

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September Bible Quiz Q

1)

stament, that

ing unforgivable?

ll?

Bonus: Who said, The Spirit of God has made me, andthe H

uestions

Who found the book of the Law in the house of the

Lord?

2) Where is it mentioned, in the New Te

David was a prophet?

3) Which sin is expressed by Jesus as be

4) What word means the place of a sku

5) What does Jesus say defiles a man?

breath of the Almighty gives me life? int: O.T.

Felix Acerra

August Bible Quiz Answers

1) Bethany (NASB) or B

2) His being told tha

captured by the P

3) Rainbow (Gen 9:

4) Abihail (Esth 2:15).

5) Melchizedek, kin

High (Gen 14:18-

Bonus: 1 Cor 15:45.

ble

ethabara (KJV) (John 1:28).

t the Ark of God had been

hilistines (1 Sam 4:17-18).

13-15).

g of Salem and priest of God Most

20, Heb 7:1-2).

reference and correct answers to:Submit the Bi

office@wr

annou

bc.

nced in the next newsletter!

us. The correct answers will be

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10/10

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