The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Where do you and/or your church stand?

AC,

1) I would not be so arrogant to tell you to leave the NRC. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/nope.gif" alt="" /> That's something YOU need to pray about and discuss with others in all seriousness IF it is upon your mind.

2) The criticisms of the NRC haven't all come from Arminian evangelical sources. There are many even in conservative, creedal-believing Reformed churches who see serious problems and have voiced them. My experience with those in the NRC were not good. I witnessed gross spiritual pride, ironically expressed in a voiced lack of assurance of salvation, reluctance even refusal to go to the Lord's Table, morbid introspection and the adherence to a litany of items which were purported to be "worldly" of which one should abstain if they were to live a "holy" life.

3) Advice: Why not contact Dr. Joel Beeke who was once a member of the NRC and left. He helped form the Heritage Reformed Church and its seminary, which btw, is quite good I hear. Is it any surprise that his doctoral dissertation was on the matter of Assurance?

4) The quotes you provided below expectedly put the NRC in a good light as they were written to justify their unique beliefs and practices. And, it shouldn't be surprising that they put themselves on the same plane as Calvin; who would stand against John Calvin after all? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/giggle.gif" alt="" /> There is NOTHING inherently evil in a television, a boardwalk, a deck of cards, dancing, alcohol or most of the things some would insist are evil and if you are to live a "holy life", they must be avoided. Do you not see the judgmentalism in this type of thinking? It is classically Pharisaical; imposing one's personal views (right or wrong) upon others and/or judging those who don't conform to those personal views. Extreme Pietism and/or asceticism has no biblical basis. The Scriptures teach if YOUR right hand causes you to sin... What may be a temptation to YOU may not be a temptation to anyone else. It is most always the "weaker brother" who falls into judging his brother. Freedom in Christ makes the Pharisee gnash his teeth; perhaps out of envy?

5) Lastly, there are many biblical passages which speak of the "lusts of the flesh" and of "the world", e.g., Mk 4:19; Joh 8:44; Rom 1:24; 6:12; 13:14; Gal 5:24; Eph 2:3; 4:22; 1Tim 6:9; 2Tim 2:22; 3:6; 4:3; Titus 2:12; 3:3; Jas 4:1,3; 1Pet 1:14; 2:11; 4:2-3; 2Pet 2:18; 3:3; and Jude 1:16,18. Most of them address the disposition of the heart and not in specific OUTWARD things. The error of Pharisaism is two-fold: 1) externalizing sin, and 2) adding to the Law of God which buries conscientious people in guilt and depression who desire to live a holy life but can never seem to achieve any gains due to the impossible burden put upon them by these additions. It creates a "bondage" to the law of man from which Christ came to bring deliverance. Paul testifies that he "delights in the law of God" (Rom 7:22, cf. 7:12). It is not a debilitating slavishness to desire holiness in Christ and to walk in uprightness which some practice with soured faces and even pride themselves in doing so. We shall be sinners for our entire life here on earth. But we are REDEEMED sinners (simul iustus et peccator) by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ Who came that we might have life and that abundantly. (Jh 10:10; Rom 5:20, 21; 2Pet 1:1-11; et al) If you do not have in you the JOY of knowing you are in Christ, having been reconciled to God, adopted as a child of God, given a new name, delivered from the bondage of sin and of condemnation and have a sure hope of an eternal glory, you are to be most pitied. These things sometimes take time to be realized, but they must be there at least in part for they are inherently part of salvation and the work of the Spirit.

In His grace,