American society is culturally diverse. Churches (gatherings, groups, denominations, church governing bodies, etc.) are likewise most diverse, coming from many differing terms of understanding the Scriptures. The practices of such bodies is also most diverse. How shall our group minister effectively to newcomers to help them to understand the doctrines and principles that have brought us together as a community of believers in Christ?

Reformed and Presbyterian churches are continually being pressured to accommodate change. The call to adapt to changing circumstances is basic to mankind. Reformed and Presbyterian churches were born out of conflict and pressure to make amends and be at peace with theological principles that contradict the clear light of what the Scriptures principally teach.

The testimony to the truth of Holy Scripture has come at great cost to the lives of the defenders of the faith. Adam was made in the image of God, after the likeness of his Creator (Gen. 1:26), designed to think his thoughts after him, and having been given the mandate to nurture all that God had made (Gen. 2:15). The Lord, the Creator, gave the man he had made perfect law demanding perfect obedience (Gen. 2:16-17), but alas, Adam, being of free will and the first man – chose to obey the serpent (Gen. 3:5) rather than his Creator. Ever since, the nature of man has been corrupted by the desire to rule over God (Isa. 5:20-21).

The whole of the Old Testament is a witness to the depravity of man (Ps. 14:1-3) and to the justice and mercy of God (Lev. 20:26). The Lord went so far as to instruct his people saying: “So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the Lord. And you shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord.” (Lev. 22:32-33). Even to Zerubbabel the angel of the Lord uttered these words: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.” (Zech. 4:6).

The Old Testament demonstrates God’s promises as time and again He made good on every one of them. He declared: “I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.” (Ex. 6:7). Thus we may see that the steadfast mercies of the Lord never cease, nor do they come to an end (Lam. 3:22), so that men of faith are not consumed but live by divine privilege to do His works – even His work in defense of truth. That truth is so wonderfully set out in Psalm 138:2 “I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted your name and your word.”

Looking at the Old Testament administration we should take note of the Lord’s promises of salvation and the eternal presence of the Spirit of the Lord that is upon His chosen people. Those promises have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the anointed One who saved His people (Heb. 1:1-4).

It is therefore the divine duty of the church to preserve and repeat his truth, as is shown in these words: “Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Heb. 2:1-4).