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“ Summary, Part 4 (final) ” 9. PERSISTENT SMALL SIZE. God has not kept us small to punish us; He has kept us small to test our faith and increase our graces. We don’t find our encouragement in numbers, but in God. We have grown in the graces of dependence, patience, hope, resignation to His sovereign will, and commitment to our doctrines and practices. LUKE 12:32: “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Let us live up to God’s promises. The “Providence” in our name is a testament to God’s faithfulness to our little flock.
Ian Migala (2/3/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 3 ” 8. UNPOPULAR PRACTICES. i. Sabbatarianism. We affirm the Lord’s Day (not just the morning, but the whole day). The Sabbath is dress rehearsal for eternity. If we don’t enjoy this day, how will we enjoy the eternal Sabbath? ii. Pastoral oversight. The pastor visits us at home and ministers to us there. The shepherd wants to know about his flock. iii. Corrective church discipline. We should abhor it, but we shouldn’t avoid it. iv. Corporal punishment of children. As God chastens His children, biblical parents chasten their children. We’re not naive about their fallen state from conception. v. Unadorned worship. We seek to worship by the Book. We want to be God-centered and not man-centered, trusting the elements He has ordained for us. Our choir is in the pews. We don’t seek production; we seek worship. We’re not entertaining on one end or coldly liturgical on the other. New Calvinism is infiltrating a lot of our sister churches; it seeks to influence the culture. But to do that, they open themselves to the culture’s influences. However, we don’t believe that we need to compromise ourselves to accomplish such a task.
Ian Migala (2/3/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 2 ” 6. LACK OF GROWTH. God can grace a church in ways other than growing membership. We have a relative invisibility in the community. 7. UNPOPULAR DOCTRINES. In our humanistic age, our beliefs turn off many, even many Christians. a. Calvinism. We maintain that God is sovereign and is the captain of our souls. b. Reform theology. TULIP is only part of being reformed. i. Sola scriptura and tota scriptura in all matters of faith and practice. ii. Confessionalism. Though we understand that the 1689 London Baptist Confession is not inspired, we affirm that it is an adequate summary expression of Scripture. Noncredalism sounds pure, but is an absurd position. If you believe the Bible, you believe that it says something in particular: that is a creed. iii. Biblical ethics and worship. We affirm the transcontinental character of the moral law. What was right and wrong in the Old Covenant is right and wrong in the new. God doesn’t change. iv. Sanctification. We believe that growing holiness adorns the life of a Christian. Though he may still struggle with sin, he at least struggles. We don’t believe that someone becomes a Christian by mere claim or pastoral blessing. There is carnality in every Christian, but there are no carnal Christians.
Ian Migala (2/3/2014)
from Minneapolis, Minnesota
“ Summary, Part 1 ” Providence helps us to take a look at our church from a higher perspective. Though we consider the last five years specifically, we keep in mind the twenty-five years since the constitution of our congregation. I. OUR CONTINUED EXISTENCE AS A CHURCH BEARS ELOQUENT WITNESS TO GOD’S FAITHFULNESS. LAMENTATIONS 3:22: God’s compassions never fail. Though clouds overhead are temporary, the sun above them is permanent. A. WE’VE WITNESSED GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN PRESERVING US AMIDST NUMEROUS DIFFICULT PROVIDENCES. 1. DEARTHS OF VISITORS. We’ve had stretches where we didn’t see any. We’ve also seen visitors come, stay, and then leave. 2. DEPARTING MEMBERS. The church is a body. Though it can heal when it loses a member, it will feel the pain at the time of the loss. 3. DEPARTING PASTOR. Though he answered a calling, we felt the loss of a shepherd and friend. For some, it was the loss of family. 4. FINANCIAL UNCERTAINTY. At times, our continuance was in serious question. But we remember that the Lord encouraged us to pray for our DAILY bread. Spiritually, living hand-to-mouth encourages greater dependence on Him. 5. AVOIDED AN UNPROFITABLE MERGER. From an earthly perspective, it made good sense. But God’s ways are not ours, and His wise and gracious judgment later revealed the better course.
