September 8, 2021

On this date in 1636, the Puritans in Massachusetts founded Harvard College. That’s right, 1636! This was only six years after they arrived from England. I believe that it was named Harvard in 1638 after John Harvard, an English Protestant minister. For many years Harvard was true to its mission to provide a well-trained clergy to serve this land. A plaque at the Johnston Gate reads,

“After God had carried us safe to New England and wee had builded our houses provided necessaries for our lively hood reard convenient places for Gods worship and setled the civill government one of the next things we longed for and looked after was to advance learning and perpetuate it to posterity dreading to leave an illiterate ministery to the churches when our present ministers shall lie in the dust.” 

Cathi and I walked around the grounds of Harvard a few years ago when we were in Boston. The campus is impressive, but it left us very empty since this school long ago lost sight of her mission. Staying true to what is true is not the norm. The history of churches and gospel organizations bears this out. Recently, I was talking with a guy who helped form and lead an international organization that has been part of the tip of the spear of gospel clarity and mission in our world. We were talking about the future of the organization and he thought that in about 10 years or so, they would just shut down before the eventual drift took hold.

There are a couple of ways in which theological drift occurs. 1) Assuming the gospel and then neglecting theological clarity. 2) Using the same terms but creating different definitions. Our world is not friendly to the gospel and there is always pressure to water down, soften, neglect, or ignore the more controversial parts of our core beliefs. That is all the more reason why we need to give them attention.

Recently, the elders revisited our doctrinal statement and are suggesting some changes in an effort to provide more clarity. This Sunday, at 9 AM, in the Worship Center, I will be reviewing these recommendations. The membership will vote on the recommended changes in our November Members’ Meeting. You may not have looked at our doctrinal statement in a while. An informed and engaged membership helps to protect the integrity of our church. By God’s grace, the mission of our church will not be a faint history etched on a plaque, but an ongoing reality until Christ returns.

Grace and peace,

Bob

Sunday’s text: 3 John 5-8​​​​​​​