Where Grace and Truth Meet

On the 28th of this month we’All be hosting our annual church ministry and business meeting. It’s another opportunity to enjoy a great meal together served up by our deacons before we head into the “tougher work” of voting on the makeup of our leadership team and proposed budget for the coming ministry year. Traditionally it’s a good time of reflecting on some of the many blessings we enjoy and of giving praise to God for His faithfulness both to and through our church family as well. This year we’All also have the added responsibility of considering a constitutional change – one that addresses an area of our doctrinal statement and agreement with it as a requirement for membership.

Historically, our statement of faith addresses twelve key doctrinal points – the last one simply entitled “Last Things.” And stated there in capsule form is what we believe the scriptures teach regarding Christ’s future return and His judgment of believers and unbelievers alike. Currently the statement reads, “We believe in the personal, premillennial, and visible return of our Lord Jesus Christ to earth for the establishment of His kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the endless suffering of the wicked, and the eternal blessedness of the believer (Matthew 24:1-51; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:1-5).”

On a number of occasions, more so in recent years, we have had prospective members with questions and challenges regarding our “premillennial” distinctive. For instance they ask, “What does it mean? Must I hold this as a point of personal conviction to be received into membership? Is there any role for me within this church family if I understand the scriptures to teach a historic or more ‘spiritualized’ view of Christ’s coming kingdom?”

At issue is not only what we believe the scriptures teach regarding the nature of Christ’s coming kingdom, but also a concern as to how critical this belief is to fellowship and service in the Sanctuary Bible Church family. Recognizing that there is room for discussion on this issue within a strong biblical evangelicalism, and after good discussion and prayer, our elders thought it best to footnote this point in our Statement of Faith with the intent of doing two things.

One, we want to clarify the meaning of the word “premillennial”, retaining this distinctive as our best understanding of the nature of Christ’s future kingdom reign. And, two, we want to open the door of membership to believers who cannot claim this position by conviction, yet who will agree not to promote a view within the church family contrary to this premillennial understanding. The goal in such a move is to continue to guard the doctrinal purity and unity of our church family but not to raise unnecessary hindrances for Christ honoring believers who differ on this point, yet who want to fellowship and serve with us.

The proposed footnote to be added to our statement regarding “last things” is as follows: “We believe that the best way to understand the future reign of Christ includes a 1000 year future earthly rule in which Israel is restored under the kingship of Christ. We will not, however, exclude from membership those who do not hold this conviction.”

Please take time to prayerfully consider this addition to our statement of faith before we meet for our annual gathering. Feel free to ask questions of our pastors and elders. We take seriously the scripture’s directives to “pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching” (1 Timothy 4:16) and “with all humility and gentleness… being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:2, 3).

Thanks for your consideration of this matter and for your partnership in this encouraging ministry. It’s a real joy to serve with a leadership team and church family that is committed to upholding the truth of the scriptures and who seeks to do so with humility and understanding.

For His honor,
Dave
Pastor Dave