CALVARY HERALD
Volume 13, Number 3	June - December 1997

A Truly Happy Life

by Pete Hurst

There probably aren't many people who enjoy being miserable. I believe there are some who derive a sense of satisfaction from their misery, if they can get attention, sympathy, and pity from others by having it rough. However, for most of us, being miserable is not a life goal. We desire to be happy, but happy is not all that should concern us. God calls us to be holy. Holiness is a more noble concern than happiness, but there is nothing evil in desiring to be happy. Unfortunately, the Church in our day has forgotten God's call to holiness and has run like the world after happiness. The world cannot know happiness apart from God and the Church will never experience happiness apart from holiness. When holiness and happiness are rightly understood, they compliment one another beautifully.

A temporary experience of pleasure and joy is achievable apart from God and in disobedience to Him. Proverbs doesn't deny the enjoyment of sex with a prostitute or another's spouse. God has made the body so that it experiences pleasure based on sensations it encounters and what one knows. Whether it is sex, wine, food, or sleep, Proverbs explains the pleasure one can experience from them, but the unhappiness that will eventually come to a person who disregards God's law as to their use. The overriding principle is that with God there is life and without Him there is death. When people choose to ignore God and His truth, even though they may for a time experience what they perceive to be real happiness, they are in truth deceived and on the path of death.

Happiness for the Christian must always be defined by God and not the world. For instance, the abundance of money and the absence of pain is not always true happiness. Read Psalm 73. The Psalmist knew others with money and without pain but also without God and he didn't want to trade places with any of them. He found contentment and joy in God Himself and fellowship with Him. In reality he was more wealthy than the materially rich he had once envied. This is a truth Christians confess, but it isn't easily learned by them. It is only taught by God's Spirit. The Psalmist shares his experience of learning it and it is a hard but good truth for all of us to learn.

The happiness that can be experienced by Christians is taught throughout the Scriptures. Consider Psalm 1. Here is a person who delights in and meditates on God's truth instead of dwelling on the ideas, goals, concerns, desires, wishes, plans, and values of those who do not love and know Him through Christ. Many useful magazines or innocent-type television advertisements often convey an understanding of life, goals, and purposes that oppose God's will. For instance, Money and Kiplinger's may help you pick a good mutual fund if you have money to invest, but no one ought to be your idol because they were able to retire at 45. So what if the only Ford you've driven lately is twelve years old, happiness is not a new Ford. Psalm 1 isn't only concerned with not listening to that which is blatantly evil, but also with any counsel that isn't pleasing to God. One whose mind and heart is set on the Lord and His truth is going to arrive at true prosperity and happiness.

Consider what Christ teaches in the Beatitudes of Matthew 5. He describes the blessed life as walking humbly before God, acknowledging our own sin, seeking the gentleness, mercy, and purity of heart we see in Christ. Here is happiness through hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Some of you who read this may be disappointed. You want easy steps but no change in lifestyle or priorities. Have you forgotten the elementary lessons of the gospel that Jesus spoke to you about dying and finding life? In this life you must die to find life. God's happiness for you will always elude you as long as you maintain reservations about what you are willing to give up. Maybe it isn't a goal in life, but a sin with which you refuse to deal. Christ has died and risen to free us from sin. God isn't going to give us His happiness while we remain so sinfully stubborn.

Some of you may be in painful situations of family turmoil, ill health, or tragedy of another sort. Your pain is real and God's Word is not without counsel. It is not as though you cannot be happy even in your unhappiness. God gives contentment to Christians even in misery (I Corinthians 12:7-10). He gives us counsel in dealing with those who would be our enemies (Romans 12:18-21). There is a peace that comes from Him that allows us to have a quiet joy even in painful times (Philippians 4:6-9, 12, 13, 19). We can know a happiness in trouble, which causes us to rise above our circumstances and brings Christ to walk and talk with us throughout the day. This experience may not be easily obtained but we have the promise of God that we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart, so we must give ourselves sincerely and perseveringly to this. Hurting but happy, these can go together even though we don't usually think in these terms.

A truly happy life can be the possession of all Christians. It doesn't mean the absence of pain or the accumulation of things. It doesn't consist of health or wealth. It comes through the crucifixion of self. As Christ died that He might obtain life and we find life in Him, so this life in Him is enjoyed as we die to self and the world and live unto Him. Christ says this is the way to life and any other way leads to death.

Christians, Holiness, and Popular Entertainment

by Charles Wingard

This was a reprint, so it is not included in the on-line edition

The Futility of Natural Law

by Byron Snapp

Should adultery be decriminalized? According to news reports this summer, Lt. Kelly Flinn's lawyer desired such decriminalization for military personnel. One can wonder if he would also desire lying to a superior to be without punishment. Allegedly, the lieutenant did both. Supporting the decriminalization of adultery reminds us of the futility of natural law.

Natural law teaches that by nature man knows basic right and wrong and will build a society accordingly. One does not need to turn to the Bible or another exterior source. We have sufficient knowledge within us. Evidence teaches otherwise. We are sinful creatures. Our reasoning, since the Fall, is affected by sin. Instead of pursuing right, sinful man pursues evil. Paul reminded the Christians in Rome that ungodly men "suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). This reiterates the psalmist's words in Psalm 2:2,3: "The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed: 'Let us tear their fetters apart, and cast away their cords from us.'"

Man's sinful mind regarding God's law is not neutral. It is in opposition to it. Sinful man has no problem with aspects of God's law when keeping it is in his selfish interests. However, such obedience is a far cry from a favorable focus on the unity of the law -- even those laws that teach us how to love our neighbor. Such laws include fleeing the temptation to commit adultery. Within his heart, man hates God. It is unreasonable to expect individuals to desire the establishment of civil laws that equate with even the majority of the Ten Commandments.

Christians should not be surprised to see the continued destruction of our law structure. Our law system was built upon the ethics of God's law because of the strong influence of Christians of bygone generations. Without a Christian culture, Christian law is being and will continue to be replaced with laws created by man.

Sodom and Gomorrah's rulers saw nothing wrong with homosexuality, or other sexual sins. Many societies without Gospel influence have practiced cannibalism as a way of life. The Roman society had no problem with leaving unwanted babies exposed to weather and animals. The list could go on.

Sinful man needs an objective ethical reference. Otherwise, civil law will continually change because man, playing god, will change from generation to generation as to what is ethically right and wrong. In my lifetime I have seen great changes in civil law. Abortion and homosexuality are now lawful. In my youth, mall parking lots were empty on the Lord's Day. These and other laws did not arise out of a general knowledge of right and wrong. If they did, they would remain laws today.

Those laws arose because society recognized the Ten Commandments and the biblical explanation of them (for example, homosexuality was seen as unlawful because of the seventh commandment) as the objective standard for law. The removal of God's relevance to society and life has been accompanied with an attack on His law.

Sadly, many Christians also attack God's law. Claiming that the Old Testament law code is irrelevant for today, they support the natural law theory. No doubt many of these same Christians are dismayed by the acceptance of homosexuality, the legalization of abortion, and the onslaught of pornography. Yet, they fail to see that society's acceptance of these formerly abominable practices is a natural consequence of the natural law theory.

God gave His written law for a purpose. Sinful man needs it. Of himself, he cannot establish a just law system. His mind is too blind. He is too selfish. God gave a written law and repeated it a number of ways throughout Scripture so that man would be properly reminded of true law.

Long ago God told the Israelites, "Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?" (Deuteronomy 4:8). The omniscient, omnipresent God surveys the nations of the world and tells the Israelites the bottom line. No nation -- even a great nation -- has laws as fair as those God has given in written form. Man, on his own, cannot establish similar laws.

We have seen many laws, based on Christian ethics, decriminalized. Will adultery be next? In a way it has already been decriminalized. Although it remains a part of civil code, it is rarely enforced. If adultery penalties are erased from the civil code or the military code, what will be next? Clearly the answer is whatever democratic man decrees. We should expect nothing less until there is a desire for and a return to God's law as our objective standard.

Session News

May

Admitted Benjamin Ridenour to the Lord's Table upon his profession of faith.
Reviewed congregational attendance.
Transferred Ken Griffith's membership to All Saints Reformed Presbyterian Church, Richmond.
Transferred Dot Moss's membership to Lebanon Presbyterian Church, Abbeville, SC.
Elected Dave Bailey and Beth Moore to serve on a Planning Committee together with Paul Anthony from the Session, Brian Hopson from the Deacons, Tim Tonkovic from the school board, and Pete Hurst as ex officio member.
Asked Elders Snapp and Derr to investigate inactive status of ordained officers.
Approved deacons' recommendation regarding expenditure for sound system.

June

Asked Elders Snapp and Moore to draft 1997 shepherding visit questions.
Received various nominations for office of elder and deacon.
Approved Compassion Offering for flood victims in South Dakota.
Approved missionary questionnaires to be sent to those missionaries from whom we have not had recent visit and discussion.
Approved Conrad Doskey as leader of Operation BreakingThrough ministry.
Approved Scott Mackey as Hospitality Committee chairman.
Received report from Elder Snapp on General Assembly meeting.
Elected Elders Moore and Anthony to July meeting of presbytery.
Approved $100.00 per year support to Presbyterian Reformed News.
Admitted Michelle Whiting to the Lord's Table upon her profession of faith.
Admitted Becky Plowman to the Lord's Table upon her profession of faith.

July

Transferred membership of Rich and Karmel Crandall to Main Street Presbyterian Church, Columbus, Mississippi.
Approved Grant, Wilkins, DeMar, and Sandlin for Christian Worldview Conference 1998.
Approved deacons' request regarding heating and air conditioning improvements.

August

Approved expenditure of $2,000.00 for purchase and moving of a pipe organ from Pennsylvania to Calvary.
Received minutes of commission dealing with a matter of discipline.
Acted on shepherding concerns relating to non-attendance by members and those partaking of the Lord's Supper who are not moving toward membership.
Appointed Elders Ridenour and Anthony to meet with adult and youth representatives from those who attended the missions trip to West Virginia. Elders Moore and Hurst will also attend this evaluation session.
Invited Peter Hammond of Frontline Fellowship to speak on October 7^th.
Received preliminary report from Long Range Planning Committee.
Approved Administrative Committee recommendations regarding the following positions: Women in the Church: showers - Paula Van Rassel and Miriam Neese; Prayer Chain - Susan Howland; Flowers and Decorations - Ellen Newsom and Irene Bailey; Sunday evening teen leaders - Jimmy and Anne Hughes; Worship Committee Chairman - Stuart Pope.
Discussed covenant groups for the coming year.
Approved Pastor Seager for pulpit supply on September 7^th.
Noted called meeting of presbytery - no ruling or teaching elder will be able to attend.
Approved Bill Griffin, chairman, and Michael Holloway, vice-chairman, of school board.
Approved changing Session meeting date to the third Wednesday of each month for the remainder of the year.

September

Discussed various matters relating to officer election.
Received communications relating to shepherding concerns.
Agreed for teens to begin meeting during the Sunday Evening Gathering.
Approved service of worship for Christmas Eve.
Elected Elders Moore and Derr to attend October meeting of presbytery.
Approved excess missions trip money to be designated for next year's trip.
Asked missions committee to plan short distance missions trip for 1998 and long distance trip for 1999.
Approved Cashens as temporary replacement for Jerry Newsom for Children's Church through May 1998.

October

Received numerous reports relating to shepherding concerns.
Discussed prayer chain procedures.
Transferred Gary and Susie Martinez' membership to Falls Presbyterian Church (OPC) Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
Received Planning Committee report. Deacons and school board were also present for presentation.
Directed Planning Committee to present specific recommendations to Session by November 5^th.
Designated November 5^th as examination date for those nominated for office.
Received final report relating to 1997 Worldview Conference.
Postponed special thanksgiving offering decision to November 5^th meeting.
Asked that a ten minute report of the recent presbytery meeting be given to the congregation at an Evening Gathering.
Received information on proposed complaint regarding recent action of presbytery relating to the issue of creation.
Received report relating to possible future ministries of church.
Approved calling of congregational meeting on November 2^nd to consider purchase of property adjoining our property.

NICHOLAS PAUL BUCHANAN was born on May 26 weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces. Congratulations Loren, Barbara, A.J., Nathanael, Amanda, and Jesse.

ANNE SHIRLEY DASSOW arrived at 7:21 a.m. on November 23 and weighed a little over 7 pounds. Congratulations Paul, Jeanie, Amy, Ben, and Laura.

KATRINA NICOLE DAVIS was born on June 10 and weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces. We rejoice with Dave, Debbie, Sylvia, Gabrielle, Marc, and Stephen.

SHAYNA GRACE DOSKEY was adopted May 15; she was born on January 19. God bless you Conrad, Margaret, Gaylon, Steven, and Isaac.

JONATHAN EDWARD HOLLOWAY arrived quickly on June 21 at 12:03 p.m. and weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces. Congratulations Michael, Annette, and David.

GRACE ANNE LIVINGSTONE was born on May 22 at 1:54 p.m. and weighed 8 pounds, 14 ounces. Grace and peace to John, Wendy, Nick, and Audrey.

ANDREW PAUL NEVILLE arrived on July 3 at 11:00 p.m. in Arlington, Virginia. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces. God bless you Richard, Helen, Benjamin, and Susan.

HOPE EMILY PHILLIPS arrived at 12:25 p.m. on May 23. She weighed 9 pounds. Congratulations Dan, Karen, Danielle, and Caleb.

GABRIELLE IRENE VONMOOS was born on August 18 and weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces. God bless you Steve, Jenna, and Troy.

Address and Phone Changes

not included in on-line edition