Beloved brethren,

I have already had some valid and good questions raised regarding the possibility that Resolved is giving a message that we ARE the world as Christians...

I hope this is not the message, and I trust it is NOT; but that this event of performing arts is rather a launching pad into e serious exposition of Scripture and a real experential understanding of the history behind the Historically Biblical Christian Faith... After all the name Resolved is borrowed brom Jonathan Edwards' Resolutions which indicated a clear desire for holiness, sanctification in all areas of life, a hatred of personal sin and of our own worldliness, a clear desire for the Spirit to turn us away from self and to incline our hearts to be conformed to the Image of Christ.


I would like to hope that Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin, George Whitfield, John Newton, A.W. Pink, the Apostle Paul, Christ Jesus our King and many others who have been those who have gone in the Way of Holiness before us, can and or will be present at this event/conference; to take delight in all that is done and said...

But then again I do not believe the LORD is pleased with mine (our):
...self-gratification (I like my.... that way);
... worldiness (Becoming AS the WORLD; rather than being IN the world as Purification and Sanctifying agents);
...desire to please US rather - than Glorify God ALONE (I know there I go a ranting over that VITAL word Sola again...which the Reformers believed so imporatnt that they HIGHLIGHTED it at LEAST 5 Times...);
nor
...that ancient evil that is seeking the approval of men; rather than the approval and honor of YAHWEH...

May we learn from the Prophets and the Law; Israel God's elect nation was not spared for the very same things which turned their hearts away from Him...which are creeping into my (Our) heart/(s)...

Am I RESOLVED to seek His Kingdom FIRST?
Am I RESOLVED to deny MYSELF?
Am I RESOLVED to be despised and rejected of men?
Am I RESOLVED to seek the First and GREATEST Commandment of YAHWEH?

There remains many question to our culture today and many challenges that face us in the Body of Christ, may the LORD command what He wills and give us the grace to do His will, as from an UNDEVIDED heart; with ALL our heart, with ALL our soul, with ALL our mind, and with ALL our strength.
For we have One Master and seek Christ ALONE glorified!

Soli Deo Gloria.

Your fellow bondslave for the glory of our King & Master, Who is the Fear of Isaac; by His merciful grace ALONE,
W

Oh, I thought that some may not have read the-

RESOLUTIONS of Jonathan Edwards (1722-1723), so here are two places to find them:

http://www.gracegems.org/SERMONS/Resolutions.htm

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=32133014945&topic=9310

May the grace, mercy and hope of Christ Jesus abound in and through you to all mankind, for the glory of God Alone,
W

Have you ever been or listened to any of the past conference William? I would think that your fears would be put to rest.

Beloved brother and Elder Hayden,

I have been closely following the teachings/doctrines and talks of the various ministries of GCC, TMC, TMS and our well beloved Elders there.
I can honestly say that I have a great (As much as a God fearing man ought) respect for the Elders and brethren at the various ministries of GCC. I know that Rick Holland in particular (As teh Elder who is responsible for Crossroads and Resolved, is a God fearing man who holds a good grasp of Doctrine, Church History and general Christian life matters.
I have not had the joy of being able to travel to the USA and may never be able to do so; but from use of Podcasting, books, Blogs and e-mails I have gathered a lot and gleaned a lot from men like Pastor Holland and the other Multiplicity of Co-Elders at GCC, TMC and TMS.

I can honestly say that I know all Churches have their human element of falling short of the glory of God - even at the best of seasons in this vain life.
Yet, I am assured by Scriptural discernment and the Spirit of unity according with the Gospel of grace and truth that I can trust these able men to fulfil their responsibilities in Doctrine and calling for repentant faith in Christ Alone - as I see the Primary work of the Gospel, GCC and Resolved.
I believe that the culture is very different in California (Geographically, Climate playing a role, the sin of the flesh, the world and the mond being greater for some particular reason more strongly in California).
I see Resolved not so much as a "conference"; but as an Evangelistic event calling those who are comfortable in OUR (Myself not exempt), to Scriptural discernment, repentance, faith, godliness, holiness, SANCTIFICATION and CONFORMITY TO the IMAGE of CHRIST HIMSELF WHo is our GREAT EXEMPLAR. I do not believe that ANY Congregation is without these problems, that is why Godfearing men like Paul of Tarsus, Edwards, Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Newton, Whitfield etc... Never where content with their sinful remnant within themselves - IF they so abhorred their sin natures - I HAVE ALL THE MORE REASON to abhor mine for I am all the more acutely aware of MY OWN PARTICULARY DEPRAVED and DECEPTIVE heart...

NOW to answer your question:
I just stareted and am about 10 minutes into this year's first session- AWESOME! TRANSFORMATIONAL - by the grace of the Spirit. Open our minds - hearts - eyes and ears, Oh LORD to our self deception, convict and exhort, correct and sanctify - according to They Will for us, Oh merciful and gracious Father.

Your fellow bondslave for Christ Alone,
W

Just for reference:

My Pastor referred to this article at the Sword and Trowel Magazine, written by Dr. Peter Masters:
http://www.metropolitantabernacle.org/?page=articles&id=13

I am in souls travail about all this and would implore you to please pray for me, about this (As I contemplate and pray considering 2 Timothy 2; verses14-26 in particular) - As I see beloved brethren in a difficult situation opposing on an issue of sanctification, which is of Scriptural importance to the LORD our God, who has already Justified us, and is busy Sanctifying us, and will one Day Glorify us FULLY in Himself.

Your fellow bondslave in the sure and rich mercies of our Triune YAHWEH, by His Son Christ Jesus through His Spirit of grace and truth, by the Scriptures Alone,
W

William,

A good reply to Peter Master's article is found here.

http://centuri0n.blogspot.com/ (called Juggling one's Jenga)

Master's article focuses on the wrong things about Resolved, while having a different style of music than he is accustomed to, is far from worldly. I know many of the men that lead the music at GCC and they would never allow that at a conference and MacArthur would never attend a conference like that either. Rest assured.

Master's article paints the New Calvinism in the worst light from one book that is popular but far from extensive. I have been on college campuses and talked with the young and reformed minded students and they are looking for an authentic Christianity that does not try to be like the world.

Resolved is far from worldly and Master's article is good in some sense but he does focus on the Fundamentalist hobby horse of music which has very little to do with the New Calvinism. His view of separation is un-biblical but expected.

Beloved brother Hayden,

I am glad for your kind and thoughtful assistance.
Having never had the privlidge (And most likeably nor will I ever), to visit my likeminded brethren in the USA, I do well to discern things by taking in various sources of information.

As an aside: I was privlidge to be enabled of the LORD to be taken to the London Metropolitan Tabernacle's Summer School of Theology last year (For the first time - And I was so looking forward to likemineded brethren Expositing Scripture to our mutual edification through the truth).
The sad thing is that as I sat in my wheelchair through a few of Critiques by the brethren and Elders (Of GCC and PAstor MacArthur in particular), I was having to almost hide the MacArthur Study notes Bible I had in my lap, out of fear that someone would assail me as a representative of the "worldly" Church.

As I said and may say again - My preference is NO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS - I would much prefer READING Hymns; as I find it MORE edifying and it has the bonus of not having any opportunity to offend either weaker or more mature brethren. That said I do enjoy beautiful music more and more, as I depart (By the grace of Sanctification given me), from my old worldly ways and tastes.

I was making that point in discussion with my beloved wife just yesterday, I cannot see GCC or her Elders step onto the slippery slope of Pragmatism, just to draw a certain "type" of crowd.

My only concern here is, that my brethren may villify me for not fitting their mold, which would leave me without ANY likeminded Churches or Elders within at least a 3 hour drive (We already have providential limitations wrt getting to serve and fellowship, due to medical and familial issues - Being isolated as we are already grieves me greatly, and I do not wish to alienate my brethren, nor do I see a need for mudslinging, or vilifying brethern and Elders who ARE those of the Gospel of Grace).

Perhaps it would be better for me to hold my peace and just not entertain speaking on this issue, as it seems to be a point of spiritual pride for some and a place of spiritual weakness for many - Of which I must be one?

I thank you for your gentle and kind assistance and withdraw myself in humble and contrite heart before our Judge who alone judges righteoussly,

Your fellow bondslave for Christ Alone,
W

William,

I have been around the worship wars for far too long and the problem is that it often is based on preferences. The overriding principle should be one of serving each other and laying down our preferences. I attended GCC for 4 years and was active in the ministry there. I also was a youth Pastor for 3.5 years before my current pastorate. One of the ways that I helped people to 'lay down their arms' on this issue was to get them to see that the content of what we sing is far more important than the style of music. (Though I am not saying that style is unimportant)

I re-read Dr Master's article and found it seriously skewed!! I have read CJ Mahaney's book "Worldliness" and found it to be of great help. I have also had the privilege of hearing the man who lead the worship at "Resolved" speak and lead music and he is a very mature believer with an amazing gift of music. Dr. Master's has not taken the time to get to know any of these guys and is throwing stones from afar and labeling something as worldly because it does not fit his mold.

A great definition for worldliness is 'to gratify and exalt oneself to the exclusion of God".

Joel Beeke puts it this way "The goal of worldly people is to move forward rather than upward, to live horizontally rather than vertically. They seek after outward prosperity rather than holiness. They burst with selfish desires rather than heartfelt applications. If they do not deny God, they ignore and forget Him, or else they use Him only for their selfish ends. Worldliness... is human nature without God."

Trust me, the Resolved Conference is FAR FROM WORLDLY. Imagine seeing over 3,000 young singles and college students spending time and money learning how to be less self-centered and ore Christ centered. That doesn't sound too worldly to me!The conference is great and the preaching is Christ centered and the worship in music is also Christ centered. If Dr. Masters wants to quibble with this conference, he is barking up the wrong tree!

Beloved brother Hayden,

What an wonderful exhortation from Joel Beeke, you qouted herewith.
As I am bedladen today, I was listening to parts of Michael Card's album: The Ancient Faith (Which I freely admit I am grateful for, as an experssion of truth, heartfelt sincere worhip and adoring remembrance of the LORD's Person & Works in our behalf).

I believe that particularly true is the statement:
"...else they use Him only for their selfish ends..." - I am certain that even with the most beautiful Classical music or Hymnody we can sin in this - myself and Peter masters included. So it is that we must RESOLVE along with men like Jonathan Edwards, John Newton, Augustus Toplady and others who honored and glorified the LORD in humility, to test our OWN hearts to see how we will answer Him who alone is the Righteouss Judge of the thoughts, intents and hearts of men.


Therefore I cannot judge any of my brethren about sanctification issues - sure I would that we must GROW upwardly and we MUST Actrively seek to be conformed to the Image of Christ - to set godly examples to those that look to us for guidance (As John MacArhur is proving in this weeks study on Grace to You). But I cannot stand in the place of God; as IF I have achieved Glorification or even as IF [I] have achieved my Sanctification by my own piety - therefore I shall Resolve to humble myself and seek the good of my brethren, withersover they may be in their Sanctification - for the glory of God Alone.

Your assistance is very much appreciated and shows a charcerter of brotherly love by which all should know that we are His disciples - I thank the LORD for your care, compassion and love in helping me assess this issue and my standing before the Throne of Grace, in this particular time of need.

What joy we have in Christ Alone, what joy we shall see when we see Him as He truly is, when we shall be Perfected in Him and have true fellowship - without the hindrances of our sins, the flesh, the world and Satan.

Your brother only because of the mercies and grace of our Almighty Adonai,
W

I just found some good reading on this subject:

PSALMS, HYMNS, AND SPIRITUAL SONGS
Striving for a Balanced Approach to Music in Worship
(Clayton Erb -Minister of Worship & Music, Grace Community Church)
(Bill Brandenstein - Assistant Minister of Worship, Grace Community Church)

http://audio.gracechurch.org/sc/2009notes/Erb,%20Psalms,%20Hymns,%20and%20Spiritual%20Songs.pdf

I know both Dr. Erb and Dr. Brandenstein and appreciate both of their ministries to the church. They are good men that are balanced on this topic.

I pray that the Lord would give you strength today.

Pray for guidance for me as I delve into 2 John today.