In contemplating our Church’s Annual Synod the business before members is ordinarily diverse entailing beforehand a great deal of devoted and responsible work by ministers and laymen, in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church.
As is known, this work and business includes among other matters, the training of young men for the ministry, the supervision of the Foreign Mission Field, the Church’s interest in Overseas Congregations, a concern with Religion and Morals as affecting the nation, the publication of edifying and excellent books, the guiding of the young into an interest in the Bible, and also the matter of finance for the support of vital Church needs.
These and other channels of Church business are absolute essentials to be undertaken and carried on in the spirit of the Gospel, faithfully and patiently by those upon whom the work devolves. The Lord says: “My yoke is easy and my burden is light”; albeit anxieties and difficulties are certainly not unknown in carrying on the business related to Christ’s Cause in the world. Yet His divine wisdom and grace, as available to His people, are sufficient for them at all times.
Now the aims of the Church’s activities, obviously to us, do not include a compromising with the world as such nor a seeking to please carnal men, nor an endeavour at any point to avoid the animus of those who are opposed to the truth of God. Christ warns His people, “Marvel not if the world hate you: for ye know that it hated me, before it hated you.”
The aims which the Church is to have in view are such as are clearly indicated in the Holy Scriptures; and these include, The honour of the Lord Jesus Christ, the alone Head of the Church. The Church is to be subject to Christ as to complying with His revealed will enunciated in His Word and by a firm belief in and an unswerving devotion to all His holy doctrines and teaching. Christ claims the pre-eminence in all things and this the Church must seek to render. The views and claims of men, which conflict with Christ’s mind and claims must be discounted and resisted. He is worthy of all honour and praise and glory as the Redeemer of His people and as their exalted Head in heaven.
Again, the outstanding matter of the conversion and salvation of the precious souls of sinners must ever be before the mind of the Church. The Redeemer’s mission into the world pre-eminently included His coming to seek and to save that which was lost. The Church is to be at all times influenced by the mind of the Master and graciously and instrumentally to apply herself to the blessed task of bringing sinners to Him as the mighty Saviour. Samuel Rutherford thought much of the expectation of meeting even one soul from Anwoth at God’s right hand. Every avenue of the Church’s activities must be stamped with this outlook, the deliverance of lost sinners from the broad way and everlasting destruction.
And thirdly, the Church’s Scriptural business must also be directed to the spiritual good and edification of all those who believe in and love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity within the realm of the Church. For example, the Church must always endeavour to provide for God’s people, the ordinances of the Gospel, that they may be spiritually fed with food convenient for them and instructed in the doctrines of grace and also corrected and comforted by these same doctrines. There can be no spiritual experience or growth in the knowledge of Christ Jesus without the application of the doctrine of Christ to the souls of His people by the Comforter, the Holy Ghost. Paul instructed Timothy to “preach the Word”. The Church then is to concern itself with the acceptance of godfearing men, who have a clear and divine call to preach the Word and engage in the work of the ministry of the Gospel. Such men should be expected to possess necessary gifts from the divine Head of the Church, that they may contribute, as used by the Lord, to the building up of believers on their most holy faith.
Then again the Church having regard to the honour of Christ and to His commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature is concerned for the furtherance of the Gospel in “regions beyond”, if and when additional regions are opened up in the divine purpose and providence. Our Foreign Mission Committee and Dominions and Overseas Committee, for instance, have this responsibility as authorised by the Church.
It also devolves upon the Church to expose the sins rampant in a backsliding day and to point to declensions which characterise the professing Christian Church where such declensions obtain. The Lord Jesus exposed the errors of men, telling them, “Ye do greatly err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
All those who have a heart and genuine interest in the varied activities of the Church have obligations lying upon them. The spirit and exercise of believing and earnest prayer are called for. If we look for the Most High to work among us and to use us as a Church, then He reminds us, “I will be enquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them.” And all who profess the name of the Lord Jesus must continually watch and pray that they shall be kept in their personal lives and characters from unchristian conduct and be preserved in faithful adherence to the faith once delivered to the saints in all aspects of that faith. Defects in ‘character’ and ‘adherence’ inevitably hinder the Church’s work and witness in the world. And finally, it is expected of all connected with the Church that they support the Cause of Christ with finance as the Lord prospers them in providence. And, “The Lord loveth a cheerful giver”.
May Zion be built up by the mighty God, and Zion’s children be made joyful in their King.