Thank you for this explanation of the results of Synod 2024 and how we look ahead. The first and most important thing to ask about the decisions which have been made are: Do they align with what God's Word teaches about the issues at hand? Being 'confessional' is all about believing and submitting to the Word of God. Our confessions uphold what scripture has taught us and give us a concise summary of what we confess and believe. Disciplinary issues that come up within the body of Christ are important opportunities to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and His ways. As you have emphasized here, the purpose of discipline is part of 'loving one another', and calling out error/sin with the goal of guiding us back to God's Word, leading us to God's light, encouraging us to walk in His ways, and restoring us back to Christian fellowship. This is all part of being disciples of Jesus Christ; but if we refuse to submit to God's Word by disagreeing with Him as to what sin is, we risk drifting away from the Truth, and wander off into the world of our own desires, thoughts and ambitions. We are then no longer living as Christ's disciples, but rather relying on self, our own righteousness or worldly wisdom believing the delusion that we are 'okay', when we could be falling into apostacy. This is why Synod's decisions are important, need to be God honouring and faithful to Scripture. Without correction, an individual, entire church, or yes, even a denomination can be vulnerable to false teaching, which causes divisions. If this happens, we can become subject to Jesus' own 'discipline' as we see in the seven churches of Revelation where His warning of 'removal of lampstands' is a serious possibility without 'repentance'. The church, and every true church whose foundations are the Word of God, belongs to Jesus Christ. He alone is to be its' 'Head', and we all look to Him and His Word as to how the church functions, is governed and discipled. With humility we seek what pleases our Lord, for the good of His Church, the building of His Kingdom and all for His glory! This is what being Reformed is about and the idea of 'reformed and ever reforming' is revealed in the practice of loving, patient, scripturally sound discipline/training, in order to correct and restore God's people to His ways and blessing for our lives as believers in Jesus.
"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may bge competent, equipped for every good work"
Consider the process used in 1619, post Synod, when the Arminius faction needed to affirm their adherence to the confession, that now included the Canons of Dort. Is this not, sort of, Dort 2
If a church does sign a protest but an office-bearer signs such a letter, is he/she subject to disciplinary procedures if the letter contains protests with an ecclesiastical intent?
Thank you for this explanation of the results of Synod 2024 and how we look ahead. The first and most important thing to ask about the decisions which have been made are: Do they align with what God's Word teaches about the issues at hand? Being 'confessional' is all about believing and submitting to the Word of God. Our confessions uphold what scripture has taught us and give us a concise summary of what we confess and believe. Disciplinary issues that come up within the body of Christ are important opportunities to grow in the knowledge of the Lord and His ways. As you have emphasized here, the purpose of discipline is part of 'loving one another', and calling out error/sin with the goal of guiding us back to God's Word, leading us to God's light, encouraging us to walk in His ways, and restoring us back to Christian fellowship. This is all part of being disciples of Jesus Christ; but if we refuse to submit to God's Word by disagreeing with Him as to what sin is, we risk drifting away from the Truth, and wander off into the world of our own desires, thoughts and ambitions. We are then no longer living as Christ's disciples, but rather relying on self, our own righteousness or worldly wisdom believing the delusion that we are 'okay', when we could be falling into apostacy. This is why Synod's decisions are important, need to be God honouring and faithful to Scripture. Without correction, an individual, entire church, or yes, even a denomination can be vulnerable to false teaching, which causes divisions. If this happens, we can become subject to Jesus' own 'discipline' as we see in the seven churches of Revelation where His warning of 'removal of lampstands' is a serious possibility without 'repentance'. The church, and every true church whose foundations are the Word of God, belongs to Jesus Christ. He alone is to be its' 'Head', and we all look to Him and His Word as to how the church functions, is governed and discipled. With humility we seek what pleases our Lord, for the good of His Church, the building of His Kingdom and all for His glory! This is what being Reformed is about and the idea of 'reformed and ever reforming' is revealed in the practice of loving, patient, scripturally sound discipline/training, in order to correct and restore God's people to His ways and blessing for our lives as believers in Jesus.
"All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may bge competent, equipped for every good work"
II Timothy 3:16&17 ESV
Consider the process used in 1619, post Synod, when the Arminius faction needed to affirm their adherence to the confession, that now included the Canons of Dort. Is this not, sort of, Dort 2
Thanks for the very thorough explanation of what was decided at Synod
If a church does sign a protest but an office-bearer signs such a letter, is he/she subject to disciplinary procedures if the letter contains protests with an ecclesiastical intent?