"Reformed and Beyond" or "Which Way North?"

If you and I are both in pursuit of the North Pole then we have something pretty significant in common. I would like to think of such a pursuit as a helpful analogy of our much more important common pursuit of fidelity to God through fidelity to Jesus Christ.

So we are in pursuit of the North Pole, that is the place to which we must direct ourselves. You're starting out in Los Angles and I am starting out in Las Vegas; so we may both be helped by going through Seattle...but the North Pole isn't in Seattle! Now you may want to say that you still have our original goal in the back of your mind as you go on and on about Seattle and how its a lot better than Tijuana...and I may even agree with you that heading toward Seattle was an improvement over heading toward Tijuana...but still...we have got to keep THE NORTH POLE front and center in our hearts and minds or we will never get there. If we settle for Seattle, IT will be the end of our common pursuit. And we really don't want Danny who is all the way to Anchorage to be distracted by looking back either. In the Gospel of Matthew we have been learning some things about what a King's behavior and a Kingdom's character look like when moved by the "other" Spirit. Jesus has shown up the rulers of this age for what they are: bankrupt, vain, empty. They are still being used for the restraint of evil but they are incapable of ruling like Jesus because by nature they fear and reject the cross. The rule of God by the Holy Spirit through fidelity to Jesus Christ was not achieved in the worldly authorities of The Holy Roman Empire, it was not achieved in European Christendom, not even Reformed European Christendom. If you and I want to be loyal to God we must be loyal to Jesus Christ not the mutated and mutating dogma of men, even Reformed men! The North Pole isn't in Seattle and fidelity to Jesus isn't in fidelity to the traditions of men. The analogy may be stretched...to pass through Seattle or Anchorage is fine but to truly be on mission our goal must, undividedly, and all along, be the North Pole. And in fact the nature of loyalty to Jesus requires that it not be split with another loyalty.

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me (Mat 10:37).

But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ (Mat 23:8-10).

Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul (1Co 1:13)?

Now friends, Seattle is a nice city and if we were settling maybe it would be fine, but we are not. Just because I am uneasy in Seattle and you see me looking at the compass, that does not mean I am interested in heading back to Las Vegas, or even worse, Tijuana. Let's maintain our common goal; The North Pole. As we arrive, only that will prove to have been a worthy pursuit.