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Christus
Rex
Christ the King
Gregory Soderberg
Christ
rules the universe. Christ rules our galaxy. Christ rules America. Christ
rules Cary. Our title simply states a fact. After God the Father raised
his Son from the dead, he "made him sit at his right hand in the
heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion,
and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that
which is to come; and he has put all things under his feet and has made
him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fulness
of him who fills all in all," (Eph. 1:20-23).
While most evangelicals would heartily affirm the lordship of Christ,
we have forgotten what his lordship looks like. It is not simply a proposition
floating about in the heavenlies, but a concrete reality which can be
seen here on earth. Christ's lordship is manifested in the Church. God
made his Son head over all things "for the church".
Is Christ reigning through his church in Cary, NC? Well, which church?
And of course we all know Christ only reigns spiritually. Even though
we have a remarkably large population of church-goers, where do we see
Christ's reign manifested in our community?
If there is anyone in our community who has not heard that Christ reigns
in Cary, it is because the local church has failed in its mission. Christ's
reign is not manifest only in heaven, but also on earth. His reign was
manifest in 1st century Ephesus. Notice where Paul places his sublime
statements on Christ's reign. He has heard of the Ephesians' faith and
their love for the saints (v. 15). He prays that the Father would give
them wisdom and knowledge (v. 16). He prays that they hope in their glorious
inheritance (v. 17). He prays that they would know God's power in those
who believe, which is manifest in Christ's resurrection (vv. 19-20).
These magnificent metaphysical statements are written to the local church,
to the gathered saints at Ephesus. Why would they not apply to the saints
of Cary? Christ is reigning, so why doesn't your neighbor know it?
Of course, these grand truths will do no good if they simply remain in
our heads. In chapter 2, Paul reminds the Ephesians what they were saved
from ("dead through the trespasses and sins"), and what they
are saved to ("created in Christ Jesus for good works"). Christ's
reign is manifested by the good works his servants, which he has prepared
for them (v. 10).
It is the purpose of Christus Rex to proclaim the truth of Christ's total
lordship, and to help equip the saints to walk in good works. There are
several key presuppositions that guide our efforts:
1. We are ministry of Christ Church, NC (a plant of Christ Church in Moscow,
ID, a member of the Confederation of Reformed Evangelicals. We are not
just a bunch of guys who think we are guarding the true flame of orthodoxy.
God doesn't need our help in spreading his kingdom, but we pray that he
will use our feeble efforts for his glory.
2. We are accountable to our elders and to our presbytery. If a reader
does not like what is written here, we would ask you (if you are in the
covenant) to address the problem Biblically. Talk to us, then talk to
the elders (Matt. ?)
3. We are Reformed. We subscribe to the Westminster Confession, and believe
that Biblical Christianity is most faithfully expressed in the Reformed
tradition.
4. We are catholic ("universal"). We seek to recover the orthodox
consensus that existed from the earliest days of the church. We reject
all forms of man-made tradition, but embrace apostolic tradition. We believe
that those who think God's truth disappeared from the earth only to be
recovered by a specific denomination woefully ignorant of history.
5. We are devoted to the local ministry. God has placed us in a specific
community for his own sovereign reasons, and we seek to focus our efforts
on our local community.
6. We believe that husbands are the heads of their families, and as such,
responsible to God for the spiritual state of their households. We aim
to equip men to minister to their own families, rather than usurping their
God-given authority. We are "into" families (like Wal-Mart and
the Mormons), but we believe that the priority is on the husband of the
family.
7. We believe that the lordship of Christ extends to every corner of the
universe. There is no area of life that is not to be brought under his
lordship (2 Co. 10:3-6). As such, the church has divine mandate to meddle.
The Bible is relevant to politics, art, cooking, sex, finances, and changing
a babie's diaper.
8. We believe that God commands us to educate our covenant children in
a way that acknowledges Christ's lordship (Eph. 6:4). We also believe
that the best way to educate children is some form of classical education.
9. We believe that all of life flows from how we act in the house of God.
We are more interested in worship than missions, since the ultimate goal
of missions is worship. If we are mixed up in how we worship, we will
inevitably be confused in other areas of life.
10. Like the household of Stephanas, we want to addict ourselves to the
ministry of the saints (1 Co. 16:15, KJV). Speaking truth in love is a
necessary part of this ministry. If a man has gigantic green bits and
pieces on his teeth, it does no good to politely ignore the fact. But
speaking the truth must never be divorced from love.
Finally,
we pray that this publication will hasten the day of unity and maturity
among all of God's people. "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we
are to grow up in every way into him whi is the head, into Christ, from
whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which
it is supplied, when each part is working properly, makes bodily growth
and upbuilds itself in love," (Eph. 4:15-16, RSV).
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Volume
One - Issue One
Christ
the King - Gregory Soderberg
The Testimony of the Human Will - Robert Nash
Shepherding Family and Church - Marcus
Rench
Presuppositional Primer - Maurice Hagar
Verbi - Various Reformers
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