Meet the Reformed Pilgrim Team

 Reformed Pilgrim

Age: 22

Location: Northern Ireland

Background: I am a wretched sinner , saved by the grace of God in 2004 shortly after my 18th Birthday. I consider the first few years of my faith as a false-conversion as I still loved so much that was worldy and engaged in unrepentent sin. I thank God for his infinite mercy and Jesus for dieing for my sins and acting as my great high priest to the Father on my behalf. I will (God-willing) be commencing seminary training in 2010 for the Ordained Ministry and I have a passion for proclaiming and living out Biblical truth. Proclaiming is the easier part mind, but its important to keep both in check (1 Timothy 4:15-16). My stance on the importance of Scripture comes from the continual repetitive use of it by both Jesus and the Apostles, and also the multiple references to the importance of doctrine, the Word and Truth. Jesus said “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” Matt 4:4.

I hold forth that the church must not abandon sound doctrine, must continue to preach the word accurately (expository preaching) both in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2-5) and defend biblical truth (1 Timothy 6:12) in a world that is becoming increasingly secular and where there are many deceptions and false teachers (1 Timothy 4:1-6). As Paul said “..when i preach the gospel I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel.” (1 Cor 9:16)

I am concerned for the state of the church today and primarily the young people of the church who are being seduced by so much teaching that is opposed to the Word of God. As the winds of postmodern confusion sweep over my generation, I see the need for young people to hold fast to the Scriptures and to show an uncommon courage in standing for truth. The church needs Christians who are willing to proclaim and defend biblical truth. Some call this “Bibliolatry” (as in making an idol out of the Bible). This highlights the strange beliefs of some who deem themselves to be evangelical. Yet why did Jesus pray to God the Father “Sanctify them by your word, Your Word is truth”?

This is the age of easy-believism; when being a Christian costs nothing. It is just another label that we apply to ourselves and it means nothing more than being a blond or brunette would. Oh sure, there are some stereotypes, but nothing that can’t be proven wrong. With a little effort, the world will see that we Christians aren’t as boring as they think.

Such is the attitude of most of the young people today that call themselves Christians; even in — dare I say it — so-called fundamentalist or conservative circles. They like to throw around Christian terms, put “Jesus” under religion in their Myspace profiles, and go on missions trips. But at heart, theirs is a carnal Christianity; a Christianity in name and in resemblance, but not in reality. They look just like the world in their ethical, speech, and entertainment habits, all the while claiming to be different. There is never a thought of self-denial or of giving up anything for God. They want their cake and they want to eat it too; for they think that Christ’s death has atoned for their flirtation with the world. They are silent when they should speak because they fear what might be thought of them. There is no real love for God or it would not be so.

It is the very ease of calling yourself a Christian today that makes being a true Christian so difficult. But don’t be fooled: this is not the first time in history when it has been hard to truly follow Christ. All through the ages, men have made a choice to follow God, and that choice was not comfortable. Hebrews 11 demonstrates that clearly enough. Think of all the great movers and shakers for God that God used to shape our modern world. The Apostles, Calvin, Tyndale, Luther, Huss, Livingston, Spurgeon, and the list goes on. Was one of these men quiet about their Lord? Did they exercise their Christian “freedom” and dabble in the world? No! They shook the world because they feared God more than they feared men and they loved him more than they loved themselves. They proclaimed with their lives that only God matters.

This is not the day and time where we should be quiet, weak, and easy Christians. God calls us to be courageous Christians! It will be hard, but Christ calls us to a hard, rough-and-tumble Christianity which is not daunted by peer pressure or the devil’s far worse things. God will use those who have boldness and who will not deny him by their silence (for silence is denial). Don’t be afraid to be considered a fanatic or a radical. I have feared that far too long, and with God’s help, no longer. I pray that out of the spiritual darkness around us, a remnant can go forward together in Christ–a company of Christian men and women that is not afraid of the world or our “Christian” peers; that is not afraid to deny ourselves; that is not afraid to be sold out; and that can proclaim like those that went before us, “only God matters.” Let us see what God can do with such Christians.

Currently Reading: Too man to list, but my favourite authors/pastors/teachers/inspirations are: The Bible, John Piper, Michael Horton, John Macarthur, Paul Washer, R.C Sproul, Mark Driscoll, Matt Chandler, The Puritans, Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Tozer, J.C. Ryle, Voddie Baucham, Martin Lloyd-Jones, C.J. Mahaney, Albert Mohler, Thabiti Anyabwile, Jonathan Edwards, Martin Luther, John Calvin, A.W. Pink, Francis Schaeffer, J.Gresham Machen, the Apostles especially Paul…….and oh, did i mention Jesus Christ?!!

 

Set Your Eyes to Zion- not currently active in posting

Age: 23

Location: England

Lethargy. Apathy. Mediocrity. These are all words which characterise many Christians. They could certainly be applied to me for much of my Christian life. I am 23, have been a Christian since I was 11, yet feel as if I have only just begun to serve my God.

Is this mediocre life what we were called to when we received Salvation and a life-changing faith? Is this the example we have laid out for us by our earliest Christian brothers?

Not a chance. The examples we have for us in the New Testament are men and women who gave it all. They made mistakes, many of them messed up pretty bad along the way, but they certainly weren’t characterised by apathy or mediocrity in their love and service towards God.

We have that same Gospel message that changed us, that same Holy Spirit within us. Do we really believe that God can use us like He used them? Do we even believe in prayer? That God wants us to cry out to Him for the lost? That He answers prayer and will save people?

What if we spent a little more time with our eyes set on Zion, set on our Father? Of course we can’t become too disconnected from the world, so as to become unable to relate to those who don’t know Jesus, but I don’t think i’ve ever had a problem relating to the world. I spend most of my time focusing on it, it’s treasures and distractions, and that is what often renders me so ineffective, because I am not the distinctive Christ-like example I should be, could be.

Our walk with God begins behind our closed door. In our quiet private moments. Are we in tune with God? Is He our heart’s desire? Do we spend time with Him? With His Word? Giving everything over to Him in prayer? That is integrity. The life we seek to live begins when it is just us and Him, and everything flows from there. Otherwise, is it just for show and for the applause of men? Because that is useless.

So how about we get our eyes and hearts focused on Heaven, on our home in Zion, let that inspire us to be consistent, loving, Christ-like servants, and let God do the rest? That is my heart’s aim, and hopefully some of the things you read on these pages may leave you inspired to do the same.

 

Summary of Beliefs;

Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into the grave. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic [i.e., universal] church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in his virgin birth, in his sinless life, in his miracles, in his vicarious and atoning death through his shed blood, in his bodily resurrection, in his ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in his personal return in power and glory- in other words Jesus is God and Saviour.
4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.- that is they must be born-again by a work of God.
5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.