What Now?

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” James 4:17

On July 25th at 3:30 PM, the Elders of Grace Harvest   unanimously voted to separate us from the Sothern     Baptist Convention. Since our founding in 2006, as a Church plant of the SBC of Virginia, we have faithfully supported our state and national conventions. However, over the last four years, I was deeply concerned with the direction the SBC was taking in reference to the Social Gospel. We are and will continue to be a Church that    focuses on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and will stand on the infallible and inerrant Word of God.

We are a Bible Church that will not compromise on the Word of God no matter what others will say and do.  The writer of 1 Kings wrote, “And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word (1 Kings 18:21).” Grace Harvest will not “limp” between two opinions. We will seek God’s will for us and stand on His Word alone even if we are the only Church to do so. We know what the right thing to do is and will not fail our duty to the Lord.

As we seek God’s will for Grace Harvest, we must also seek God’s will for our lives as individual members of the local Church. How do we know God’s will? The following is from John MacArthur on seeking the will of God:

“In the broadest sense, God’s will is expressed in all the commands and principles of Scripture. Specifically, the Bible says that God’s will is that people be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9), Spirit-filled (Eph. 5:17–18), sanctified (1 Thess. 4:3–8),           submissive (1 Pet. 2:13–15), and suffering (1 Pet. 3:17).

will, the Bible says, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4)—that is, He will both plant the desires, then fulfill them.

Those who know God’s will are responsible to obey it, and if they fail to do so, they sin. They    will find no comfort in the fact that they have     not    actively committed sin. Just leaving God    out is itself sin. The sin of disregarding and         disobeying God’s will is one of omission, of not doing what one knows is right (cf. Luke 12:47). Sins of omission are rarely isolated from sins of commission.”

As we seek God’s will as a Church and individuals, we   may move forward together and serve the Lord. Let us remember to, Go-and share the Gospel, Gather-the     saved into Grace Harvest, Grow-them through                  discipleship, Go-out into the world and share the Good news that Jesus Christ died to set men free form eternal death.

Your shepherd,

Pastor Mark