Reformed Living

How are we to love?  Here are some of the ways.  To love our neighbors means-

To be Pro-life in every sense

We are to value all human life and work to develop all we are as human beings.

To be active Conservationists

We are to cultivate and care for the natural world in order for it to sustain our life.

To practice and support "Traditional" Marriage and Family

We are to marry and work with our spouse in that stewardship of Creation and the Culture and Civilization that extend from it.

We are to respect marriage and family life according to Biblical principles. That includes being an extended, cross-generational family caring for all its members for a life time.

To be Law-abiding in both personal and social Morality

We are to keep the 10 Commandments

We are to pursue Justice according to Biblical and Constitutional Law

Our Government should respect "Sphere Sovereignty": the sovereignty of the Creational Ordinances of Marriage & Family, Education. Religion/Church and Work/Commerce

Our Governments should seek to practice "Subsidiarity":  nothing should be done by a larger and more complex organization which can be done as well by a smaller and simpler organization.  This calls for grass-roots, bottoms-up community activism.  Government should not do for us what we can do as well or better ourselves.

To practice compassionate Capitalism

We are to live in community with neighbors, both respecting private property and sharing wealth with those in need.  We are to value and pursue "The Common Good"

We are to organize our work along Biblical economic principles and values, which values include both profit making and profit sharing.

All of these are the Biblical ways we can we glorify God and love our neighbors.  Believers have not been discipled if they have not been taught to love in all these ways.  Matt 28:16-20

How are we to live our lives?  The Word of God gives us abundant guidance.  This is a random list of Labor Laws and Practices that God expects of Society.

• workers must be treated well and fairly
• [and] must be paid fully and promptly
• workers must more than fulfill employers expectations
• no harsh or unsafe working conditions
• rest periods: one day a week and holidays
• workers may decide to change employers
• all commands re personal morality apply
• productivity is expected--profit-making is expected of all, BUT
• not at expense of the workers- no exploitation
• no jeopardizing resources
• private property rights/ownership must be honored
• original owner of property may buy it back
• no peonage
• no usury
• profits and products must be made available to the destitute

The Government and Courts are to enforce these Laws

For years I have been trying to learn how God wants His People to live their daily lives.  I have been an Evangelist, Church Planter and Pastor.  This subject has nagged at me and won't let me go. I am a convinced 5 point Calvinist.  I am thankful for the salvation of my soul.  But I want to know how I am supposed to live my life as a Christian.  I am not talking here about Salvation.  I am not talking about saving the World or changing Society.  I will say it again.  I am concerned with how Christians are to live as Christians.  As a Calvinist, I place great importance on the Doctrine of God's Sovereignty. What does God's Word reveal His sovereign will to be about Life itself, about the care and use of the Natural World (the environment), about Marriage and Family, about Economics and about Civil Government.  That covers the basics.  We say Christ Jesus is Lord of "all".  He is and that means He must be Lord of these matters or He is not Lord of "all"!

(continued from Part 1) My problem with Evangelism today is that, regardless of how "well-being" is understood and whether it is based on Arminian or Calvinistic assumptions, most of the people I know who have made "decisions for Christ" are glad to be "saved", but have not gone on to live for Christ. Data and Surveys of how "Christians" actually live support my personal observations.  Evangelism, as commonly understood and practiced, does not produce "converts" who live their daily lives to the glory of God and doing that should be the main goal of all evangelism.  The outcome of successful evangelism is Believers who take seriously 1 Cor 10:31 -whatever you do, do all to the glory of God and who actually, seriously, seek to do exactly that in all areas of their lives.