Question Time

I have recently been learning the Westminster Shorter Catechism as part of my training for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and the first two questions struck me as very apt for the modern church:
1. What is man's chief end?
A: Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.

This is our primary purpose in life, to glorify God, to give him of our best, to give him of our time and talents and energy. To focus our attention on Him and living to please Him. Now of course this goes against what our modern society says, our modern society lives for ourselves, for what we want to do. If it feels good then we should do it, well not according to the catechism, if it is glorifying to God then we should do it, if it pleases him then we should do it.

Now at this point some may raise an objection, this sounds like a very dull life, a life where we cannot do what we please, but notice the outcome of glorifying God that we enjoy him forever. This is not a boring dull life, this is a life lived in its fullest, a life lived in joy.

2. What is the only authority for glorifying and enjoying Him?
A: The only authority for glorifying and enjoying him is the bible, which is the Word of God and consists of the Old and New Testaments.

How do we enjoy God? How do we live a life that is glorifying to Him? Well the Bible tells us how to live a life like this. This means that whatever we are doing that is not in line with the Bible, that doesn't match up with what scripture teaches is not glorifying to God and is not helping us to fulfil our primary purpose in life. Of course many in the church today wish to rubbish this claim, they say the Bible is a book written by men and not the word of God. However this is the classic faith handed down to us by the men who have gone before us. If you wish to dispute the claims of the Bible, go ahead please do so by all means, but you cannot seriously claim to be following on in the footsteps of those who have gone before. You are the one who is taking yourself out of the historic faith of Christianity.

This is what makes the situation in the Church of Scotland so sad, the Westminster standards are their subordinate standards to the bible, yet they find themselves breaking them and why? So that they can appear liberal, inclusive and welcoming to all. Now of course we should be welcoming to all but this shouldn't mean that we set aside any standards and have free reign. The only authority to fulfil our Divine purpose in this life is the Bible, the Old and New Testament, the Word of God. Sadly many of us have forgotten this truth today and have made social acceptance, popularity or culture the only authority for glorifying and enjoying God, but these will ultimately be found wanting.