Jedi Rev
Why Jedirev:
On my church bulletin board a couple of years back, my avatar was Obi Wan Kenobi and I often signed off as “part-time Jedi Knight”. Obviously I look nothing like Alex Guiness, and in the last census I was registered as a Christian – Protestant. Yet still, some crack-pot hard liner took it upon himself to single me out as a sign of the Free Church going liberal, or worse! “One of your ministers thinks he’s a Jedi Knight,” he ranted.
On a more personal level, the notion of a Jedi Minister / Pastor type is a silly idea, but when “Jedi” can be listed your religion on the National Census, you’ve got to wonder… (Actually, you don’t, ever, need to wonder; the very fact that my generation can’t take the notion of “religion” seriously tells its own story.) Anyway, I own a lightsaber, so I’m keeping the job title that goes with it.
Statement of Faith:
sola scriptura – the Bible alone is our rule of faith an’ manners, when it comes to God and all things his, it’s best to start with what he’s given us in special revelation.
sola gratia – I rejoice in a salvation that is entirely God’s doing, given to me freely in Christ, and secured not by my subsequent obedience, but the eternal satisfaction God the Father finds in God the Son.
sola fide – faith, not works, is all my God asks: that I trust my very life in his hands, as I am led by the God the Spirit, who enables faith.
solus Christus – Christ alone is the author of salvation, but he so much more, the creator and sustainer of the universe, the revelation of the divine glory of God, the reconciliation between God and man.
soli Deo gloria – God alone deserves the glory; my guide for life is the question, “Who gets the glory?” – often I fail here, but praise be, he still gets the glory in the end.
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I agree with your faith statement thus far. Tell me more about this Free Church of Scotland.
Hey Hey Brooksrobinson!
The Free Church of Scotland is a fairly small Scottish denomination (<10,000 professing members across about 90 congregations, more heavily represented in or from the rural North West of Scotland). That being said, we are still allegedly the largest organised fellowship of Evangelicals in the UK, and one of the largest in Europe.
We are Reformed, Presbyterian, Evangelical, but that order varies depending on who you talk to. We adhere to the Westminster Confession of Faith as a comprehensive statement of faith, and while that’s in many ways a positive thing, it has also contributed to the very fractious nature of the Scottish presbyterian churches. (To date, I can list about half a dozen groups who all hold to the same theology, but still connived to have little in common!)
As with many churches today we are going through a period of tension. Many look back to former days and, seeing the blessing there, wish to remain conformed to an isolated, older culture now lost. Others want to be forward looking, adapting our church life in appropriate ways to meet the fresh challenges of our day.
Jedi Rev:
Thats too bad that Europe has come down to that. Where a 10,000 person denomination is one of its largest. But, I’m joyful that there is still a foot hold from God on the European continent, that can provide those looking, with answers. Keep up the blog, and your witty doubtingthomas rebuttals. They make me chuckle.