Pastor Jim Bachmann, Senior Pastor
As I look back on the first two months of summer I thank God for the life in our church. Our soccer camp and Belize mission trip were once again successful. VBS had to close registrations at 149 children who ultimately donated $1,832 for our mission work in Belize. Our Patriotic Celebration had every seat filled. Our financial support has remained strong with a very modest deficit at present compared to previous years. And quietly, somewhat under the radar, we now have 96 children committed to PDO this fall with tours continuing daily. There is a strong possibility we will surpass 100 children before school opens!
I wish I could speak so positively about the broader church. The Presbyterian Church USA has lost 333,000 members in the last seven years. They recently voted at their annual assembly to support access to transgender surgeries (including for children) by an overwhelming count of 441–30. The United Methodist Church has lost around 3,000,000 members since 2019. Asbury Seminary is now considered too conservative to be an approved school for UMC clergy education. Years ago the UMC embraced “process theology,” a fancy term meaning that theology is derived from Scripture + reason + experience + tradition. All it did was neuter the authority of Scripture.
Theological pluralism is not some variety of the Christian faith. Rather, it is rank unbelief. It is a church without borders. A church without borders is like the release of the Burmese pythons in Florida in the 1970s. Once this “theology” invades it always spreads, attacks, and kills churches. The result is a fait accompli as soon as the theology is released.
At SVC you can count on a church with borders! And our most important “border” is the preaching and teaching of the Bible as the authoritative word of God! We may struggle to understand the beasts, bowls, seals, and trumpets of Revelation, or the four living creatures and gleaming wheels of Ezekiel. But no matter, it is the word of God.
Mark Twain once said, “It is not what I don’t understand in the Bible that troubles me; it is what I do understand that worries me.” The point is that all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable (even the genealogies) for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness! History, tradition, and experience may be very interesting and helpful, but they are not inspired by God. And unlike Scripture they often return void.
