The mission of Calvary Church is to do its part to fulfill the great commission in Cape May County through evangelism, discipleship, and worship. (MT 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.)
Vision Statement
According to the Scriptures the church is to fulfill the great commission primarily through the diligent use of the Word, the sacraments, and prayer in the context of the communion of the saints both formally in corporate worship and informally house by house. (AC 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. AC 20:20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.) This being the case, the Word, the sacraments, prayer, and Christian fellowship must be seen as the basic pillars on which to build a plan for both formal and informal ministry. Any plan of action would thus include formal Lord’s Day worship, Christian Education and fellowship opportunities. According to the Scriptures the great commission is to be fulfilled through a corporate ministry in which each member is equipped to use his or her gifts to minister to others. (EPH 4:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, [12] to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 1PE 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. [11] If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.) This being the case, leaders in the church must actively be training the members to identify their gifts and use them for the common good. This being the case, leaders in the church must seek to provide opportunity for members to use their gifts.
According to the Scriptures the Lord has provided the church with 3 basic offices which in turn point to 3 basic ministries needed in order to fulfill the great commission: Pastor/ Ministry of Word and Sacrament, Ruling Elder/Ministry of Oversight, and deacon/Ministry of Deed. (RO 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. [7] If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; [8] if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.) This being the case there ought to be a balance between the ministries of Word, oversight, and deed within the church. Any plan of action must specifically define roles, responsibilities, and expectations of all church officers and provide for lay involvement in these three basic areas under the oversight of the ordained leaders in those areas.
According to the Scriptures the basic building block of the church is the family. (GE 17:7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. AC 2:39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call. AC 16:31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." [32] Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. [33] At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized) This being the case evangelism and discipleship of entire families as families are to be both encouraged and pursued. Any plan of action must include family building activities and steer away from activities that fragment the family.
According to the Scriptures the church is to be a family for those without a family. (DT 10:19 And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. PS 68:6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.) This being the case the church must purposely seek to integrate persons without a family into its corporate life and families be encouraged to welcome them into their homes. Any plan of action must address the need to make others feel welcome in the body regardless of their background.
According to the Scriptures the church is a living temple made up of people not a building on a piece of real estate. (1PE 2:4 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- [5] you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. EPH 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. [21] In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. [22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.) This being the case it must be understood that the building and grounds are there for the sole purpose of facilitating ministry to the people, when they no longer are able to do so they must be altered or exchanged. The building and grounds serve the people not vice versa. We must never view the building and grounds as the Church it is merely where the Church meets to minister and be ministered to.
Biblical Grounds For Moving Toward Greater Visible, Physical, And Tangible Unity Between Calvary OPC And Other Reformed Ministries In Cape May County.
PS 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! [2] It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; [3] As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.
Observations: The term “brethren” refers to fellow Israelites. The church is the Israel of God. All Church members are brothers. There may be many congregations but there is only 1 church. The members of Calvary OPC and other Reformed ministries in Cape May County are brothers in the sense taught in this passage and thus this passage applies to our relationship to each other as separate congregations and not just the relationship between members of Calvary church and each other. Since the members of Calvary and other Reformed ministries in Cape May County are brothers in the sense found in the text then it follows that when we dwell together in unity it is declared by God to be good and pleasant and God has promised to command his blessing there. This being the case we can conclude that moving toward greater visible, physical, and tangible unity between Calvary OPC and other reformed ministries in Cape May County would be deemed to be good and pleasant by God and that the Lord would command his blessing upon this endeavor.
JN 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; [21] That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. Observations: Jesus desires all of his people throughout history to be one in some sense, not just for individual congregations to be one. This oneness is a visible and tangible thing as well as a spiritual thing because it can be observed by the unbelieving world. Since the members of other reformed ministries in Cape May County and the members of Calvary all fall into the class of “them also which shall believe on me through their word” we can rightfully apply the desire of Christ for visible and tangible oneness to our situation. This being the case it is the desire of Christ that Calvary and other reformed ministries in Cape May County be one in a visible and tangible as well as a spiritual sense so that the world might believe that the Father has sent the Son. This being the case we can conclude that moving toward greater visible, physical, and tangible unity between Calvary OPC and other reformed ministries in Cape May County would fulfill our Lord’s desire and would be a public testimony that the Father has set the Son.
ECC 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. [10] For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. [11] Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? [12] And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Observations: The universal principle being laid down is that it is better to 2 or more persons, entities, etc. to be united in a physical and tangible way than for a solitary person, entity, etc. to go it alone. This principle being universal applies directly to our situation in which 2 or more entities are considering the wisdom of being united together in a greater physical and tangible way. This being the case we can conclude that moving toward greater visible, physical, and tangible unity between Calvary OPC and other reformed ministries in Cape May County would be deemed to be wise by our Lord.
AC 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. [42] And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. [43] And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. [44] And all that believed were together, and had all things common; [45] And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. [46] And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, [47] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved…. 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. [32] And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. [33] And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. [34] Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, [35] And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
Observations: We know historically that the church of Jerusalem was made up of many house churches and thus it was more like a regional church than a local congregation. This being the case, what is being taught is not that each individual congregation shared their possessions internally, but that all in the regional church shared their possessions with each other in order to benefit the whole regional church. This is directly applicable to our situation in that our closest geographical neighbors in the Reformed community may be in need of help that we can provide and we may be in need of help that they can provide. While this passage does not mandate the sharing of resources it does recommend and commend the practice. Calvary and other Reformed ministries in Cape May County sharing their resources would then follow the apostolic example set by the congregations of the church of Jerusalem. This being the case we can conclude that moving toward greater visible, physical, and tangible unity between Calvary OPC and other reformed ministries in Cape May County by way of sharing resources would be in line with Apostolic practice and when compared with Hebrews 13:16 (But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.) we may also conclude that such an act of sharing is a sacrifice that is well pleasing to God.
Summary Given the Biblical passages cited above we can conclude that the Bible clearly teaches the following in regard to moving toward greater visible, physical, and tangible unity between Calvary OPC and other reformed ministries in Cape May County: It would be deemed to be good and pleasant by God and He would command his blessing upon this endeavor. It would fulfill our Lord’s desire and would be a public testimony that the Father has sent the Son. It would be deemed to be wise by our Lord. It would be in line with Apostolic practice. It would be a sacrifice that is well pleasing to God.
General observation: It would appear from the Scriptures that the visible, tangible, physical and spiritual unity of the church of Christ is something that is good and greatly to be desired as long as it is not pursued at the expense of the doctrinal purity of the church. This being the case we can conclude that that moving toward greater visible, physical, and tangible unity between Calvary OPC and other reformed ministries in Cape May County would be fully in line with the Scriptures and thus is a course of action that is fully in accord with the revealed will of God.