Kopp Disclosure

(John 3:19-21)

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Declaring to be a part of the faithful remnant means, simply/summarily, praying and trying to follow Jesus by the book.

The faithful remnant will not pay for or participate in apostasies.

Below are three examples of how parts of the faithful remnant from different franchises aka denominations are fleshing it out.

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Example 1.

A PCUSA church discovered this codicil in its bylaws: "The bylaws may not be amended contrary to or so as not to include provisions of the constitution of the PCUSA."

Recommendation as part of declaring remnant: "The bylaws may not be amended contrary to or so as not to include provisions of the constitution of the PCUSA as long as they do not contradict Christianity as personified in Jesus, prescribed in Holy Scripture, and upheld by over two thousand years of Biblical, confessional, constitutional, traditional, historical, and common sense Christianity."

Bylaw: "A secondary law."

The Confession of 1967: "Confessions and declarations are subordinate standards in the church, subject to the authority of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, as the Scriptures bear witness to Him."

Edward A. Dowey: "The much-quoted and often misconstrued motto, ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda, 'the church reformed must always be reformed,' is part of a phrase that continues secundum verbum Dei, 'according to the Word of God.' Reform, thus, especially as a proper name, for example in Reformed tradition, means not change or alteration as such, nor does it signify a revolution that tries to start over without looking back...Our question now should not be 'Are we successful?' but 'Are we faithful?'"

Simply/summarily, bylaws are subordinate standards to Jesus by the book.

Putting it another way, the faithful remnant only recognizes authority focused on and filtered through Jesus by the book.

Peter: "Listen to my message! It's about Jesus!"

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Example 2.

A PCUSA church declared remnant and established a task force to flesh it out: "We will consider all options in our praying and desire to be faithful to Jesus by the book."

They have begun developing policies consistent with their understanding of being a part of the faithful remnant in the midst of civil and ecclesiastical hostilities.

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Here's how another church is praying and trying to remain faithful:

Dearest Village Church,

A major motivation for our July “Sanctity” series is the swift change in the spiritual and moral climate of our country & world. As these shifts occur, we want to ensure we both train and protect our body.

On November 20, 2013 Governor Pat Quinn signed into law Illinois Bill SB10 which permits Same Sex Marriages in Illinois. This law took effect statewide on June 1, 2014. With the rise of same sex marriage, domestic partnerships, and civil unions, churches across the country are being legally challenged to recognize and ordain these relationships.

In order to protect ourselves against any potential discrimination claims, the Elders have proposed an Amendment to our Constitution to include a biblical definition of Marriage. The full text of this proposed amendment is as follows:

Article VI - Marriage

1. We believe that marriage is the exclusive, covenantal union of one man and one woman, which union was designed by God. Genesis 2:24 states, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” Jesus Christ affirmed this in Matthew 19:4-6: “And He answered and said, ‘Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.

2. We will faithfully follow this scriptural definition of marriage in the teachings and practices of this church, and therefore, this church will not officiate, solemnize, perform or host a marriage or marriage-like ceremony involving anything other than the union of one man with one woman as instituted by God.

According to Article 5 of the Village Church constitution, constitutional amendments must be:

approved by a unanimous decision of the Council of Elders,
presented in writing to members for ratification (this email) 60 days prior congregational vote. This allows adequate time for discussion, feedback and teaching.
approved in a congregational meeting...

that is held at least 60 days after written presentation of amendment
that is attended by at least 30% of current membership
with 80% affirmation of proposed amendment.

On Sunday evening, November 9th at 6:30PM we will hold a congregational meeting to vote on this proposed amendment. During this congregational meeting we will also present and discuses the Elders proposed 2015 budget which will include exciting discussions and updates on the hiring of a full time Discipleship Pastor, debt payoff, and so much more!

If you are a member of the Village Church, please put November 9th on your calendar. It will be a very important meeting and the presence of each member at the Village Church is requested.

Between now and then, the Elders are available to answer any questions!

Sincerely,

The Village Church Elders
Michael Fuelling
Kirk Verhasselt
John Nawrocki

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There's an old song, "I have decided to follow Jesus...no turning back...though none go with me, yet I will..."

It's a human instinct to survive.

Human instincts converted to Christianity pray and labor to follow Jesus by the book in all things at all times in all places with all people.

It's a human instinct to sit on the fence and be most concerned about personal/vocational securities, perks, pleasures, and other imperial priesthood anti-Matthew 15/23 abominations.

Psst.

Some people exchange those temporal niceties for eternal realities because, shhhhhhh, they don't really believe in the eternal consequences of existential beliefs confirmed by behaviors or any of that Jesus by the book stuff as evidenced by their abominable accommodations with evil. They are professional pewsitters/pulpiteers with no personal relationship with Jesus.

What do we really hear when we sing that old song?

Professional?

Personal?

Existential?

Eternal?

"What does it profit a person to...?"

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