Boyd Shearon
By: Boyd Shearon
Michelle and I went through an incredible period of growth several years ago as a result of our involvement with a community that started teaching and embracing serious doctrinal error. This experience truly caused us to ask, "What do we believe and why do we believe it?" and "what are we going to teach our children?"
I call this my "Great Awakening of '06" (as a nod to Jonathan Edwards and the Puritans of the mid-1700s). Our Awesome God, by His mercy, began moving us into a much, much deeper understanding of His Word, His Sovereignty, His Glory, His Son and His Church throughout the centuries to today. This growth in knowledge increased our faith and enhanced our desire to proclaim Christ and to practice good works.
As we watched our former church attempt to "redefine" (i.e. abandon) the orthodox doctrines of the historic Christian faith, we knew it was time to break fellowship there and find one that was faithful to God's word. So we visited OHP in September 2006 and it has been a blessing to our faith and family ever since.
We've been in a House Group for three years, Michelle serves meals to new mothers, my two daughters (Chloe and Mia) help out in the nursery and I play guitar on the worship team, as well as serve on the setup crew. We enjoy the summer picnics and getting to know other people in the congregation after the service.
We hear the gospel concerning what Christ has done for us week in and week out from the pulpit at OHP, which is what every Christian needs to hear - and keep top of mind - every day. I've learned that it is by these "ordinary means of grace" - the faithful preaching of the word, the proclamation of Christ from Genesis to Revelation and the administration of the sacraments through baptism and the Lord's Table - that believers are strengthened in the faith each Lord's Day. So this strengthens us to go out into the world on Monday until we meet again. In addition, unbelievers are exposed to God's regenerating word, as well as to the "bath and banquet," to which they also have been invited! Without these true and faithful marks of a church, you're basically attending a social club, even if it insists on using "Christian" language and symbols.
All of us should care about doctrine and strive to be theologians - simply defined as people who are 'growing in their knowing' of God. John 17:3 says, "And this is eternal life, that they *know* you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." So, the more we experience the renewal of our minds, the more we'll be transformed and the more we'll be able to "discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).
