tollie.org/blog thoughts and reflections of Tollie Williams

True Church Conference 2010 – Thoughts and 1st Message

Well, I barely made it home without crashing from crashing. Not a lot of sleep + long day + driving at night = difficult. Now it's time to crash in the bed, but here are my notes from the first night and message of the Grace Life Shoals True Church Conference 2010.

Some observations and anecdotes: I can only imagine what one might think if they were to be visiting the church for the first time. With its title of "True Church Conference" combined with a story of a family moving from another state to attend Grace Life (shared as part of a God glorifying testimony of regeneration), and testimonies of other "young" churches seeking Grace Life for guidance - I can see how some might get the wrong idea, but to the true Church (believing, repenting sinners) it becomes evident that these are stories of God's providence, for His glory and fame.

For those who might ask, the conference is not about trying to declare some church and its members the "one true" church. The conference is about discerning the truth of God from scripture, to equip the true Church (believers) to make disciples of Christ. This year's theme is "The Quagmire of Hyper-Calvinism," and this first message was preached by David Miller, entitled "The Wonder of Unconditional Love."

These are my rough notes. I'll probably come back later after having the chance to re-listen to the sermons.

David Miller. Mal 1:1-5.

"Bible teaching is not where you read the text and depart from it and never return."

=== Jacob have I loved ===

"Was not Jacob Esau's brother?"

By an act of His will, God singled Jacob out and set him up to be an object of the divine affections. Even though Jacob was a cheat and a liar -- depraved. Therefor, if God loved Jacob he did so with selectivity and favoritism.

=== Esau have I hated ===

Esau enjoyed an awesome heritage. He had many blessings: born in answer to prayer and received as a gift from God to the family chosen by God. From a worldly perspective, we would probably like Esau as "every man's man." But God "hated."

Read the verse in context and choose the interpretation that best fits:

Interpretation 1) Relative comparison- meaning in comparison to his love for Jacob he simply loved Esau less. Doesn't fit.

Interpretation 2) Preferred and passed over- doesn't fit context either.

Interpretation 3) He loved Esau but hated the sin: Bro. David keeps this one pretty cut and dry, saying it's not the case, but my reflection on the verse reminds me a couple of things: primarily that the connotation here is more of predestined for salvation than that of emotional hatred. Although, conversely, it is true that God's wrath is stored up against the unbelieving sinner.

Interpretation 4) A valid one- settled opposition toward, and a holy disdain for.

Why the disdain?
a) Esau lived for the present.
b) Esau lived for the flesh instead of the Spirit.
c) Esau lived for the praises of men, rather than of God.
d) Esau counted worthless what God highly valued.
But wait: so did Jacob! so do we!

God has as much right and reason to 'hate' (have a settled opposition and holy disdain for) you, me, and Jacob as he did to hate Esau.