I'm a baby-boomer.
After graduating high school, I attended university -- twice -- once
before the Vietnam war, and then again after returning home from
the military. I married, majored in Political Science, worked full
time, had a child, and somehow managed to graduate with honors. I then attended law
school for nearly 3 years before realizing it was not my calling, as
any of my law professors would attest. I became a computer tech
instead. We had a second child, just before I came to Christ.
I
have been a trainer for Evangelism Explosion, and profited greatly
from the Navigators 2:7 course. I was a deacon in the PCA
and trained for eldership. I have taught children, youth, and Adult
Sunday School for over 20 years. I helped build a church from dirt
floors to a finished building. But I never went to
seminary. When asked, I say tongue-in-cheek that I'd
rather keep my faith. The truth is, I had neither the time, the
money, nor the inclination to apply myself to
the rigors of seminary. But I admire those who do.
I began
to search for a more ecumenical and celebratory approach to church
life. So I left the PCA to join an evangelical mega-church, what is
called a "seeker" church. I found what I was looking for there,
but I also missed something very precious: a firm orthodoxy. Many years
ago, the Evangelical movement shelved a number
of historic doctrines. Creeds and confessions were set
aside. The intent was to become attractive to more people, and
less offensive to other churches within the movement. That led to
some questionable teachings, because there was no
orthodoxy by which to judge them. Consequently,
many evangelicals are now returning
to the reformed standards of the church. Many have joined the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. For more information, I recommend Michael Horton's book, Beyond Culture Wars.
I am
now retired, with grandkids, and serve as an elder-pastor at a small
reformed
church. It maintains a tension between that passionate and celebratory
love for Christ I was looking for, and a firm orthodoxy to undergird
and drive it. I am making use of whatever gifts God has given
me to uphold the faith of my fathers, and to teach sound
doctrine. I'm sure God would be pleased if I could do that gently,
and in love...
I'm trying, Lord.
William
H. Gross
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