Cornfield Theology

The Meaning of Advent

The term advent is unfamiliar to many Protestants, especially if they are baptist or “non-denominational.” However, the term advent is used in churches that value a connection with history, in particular the Christian calendar. For some Protestants, a “Christian calendar” seems Catholic. Yes, the Catholic Church uses a liturgical calendar. Still, after the Reformation, Protestant Churches maintained a connection with a Christian calendar to help highlight important events in biblical and church history. Advent, which leads up to Christmas day, is one aspect of the Christian or liturgical calendar. The other familiar aspect of the Christian calendar is Lent, which leads up to Easter. 

Why Observe Advent

Advent means the arrival of a noble person. Other than my parents, no one was talking about the advent of Shawn Powers. So, when I arrived in the world, my mom was just grateful to survive the arrival of another set of sons. (Yes, there are two sets of twins in my family.) But the birth of Christ is different. We observe advent because the arrival of Jesus changed the world. The 1st advent of Jesus changed the world because Jesus is the only hope for the world. 

Old Testament Premonitions, Prophesies, or Promises?

How is Jesus the only hope for the world? There are several answers to the question but let’s look at the Old Testament to tease out an answer.

The Old Testament is full of promises. These promises are more than premonitions but prophetic words speaking about what is to come. It is full of promises made by God to His people. Some of God’s promises are conditional, and some are unconditional. Here are two conditional promises in the Old Testament. 

And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” – 1 Kings 3:11–14

And here is one more example. 

13 When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.– 2 Chronicles 7:13–14

The word if is key. If my kids clean their room, then they can go outside and play. Their right to go outside and play is contingent upon their ability to clean their room. No clean room, no play. A similar dynamic is going on with God’s conditional promises in the Old Testament. 

But the Old Testament is full of unconditional promises, and it’s the unconditional promises where we see the reason to have hope in the birth of Christ. So let’s begin with Abraham. Beginning in Genesis 12:1-3 we read that God promises to make a great nation from the offspring of Abraham. And then in Genesis 17 we read,&nb

I’ve been posting on why Redemption Hill Church is confessional. The term confessional has lost its luster over the last 100 years, but prior, most churches held to a Confession of Faith. In this series of blog posts, I want to show the value of confessions and why a local church should be confessional. The series on confessionalism is about 1) The Nature of Confessionalism, 2) The Parameters of Confessionalism, 3) A Vision of Confessionalism 4) the Subscription to a Confession. If you are new to confessionalism, or the term is foreign, that’s ok. The purpose of cornfieldtheology.com is to introduce people to new concepts, terms, and theological ideas.

These four blog posts on confessionalism have been adapted from a paper I submitted to the elders of Trinity Fellowship Churches in preparation for Theology Day before our General Assembly in November of 2021. In this second of four posts, I discuss the parameters of a Confession of Faith. I’ll state the purpose of this post with a question: how much theology should, or should not be, in a Confession of Faith?

Somewhere In The Middle

A Confession of Faith is not a systematic theology book. A systematic theology book has its place, but it is not a functional expression of faith for a local church. In 2020 I took several members of the church through a systematic theology book. The class enriched the students. It provoked good questions. But there was a sense that the breadth of a systematic theology book can be overwhelming. A person could study systematic theology for a lifetime and die realizing they have only scratched the surface. And there is the other end of the spectrum. A Confession of Faith cannot be summed up in a few statements on a church website. Try this for an exercise. Contact your local pastor and ask how he decided what ten theological points to put on the website? Did he copy and paste from another website? Is the statement of faith so vague that a Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, and Methodist all agree? Far too many local churches, networks, and denominations refuse to be held accountable with “all that theology.” To take the words of Alexander Hamilton out of context, “If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” So, if a Confession of Faith is not taking a seminary class on systematic theology, and it’s not your garden variety 10 points found at a local church website, then what is the right balance for a Confession of Faith?

A Confession of Faith aims for the middle. It is deep in its theology and wide in the various doctrines. A Confession of Faith cannot address everything, but it addresses much. A confession must have primary doctrine and secondary doctrines. Tertiary doctrines should be held with an open hand and often not included in a Confession of Faith. Primary doctrines include doctrines central to the gospel of Jesus Christ. For example, the incarnation, atonement, and justification must be affirmed, taught, and defended at all costs. Secondary doctrines are also essential and help to distinguish a church or denomination from other churches and denominations. Secondary doctrines might include baptism, the Lord’s Table, and the revelatory gifts of the Holy Spirit. Tertiary doctrines are not a point of division and distinction but are no less worthy of time, study, reflection, and conviction. A tertiary doctrine might include the specifics of eschatology. There is no need to break fellowship with a brother or sister in Christ who holds to historic premillennialism when I hold to reformed amillennialism. The challenge lies in determining what is primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary doctrines are more obvious, but secondary and tertiary doctrines might be malleable d

Is it ok to go to church online? What about physically gathering with others and watching someone preach on a screen? We take up these questions on the latest edition of Cornfield Theology.

It’s been a while since I have posted on the blog or dropped a podcast. Throughout October and early November, I took a step back to focus on denominational responsibilities and lead Redemption Hill Church into a new Sunday morning location. By God’s grace, both responsibilities went well, but now I am back in the saddle!

Over the next several weeks, I’ll be posting on why Redemption Hill Church is confessional. The term confessional has lost its luster over the last 100 years, but prior, most churches held to a confession of faith. I want to show in these blog posts the value of confessions and why a local church should be confessional. The next four blogs on confessionalism will be about 1) The Nature of Confessionalism, 2) The Parameters of Confessionalism, 3) A Vision of Confessionalism 4) the Subscription to a Confession. If you are new to confessionalism, or the term is foreign, that’s ok. The purpose of cornfieldtheology.com is to introduce people to new concepts, terms, and theological ideas.

These four blogs on confessionalism have been adapted from a paper I submitted to the elders of Trinity Fellowship Churches in preparation for Theology Day before our General Assembly. In this first blog post on the nature of confessionalism, I focus on why confessions are written down, the historical aspect of confessions, and the uniting effect of confessions.

Confessions are Written Down

It has become fashionable for many non-mainline Protestant churches to be vague about theology and doctrine. And the traditional mainline protestant churches have jettisoned their historic creeds and confessions. If not on paper, then with function. The reasons for the ambiguity are numerous. However, what is trendy is not historical. For most of church history, denominations and churches had robust creeds and confessions. These creeds and confessions provided clarity, which helped guard against heresy and doctrinal confusion. Throughout history, creeds and confessions were polemical and divided denominations from each other, but they also united local churches to one another. Creeds and confessions could guard against heresy and join like-minded churches because creeds and confessions are written down. It is popular to hear a local pastor or church member say they do not need a confession or creed because they have the Bible. “No creed but the Bible!” is declared. However, the declaration falls on deft ears. Carl Trueman affirms, 

I do want to make the point here that Christians are not divided between those who have creeds and confessions and those who do not; rather, they are divided between those who have public creeds and confessions that are written down and exist as public documents, subject to public scrutiny, evaluation, and critique, and those who have private creeds and confessions that are often improvised, unwritten, and thus not open to public scrutiny, not susceptible to evaluation and, crucially and ironically, not, therefore, subject to testing by Scripture to see whether they are true.– Carl Trueman 

All Christians live by a Creed. The fundamental difference between confessional and non-confessional churches and Christians can be summed up in one question: How can you know what a pastor and church believe? Answer. Doctrine is written down. The benefits of holding to a Confession of Faith that is written down are outlined in these blog posts. Nevertheless, suffice it to say, part of the nature of being confessional is that a document explicitly states doctrine. 

Confessions are Rooted in Tradition

The second aspect of confessions is their rootedness in tradition. As J.V. Fesko points out, the wor

Everyone has a line that can’t be crossed, and what happens if the government asks you to cross a line that is counter to your faith and God-given conscience? In this episode, we take up the contemporary debates and attempt to provide biblical clarity.

It’s easy to get caught up with what is right in front of you. Leading a church is no exception. The list of to-dos is endless. A sermon needs to be prepared and preached. There is always another meeting. All of this is good, and it’s a part of a call to ministry. I love it. But far too often, a focus on the here and now is at the expense of a greater mission taking place. God is at work in other churches as well. God, the Holy Spirit, is meeting the needs of a church down the street and across town. And it takes looking up and past the present circumstances to see the greater gospel mission. 

One Message with One Mission

Of course, there is a litany of churches in America, and some of them need to be closed down. There are churches where the gospel message is not being preached, and the Bible is collecting dust. I am referring to the churches that have made a bee-line to liberation theology or theological liberalism. Those churches are writing their own story, and the story includes a slow death. And the data backs it up. I’ll grant that church attendance is down across the board in America, but mainline (liberal) protestant churches are leading the way. 

When I think about the advancement of the gospel, I have in mind churches where the pastor preaches from the Bible. The good news of Jesus Christ is evident in word and deed. I am talking about churches consumed with being transformed into the image of Christ instead of being transformed into the image of culture. It’s with these churches where I want to lock arms with one message on one mission. I want to look past the tree to see the forest. While these churches might be few in number, it’s these churches where I am willing to find ways to partner. It’s these churches that must band together for the advancement of the gospel. 

COVID Consternation

I was reminded of the value of gospel partnership during 2020 and into 2021. The church where I am a pastor, Redemption Hill Church, had to navigate remaining united and meet every Sunday, without a church building. The plans we made before the pandemic were squashed, and suddenly we needed to figure out where to gather for worship. So during 2020 and into 2021, we gathered at ten different locations. From parks to drive-in church on my front lawn, the church flexed and gathered. 

Now, I have to admit it was challenging to pivot week in and week out. Nonetheless, by the grace of God and the support from the saints of Redemption Hill, we still exist for the glory of God. However, we were not alone. Other churches in the area saw our unique situation and moved to help us. I want to tell you about three churches that understand the importance of the gospel and the local church. 

“A Little Help From My Friends”

Frontier Church

Before COVID and before the Powers family relocated to the Des Moines metro, several families from the Twin Cities arrived. They were a people without a church home. Even after the Powers set down roots in Des Moines, it would be several months before our official first church service. So I decided to connect with the lead pastor Cole Deike. I wanted him to know that there would be a small influx of visitors for a season. He received our team with joy. Frontier faithfully preaches from God’s Word, and they are on a mission to love the Des Moines

God is sovereign over the government, but how should the church engage government? In this episode, I was greatly helped by Greg and Léo from The Family Leader. Their thoughts have helped me, and I think they will help you. Take a listen and enjoy.

After I wrote this blog, and before it was posted, President Joe Biden set forth several mandates regarding vaccines. Without a doubt, the content of this blog is relevant for helping Christians think well about vaccines and masks.

There Is Nothing New Under The Sun

Throughout history, humanity has known how to divide itself. Classes are created to segregate one group of people from another. We have caste systems that have existed since the 1500s. I am old enough to remember the Rwandan genocide. In 1994 and over 100 days, about 800,000 people were slaughtered in Rwanda by ethnic Hutu extremists. The Hutu’s were mainly targeting members of the minority Tutsi community. The class system in Rwanda was tribal.

India is well known for its caste system. From top to bottom, the priests are on top (Bhramin), followed by the warriors (Kashatryia), then the merchants and landlords (Vaisya), and last are the commoners and peasants (Sudra). You are born into a caste, and you cannot leave the caste. 

People are divided into classes by economics, race, ethnic background, country, and religion. At present, in America, a new class is emerging. A new division is being created. The division is between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the division was between the masked and the unmasked. However, masks have now become a sideshow to vaccines. There is a large contingent of pro-vaxers who are passionate about every single person receiving a vaccine. They believe the vaccine saves lives, and I am inclined to believe that they are saving lives, especially for the elderly and people with pre-existing health issues. The anti-vax folks want to be left alone and might have questions about the efficacy and safety of the COVID vaccines. Each side has its reasons, and each side is now digging the trench for a long battle.

Dare To Be Different

My aim isn’t to stir the pot. Oh, I have opinions on masks and vaccines. I have strong opinions. My close friends and family are not naive to my position. But my main concern is that the cultural conversation lacks civility and charity. Further, I am concerned that the lack of civility and charity has made its way into the church. My hope is that the church would rise above the emerging class system and remain united even amid varying opinions. The following are several thoughts about staying united while disagreeing with brothers and sisters in Christ. 

United By Christ

Christians need to remember we are united to each other because we are united in Christ. Do yourself a favor and read all of Ephesians chapter one. The theological reality of our unity is far superior to an opinion on masks and vaccines. Perhaps it’s time for the church to memorize all of Psalm 133.

1 Behold, how good and pleasant it iswhen brothers dwell in unity!2 It is like the precious oil on the head,running down on the beard,on the beard of Aaron,running down on the collar of his robes!3 It is like the dew of Hermon,which falls on the mountains of Zion!For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,life forevermore.– Psalm 133:1–3

God delights to see his church – the bride of Christ – united. You would be naive to think Israel didn’t witness cultural conversations attempting to divide God’s people during the reign of King David. The same for the apostle Paul in the 1st century. Perhaps the outstanding number of passages on unity in the Bible exists because the devil would love nothing more than to see disunity in the church. 

I am not suggesting you kee

One of the first verses of the Bible my oldest daughter memorized when she was young was Philippians 2:3. We read in Holy Scripture, 

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.Philippians 2:3

Philippians 2:3 is a verse that challenges the inclinations of every individual. A person’s tendency is not to be concerned about God and others but with the self. Yet, we admire an athlete or movie character who demonstrates a remarkable level of self-sacrifice. Likewise, our military is honored for its self-sacrifice. Thus, we see glimpses of self-sacrifice, but it isn’t easy when we are personally faced with an opportunity to place others before ourselves. So why does the tension exist? And how does a person lay down self-interest for the sake of others, and more importantly, for God? 

The Nature of Man: Sin

Every person born into this world has a sinful nature (Genesis 3). Because of sin, every person has an insatiable desire to put their needs and wants before others and God. For example, marriages that break down can often be attributed to a selfish desire. Siblings might fight over a toy, not because the toy is interesting, but because the other person has the toy. Sin corrupts the heart and can make a person hyper-focused on the self. If all this is true, how can someone begin to live out Philippians 2:3? How does a person put the needs of others before the self?

The Path Toward Self-Sacrifice

After you read Philippians 2:3, we are told to take on the mind of Christ (v. 5). Taking on the mind of Christ means following the self-sacrificial humility of Christ. Consider for a moment how Jesus modeled self-sacrifice through humility. Jesus knows about your sin, and he took the hard path to the cross to forgive your sin and set you free from the power of sin. If you are a Christian, Jesus died on the cross in your place. If you keep reading Philippians 2, you will read this glorious verse about Jesus. 

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.– Philippians 2:8

Philippians 2:8 is the good news. If you are a Christian, you are called, every single day, to lay down your desires, wants, and needs for the sake of others and the glory of God. Christians are called to emulate Christ.

These characteristics seem like sensible advice:

Taking on the mind of Christ.Living humbly before God and each other.Looking out for the interests of others before your own.

But when you consider that Christ humbled himself by dying on a cross and Christ put our lives before his own, and this is what you are to model, the task seems insurmountable. And apart from God, it is. But with God, you can live out these life-giving words. With the Holy Spirit working in your life, humbly putting the needs of others before yourself is a joy. 

As you ponder the joy of self-sacrifice, think of one person you can serve. What are the needs of that person? How do you demonstrate Christ to that person by humbly laying down your needs for the other? When a person has come to your mind, along with the need, take time to act. Be like Christ. 

Scripture Reading:

Matthew 16:24-26

Philippians 2:1-11

John 15:13

Worship Song:

Yet Not I But Christ Through Me

City Alight

This devotional was written for Agape Pregnancy Resource Center in Des