The Jerusalem Chamber » Podcast

How does this paragraph relate to the previous one? What does “consanguinity” and “affinity” mean? How do we deal with the idea of incest when it comes to the children of Adam and Eve? Where does the Bible specifically address the laws of consanguinity and affinity? How do we know incest laws aren’t only for Israel? How does the Levirate oath come into this discussion? What are the historical circumstances of this paragraph? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 24.4:

Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden in the Word; nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man, or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife. The man may not marry any of his wife’s kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own, nor the woman of her husband’s kindred nearer in blood than of her own.

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How does this paragraph treat marriage as a creation ordinance? Is this paragraph confronting Roman Catholicism? What is meant by “all sorts of people”? What does “with judgment to give their consent” mean, and why is it important? Why are Christians to marry only in the Lord? Why can we not marry anyone we love? What advice would you give on the basis of this paragraph? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 24.3:

It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry who are able with judgment to give their consent. Yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord. And therefore, such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry with infidels, Papists, or other idolaters: neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresies.

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How do you think most people would answer the question about God’s design for marriage? Does the chapter’s ordering reflect anything historically or polemically? What is meant by “mutual help”? What does that look like? What is “legitimate issue”? How can Christians help support non-Christians in the area of marriage? Does God ordinarily build his church through the children of believers? Is it wrong for Christian couples to not want children at all? What about “preventing uncleanness”? Is this a legitimate reason to marry? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 24.2:

Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife; for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the Church with an holy seed; and for preventing of uncleanness.

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Why do you think the WCF doesn’t begin this chapter with a definition of marriage? Can you provide a definition of marriage? How do we know, from the Bible or nature, that marriage is to be between a man and a woman? How relevant is this in today’s culture? Why does the WCF emphasize “one” man and “one” woman? How do we deal with the polygamy that is present in the Bible? How should Christians respond to friends and/or family who are in a same-sex “marriage”? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 24.1:

Marriage is to be between one man and one woman: neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time.

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Why is a paragraph like this needed in a confession of faith? Why should we pray for our civil leaders? How do we “honor” their persons? What does “for conscience’s sake” mean? In Romans 13 whose “wrath” is being spoke of: Team Nathan (magistrates) or Team Kyle (God’s)? Excursus: should we obey the speed limit? Are people freed from needing to obey a magistrate who isn’t a Christian? A Republican? Democrat? etc. What about the Pope’s jurisdiction? Tune in as Nathan, Shaw, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 23.4:

The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven: yet he hath authority, and it is his duty, to take order, that unity and peace be preserved in the Church, that the truth of God be kept pure and entire; that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed; all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or reformed; and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administered, and observed. For the better effecting whereof, he hath power to call synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God.

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What’s the American context for the edits to this paragraph? Historically, how has the civil magistrate assumed the responsibility of the keys of the kingdom? Does the civil magistrate have a right to determine things around worship? How might the magistrate need to take order? What does that mean? What’s with all the punctuation? Is Kyle’s reading or Shawn’s reading the accurate one? Is this a very pressing or necessary paragraph? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 23.3:

The civil magistrate may not assume to himself the administration of the Word and sacraments; or the power of the keys of the kingdom of heaven: yet he hath authority, and it is his duty, to take order, that unity and peace be preserved in the Church, that the truth of God be kept pure and entire; that all blasphemies and heresies be suppressed; all corruptions and abuses in worship and discipline prevented or reformed; and all the ordinances of God duly settled, administered, and observed. For the better effecting whereof, he hath power to call synods, to be present at them, and to provide that whatsoever is transacted in them be according to the mind of God.

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What error is this paragraph seeking to oppose? What are qualifications for the civil magistrate? Can you define and biblically defend “maintaining piety,” “justice,” and “peace”? What defines “good” and “evil” in the context of Romans 13? How does “according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth” come into the theonomy debate? If you had a person who wanted to serve in politics how would you help shepherd them? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 23.2:

It is lawful for Christians to accept and execute the office of a magistrate when called thereunto; in the managing whereof, as they ought especially to maintain piety, justice, and peace, according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth, so, for that end, they may lawfully, now under the New Testament, wage war upon just and necessary occasion.

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Why is it good/necessary for a confession of “faith” to include a chapter on the civil government? How would you define God’s “lordship” and “kingship”? How does God exercise his lordship immediately? What does the word “ordained” mean here in this chapter? Do you think God has ordained all civil magistrates? What are the appointed ends of the magistracy? How do you pronounce magistracy? How does the magistrate use the sword? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 23.1:

God, the Supreme Lord and King of all the world, hath ordained civil magistrates to be under him, over the people, for his own glory and the public good, and to this end hath armed them with the power of the sword, for the defense and encouragement of them that are good, and for the punishment of evil-doers.

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Why is the statement “No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of God”? Why can’t we vow to something that would hinder our duty to God? Why must vows be within our ability to perform? Why is the promise of God necessary? Can you explain the Popish monastical vows? Why are these superstitious? Can you summarize the biblical wisdom in this whole chapter? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 22.7:

No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of God, or what would hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not in his own power, and for the performance whereof he hath no promise or ability from God. In which respect, Popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.

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Who should we make a vow to, and why is this important? What is the voluntary nature of a vow and what consequence does that have for those who make vows? How are the activities we vow to limited? How is making a vow not manipulating God? What kinds of things do we vow to? Is baptism a vow? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 22.6:

It is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone: and that it may be accepted, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith and conscience of duty, in way of thankfulness for mercy received, or for the obtaining of what we want; whereby we more strictly bind ourselves to necessary duties, or to other things, so far and so long as they may fitly conduce thereunto.

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