Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

HOW CALVINISTS SPREAD THANKSGIVING CHEER Charity and predestination go hand in hand.
Wall Street Journal ^ | November 18, 2011 | Aaron Belz

Posted on 11/19/2011 4:06:52 PM PST by Dr. Eckleburg

Next Thursday, as the rest of us tuck into our turkey feasts, hundreds of needy families in Southern California will open "Boxes of Love." Delivered by several churches led by Pacific Crossroads in Santa Monica, Calif., the boxes contain ingredients for a Thanksgiving meal for six. They allow impoverished families to skip food lines and neighborhood pantries and enjoy the holiday in their own homes.

What's unusual about the Pacific Crossroads congregation—and what underpins efforts such as Boxes of Love—is its theologically conservative raison d'être. A member church of the Presbyterian Church in America, Pacific Crossroads is committed to Reformation doctrines such as total depravity (every person is born sinful) and limited atonement (salvation is available only to the elect). These beliefs are typically regarded as ugly and inhumane by American culturati. Yet the church's pastor, Rankin Wilbourne, is happy to pepper his sermons with references to Bono and "Jersey Shore," and the church has grown to around 1,500 members from 500 in three years.

Rev. Wilbourne and his staff created an umbrella agency called Hope for LA in 2008. Since then it has partnered with 18 other programs around Los Angeles, some with religious affiliations and some without. Through Hope for LA, Pacific Crossroads members can choose volunteer opportunities that best suit their interests and strengths. One such ministry is Boxes of Love.

"We got the idea from Here's Life Inner City, a ministry of Campus Crusade," says the director of Hope for LA, David Kleinknecht, about the origins of Boxes of Love. "And as the economy went south and they had to cut back in L.A., we took on the coordination of mobilizing well-resourced churches to fill boxes and delivering them with the help of inner-city churches." No coincidence: The founder of Here's Life Inner City was...

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Activism; Current Events; Theology
KEYWORDS: calvinism; charities; missions; pca; presbyterianism; presbyterians; thanksgiving
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-45 next last

1 posted on 11/19/2011 4:06:55 PM PST by Dr. Eckleburg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: TSgt; RnMomof7; Alex Murphy; HarleyD; wmfights; Forest Keeper; the_conscience; Dutchboy88; ...
And the most amazing part of this story is that there are 1,500 members of a Presbyterian Church in America in, of all places, the People's Republic of Santa Monica!

Post Tenebras Lux - After darkness, light.

All glory to God.

"Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:24

2 posted on 11/19/2011 4:13:38 PM PST by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg

I know one thing I’m VERY thankful for: YOU’RE BACK! It’s SO GOOD to see you posting again :)

God Bless,

smvoice


3 posted on 11/19/2011 4:29:22 PM PST by smvoice ("What, compare Scripture with Scripture?..We'll have to double the Magisterium...")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg
Hello, good Doctor. Your absence has been sorely missed.

Yet the church's pastor, Rankin Wilbourne, is happy to pepper his sermons with references to Bono and "Jersey Shore," and the church has grown to around 1,500 members from 500 in three years.

Not only does he have bad taste, his wife is not up to Tammy Faye or Jan Crouch standards. We must pony up enough funds to send her a trowel for her makeup. And the hair? Bleach blonde is one thing, but it is nowhere near high enough. The higher the hair, the closer to God, you know.


4 posted on 11/19/2011 4:36:47 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg

God bless them for their charity.


5 posted on 11/19/2011 4:40:07 PM PST by lastchance ("Nisi credideritis, non intelligetis" St. Augustine)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarkBsnr

Four posts before a post to take it off topic.

You’re slacking.


6 posted on 11/19/2011 4:49:31 PM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg
Delivered by several churches led by Pacific Crossroads in Santa Monica, Calif., the boxes contain ingredients for a Thanksgiving meal for six. They allow impoverished families to skip food lines and neighborhood pantries and enjoy the holiday in their own homes.

The love of Christ in action.

7 posted on 11/19/2011 4:50:59 PM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: metmom
Four posts before a post to take it off topic. You’re slacking.

You'll have to blame God. I was predestined to do it.

8 posted on 11/19/2011 4:56:58 PM PST by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg
This day, this Thanksgiving, this life is so full of blessings!

A friend's home saved from burning during the Reno Urban Wildfire yesterday and today, hearing from a precious sister-in-Christ that has been so missed.

In regard to the WSJ article, I believe that the reason for the failure of government run social programs and the lack of accountability is that the government has taken over the work of the church from afar. No one is blessed in these transactions.

"Finally, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, dozens of church members take the boxes to the doors of families in need". Both parties are blessed.

9 posted on 11/19/2011 5:01:02 PM PST by suzyjaruki (2012, are you ready?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg

Dr. E., so glad to see you back.


10 posted on 11/19/2011 5:23:30 PM PST by Lee N. Field ("You fool! Don't you know every Taurus purchased brings us closer to TEOTWAWKI?")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg

Dr. E!!!!

So GREAT to see you back!!!

Great post....

Hoss


11 posted on 11/19/2011 5:36:37 PM PST by HossB86 (Christ, and Him alone.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MarkBsnr

That’s your opinion.


12 posted on 11/19/2011 5:46:33 PM PST by metmom (For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore & do not submit again to a yoke of slavery)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

Did You Know?

The Current FReepathon Pays For The Current Quarters Expenses?

Now That You Do, Donate And Keep FR Running


13 posted on 11/19/2011 5:51:56 PM PST by DJ MacWoW (America! The wolves are here! What will you do?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg

What a great idea! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.


14 posted on 11/19/2011 6:16:46 PM PST by Calm_Cool_and_Elected ("The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it." --Flannery O'Connor)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MarkBsnr

I think what surprises me about this article is the idea that the action taken is uncommon, and that non-Calvinists don’t give to the needy.

Oh well. Guess God in his sovereign will blinded them to the Baptists and Catholics who help the poor.

It is kind of like the joke about a man who is given a tour of heaven. He meets folks of many denominations, but then is given slippers and told to make no noise. After creeping past a walled section, he is told he can speak again.

“What was that all about?”, he asks.

“That is the Baptist section. We keep it quiet because they think they are the only ones here...”


15 posted on 11/19/2011 6:26:06 PM PST by Mr Rogers ("they found themselves made strangers in their own country")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg

Calvinists invented Thanksgiving. Of course we are going to be the best celebrators of it!


16 posted on 11/19/2011 6:26:29 PM PST by RecoveringPaulisto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: metmom
Four posts before a post to take it off topic.

And a nasty misogynist post, at that. No surprise there.

17 posted on 11/19/2011 6:34:26 PM PST by Dr. Eckleburg ("I don't think they want my respect; I think they want my submission." - Flemming Rose)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg
Across the USA every Thanksgiving, meals and food parcels are distributed in the hundreds of thousands. Churches of many different denominations, the Red Cross, food banks, businesses and individual philanthropists all contribute. Here in Augusta, GA, the late James Brown (aka "The Godfather of Soul") used to give out hundreds of turkeys every Thanksgiving. It happens all over the country. So I'm guessing that the only thing which makes this piece newsworthy is that it's Calvinists who are doing it. I mean if Calvinists did this all the time, it wouldn't be news, right?

The headline says that "charity and predestination go hand in hand". Is that to imply that predestination is a prerequisite for the exercise of charity?

Perhaps "da Godfather" was a member of the elect, too.

18 posted on 11/19/2011 8:13:14 PM PST by marshmallow (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dr. Eckleburg

Well greetings Dr.E. and so nice seeing your name in lights once again...you have been missed more than you know. Now things will get back to normal! ;)


19 posted on 11/19/2011 10:13:37 PM PST by caww
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Judith Anne
"The love of Christ in action."

Looks like someone is serving up a heaping helping of hypocrisy for Thanksgiving. When you feed the poor you are ridiculed and scoffed at for useless corporal works of mercy.

20 posted on 11/19/2011 10:29:25 PM PST by Natural Law (If you love the Catholic Church raise your hands, if not raise your standards.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-45 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson