The Doctrine of Grace and the White Horse Inn

My pastor turned me on to a radio show, available to me only by podcast I think, called the White Horse Inn about a year ago...maybe longer. In my listening to this wonderful program, which I have not been taking very seriously until recently, I have been challenged in my thinking and also in the way I believe the doctrines of Christianity.

They discuss only the basic fundamental ideas and doctrines of the Christian faith, but do so in very honest and thoughtful ways. I enjoy their program so much that in an effort to get caught up on their weekly program I have been listening on breaks at work, in free-time at home, and in my car. Some days over the past few weeks I have listened to as many as four broadcasts a day. Each broadcast is approximately forty minutes long in the podcast format, so this does take up some time, though it does not feel like it and is worth it.

I am learning to challenge my faith and doctrine more, especially in the area of grace. The think-tank at the White Horse Inn is made up Reformers from a variety of Christian denominations who agree wholly on the main points of doctrine, but may differ on the periphery. One thing they all agree on is that it is by grace we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ, and that no one can, in and of themselves, do anything to help or aid their salvation process. By extension and scripture no one is righteous, not one who does good, none who are holy. These are points which I have believed, but had not necessarily followed through in thinking.

The other area to which these discussions have greatly helped me is in the function and purpose of the Church. The role of the Pastor is to preach and teach the Gospel. The role of the teacher in the church is to teach and explain to the point of understanding the gospel and it's implications on the life of a believer. The role of the learner is to continually seek out the hearing and understanding of the Gospel and it's importance to the daily life of the Christian and then to practice, to live out of faith in the message of the Gospel. The church is not a self help program, a community recreational center, or a family life center. The church is a body of believers, saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ who have been justified by grace, who are being sanctified by the work of the Holy Spirit, who teach and train in the Gospel by grace, through faith and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Check out www.whitehorseinn.org.