And like that, two and a quarter years have gone, and I sit down to put this collection of reflections in some intelligible order. I do it to remember (Deut 8) and give thanks, as we're often remiss to do.
In early 2015, God picked me up from the SF Bay Area and gently dropped me down on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. I remember observing the pure sheets of untouched snow that lined Stanton Park as I rode to my new house in an Uber whose driver was pretty disgruntled with me because I had tracked snow into his back seat with my three large bags of luggage.
In my first weeks, I settled at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, and there God's sovereign mercy and wisdom unfolded over my little life. I could (and likely have with many) talk your ear off regarding the minutia of the things he's ordained and revealed to me, but blogs are not made for that and no one likes a woman who talks too much. So I do my darndest to capture and convey just the jewels of everything I've gained in Christ, and pray something here draws your attention more singularly to the greatness of our God.
Theology applied exploded - I didn't know what Reformed Theology was before arriving at CHBC, but I learned it steadily and swiftly as I sat under consistent expositional preaching and was exposed to other trusted teachers and their ministries. Thankfully, acquiring this information didn't terminate on itself. I feel sorry for scholars for whom debating doctrine and truth end with the satisfaction of plotting a period at the end of a lofty theological statement.
No, while I am prone to trusting in myself, the Holy Spirit applied the truth about God - his character, his wisdom, his ways - as revealed in the Word and in Reformed Theology to my regenerate heart. It did two things. 1) It combusted and exploded new and purer affection for my God. I couldn't help but embrace and cherish the fact that the gospel in all of its beautiful doctrinal intricacy, was reserved for me; and 2) It increased clarity and so reified my confidence in the God of the Bible. Because I could draw out the contours of the God whose embrace I always knew, I could walk out with my full weight on his claims about himself and his world. Immediately then, followed a bold and reliable joy. He is who he says he is, and I know the God of the Bible. He is my God!
The expositional preaching that I sat under built a sure framework, a frame on which I could hang all of my heavy experiences. And they all, unlike most things in life, fit like a hand to a custom glove. This has convinced me that faithful preachers are a great means of grace for God's people, and that we should pray for more to be raised up. At the same time, it reminds me that the Holy Spirit is merciful to save souls using even the most elementary proclamations of the gospel, and that once a heart is regenerated, it will be kept not by men, but by God himself.
Being among the church nurtured deep devotion to her - I also didn't know what ecclesiology was before arriving at CHBC, and that is really okay. While Mark Dever's teaching on healthy churches informs many pastors and and hopefully benefits many congregations, the real good substance is caught in leaning into the life of the church where healthy church principles are being applied, and where its sinner-members are still getting into damaging scuffles, whether with sin or each other.
Over two years as a member of this local church, I caught myself in the life of the body of Christ. I learned Christian forgiveness, both in giving and receiving. At some point, the honeymoon period ended, and I realized that once you are covenanted, like family, you get to be disappointed, forgive, be forgiven and lean into the heartbeat of the congregation - because the Bride that Jesus is coming back for will be alive with a healthy beating heart. She'll also be one Bride, not dismembered or missing any body parts. We, the members, have significant roles to play in maintaining the unity of the church.
As I move on to become a full-time student and become better equipped in biblical counseling, I'm grateful to consider the prospect of getting to work to help nurse and nurture the members of Christ's Bride. We don't stop at conversion, but rather we work to present each other mature to him.
I take back the hint I made about there being more than two jewels to share, though there are. I've been too verbose to continue here.
Gratitude fills me up in these days remembering, because my Father saw fit to lead me to the very random place (why D.C.?) where I would grow up in him. He had saved and kept me, beginning works of sanctification and Bible literacy, before planting me in this East Coast city. But in D.C. and through CHBC, he'd go on to feed me solid food that I learned to delight in as does a growing child who recognizes that broccoli is actually delicious. As I discussed with a friend over coffee before leaving D.C., I think I might remember the time I spent there as gratefully and fondly as I do my childhood bedroom.
