Welcome back, Pilgrim. Here’s what’s happened in town since you’ve been away…
Welcome back to the Reformer Newsletter, where we can take a dive into various projects and activities from around web3 and across the Christian community. You have joined this network to contribute to our collective mission of building for Christ’s Kingdom, and we will use this newsletter as a platform to encourage that.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2
There is a subtle allusion in these verses to how the human image-bearers of God reflect His Trinity: we present our bodies as a form of spiritual worship while He transforms our minds to learn and grow in Him. Mind, body, and spirit are all present. We who seek to be agents of reform in the systems of the world should remember that we must first recognize this interplay to be transformed ourselves. We are called to test and learn so we can discern what is “good and acceptable and perfect”.
But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
John 15:26-27
We are not transforming ourselves, but instead we are led by the Spirit of the Lord who engages us, challenges us, and teaches us as we actively seek guidance. We must therefore surrender to that reality of Him acting in us.
There is a wonderful tension between the call to actively reform ourselves to obey Him while simultaneously giving ourselves up to accept revival from Him. That friction is what will drive us to build for His Kingdom.
Around the Kingdom
Speaking of revivals, take a look at what is going on at Asbury University in Kentucky. I have not been there, and I cannot say I have truly “tested” this as Paul exhorts us, but I want to allow for the reality of revivals and movements of God through His Holy Spirit. There are many takes on what is happening, some very positive and some more reserved in their engagement, but both of these views can be both faithful and hopeful in the reality of His work in His Church. Read this, test it for yourself, and pray for revival.
Around Web3
The long-awaited (dreaded?) response of authorities to crypto and web3 is unfolding this week with threats of legal action by the SEC and investigation by the New York Department of Financial Services leading Paxos to cease its minting of the popular BUSD stablecoin. Plot twist- as Binance was a major catalyst in the FTX revelation and collapse, is it coming full “circle” as the firm Circle could be a factor in this legal action ?
That is not all the action we see coming out of the SEC, as they have driven Kraken to wind down its staking services, citing their failure to adhere to security laws. Kraken’s competitor Coinbase is fighting such charges and seems primed to stand up for their right to engage in staking amongst other services. This may be the beginning of the next chapter in the journey to broader legal acceptance and logical (or illogical) regulation for crypto financial services.
Limited atonement:
https://johncarpenter.substack.com/p/l-is-for-limited-atonement
Introducing Covenant Reformed Baptist Church:
https://johncarpenter.substack.com/p/introducing-covenant-reformed-baptist