Introducing Clarior e Tenebris
For those of you who don't know me, my name is Ben Purves, and I have decided to start a personal blog on church life and church history. This writing extends from my ministry at Occoquan Bible Church in Woodbridge, VA. This blog will be thematically focused on church life and church history for the edification of the local church, and I will be writing with my brothers and sisters at OBC in mind. Clarior e tenebris (more brightly from darkness) is a Latin motto that has been used by the Purves clan for centuries, and I have taken the liberty of using it to title this blog. It is my prayer that the writings posted here will display the light of Christ and serve the good of his church.
Writings on Church Life
I am thankful for the blessing of fellowship with my brothers and sisters at Occoquan Bible Church. It has been my joy to serve there since 2008, and the fellowship we share is a precious gift. I currently provide pastoral oversight for the Member Care and Community Groups ministries. As the Lord allows, I plan to post about local church membership and fellowship as I give thought to these areas of church life in day-to-day ministry.
Writings on Church History
In addition to this, I plan to write semi-regularly about church history. Church history bears witness to the faithfulness of Christ as he builds his church through the ages (Matt 16:18). It is the story of our family of faith and it gives us many examples of brothers and sisters who have loved and served our Lord Jesus Christ. The study of church history reveals the riches of our theological heritage and how the light of the gospel has shone in darkness through the ages. It is right that as we study history that we respond with thanksgiving for the goodness of God's providence.
I enjoy the study of church history, and I am thankful for the opportunity to teach a multi-year Sunday School series from the early church to present day. I will use this blog to post materials for further study. Last year’s class looked at early church history, and this year we just finished an overview of medieval church history, moving from Nicaea to the Fall of Constantinople. If all continues as planned, upcoming years will include the Protestant Reformation (2026), the Puritans (2027), early American church history (2028), and modern to contemporary church history (2029).
The church does well to avail herself of the wisdom and counsel of faithful brothers and sisters from the past. For example, I have written previously about the relevance of John Newton’s pastoral letters and sermons in engaging contemporary issues. His pastoral counsel is invaluable in applying of the doctrine of liberty of conscience to questions of inoculation and vaccines. In addition, his critique of the 1784 performance of Handel’s Messiah at Westminster gives us much to think about when it comes to the performance of sacred music today.
For the Good of the Church
My DMin research thesis at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary focused on pastoral ministry during the Great Plague of London (1665). In surveying the literature of that period, I came across an open letter to the “fugitive pastors”who fled London to escape the plague. The letter rebuked them for forsaking their congregations and called them to return to their pastoral duty, as those who shepherd must “love to live to the good of the church.”1 Instead of separating from the sheep in times of danger, shepherds should love to spend their lives for the good of the church. Thomas Vincent illustrates this well, and he provides a courageous example of one who preached in London throughout the plague years. As we look back at recent memories of COVID, we observed all too painfully how churches suspended the assembly of the saints and pastors neglected their calling to care for the flock. Pastors must not be hirelings who serve in pastoral ministry for their own good, but they must imitate the chief shepherd by spending their lives for the good of the church.
Love and care for the church should likewise be a defining character trait for every church member (1 Cor 12:14-26). Every part of the body is to love and edify one another so that together we become more like Christ (Eph 4:15-16). We should love to love the church. In today’s individualistic consumer approach to the church, too many are driven by self-love and give little consideration to loving the church. The bride of Christ is shamefully treated like a commodity. Voices are quick to speak poorly about Christ’s bride, and body parts are all too willing to be amputated or dis-membered in the name of self-interest. Instead, we must take to heart the love that Christ has for his church. Christ “loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph 5:25) and he has obtained her for himself by his precious blood (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet 1:18-19). The fellowship we share in our Lord is of inestimable worth, and this gift of grace is to be treasured. So then, let us “love to live to the good of the church.”
This blog exists to encourage the saints toward that end. May the Lord grant us grace that we might “love to live to the good of the church.”
J.W., A Friendly Letter to the Flying Clergy (London, 1665), 2.