“What’s in a name?” famously said by Juliet in William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, is reference to names distinguishing people, places, and things. Shakespeare’s Juliet wanted to abandon hers for the sake of being with her Romeo, and it did not end well. Thankfully, it was just a tragedy recited by actors, but it does convey an important notion. Words mean things. Every person, church, organization, and society, has a name given with meaning. We put a lot of thought into it. It’s simple, yet profound.
The Rappahannock Society of Reformed Pastors was formed in 2020 out of necessity and desired opportunity. We are pastors who affirm the sovereignty of God in all things pertaining to life and faith, and we thought it was time to explain why we came together. We know that the Rappahannock Society of Reformed Pastors is a mouthful (and from this point forward I will call it RSRP), but we do have a simple, cool looking logo that’s easy to remember, created by our own in-house designer, Pastor Bobby Oliveri.
Members of RSRP are ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ joining together in a common cause. While each of us are at liberty in our beliefs and may hold various third tier convictions, we collectively affirm the Reformed Traditions of the faith, and as Baptists, hold to the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith. We came together to encourage each other and strengthen our resolve to preach, teach, and serve in cooperation, with increased courage, and bolstered conviction. Thus, a society was born.
But, more importantly, why Reformed and why Rappahannock in our name?
Reformed
Reformed means Reformed Theology. We hold to Reformed Theology because in it is the recovery of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the message that says God saves his people from their sins and gives them eternal life (Mark 10:45; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:4-5). This is so needed today in light of the pervasive lies in the false prosperity gospel, both the direct assaults and soft versions, that prevaricates and pushes polished, veneered trash to so many in the Church and outside of it. While many do not understand Reformed Theology, it is not new or innovative. It is a return to the ancient paths where the good way is (Jeremiah 6:16). In holding to Reformed Theology, we categorically deny Arminianism, and see it as a weak, man-centered approach to salvation and faith.
Reformed Theology has its history in the Protestant Reformation yet goes back to the establishment of the Church. In the Protestant Reformation, bold and faithful men took back and restored the gospel message from the evil corruption of the Roman Catholic Church. Reformed Theology has a high view of Scripture, seeing it is God’s infallible and inerrant Word (2 Tim. 3:15-17; Is. 8:20; Luke 16:29,31; Eph. 2:20). From Scripture God tells his Church that everything is by grace and for God’s glory, resulting in our good.
Within Reformed Theology are the doctrines of grace, sometimes conveyed in the acrostic TULIP. The doctrines of grace say that God’s sovereign grace is the basis and power of salvation. They are part of the sound teaching that we are to accept and embrace (2 Tim. 4:3-4). Man cannot save himself. We are utterly and completely dependent on God’s grace. He must put a new heart in his people for them to love him and worship him (Jer. 31:31). And there are means of grace that God uses to plant and grow his people’s faith.
For some the Five Sola’s of Reformed Theology is easier to grasp (sola is Latin for ‘alone’). A person is saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, for God’s glory alone, according to Scripture alone. Everything, including salvation, is for the purpose of God’s glory; this reverberates throughout the Old and New Testaments. And it gives God’s people a clear picture of God who can truly do all things, especially what we can’t do: save ourselves (Luke 18:27).
There may be a person who has heard some of this before and they have preconceived notions and misunderstandings to what is sometimes called Calvinism (stemming from John Calvin, a Protestant Reformer). They consider Calvinism a bad word… this is unfortunate, and we hope to dispel these errors and any apprehension toward this view of God and his salvation.
While the doctrines of grace and the five solas are part of Calvinism, depending on who you talk to, there may be differences between being Reformed and a Calvinist. Presbyterians and some Baptists (like myself) would point out and value other important teachings that are in Reformed Theology. These other doctrines may or may not be embraced by all who are Calvinists (for instance, there is Covenant Theology, the regulative principle, church order, and much more). RSRP pastors hold various views in these other areas, but we all prescribe to the sovereignty of God in all things, especially salvation.
Thus, RSRP is a society of Reformed pastors who preach and teach with conviction that God is glorious and full of grace, and we are created to glorify and enjoy him forever. Christ Jesus doesn’t just make this possible, he makes it sure and definite for his people (John 10:16).
Rappahannock
For those who do not know, the Rappahannock is a local river in the Commonwealth of Virginia (which the state of Virginia likes to be called). It is beautiful with lots of paintings and pictures depicting it, and it is home to lots of history. The Rappahannock has been an important waterway since the founding of our country and many years before.
It was home to many Native Americans along its banks, as well as many early settlements in the Virginia colony. Various American Revolution era sites are located here. It was also an important geographical marker during the American Civil War. The river primarily served as the boundary between the North and South.
Today, the Rappahannock region includes the City of Fredericksburg and the surrounding counties of Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, and Caroline. An area where almost half a million people call home (as of the 2022 census). Families with all sorts of cultures and backgrounds experience life here. Lots of people in a wide region needing the truth of the gospel. RSRP wants to do our part in spreading that truth and conveying a love for the whole counsel of God. Thus, we are a society of Reformed pastors in the Rappahannock area.
Conclusion
What’s in our name? It conveys who we are and the great message we love and want to share. RSRP hopes and we pray that through this society Christ is exalted to the highest heights and many will come to know him as he gloriously reveals himself in his Holy Word.