No Solus Christus for the PCUSA!
“Christ alone” is no longer a part of the “gospel message” of the PCUSA; universalism is now the center.
Reading this prayer carefully, one discovers that faith in Jesus Christ is just one of many diverse faiths on earth, all of which are good. God’s gift of grace is not linked uniquely to the work of Christ opening up salvation for all the world, but rather only one way of coming to God. Apparently... Continue Reading
Reflections from Inside the Overtures Committee at the 46th PCA General Assembly
Or, how the proposed amendment to BCO 59, the Marriage Chapter, at the PCA GA was finally drafted and approved.
The PCA General Assembly voted to propose that BCO 59-3 be given constitutional authority and amended it to read: “Marriage is only to be between one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24-25; Matt. 19:4-6; 1 Cor. 7:2), in accordance with the Word of God. Therefore ministers in the Presbyterian Church in America who solemnize marriages... Continue Reading
Presbyterian Church USA Poised to Condemn Islam, Muhammad and the Qur’an….
The PC sounding overture, Item 07-01, would mandate that the PCUSA would have to condemn Islam as a religion and its “holy book”, the Qur’an
After leaning long and hard toward a gospel-denying universalism, the PCUSA seems poised now to condemn the religious teachings of a rival faith. To be fair, it has to be said that this unintended exclusivistic drift is not being nourished by a true belief in the gospel but by a mindless pursuit of “progressive justice,”... Continue Reading
The Westminster Society and the EPC General Assembly
The Westminster Society is a relatively new networking group within the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
The Society aims to provide annual networking lunch opportunities at our General Assemblies for our members and visitors to gather around productive, in-depth theological conversations. More importantly, we hope to deepen friendships and foster professional collegiality among our ministers and ruling elders. Additionally, we seek to advocate for a strong view of the implementation and... Continue Reading
Without ‘Gravity,’ We Will Be Carried About by Every Wind of Doctrine
Reasons to Defeat Overtures 11, 15 and 27 at the 46th PCA General Assembly
Overtures 11, 15, and 27 recommend that the term “grave” be replaced by “dignified,” citing the fact that the Greek word that is translated as “grave” in the KJV is translated as “dignified” in the ESV. While “dignified” is a fine word, it conveys a different sense than “grave.” To be dignified is to carry... Continue Reading
Mere Presbyterianism
A call to Mere Presbyterianism is not an appeal for confessional or theological reductionism. On the contrary, it’s an earnest plea for confessional integrity.
Without getting into the weeds of the strict vs. good faith subscription debate, I simply want to encourage my fellow PCA teaching and ruling elders to prioritize in our churches that which our Reformed Confession prioritizes, especially as it concerns the Gospel, worship, confessionalism, piety, and missions. To be clear, this call to Mere Presbyterianism... Continue Reading
Full Homosexual Inclusion in the PCA?
The Origin, Objective and Deception of the Revoice Conference
But the problem we have today is that the ‘gay-Christian’ community refuses to acknowledge such desires are sinful. In fact, they profess that to expect individuals with homosexual desires to repent of them would be a destructive burden to them, tantamount to denying who they were created to be. Hence, these individuals have no problem... Continue Reading
The Ruling Elder/Teaching Elder Disparity in the PCA
In 1973, 179 teaching elders and 208 ruling elders attended the first PCA General Assembly; by 2017, 1151 teaching elders and 310 ruling elders attended the 45th GA.
The growth in this disparity in the PCA has been steady. For assemblies in the 1970s the percentage of ruling elders attending averaged 44%. In the 1980s the percentage fell dramatically to 33%, but held fairly steady in the 1990s at 32%. The first decade of the 21st century saw a decline to 29%. The... Continue Reading
Reasons to Vote in Favor of Overture Requiring 30-days’ Notice
The Overtures propose 30-days’ prior notice for a congregational meeting where there will be a vote to disaffiliate with the PCA.
This year’s proposed 30-day notice requirement does not abridge any congregational right – it actually protects one. It ensures, for example, a Session can’t hustle a church out of the PCA without the clear consent of a well-prepared congregation. 30-day notice doesn’t restrict a congregation’s liberty; it restricts a Session’s liberty. This important distinction is... Continue Reading
Reasons to Defeat Overtures 10, 12 and 17 at the 46th PCA General Assembly
The proposed amendment to BCO 25-11 would mandate a notice of 30 days for congregation meetings if the purpose is to consider withdrawing from the PCA.
Over the PCA’s 46 year history, hundreds of churches have chosen to withdraw from the PCA for a variety of reasons. BCO 25.8-11 makes it abundantly clear that the PCA, from its inception, chose to enshrine in its Constitution the principle of granting congregations full rights over their own property and the liberty to choose... Continue Reading
