In all due respect, maybe that is part of the problem. I am not relying upon Greenbaggins. I have been hearing ripples even outside and they aren’t necessarily the bloggers who are of the mind to announce overly harsh criticism. Sure there are plenty of those. There are some solid facts being presented from others that are acknowledging the polity and the results as the things that should have happened per polity. But the discord and maneuvering appears more like political wrangling than looking like a Church that is to seek Christ and adhere to a Standard known as the Westminister Confession of Faith.

It is probably a sad thing that most PCA Elders don’t recognize it as being accurate. I remember when the Federal Vision started raising its head. I was in the PCA then. Most Pastors were clueless as to what it was or even if it was a problem and the Doug Wilson books were filling the pew sitter’s libraries as the teaching was. Most PCA Pastors are tending to real life issues and working out situations in their congregations. That is hard work. They didn’t have the time nor see the urgency of the situation. They were Pastoring (dealing with sinners) and preparing for worship. So they were clueless for a time being. It just seemed like a heresy hunt to some. And I understand that.

All I am trying to say is that I am praying and hope many others are for a recovery. We have a wonderful set of Standards and they are not silent on these issues. We have God’s word and I know it isn’t silent either. The situation represented by many resembled more of a picture of English Parliament and American Politics than it did the picture given to us in Acts 15.  Maybe I am wrong. Either way, where is our example?

I was encouraged to have an optimistic outlook (by a very sound Deacon with whom I have a lot of respect) and consider the fact that the PCA cannot allow false confessionalism to stand as in the recent cases brought up. Especially concerning baptism, justification, Union with Christ, the visible Church, invisible Church, covenant of works, etc. I was exhorted to see that some people do not believe that there is significant sentiment in the denomination for the contrary views that have been discussed recently.

There was also reason to have hope as we see a very committed man heading Covenant Seminary now. We should also recognize that in Revelation 1-3, most of the types of Churches then (and now) have attributes of both commendation and chastisement. Most have some struggle with maintaining right doctrine and even those that were apostatizing sometimes are commended for having a faithful remnant in there midst.

WE MUST BE CAREFUL TO PROTECT TRUTH AND THE GOOD NAME OF OUR NEIGHBOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN BROADLY ASSESSING THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH, AND WHOLE COMMUNIONS.

My reply…

I appreciate the optimism some people have. I also appreciate the advice about protecting the good name of our neighbor.  At the same time I cringe because of the many issues I have been noticing in the past few years concerning Law / Gospel, Creationism, Communion, Soteriology, etc, have not been dealt with as they should have been. There are many issues that have been discussed and cautioned about. The leading authors in the PCA today are not leading others down the paths that Dr. Sproul and others from the past 30 years were solidly contending for. For instance, I steer my kids and disciples away from some prominent PCA authors. Do I need to name them? Some are very popular right now.

Also when we consider Revelation 1-3 we should note that Candlesticks were removed as The Lord promised. That isn’t something we should neglect. There was a reason for their removal. We surely don’t want to see that happen. But realistically there are major problems that seem to be swept under the carpet for the time being. As I noted above the recent situation should bring a lot of concern. Whose example are we to follow? Why is the leadership appearing to perform on a level of ineptness that renders confusion and looks more like political wrangling than a Church seeking the Lord’s will?

I appreciate the optimism but it seems to neglect a lot of the reality. Things are not being dealt with properly on a level it seems it should be. We have a PCA Church here in town that has an art museum exhibit as one of its main attractions. It is obviously a model Church from one in New York where many strange issues are spewing forth from. The New York Church is touted by many as a model to immulate. This ought not be in my estimation as I see a lot of confusion and strangeness being spewed forth from that place. There is much to be concerned about. Whose example are we to follow?

I hope this past G. A. is not one that will be touted as a fine example. Ineptness is what it seems to be marked by. Sure the praise and worship may have seemed to be edifying but I am wondering what The Lord thought of it. I am not going to pretend to know the mind of The Lord concerning how edifying the worship was. If the worship was all that great and uplifting I would have thought that it would have transferred over into the other areas of the General Assembly and it appears it didn’t.

I appreciate the optimism but I am very cautious about it also. There does seem to be something very amiss somewhere.