Have I been praying for those with whom I disagree? Every
year there are issues that divide commissioners. For the most part, we know
what those issues are, and we have our opinions about how those issues should
be decided. But we should also recognize that well-intentioned men of good
conscience can disagree on these things without being heretics. We need to be
praying for one another that we would be men after God’s own heart, happy to
lose “our cause” for His.
Am I working at being a churchman, or playing at it? Is GA
week vacation for me, or is it a work week? Admittedly, given the way that GA
is structured, it can be very tempting to spend a good part of the week
attending anything but the Assembly sessions, especially the information
segments that largely repeat the material in the Handbook. Perhaps wise changes
there would make for a better and more useful assembly. For the time being, we
should commit ourselves to being there for the boring parts, as well as the
times when there might be exciting debate.
Am I here seeking God’s agenda, or my own? This relates to
#2 above. We need to remember that God cares more for his church than we do. He
has demonstrated that he is more than willing to give up denominations for the
sake of the overall health of his church. This ought to scare us, at least a little.
What is my relationship to the constitution of the PCA? As a
reminder, the Constitution of the PCA consists of the Westminster standards and
the BCO (minus some specified chapters). Constitutions can, and sometimes
should, be amended.
But given their current state, is my doctrine in line with
the doctrine of the Westminster standards? Or do I have to engage in a certain
amount of mental gymnastics in order not to be a liar when I say that I “sincerely
receive and adopt” the standards as “containing the system of doctrine taught
in the Holy Scriptures”? If the latter, shouldn't I, regardless of what the
cost might be to myself and the local church I currently serve, move a
denomination where I can be honest in my vows?
Given its current state, is my practice in line with the BCO
or do I make it up as I go along? The PCA BCO is far from perfect, as is
attested by the fact that it is amended almost every year. Yet do we make it
our aim to carry out our practice in line with its prescriptions. We might find
it would save a lot of difficulty if we did. It would also be easier to follow
the practice of the BCO if we made ourselves more familiar with its content, rather
than relying on Roy Taylor and David Coffin to tell us what it says.
2 comments:
Ben,
I will miss you and the brothers this year, but this is a terrific post -- balanced, humble and spiritual. I hope you all have a great week.
Chris Hutchinson
Blacksburg, VA
"But given their current state, is my doctrine in line with the doctrine of the Westminster standards? Or do I have to engage in a certain amount of mental gymnastics in order not to be a liar when I say that I “sincerely receive and adopt” the standards as “containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures”? If the latter, shouldn't I, regardless of what the cost might be to myself and the local church I currently serve, move a denomination where I can be honest in my vows?"
My Comment-How can a system of doctrine that has no Scriptural Support be considered to "be in line with the Scriptures?" Padeobaptism comes from the Geneva Church State and is an "exception" a term not used anywhere in Scripture, nor is padeobaptism supported Scripturally. This should not be required to be "affirmed" as doctrine of Reformation. It ends up being baptismal regeneration as a doctrine in my estimation. And so many pastors, elders, deacons, really do not "affirm" nor believe it but basically just accept it to be involved in ministry. Nor is the infants of believers given any special graces "later", salvation deferred-again no Scripture to attest to it.
Post a Comment