Sunday, June 29, 2008
GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISASTER
Well, it's official: the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly meeting in San Jose, California, has come to a close. Many different words and metaphors come to mind as I continue to process the lunacy that characterized the GA meeting. Pardon my bluntness, but the crap coming out of the PC (USA) colon stinks to high heaven. (I've used that metaphor quite a bit lately, but I think it is a fitting one.) I can do no better than share with you the New Wineskins' assessment of the recent PC (USA) General Assembly:"The 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has become theologically unhinged from our Biblical and Reformation foundation. The actions of this assembly are schismatic. They foster division within our denomination and threaten the sundering of the denomination from the world Church of Jesus Christ. Specifically, · The assembly recommends re-writing the historic Heidelberg Catechism by truncating a quotation from Scripture (1 Cor. 6:9) in order to remove reference to homosexual behavior as sinful. · The assembly has asked the church once again to overturn historic, Biblical standards of sexual holiness for those being ordained. Previous authoritative interpretations about sexuality and ordination standards have been rendered void. Presbyteries will be asked to delete the "fidelity in marriage, chastity in singleness" clause of G-6.0106b. · The assembly has authorized creating a special fund to battle in civil courts congregations which cannot in good conscience continue to stay in the PC(USA). Such legal action includes not only disputes over property but, as in the Londonderry case, litigation against elders. Donations will be sought. However, we are hopeful that the General Assembly's strong approval of a resolution encouraging presbyteries to initiate and communicate a gracious process for dismissal will decrease a rush to civil court on all sides. · The assembly has misunderstood and disrespected all three religions in its resolutions about Judaism, Islam and Christianity. The assembly calls upon these religions to celebrate religious holidays together: as if a good Muslim could celebrate the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ at Christmas, as if a good Jew could look to the crucifixion on Good Friday for atonement, as if a good Christian could consecrate himself or herself during Ramadan to a Unitarian God who is not the gracious Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the Triune God. · The assembly declined asking the church to redefine marriage as between one man and one woman (Mt. 19: 4-5). Nevertheless, a civil marriage between 2 men was performed by a PC(USA) minister at the More Light General Assembly gathering. Those charged with defending our constitution have remained silent on this breach of ordination vows."
I have no misgivings about leaving the Presbyterian Church (USA). And I am so proud of the church I pastor for saying, "enough is enough" and voting by an overwhelming margin to leave our former denomination.
I suspect that the coming months will see an exodus of many more churches from the Presbyterian Church (USA). In light of the General Assembly's recent actions, it's not hard to understand why.
Comments:
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You are truly blessed to be part of a congregation of such wisdom and courage.
May the Lord abundantly bless you and your congregation, and may you continue to boldly proclaim the gospel.
It is a joy to discover a faithful brother in the Lord blogging about many of the same issues.
In the Grace of Jesus our Lord and Savior,
Adel Thalos
http://graceandlaw.blogspot.com/
May the Lord abundantly bless you and your congregation, and may you continue to boldly proclaim the gospel.
It is a joy to discover a faithful brother in the Lord blogging about many of the same issues.
In the Grace of Jesus our Lord and Savior,
Adel Thalos
http://graceandlaw.blogspot.com/
I have been reading blogs like crazy over the past few days, and all I can say is *wow*. They (the GA) really don't get it, do they? It seems that they are so concerned about being a culturally mainstream church (read: irrelevant - or lacking in salt and light) that they've lost a large chunk of understanding about what it means to be The Church (read: Scriptural - salt and light).
A metaphor I used on another site is one of a man in a hospital diagnosed with clogged arteries and high blood pressure, and the doctors prescribe Big Macs and Whoppers to help him get well.
Our denomination is withering on the vine, and the Powers That Be think that moving away from Scripture is the solution? Are they daft?
The hardest part for me is that I have worked for these folks as a PC(USA) overseas Mission co-worker for more than a decade in a predominantly Islamic country. Thankfully, I live and work here representing the church of Christ first, and the PCUSA as a far distant second.
My prayer is for the Presbyteries to prove to me over the next year that they are the Biblically minded people I think that they are. Grass roots, baby!
Sola Dei Gloria!
An Overseas Laborer
A metaphor I used on another site is one of a man in a hospital diagnosed with clogged arteries and high blood pressure, and the doctors prescribe Big Macs and Whoppers to help him get well.
Our denomination is withering on the vine, and the Powers That Be think that moving away from Scripture is the solution? Are they daft?
The hardest part for me is that I have worked for these folks as a PC(USA) overseas Mission co-worker for more than a decade in a predominantly Islamic country. Thankfully, I live and work here representing the church of Christ first, and the PCUSA as a far distant second.
My prayer is for the Presbyteries to prove to me over the next year that they are the Biblically minded people I think that they are. Grass roots, baby!
Sola Dei Gloria!
An Overseas Laborer
# posted by 
: 6:10 AM
: 6:10 AM
Adel--
Thanks for the kind words.
Anonymous--
Blessings upon your labor in the Lord overseas.
I am encourage by faithful brothers in the Lord such as yourselves. What a striking contrast to the false shepherds that are leading so many people astray in the PC (USA).
I am reminded of these words from God-breathed Scripture:
"Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained."
--1 Samuel 2:30
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Thanks for the kind words.
Anonymous--
Blessings upon your labor in the Lord overseas.
I am encourage by faithful brothers in the Lord such as yourselves. What a striking contrast to the false shepherds that are leading so many people astray in the PC (USA).
I am reminded of these words from God-breathed Scripture:
"Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained."
--1 Samuel 2:30
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