By their own confessions it appears that the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) ceases to be a valid church. The Scots Confession supposedly held by this denomination states the following: "The marks of the true Kirk (Church), therefore, we believe, confess, and avow to be: first, the true preaching of the Word of God, in which God has revealed himself to us, as the writings of the prophets and apostles declare; secondly, the right administration of the sacraments of Christ Jesus, with which must be associated the Word and promise of God to seal and confirm them in our hearts; and lastly, ecclesiastical discipline uprightly ministered, as God’s Word prescribes, whereby vice is repressed and virtue nourished."
The following clause was deleted today, 5-10-11, from the Presbyterians Book of Order by a majority vote of the 173 Presbyteries which form the PCUSA. Twin Cities Presbytery cast the deciding vote according to the NY Times:
G-6.0106b
Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament
From this bloggers point of view the last clause of the Scots Confession has been turned on it’s head..; vice is nourished and virtue is repressed. I think this is what Isaiah was talking about in Isaiah 5:20: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;..”
Perhaps it may be appropriate for a Baptist to attempt to set things in order. See Al Mohler’s excellent article on “Church Discipline”.
No comments:
Post a Comment