Posted on 02/17/2011 6:14:50 PM PST by Gamecock
An AP article was sent to my computer which many might find interesting. Sometimes my computer dates things incorrectly, but never before has an article appeared this early. You will of course note that the writer shows a typical secular reporter’s ignorance about the Reformed faith, but otherwise it seems to be fairly written, though poorly edited in parts. Also, it would have been strengthened by more direct quotes from the actual participants, but I guess we should be glad for any press.
Here is the AP story: July 1, 2020
Classical Protestant Resurgence: how the PCA got its mojo back Part 4 of the Series, “Religion in Post-Obama America” Associated Press, Atlanta
Ten years ago, many thought that the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) was at a crisis point. Years of stagnant growth and divisiveness had taken their toll. In an effort to stem the tide, many prominent men within the PCA urged it to change her tack or risk irrelevancy. An effort was made to broaden the PCA’s appeal by severing its ties with doctrinally similarly aligned, but smaller denominations in favor of cooperation with larger and growing movements.
However, a surprising thing happened. Unconvinced that such a change in tactics was called for, the denomination instead chose to reemphasize her distinctives -- doctrines such predestination of an “elect,” the baptizing of infants, and the necessity of churches being connected in regional bodies called presbyteries. Many feared that such a doctrinal approach would weaken the PCA and make it less appealing to the newer generations of Christians which appeared to be flocking to newer movements such as the so called “emergent” churches of the day and the Acts 29 Network (now on its third iteration as the Acts 31 network).
Perhaps a greater challenge to the PCA came from allies within the Southern Baptist Convention. A renewed interest in Calvinism among Baptists of various kinds – ironically fueled in part by the success of the PCA – stemmed some of the PCA’s momentum as many younger Calvinists chose to practice their faith in a Baptist context. The PCA was no longer the newest and coolest Calvinist kid on the block. It had lost its mojo.
It was understandable then that some of the PCA leaders, wishing to keep up a perceived momentum from its earlier decades of rapid growth (due in large part to whole churches transferring in from other denominations), pushed for the PCA to accommodate herself to changing demographic trends.
What could not have been foreseen was the growing cynicism of the newer generations towards the marketing which had been directed towards them by these newer movements. Many recognized that the “emerging” churches had essentially employed the same strategy of the much maligned Willow Creek “church growth” strategies popularized in the suburbs of the 1980s and 90s. Only this time, instead of syncretizing Christianity with the American suburban sub-culture, the emergents syncretized the Christian faith with the gentrification sub-culture of American cities. (See Part 2 of this Series: “How religion played a role in the re-segregating of the American urban landscape.”) As sociologists have since shown, both rounds of syncretism served to accommodate evangelical Christianity to the predominant relativism of American culture, to the extent that doctrinal distinctives were often played down in hopes of churches appearing more open minded and relevant to the issues of the day.
At the same time, many of these disillusioned younger Christians found themselves attracted to the bold Calvinism found among a variety of Baptist preachers of the time, men such as John Piper of Minneapolis, Mark Dever of Washington, D.C., and Marc Driscoll of Seattle. These ministers supported doctrines such as predestination and held to a strong view of the church, and yet rejected Presbyterian principles such as standing presbyteries and baptizing infants in favor of local church autonomy and baptizing only those who could recount some sort of credible conversion experience. And while these popular Baptist ministers cooperated with other denominations, they made no bones about their distinctive Baptist convictions. Such humble confidence in the midst of the emergent, relativist landscape proved attractive and successful.
Against this backdrop, the PCA held their annual General Assembly in late June of 2010. Leaders from across the denomination were urging a new direction and a renewed emphasis on numerical growth in order to “be part of what God is doing in the world.” After days of debate, the denominational rank and file rejected such an approach in favor of a return to their roots as a Calvinist denomination, including those convictions which distinguished them from both the emergent churches and their Calvinist Baptist allies.
At the same time, there was a renewed emphasis across the PCA on doing the simple things well – preaching from the Bible, emphasizing the doctrine of “justification by faith alone” as central to the Christian life, praying in small groups, and taking church discipline seriously (that members must uphold their vows to follow Christ or face correction from church leaders). An emphasis was placed on local ministry rather than embracing a one-size-fits-all national strategy.
But this counter-intuitive approach to church growth paid off. Younger Christians of all backgrounds were attracted to the authentic, simple approach to faith which did not overly concern itself with marketing or social trends. At the same time, they were drawn to the certainty and stability which the PCA presented, and increasingly convinced of the Biblical rationale for infant baptism and standing presbyteries, once the PCA began to aggressively promote its views. Of course, a fine line had to be walked, both not to alienate other Christian denominations and to ensure that its own members did not confuse secondary matters with more essential matters such as the divinity of Jesus. But somehow, they pulled it off, and have seen steady numerical growth 7 of the past 10 years.
With the precipitous decline of the historically larger PC(USA), the PCA now appears on the cusp of becoming the largest Presbyterian body in the United States, with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church not far behind.
Followers of Calvin disregard scripture such as John 4:42,1 Timothy 4:10 and 1 John 2:2
Followers of Calvin believe in 0 free-will and in Total Depravity, which means they believe in a Robot God that creates some robots evil and creates others "good" and programs the evil to do evil and the good to do good.
Hence the followers of Calvin preach that Calvin's robot-maker is the root of evil as he pre-programmed all the robots (men) to do either good or evil.
The Robots cannot, according to the followers of Calvin, change anything as it is their programming. This is quite in contrast to Ezekiel 33:12-16
| [12] Thou therefore, O son of man, say to the children of thy people: The justice of the just shall not deliver him, in what day soever he shall sin: and the wickedness of the wicked shall not hurt him, in what day soever he shall turn from his wickedness: and the just shall not be able to live in his justice, in what day soever he shall sin. [13] Yea, if I shall say to the just that he shall surely live, and he, trusting in his justice, commit iniquity: all his justices shall be forgotten, and in his iniquity, which he hath committed, in the same shall he die. [14] And if I shall say to the wicked: Thou shalt surely die: and he do penance for his sin, and do judgment and justice, [15] And if that wicked man restore the pledge, and render what he had robbed, and walk in the commandments of life, and do no unjust thing: he shall surely live, and shall not die. [16] None of his sins, which he hath committed, shall be imputed to him: he hath done judgment and justice, he shall surely live. |
Hence the followers of Calvin believe in their great robot-maker in the sky, they do not believe in the Christian God of Love who came to atone for the sins of ALL men. The Calvinists deny the fact that the grace provided by Christ's sacrifice was sufficient to save all men
| For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. |
Net-net, the followers of Calvin believe in a god like a robot-maker who pre-programs some to do good, some to do evil and pre-marks them willfully to burn in hell forever or not. This is not the Christian God
Lutherans, Anglicans, Pentecostals, CAtholics, Mennonites, Orthodox, Copts, Armenians, Ethiopians, Assyrians believe in this Christian God in contrast to the followers of Calvin and their robot-maker deity.
God created Adam and Eve in His own image, perfect. God did not stop at Adam and eve and than create everyone else differently or God can be moved from perfection.Thus God would lack perfection from eternity
Man may be born with the Original stain, but men by free will become evil since God from created all things good,thus putting an end to Calvin's theory of God predestining people to hell and man having no free will.
| Calvinism 101: God is the author of sin. Man is not responsible for his actions. |
Followers of Calvin have made God into a monster who DECIDES on creating evil -- they do this when they state that God has decided it is “better to bring good out of evil, than not to permit any evil to exist.
Yet the followers of Calvin neglect to ask themselves How does God decide anyway since He knows the outcome?Is He NOT sure in the first place and needs to make a decision because He does not understand Himself ,thus making Him not ALL knowing?
If the Calvinist robot-maker god created evil than evil is part of the essence of Calvinism's god.
Thus,by this belief the followers of Calvin believe that Christ has evil in Him as part of His essence since the second person of the Trinity is God incarnate.
Us? Who is us? Are you a royal 'we', or are you getting this from the Magicsterium*?
Again, you know nothing. Every post you make proves it, so please -- do continue.
GC, MM, BB -- I'm still hearing something, but can't quite make it out....
Hoss
With a link to one of your opinion pieces? Hubris is insufficient to describe that. Since few believe you in the first place what are the odds that any will believe you as your own reference? Get real!
That kind of nonsense might win atta-boys at an OPC church social but in the real world it is laughable.
and, it’s no wonder that the atheists here see the Calvin robot-maker deity as an abomination and reject it
Does you church not have a heuristic teaching authority or do you just gaze into a mirror?
Followers of Calvin disregard scripture such as John 4:42,1 Timothy 4:10 and 1 John 2:2
Followers of Calvin believe in 0 free-will and in Total Depravity, which means they believe in a Robot God that creates some robots evil and creates others "good" and programs the evil to do evil and the good to do good.
Hence the followers of Calvin preach that Calvin's robot-maker is the root of evil as he pre-programmed all the robots (men) to do either good or evil.
The Robots cannot, according to the followers of Calvin, change anything as it is their programming. This is quite in contrast to Ezekiel 33:12-16
| [12] Thou therefore, O son of man, say to the children of thy people: The justice of the just shall not deliver him, in what day soever he shall sin: and the wickedness of the wicked shall not hurt him, in what day soever he shall turn from his wickedness: and the just shall not be able to live in his justice, in what day soever he shall sin. [13] Yea, if I shall say to the just that he shall surely live, and he, trusting in his justice, commit iniquity: all his justices shall be forgotten, and in his iniquity, which he hath committed, in the same shall he die. [14] And if I shall say to the wicked: Thou shalt surely die: and he do penance for his sin, and do judgment and justice, [15] And if that wicked man restore the pledge, and render what he had robbed, and walk in the commandments of life, and do no unjust thing: he shall surely live, and shall not die. [16] None of his sins, which he hath committed, shall be imputed to him: he hath done judgment and justice, he shall surely live. |
Hence the followers of Calvin believe in their great robot-maker in the sky, they do not believe in the Christian God of Love who came to atone for the sins of ALL men. The Calvinists deny the fact that the grace provided by Christ's sacrifice was sufficient to save all men
| For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. |
Net-net, the followers of Calvin believe in a god like a robot-maker who pre-programs some to do good, some to do evil and pre-marks them willfully to burn in hell forever or not. This is not the Christian God
In contrast to the evil robot-maker deity of the followers of Calvin, there is the Christian God.
Lutherans, Anglicans, Pentecostals, CAtholics, Mennonites, Orthodox, Copts, Armenians, Ethiopians, Assyrians believe in this Christian God in contrast to the followers of Calvin and their robot-maker deity.
God created Adam and Eve in His own image, perfect. God did not stop at Adam and eve and than create everyone else differently or God can be moved from perfection.Thus God would lack perfection from eternity
Man may be born with the Original stain, but men by free will become evil since God from created all things good,thus putting an end to Calvin's theory of God predestining people to hell and man having no free will.
Followers of Calvin have made God into a monster who DECIDES on creating evil -- they do this when they state that God has decided it is “better to bring good out of evil, than not to permit any evil to exist.
Yet the followers of Calvin neglect to ask themselves How does God decide anyway since He knows the outcome?Is He NOT sure in the first place and needs to make a decision because He does not understand Himself ,thus making Him not ALL knowing?
If the Calvinist robot-maker god created evil than evil is part of the essence of Calvinism's god.
Thus,by this belief the followers of Calvin believe that Christ has evil in Him as part of His essence since the second person of the Trinity is God incarnate.
or do you consider Phelps to be your idea of a “Calvinist Lesbian priestess”?
Sort of- Like in he is a deranged nut job. Not a valid source.
Ok, I’ll take your word for it, I’m removing his quote and won’t be using it again. Thank you for pointing it out to me.
Remember that Calvin et al surfed the wave that was Luther. That Calvinist churches should now try to lay claim to the reformation and to protestantism, much less something "classical protestant," is anachronisticwell put. it is sad that nowadays the followers of Calvin try to say that they alone are Protestants.
====>The followers of Calvin consider the Christian Protestants who do not follow Calvin (like Lutherans, Pentecostals, Anglicans, Methodists, etc.) to not be true Protestants.
In fact the OPC says this about those who deny the non-scriptural double-predestination, God pre-damns people idea of the followers of Calvin. Hence they condemn followers of Christ like Methodists/Pentecostals etc. here is a quote from their site
Arminianism is indeed a heresy,....Some moreOPC attacks. This is from the OPC Q&A site
The Bible teaches that Christ did his atoning work on behalf of his elect people, and no others.....
Since the teachings of Arminianism are contrary to Scripture, they are manifestly false. They are serious perversions of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Are Arminian preachers heretics? In a sense, yes,
Is Arminianism a damnable heresy? Yes.
This states clearly that the OPC wishes to believe that the sending of the Holy Spirit is UNREPEATABLE
It will be noted that the Confession sharply contradicts the view popularized today by the neo-Pentecostal movement. In essence this view would have us believe that we can have the same charismatic gifts that we read about in the age of the Apostles - such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, and healing - today. This is a very serious error. In essence it is a result of a failure to grasp the Biblical teaching concerning the history of salvation. Never again will there be an outpouring of the Holy Spirit such as took place on the day of Pentecost.
The sending of the Holy Spirit is just as much an unrepeatable event as the birth of Christ was.
And According to the OPC OrthoPresbyterianC: "Christians should not celebrate the Seder or other Jewish festivals. "
Sounds like harping to me.
And it will turn into weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth someday.
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