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.
No he does not,, I have looked for him for over 30 yrs,, he does not exist.
Yes, I understand why you think that.
And a little off topic, but if God doesn't exist, where did the universe and everthing and everyone in it come from?
universe has all ways been there......People been here way more than 5000 yrs. Did people 10,000 yrs ago go to heaven before there was a bible? What about 20,000 yrs ago?
That is a great question!
Couple of points:
1. We know that the elect are out there. We sow the seeds, the Holy Spirit acts on those who are elect. It is often said that true Calvinists preach the Gospel promiscuously to all persons, aware that God alone knows those who belong to Him.
2. In scripture we see that God uses us to spread the Gospel to the elect.
3. We are commanded to spread the Gospel.
4. It has been said that if God had painted a yellow stripe up the backs of the elect, we would go around lifting up coats and preaching only to those with the stripe. We don't know who the elect are, so we preach to all. (widely attributed to Spurgeon, but there are no primary sources to prove that.)
Hope that helps.
Perhaps you’ve looked in the wrong places.
And anyway, no, people did not go to heaven back then. Good people went to shalom. After Jesus opened The Gates of Heaven with His incredible sacrifice, the people in shalom went to heaven.
***universe has all ways been there***
Both science and Christianity say you are wrong. There was a starting point.
So the rest of us need not bother with church.... you're right.. I'm heading to a bar to get a drink......
>> A church that is faithful to the Gospel is growing, and you don’t care? <<
I mean this literally: Too bad the article is a work of fiction. I’d love to read that the PCA really was replacing the PCUSA as the largest Presbyterian Church in the United States, but the reality is that the PCUSA is seven times larger, and even by 2020, or 2050, the trends don’t support the notion that’s gonna happen.
Yep,, churches and the bible,, where else is there to look?
well neither can prover either, so whats you point?
Often the elect don't even know they are elect, until the have been regenerated.
you're right.. I'm heading to a bar to get a drink......
Go ahead. It may interest you to know that Jesus was a bartender at a Jewish wedding. BTW, try a Belgium Ale. Many of them are just fabulous.
I have seen projections that by 2030 the PCA will have over a million members. Based on the rate the PC(USA) is imploded it may happen long before them.
(BTW, that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me)
Just like you can’t prove yours. So what’s your point?
There had to have a been a starting point, A Creator, A Being beyond even the human ability to perceive in terms of existence and non-existence.
Otherwise known as God.
LOL!!!!I will be shocked to be "regenerated"...LOL!!!!When I die......please just leave me alone........
The point is the church is a waste of time unless it can prove there is a god or a heaven.
As a matter of fact, we issued over $50,000.00 last year to needy members from our Benevolence fund. We have helped folks with car and home repairs, medical bills, etc..., and a few of our members were facing foreclosure until we helped them out. Sure giving is way down due to the economic climate, but God provides.
Leave you alone? Mate, you did come on to a religion thread and start sounding off first.
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