Thank you. I don't see any reason why we can't all get along better.
Many Protestants show an admirable and inspiring loyalty to the Lord, the Scriptures, and to the teachings they have received in their strands of the Church.
Many Protestant assemblies, like many parts of the Catholic Church, are “by schism rent asunder, by heresies distrest.” In the past couple of centuries, many of these fissiparative tendencies have tended in the direction of a cool deism, a flaccid unitarianism, and a bland universalism.
Whenever this happens, a few people show the measure of faithful grace they have received by doggedly clinging to the best of Calvinism, of the reformation. (And despite what we calflicks think are grave errors there, there is still a very great deal to admire.)
IMHO to mug Machen and other early OPC types as racist is a little like the leftist critique of the Founders and Framers. (My English mother was racist as only the English can be: she wouldn't fly on French or Italian airlines.) Of course, if I thought the OPC were right, I'd join. And I think as time passes the errors will become more grievous, in a manner similar to the disastrous and lingering effects of Jansenism and "Spirit of Vatican II" waves in the Catholic Church. But just as I can't pile on Luther and Calvin or Cranmer or Wesley OR the Moravians and the rest, so I am unable wholeheartedly to join the mob stoning the OPC, despite the noxious and hateful behavior of some of their adherents. (I hear rumors of a few less than mild Catholics here and there.)
I don't think it amiss, I DO think it part of our mission to praise God for a good work begun in such "ecclesial assemblies" and beseech him to bring His good work to completion in them as in us.
I pray that by the Atoning Blood, by the Healing Wounds, and by the Saving Death of the one Spotless Lamb our divisions may be ended.
Oh! The Lord appointed an Oriole to grace my clothes line!
The image of the clothesline brings a flood of wonderful memories.
I give you credit for undertaking such a herculean task.
Thank you. I don't see any reason why we can't all get along better.