Guest commentary
Imagine … "PCUSA
refers Jesus to task force!"
Renee Guth
Tucson,
Ariz.
Tuesday,
June 11, 2002
Imagine this
headline, "PCUSA Refers Jesus to Task Force!" in your hometown
newspaper, in the denominational press, and the puzzled expressions of
the members of our congregations. Why would the 214th General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church (USA) choose this option to a simple,
unequivocal confession that Jesus Christ is the only Lord and Savior of
the world? Why was this so difficult for the 213th General Assembly?
Our confessional and connectional heritage is inherently conflicted
with an unrestrained exercise of the freedom of conscience. The Book
of Order is clear that as church officers "one chooses to
exercise the freedom of conscience within certain bounds"
(G-6.0108b). These limits on the exercise of the freedom of conscience
are necessary and defined, "It is necessary to the integrity and
health of the church that the persons who serve in it as officers shall
adhere to the essentials of the Reformed faith and the polity as
expressed in The Book of Confessions and the Form of Government"
(G-6.0108a). A confessional and connectional denomination will be unable
to govern when it's officer's act as a non-creedal or congregational
denomination.
Scripture proclaims Jesus as the only Savior and Lord of the world. As
church officers the exercise of the freedom of conscience is also bound
by the Scriptures. "That 'God alone is Lord of the conscience, and
hath let it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in
anything contrary to his Word, or beside it, in matters of faith or
worship'"(Book of Order: G-1.0301a). Church officers are
not free to act contrary to the Word of God. The witness of Scripture is
clear:
- The first commandment states, "You shall have no other gods
before me." Our Lord's covenant with Israel defined an
exclusive relationship between the one and only Lord God and his
people. This is the witness of the Old Testament.
- Jesus' self declaration as Israel's long awaited Messiah and the
Son of the Living God points to his exclusively unique role in
history: Jesus is fully God and fully human.
- Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane indicates that he hoped for a
different way from the cross, "If it is possible, may this cup
be taken from me." If either Jesus or the Father knew of
another way… why the cross? If Jesus is truly one of many, then
was he a self-absorbed co-dependent who martyred himself? Or is he
who he claims to be… the only Savior who knowingly prayed in
the garden, "Not my will, but your will be done." This is
the witness of the Gospels.
- From the very beginning, Jesus and the early Christian church
proclaimed Jesus Christ as the sole Savior and Lord of all to
various Jewish sects, local cultic, Greek, and Roman religions, and
various philosophical persuasions. Making ultimate claims about
Jesus' Lordship, they met other world religions, faith-claims, and
truth-claims with conviction. Even in the face of strident
opposition, persecution, and martyrdom, the early church persisted
in their confession. They persuasively presented the uncompromising
gospel of Jesus Christ; "Jesus is the Savior and Lord of all!"
This is the witness of the New Testament. Today we face the same
plurality of faith and truth-claims. What will the 214th GA's
witness be?
Why is it necessary for the 214th General Assembly to confess that
Jesus is the only Lord and Savior of the world?
- Our church remains divided against itself. Our most pivotal
commitment is to the sole Lordship of Jesus Christ.
- Our common understanding of the Lordship of Jesus Christ is the
very heart of both our identity and mission as the Presbyterian
Church (USA).
- Since the General Assembly Council's stated priorities are
evangelism and discipleship, we need a clear message to proclaim and
teach. Without a clear message, evangelism efforts digress to
membership recruitment to an organization of conflicted meaning and
purpose.
- The simple confession that Jesus is the only Savior and Lord of
the world does not merit the expense or need for further study.
Rather, the development of apologetic and missional approaches for
the gospel in the cultural context of relativism, individualism, and
deconstructionism would be instrumental to the denomination's stated
ministry and mission.
- This issue is not too complicated for General Assembly
commissioners. Previous General Assemblies have voted on other
complex issues such as bio-diversity, the management of Alaska's
north slope, end of life issues, and stem cell research. In
comparison, this decision is to simply affirm the Church's
confession that Jesus is the only Savior and Lord of the world.
- The exercise of a church officer's conscience is bound by The
Book of Confessions and the Book of Order. The entire
witness of The Book of Confessions and Book of Order
is unequivocal about Jesus as the only Lord and Savior of the world
(e.g. The Book of Confessions: 5.077, 8.11, 9.11, 9.27; Book
of Order: G-1.0100a, G-3.0300a, G-14.0207a, G-14.0405b(1)).
Upholding the confession that Jesus is the only Savior and Lord of
the world is every church officer's responsibility.
Will the 214th General Assembly be faithful to the clear Scriptural
witness, The Book of Confessions, the Book of Order, and
their ordination vows? Will this General Assembly act as a confessional
and connectional church; or will freedom of conscience contrary to
Scripture, The Book of Confessions, and the Book of Order
remain unrestrained to the detriment of the health and integrity of
the church? Will this General Assembly change our most basic identity in
Jesus Christ; or will this General Assembly be compelled to joyfully
proclaim, not refer or defer, the most basic confession of the Church:
Jesus is the only Savior and Lord of the world! |