 Presbyterian Coalition Gathering X Pastor/theologian: 'Begin at the beginning' By Parker T. Williamson The Layman Online Thursday, August 16, 2007 HOUSTON – "Truth is not something to be trifled with," pastor/theologian Mark Patterson said Wednesday as he addressed Gathering X of the Presbyterian Coalition in Houston.
"So it is with theology," Patterson said. "Our foundation, the principle on which we build our ideas, our worldview, determines everything." That, he said, is the point at which the liberalism that has been so ruinous to the Presbyterian Church (USA) has made its grave error. It begins in the wrong place. Patterson called liberal theology "bottom-up" theology, as opposed to Biblical theology, which he said is "top-down." Biblical theology, Patterson said, begins not with ourselves, but with God's own self revelation. Patterson reminded his audience of the classical debate between Karl Barth and Emil Brunner, two devoted theologians whose understanding of Christian faith began in two very different places. "Barth was a peace loving man," Patterson said, but when he came upon Brunner's natural theology [a worldview that is rooted in human experience], he had to publish his vigorous objection. Just say 'No!' Patterson said it is critically important that evangelical Christians declare a resounding "No!" to the false faith that has invaded the Presbyterian Church (USA) ethos. "Our theological foundation is off, and it has skewed everything," he said. "We begin our theology by looking within. We hold a romantic perspective that is the complete antithesis to the Reformed tradition. Reformed faith does not begin by asking what I feel, what I want. It first asks who is God and what does God want." Patterson reminded his audience of Jesus' teaching that the eye is the lamp of the body. "If our perspective is off, if we have looked on the wrong things and believed in the wrong way, then everything that we build upon it will be off …," he said. "What is God's intention for our sexuality? In the church's current discussions, people are not looking up, but within: 'Who am I? What do I want? What are my drives, desires, passions, the feelings that I have experienced since I was born?'" Reflecting the values of our culture, Presbyterians have done the same thing with the abortion issue, Patterson said. "We start not with God's creation and with what we know of God's will through Scripture. Instead, we start with an experience called 'problem pregnancies.'" Presbyterians, he said, have been misled by "others in the church who offer philosophies of self centeredness instead of the church's primary and unalterable doctrines." It's all about God "What must we Presbyterians be about? Where must we start?" Patterson asked. "We start with the sovereignty of God. He is a good God, and He is the authority above whom there is no other. And we start with an unswerving passion for the person of Jesus Christ." He said that, when Presbyterians begin with these two great premises, everything else falls in line. "The wonderful irony" Patterson observed, "is that when we begin with God, all of our life experiences, including those experiences that we had been tempted to begin with, take on meaning, purpose and joy." The hard work of renewal Patterson issued a plea that Presbyterians not abandon the denomination, but "do the hard work of renewal." "It is hard to turn the church around," he said. "It is like swimming while pushing an aircraft carrier. The issues are complex. Renewal takes a lot of thought and prayer. The Coalition alone can't do it. Nor can Presbyterians for Renewal or The Layman. The whole body must be lifted up. We're all being called to step up to the plate and bring renewal in the church." "The Presbyterian Church (USA) has a history," Patterson said, "a legacy that is truly amazing. We have had world-changing people in this denomination. It would be a tragedy to lose our heritage and our hope. We can do all things in Christ who strengthens us." Patterson confessed that he had been so involved in the life of his local church that he had not given good attention to the plight of its denomination. "There may be a time to split and leave. But where I am right now, I believe God is calling me to proclaim Jesus within this denomination. It may be that a split is inevitable – so be it, if this is God's will. But I must make sure that I have given my all to Him here." "Our job is to stand up for Jesus with everything we've got," he said. "We have to come to Jesus. We must have an uncommon passion for the Lord Jesus. Out of that passion, we've got to say a 'No!' and a 'Yes!' "We must say 'No' to the alien thoughts and values that are trying to shape the church, that cannot see beyond an ethereal, natural grace. We must challenge self-proclaimed authorities that stand against the Word of God, against constitutional standards that the church has established. It is time to say 'No' to lukewarm and apathetic leaders who cry peace and unity, to a centralized bureaucracy that talks about 'the spirit's leading' when they know not the Holy Spirit. "At the same time," Patterson said, "we say 'Yes!' to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We say 'Yes' to the Cross, declared folly by the whole world. We say 'Yes' to the Triune God of grace, 'Yes' to the holiness and mercy of God our Father, 'Yes' to God's vast love that makes us new, 'Yes' to the Lord God who has said 'Yes' to the church." Practical matters Patterson called on those at Gathering X to attend to the practical tasks of renewal. "Come up with essential tenets of the faith," he said. "Do good research. Start with your own congregation and do it with your presbytery. Make it clear that your leaders must embrace these standards." Patterson encouraged relationship building among evangelicals across presbytery boundaries. For those evangelical congregations that are outnumbered by opposition forces in their presbytery, he suggested that they designate their per-capita and mission gifts to other presbyteries where the faith is proclaimed with integrity. That would be an even stronger message than designating a church's funds to parachurch groups, Patterson said. The Rev. Parker T. Williamson is editor emeritus of The Layman and The Layman Online. |
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