Letters to the Editor - Special Report April 2001

Letters to the Editor The Presbyterian Layman – Special Report – Confessing Church Movement Volume 34, Number 3, Posted April 20, 2001
Changing God’s Word is not our prerogative My heart is breaking and I feel sure that our Lord is terribly saddened by the misguided actions of his Church. It is agonizing to watch our fellow Presbyterian brothers and sisters use a redacting pen on God’s Holy Scripture. Although my life has often fallen far short of God’s expectations, I try to remind myself that he is the designer and he has given me clear guidance for how he wants me to live my life. Attempting to change his blueprint for humankind is dangerous territory into which I do not wish to stray. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” I shall do all in my power to conform my life to God’s Holy Word and try to avoid making Scripture conform to my own desires. John W. “Bill” Seiden Community Presbyterian Church Vacaville, Calif. Summit couple fully supports confession My wife and I are members of Summit Presbyterian Church in Butler, Pa. We are extremely excited that our session and congregation have come together in full support of our confession of faith. We pray that other churches and presbyteries take a stand and accept this confession of faith. Garry Faust Butler, Pa. Overture calls for PCUSA to confess Christ alone I have already participated in formulating an overture proposal to PCUSA from our church that proclaims Jesus Christ as our only Lord and Savior. The overture was passed by our session and presbytery. The overture will be presented to PCUSA in their June General Assembly. Our overture was in response to Rev. Dirk Ficca’s keynote speech to the 2000 Peacemaking Conference held in Orange County, Calif. Gifford Cast La Jolla Presbyterian Church La Jolla, Calif. Confessing Movement is the right approach I am convinced that this Confessing Church Movement is exactly the right approach. Far better that we who remain in the faithful opposition join together for a forceful and decisive stand, even if that results in our being kicked out of the PCUSA, than for individuals and congregations to trickle away little by little. If the liberals who oppose us start to misuse the disciplinary mechanisms of the Book of Order to clear the sessions of Confessing Church congregations, or to defrock Confessing Church pastors (remember what they did to Dr. Machen back in the ‘30s), we will need to have some mechanism in place to render aid to those under attack. Be assured that those who oppose us will use every weapon at their disposal, “divide and conquer” being chief among them. Stefan B. Stackhouse Montreat Presbyterian Church Montreat, N.C. Is it time to split while there’s enough to split? The confessions are good, basic confessions – Christians should have no trouble subscribing to them (although I suspect the whole idea will cause quite a sensation in the church). But I still wonder whether this will be just another round of battles on the way down, and whether it is time to split while there is enough of a church left to split. Marc Benton Bethlehem Presbyterian Church New Windsor, N.Y. Summit declaration like breath of fresh air The Summit Presbyterian Church declaration of faith is encouraging, especially when the Presbyterian Church (USA) is looking for loopholes to keep “sin” in the denomination. Such declarations are like fresh air in a polluted church. I say polluted church because what is seen in so-called mainline denominations (I call them “sideline denominations”) has nothing to do with basic Christian faith. All that is being discussed in every church is “sexuality.” The issue is resolved by the Holy Bible once and for all. Let the church get on with its task of preaching of the Gospel to all nations and stop time-wasting debates. Rev. Dr. Timotheus Nasir The United Presbyterian Church of Pakistan Gujranwala, Pakistan We’re losing ground in never-ending battle I hope you are aware that a message to the effect of “Don’t be discouraged – we must continue the fight” will not be well received by readers of The Presbyterian Layman. Many readers are understandably weary of fighting a battle that never ends while continually losing ground to the liberal minority. Mark Jones Grapevine, Texas Confession’s opponents need to review Scriptures Anyone who disagrees with those three statements either doesn’t know their Bible or doesn’t care. Twisting the Word of God to suit today’s wrongful cultural teachings will get you only one place: hell. Those who don’t agree with the Summit Presbyterian Church confessional statement need to re-examine what the Scriptures really say. After all, they really aren’t confusing words that God has spoken. “Thou shall not commit adultery” is pretty simple and clear, as are the other commandments. Jack Fox Towanda, Pa. Direction of PCUSA is deeply troubling I am deeply troubled by the false direction of this church. For the last few years, I have been watching the watering down of the true faith. Oh, we come up with new prayers to mumble, talk about life in the fast lane, make pronouncements that really have no real meaning. Is it any wonder we lose membership? I have just seen a T-shirt that says “Born Again Pagan.” Maybe this will be the new way. Benjamin W. Barr North Wilkesboro, N.C. PCUSA returnee endorses movement It is my privilege to support the Confessing Church Movement. I left the PCUSA in 1987 after spending my entire life in the PCUS/PCUSA. It was a difficult decision to leave the church I loved. I spent 12 wonderful years in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. I was happy where I was, but in 1999 I was led by God back into the PCUSA to the Lake Forest Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tenn. I believe a part of God’s plan in this is that I might add my voice to others who are calling for a return to Biblical standards within this denomination. Kirk Werner Knoxville, Tenn. Losses: Compromise, lack of evangelism blamed Bethel Presbyterian Church of Kingsport, Tenn., is very concerned over the direction our denomination is headed. I do believe our losses are in direct correlation to our lack of evangelism and the compromising of God’s Word. We need to stand for and on God’s Word or, as the song states, “We’ll fall for anything.” Please know we are going to be praying for your leadership and other organizations that are standing sure on God’s Word. God will bless us and will add to our numbers as we serve Him by accomplishing His will. Gary R. Bement Kingsport, Tenn. Church leaders should be united in one faith It is the responsibility of church leaders to be united in one faith and one doctrine. The liberal notion that historically it is normal and healthy for the church to disagree in spiritual matters because of our diversity is fraudulent. The continuing disagreement over theology, Biblical authority and the very truthfulness of Scripture is the very reason the PCUSA is fragmented in its Biblical and moral moorings and has drifted away from its historical tradition of Reformed doctrine. There should be no doubt that the dominant voice of the church today is the voice of heretics. William Cramer Christ Presbyterian Church Phoenix, Ariz.





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