This is mainly to allow a distinct discussion of how the posters of Gentle Reformation have engaged in vigorous navel-gazing with respect to the current Coronavirus outbreak. The issue hits at the heart of where the RPCNA has positioned itself in the pantheon of Christian religions.
Authoritarianism (aka churchianity) - RPCNA leaders believe themselves to be the vicars of Christ within their local institutional body. When they put on their "office hats", they speak authoritatively to the Christian. The pastor says "thus saith the Lord" from the pulpit. The elder says "The Holy Spirit has made me aware of this sin in your life". That authority is at its climax in the public assembly, where the pastor, enlightened by the Holy Spirit preaches to a congregation assembled in public worship.
That is why, for example, the membership vows include:
I'm sure that there will be a lot of "grace" applied for RP pastors who have had to cancel by those who assert that gathering is necessary, but this is simply keeping up appearances.
Means of Grace - A theme that has swept through authoritarian denominations is the concept of "means of grace" - meaning that God confers grace (I think what they mean by this is essentially spiritual growth) through means, which the Westminster Confession attributes primarily to what is done by the pastor in public worship. For example, the new Directory for Public Worship says:
Personally, I am thankful for a gracious God who tells me the Sabbath was made for me, not me for the Sabbath. While I mourn the loss of physical Christian fellowship, I'm thankful for the various technologies now available by which I can fellowship virtually with real people. One thing my pastor said that I don't think I would hear from an RP pulpit. "This is the work of the enemy. When we deny the work of the enemy, then we accuse God of terrible things and this is exactly what we're seeing coming out of the church." It would not surprise me to see Gentle Reformation articles suggesting that the COVID-19 outbreak is God's judgment against [insert public sin here].
Authoritarianism (aka churchianity) - RPCNA leaders believe themselves to be the vicars of Christ within their local institutional body. When they put on their "office hats", they speak authoritatively to the Christian. The pastor says "thus saith the Lord" from the pulpit. The elder says "The Holy Spirit has made me aware of this sin in your life". That authority is at its climax in the public assembly, where the pastor, enlightened by the Holy Spirit preaches to a congregation assembled in public worship.
That is why, for example, the membership vows include:
To the end that you may grow in the Christian life, do you promise that you will diligently read the Bible, engage in private prayer, keep the Lord’s Day, regularly attend the worship services, observe the appointed sacraments, and give to the Lord’s work as He shall prosper you? (Covenant of Church Membership #5)and the first disciplinary form for members is the Certificate of Dismissal for an Indifferent Member:
The session certifies that you, _______ [name of the member]_________, have not participated in the worship and fellowship of the ____ [name and location of the congregation]__________ Reformed Presbyterian Church for an extended period of time. We are deeply saddened that we must remove you from the church because of your neglect of the ordinances as of this date: ________________________. We remind you that, outside the visible church, there is no ordinary possibility of salvation. (2B)So, it is intriguing that some RP congregations have maintained smaller gatherings so as not to exceed the CDC recommendations, some have resorted to audio or video livestreaming, and some have cancelled services and pointed members to SermonAudio recordings.
I'm sure that there will be a lot of "grace" applied for RP pastors who have had to cancel by those who assert that gathering is necessary, but this is simply keeping up appearances.
Means of Grace - A theme that has swept through authoritarian denominations is the concept of "means of grace" - meaning that God confers grace (I think what they mean by this is essentially spiritual growth) through means, which the Westminster Confession attributes primarily to what is done by the pastor in public worship. For example, the new Directory for Public Worship says:
The main purpose of worship is to bring glory to the triune God, particularly for His work of redemption through Jesus Christ. However, God, in His benevolence, also invites and commands His people to draw near to Him to experience all the benefits of their redemption, to declare their dependence on Him, to enjoy His appointed means of grace, to encourage one another, to celebrate their union with Jesus Christ and to be transformed, more and more, into His image. (ch 1 #2 - emphasis added)or the WLC #154:
Q. 154. What are the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of his mediation?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to his church the benefits of his mediation, are all his ordinances; especially the Word, Sacraments, and prayer: all which are made effectual to the elect for their salvation.With such elevation of the minister and the public worship assembly, it is understandably hard for the RP pastor to have any sort of allowance for forsaking the assembly, so we see such claims as:
Yet, at this time of crisis, with mortality at a peak, the last thing we should consider is giving up our Church. Let me give you a number of reasons for summoning self and dragging others to God's House. (https://gentlereformation.com/2020/03/13/the-church-and-corona/)but then we see the same pastor (Andrew Kerr) suddenly backpedal so as not to condemn himself and his authoritarian friends. I'm sure we just took his earlier post out of context (SMH):
What I think I am saying is this: Hebrews 10:24-25 should not be applied to this circumstance as implying we should meet when pestilence is about! I hope if you are troubled about worshipping on-line that this will ease your mind that you are not letting your Lord down. At this time of crisis Christians should be seen to be sane. It would be a great pity to reduce a great Gospel opportunity to distaste or disdain, in some well-meaning insistence that we must meet boldly and bravely in the midst of plague in order to honour our Lord - this is what I am sure is what all my brothers intend, even if we disagree!(https://gentlereformation.com/2020/03/19/do-not-forsake-the-assembly/)It's not surprising that there have been a flood of articles on Gentle Reformation trying to thread the needle on churchianity + authoritarianism + means of grace, happily condemning the rest of the Christian pantheon for their lack of conviction, yet finding justification for RP pastors with the same practices.
Personally, I am thankful for a gracious God who tells me the Sabbath was made for me, not me for the Sabbath. While I mourn the loss of physical Christian fellowship, I'm thankful for the various technologies now available by which I can fellowship virtually with real people. One thing my pastor said that I don't think I would hear from an RP pulpit. "This is the work of the enemy. When we deny the work of the enemy, then we accuse God of terrible things and this is exactly what we're seeing coming out of the church." It would not surprise me to see Gentle Reformation articles suggesting that the COVID-19 outbreak is God's judgment against [insert public sin here].
19 comments:
“Keeping the Sabbath” is to cease from your own works and rest in Christ. Jesus is our Sabbath, not a day of the week. The Sabbath is about a resurrected person, not a 24-hour period of abstaining from this or that. Further more what are these people going to do if they are kept from their idol (The institutional church) for 6 months to a year? Theoretically what if it’s another year before we can gather in larger groups?
Well, by their (RPCNA & NAPARC) own deeply misguided belief they are doomed. We all are doomed. Which is why they want us to “drag people to church if we have to”.
Groups, individuals or even organizations claiming to be a church who primarily uplift institutional identity and institutional fidelity as a chief value for all its members, instead of primarily uplifting Christ, are engaged in Churchianity more than they are Christianity.
“”Whether or not the western institutional church as we know it survives is of no ultimate consequence. What God has accomplished and will accomplish in Jesus Christ will always stand. His church, in whatever form it takes, will stand with Him”
Your prayers at home, your Bible reading, sharing with your neighbor , etc......you are the church right where you are.
What a freeing, peaceful and better place to put the orientation of our lives, in Christ where it belongs.
Do not be fooled dear Christians, do not put your hope in the institutional church. It is a false hope. Repent of your idols, trust in Christ alone
After all when it comes to “the Church”, Historically as Protestants it has always been the accepted position.......”Christians are members of the universal body of Christ not because of identification with the institution of the Church, but through identification with Christ directly through faith.” Indeed this is the biblical position >> Rom 12:5, 1 Tim 2:5, 1Cor 12:12-27, Eph 3:6, Eph 5:23, Col 1:18
Christian do not be fooled by a false gospel which props up the institutional church and its traditions, power offices and systems above Christ.
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one , but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven (even a highly regarded pastor) should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you (Christ is our only Hope) , let him be accursed. ........Am I now seeking the approval of man or of God?””
If I had to name one reason I left the RPCNA , the “Corona Crunch” reveals it, they simply have made an idol of their visible institutional church. They have embraced an over realized ecclesiology - too high a view of the church, the power position offices therein and are indeed engaged in Sacerdotalism. This can and has led to all manner of problems, including abuse. What if we cannot meet in traditional church for 6 months, how about a year? I get it, it is more ideal to meet, but where is our hope? Is it really in Christ as we confess or is it in what many leaders clearly actually demonstrate, in reality - defacto an institution, a tradition system, and a tribe? May I suggest that it is very possible that the biggest thing the COVID 19 crisis is showing Christians specifically is the need to repent of the absolute idol that has been made of the traditional institutional church. I get it, the church is important, however the church is primarily spiritual NOT institutional. It’s time Christians turn to Christ and rest in Him.
All of these things are tied together. The institutional church supports the egos of the church leaders, not the needs of the members. The church leaders feed their own egos by manipulating and controlling the sheep into worshiping them, and this is all wrapped up in a religious system where we are "honoring Christ" in our idolatry.
That's why it is so telling that the COVID-19 outbreak has created such a crisis in the RP church. My church kinda shrugged and said, we're going to live stream, move as much as we can online and cancel the rest. The RP church is caught with their pants down because they have propped up a legalistic set of rules to separate the sheep from the goats that they have to now admit were erroneous (without admitting they were erroneous, because the vicars of Christ do not err!)
The fundamental difference between my Reformed church and the RPCNA is that my church recognizes the presence and the work of the Holy Spirit in each believer. That is the promise fulfilled at Pentecost. Instead of relying on a priest or prophet to tell us to "know God", we have the Spirit in us leading us to know God.
The "problem" with this is that when we start listening to and trusting the Spirit in our own hearts, the "means of grace" controlled by the pastors and elders become less important. The preaching becomes less about telling people what to do and what not to do, but to help people be open to the voice of God in their own hearts. The sacraments are wonderful object lessons, but not some sort of mystic spiritual connection brokered by the leaders.
Preaching is not "Thus saith the Lord!" but "What is the Lord saying?", and those who have been freed to hear the voice of the Lord through the work of the Spirit bristle when they hear the barbed voice of the RP Judaizers.
Yes, and it is also very telling what does get the focus in an RP worship service week in and week out in non corona crunch times. What gets the emphasis? There is hardly an RPCNA church who has weekly Lord’s Supper celebrations, many do it as little as once per quarter. Yet they always have 40 min sermon and always have their precious vending service.
WHY?
It is due to their misguided view of the Sabbath, it is due to their defacto Sacerdotalism which all focuses emphasis on the offices of leadership. Two 40 min sermons and a day focused on the 24 hour period itself filled with dos and don’ts of Sabbath keeping instead of a focus onLord of the Sabbath. The fact that it is like pulling teeth to get weekly Lord’s Supper in the RP , but they insist on evening service reveals so much.
There is just no ifs, ands or buts about it, the RPCNA has a legalistic and misguided view of the Sabbath day. Show me the vests which requires evening service? Yet our Lord and Savior says as often as you gather do this........
Just one more plain example that it is a the church and it’s processes, structure, etc which gets the emphasis rather than the spiritual side of things.
...precious evening service....
"Yet our Lord and Savior says as often as you gather do this..."
I think having been stewed in legalistic thinking we can have a poisoned view of what the Bible is saying. When I left the RP church, I could not read Corinthians without getting angry because it seems so prescriptive and legalistic. At some point I realized - maybe it's prescriptive and legalistic because of the way it's been interpreted and not because of Paul's intention for its interpretation.
Corinth was a church that was out of control. I think of it as spiritually abusive tolerance. That is, the man who "had" his mother was being celebrated as a demonstration of grace. Paul wasn't saying be legalistic as much as he was trying to guide them back to sanity. The gospel is about grace, yes, but we don't celebrate sin and chaos.
The legalistic approach to any issue starts with, "what does the Bible say about..." Well, what does the Bible say about meeting frequency? I can find passages that said they met in the temple multiple times a day. I can find passages that talk about the morning and evening sacrifice. So, a legalist is going to say that these passages are expressing God's desire for meeting frequency. The Pharisees used that sort of thinking to create all sorts of rules and regulations based on God's desires for which Jesus's conclusion was, "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath", and "But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent."
I think we have an incorrect view of God and as such have an incorrect view of scriptural interpretation.
Agreed. To clarify my point is in no way to make the Lord’s Supper a new form of legalism, rather my point is there is more bible evidence to say weekly Lord’s Supper is probably a better/ more important thing than say evening service or other such long lists of Sabbath keeping legalisms consistently practiced. Also, and perhaps more importantly, The Lord’s Supper is a gift directly from HIM, spiritual food and mystery......whereas the authoritarian pastors sermon, the camp meetings, programs, etc etc. are all controlled by the Sacerdotal/ authoritarian mind set.
Not saying one can’t mess up the Lord’s Supper, but if you are following my meaning, it is a lot harder to mess up compared to many of those other things the RP churches focus on week in and week out. Again, hence the tradition of not very frequent celebrations of the Supper. What is a better gift from our Lord directly, the Supper or the pastors 40 min authoritarian opinion in preaching? Compare and contrast a great number of things against the supper for that matter. Yet what is revealed when we look at the long list of things which clearly are held in high regard in the RPCNA compared to the Lord’s supper?
Makes sense. Much of the RP issues around communion are historical and are very relevant to the discussion. In the Scottish "killing times" the Reformed church went underground to avoid capture and execution by the Catholic government. The church could meet and worship under, I believe, the ruling eldership, but only a duly ordained minister of the word and sacraments could baptize or serve communion. Thus communion could only be celebrated when a Westminster-approved itinerant preacher came into town. It became a big to-do and they had preparatory services for days before and even a service Monday after communion was served. This continued in the historically Scottish RPCNA where they have a communion "season" where a senior/guest pastor is invited.
It's not surprising, then, that there is much resistance to monthly, bi-weekly or even weekly communion in the RPCNA, for nothing more than historical reasons borne out of legalistic necessity [and where does the Bible say that ruling elders cannot officiate communion??].
"a gift directly from HIM" - I should probably post about a sermon from a recentish RPTS grad who opined that pastors were the "gift of God" based on a narrow interpretation of Ephesians 4. Of course pastors are one of MANY gifts and promises we receive from a gracious God, but it's not surprising that neo-egotistical "Servant-Leaders" from RPTS would want to cherry-pick verses that raise the significance of pastors and diminish the significance, say, of the Holy Spirit's work.
I would also note that TRUE pastors and elders are a gift from God. I don't believe that the RPCNA pastor/elder selection process has any correlation with a Biblical process for discerning leaders.
In fact, I got into an argument with a seminary professor who asserted it was wise and necessary to require formal seminary training for all pastors, despite the fact that he admitted there was no hint of a scriptural mandate for seminary training. In fact, he sneered at the sort of apprenticeship modeled by Jesus and Paul as doomed to failure.
On The “certificate of dismissal” letters......this is one of many things in the RPCNA a bag of authoritarian tricks. We did not receive one for being an “indifferent member” when we left, nor were we under ANY church discipline whatsoever. We made every attempt to leave peaceably. However, we openly communicated that we had disagreements with the sacerdotalism and the over realized ecclesiology view of the institutional church, but these were essentially the reasons we were leaving , but nonetheless leaving as members in good standing.
However that was not good enough, because you see we didn’t have a church to transfer our membership to. You see since we didn’t have a church to transfer our membership to another authoritarian power structure group of elders, this arrogant system of theology sent us a dismissal letter implying that our salvation was on shaky ground because we were not transferring membership to another church! We see here that in their pathetic system claims ones very salvation is in jeopardy if not an official member of an official institutional church!
When I asked for biblical grounds for such a claim they could provide nothing but circular presumption and one WCF reference from WCF #25 “of the church”. It’s all about the institutional church for these people! Indeed their idol. Outrageous and unbiblical, and they do all of it it without blushing! Arrogant men who are part of a deeply systemic arrogant system. The spiritual pride of the RPCNA is palpable, one can cut it with a knife — it’s in the air they breathe. But it is also why after over 200 years in North America there are roughly 6000 members and 80% of those are related to one another. The Epitome of a bubble echo chamber of pathetic sycophants.
There was a "why membership" article in the RP Witness a few years ago, where the author slammed readers back and forth equivocating between membership being in the invisible church and membership being the institutional church. I was pretty sure at that point membership was an unscriptural requirement being forced on members for the purpose of authoritarian manipulation and control, but the article cemented it for me.
Thankfully, in my case, my RPCNA church gave me a letter of standing rather than the indifferent dismissal.
For those who are considering leaving whether under discipline or not. Please read the following. It's a great resource and one I kept in my back pocket, not knowing whether the church would let me leave quietly or try to press matters. http://thewartburgwatch.com/permpage-how-to-resign-from-a-church-whether-or-not-you-are-under-church-discipline/
Look at Andrew Kerr’s latest post 3/23 at “”Gentle Reformation “ titled “Priest or no Priest”.....most definitely falls into the category of ‘me thinks you protest’ to much.
What a joke! Honestly these people do not even pass the giggle test let alone the credibility test. It would be so funny (and it kind of is) if it was not so serious.
Talk about back peddling.
It is they are are just as Sacerdotal as Rome.
Folks, it’s serious because they are making so many of these issues of Salvation and Superiority complex is of higher levels of Christian maturity. A different gospel.
I wonder when he is going to come to his senses and start deleting posts: "God's Church must be the very last place on earth, only as a very last resort, to lock up man's only hope, or have it's[sic] doors shut for fear of the Germs."
If the church is as the WCF defines it: "The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the Gospel (not confined to one nation as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion; and of their children: and is the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the house and family of God, out of which there is no ordinary possibility of salvation. " then how, pray tell, does the church have "doors"?
Kerr seems like the typical RP pastor in this all; he really doesn't know what he's doing, he doesn't understand Reformed theology, but he feels that being powerful and relevant means that he has to proclaim "thus saith the Lord" to all the members.
What comes out is barely coherent, flip-flopping and completely out of accord with the RP doctrinal stance, but because he is an "ordained teaching elder(TM)" no one at GR is going to publicly call him out on it.
It's a big and complex topic, and not one to be solved in a meandering blog post. The Reformation claimed the "Priesthood of all believers" yet created an authoritarian system where only duly trained, elected and ordained ministers could preach, baptize or serve communion.
Milton: On the New Forcers of Conscience under the
Long Parliament
Because you have thrown of your Prelate Lord,
And with stiff Vowes renounc't his Liturgie
To seise the widdow'd whore Pluralitie
From them whose sin ye envi'd, not abhor'd
Dare ye for this adjure the Civill Sword
To force our Consciences that Christ set free,
And ride us with a classic Hierarchy
Taught ye by meer A. S. and Rotherford?
Men whose Life, Learning, Faith and pure intent
Would have been held in high esteem with Paul
Must now be nam'd and printed Hereticks
By shallow Edwards and Scotch what d' ye call:
But we do hope to find out all your tricks,
Your plots and packing wors then those of Trent,
That so the Parliament
May with their wholsom and preventive Shears
Clip your Phylacteries, though bauk your Ears,
And succour our just Fears
When they shall read this clearly in your charge
New Presbyter is but Old Priest writ Large.
Since you mentioned The Witness, back when we were involved, I always found it interesting that the section about what is going on in the various churches was mostly about which elders and their families travelled where.
The kind of pastor who is a gift to the body would be one who truly builds the body up. When the fruit of a man is division (including the division of the sheep into more worthy and less worthy categories, I think), and harm to the sheep through a lack of the very compassion Christ spoke of, then he is not one of the good gifts. Why do they think that the man-made processes of seminary and ordination make them into something?
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