Can a Session Bring Charges of Heresy Agains Ttheir Pastor in the Pca

True believers who still remain in the PCA accept their battle orders. The question is, will they obey the Helm of their conservancy, or continue their dereliction of duty?

From the Teaching the Discussion Bible Knowledgebase

True believers who yet remain in the PCA take their battle orders. The question is, will they obey the Helm of their conservancy, or keep their dereliction of duty?

May 2012 - On April 14, 2012, in the latest of a series of actions that can simply be chosen open betrayment, the Missouri Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America acquitted Jeffrey Meyers of charges of teaching Federal Vision theology, contrary to the Word of God.

This action follows the recent acquittals of PCA Federal Visionist pastors Greg Lawrence of Minnesota (by Siouxlands Presbytery, September 22, 2011) and Peter Leithart (by Pacific Northwest Presbytery, October 7, 2011).

Meyers (pictured at correct) is pastor of Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, and an admitted Federal Visionist. He was one of the eleven original signers of the 2007 Joint Federal Vision Profession forth with Peter Leithart. The Federal Vision Profession teaches baptismal regeneration and justification past faith plus works, and denies the imputation of Christ'due south perfect righteousness to redeemed sinners. [i]

Like Lawrence and Leithart, Meyers has stated his heresies openly and repeatedly for more than a decade. Hither are but a few examples.

Meyers denies that Christ'southward righteousness is imputed to sinners in order for them to exist saved. Instead, he says, they must accept a righteousness of their own. He responds favorably to this passage from North. T. Wright's heretical deconstruction of the doctrine of justification by religion lone, titled What Saint Paul Really Said:

The Gospel is non "a description of how people get saved; of the theological mechanism whereby, in some people's language, X takes our sin and we his righteousness; in other people'southward language, Jesus becomes my personal saviour; in other languages once again, I admit my sin, believe that he died for me and commit my life to him" [2]

Meyers' response:

I suppose this quote is supposed to be damning [toward Wright]. Actually it is quite in line with every "Gospel" sermon recorded in the volume of Acts. [three]

The key is to sympathise what "righteous" means. It does not refer to moral purity or conformity to a legal standard... "Righteousness" in the Bible means covenant faithfulness. A person is righteous when he does what the covenant requires of him. [4]

Meyers declares that the ways of salvation is not the claret of Christ, but the water of baptism:

...the reason baptism was offered immediately [to Paul in Acts 9] is because the forgiveness of sins is attached to the action. When were Paul's sins forgiven? When was he "converted"? On the route to Damascus or in Damascus when Ananias poured water over his head in the proper noun of the triune God? The text is pretty clear. . . Normally God forgives sins and grants new life in baptism. [five]

Baptized children are Christians. They are disciples. They belong to Jesus. They are members of his torso, of his Church. They don't grow upwards and "become" Christians in high schoolhouse or college when they accept a particularly powerful feel of God'southward love or grace. They tin can and should have these experiences as they mature. Simply for baptized Christian children these experiences are not "conversion." Baptism seals to our children all the promises of God in Christ. They are forgiven, justified, adopted, etc. by means of their baptism into the church. [vi]

Despite these heretical assertions and many others, the ordained men of the Missouri Presbytery acquitted Meyers of all 5 charges against him overwhelmingly, in no case by a margin of less than 39 to three. Space does non permit us to quote them, but Lawrence and Leithart - forth with many other ordained men in the PCA - agree the same views. The charges in the Lawrence and Leithart cases were similar, as were the margins of acquittal.

These heresies are no longer the heresies of a few. This is the apostasy of the PCA as a denomination, simply as much every bit the Gospel-denying declarations of the Auburn Affirmation were the apostasy of the Presbyterian Church U.s.a. ninety years ago. In both cases the heresies were initially held by a minority of the denominations' ordained men. But simply as the modernism of the Auburn Affirmation came to dominate the PCUSA through its seminaries, the Federal Visionism and other errors of the PCA have become the dominating influence through its official seminary, and volition continue to grow. The PCA's Covenant Seminary - which produced Jeffrey Meyers and others of his ilk - has become a leading U. South. centre for study of the theology of N. T. Wright, whose then-called New Perspective on Paul closely mirrors Federal Vision theology. Members of the Covenant faculty are among the leading defenders of the recently-acquitted heretics.

The Federal Vision controversy is merely the latest in a series of issues on which PCA "conservatives" have, for more than than a decade, kept drawing lines in the sand and maxim, "If the liberalizers are permitted to cantankerous this line, it will be the last harbinger." But ever, when the liberalizers cross the line or just obliterate information technology, the "conservatives" quietly step back and draw a new one.

Among the first of their "this-far-and-no-further" lines in the sand was the doctrine of literal half dozen-day cosmos. But the PCA'southward liberalizers soon crossed that line with a report approved by the 28th General Assembly (2000). The Report of the Creation Written report Committee said that widely divergent teachings on the nature and length of the days of cosmos in Genesis chapter one are all confessionally adequate - ranging from an ordinary literal day, to an ambiguous literary figure, to a day-age comprising billions of years. It said that requiring conformity to what the original linguistic communication of Scripture really says and what the framers of the Westminster Confession of Faith conspicuously understood - six literal days - would exist "disturbing to the Church." [7]

When the liberalizers crossed this first line in the sand, about of the PCA's so-called conservatives quietly retreated and drew some other ane.

Their second "this-far-and-no-further" line in the sand was confessional subscription. But the PCA's 31st General Assembly (2003) boldly obliterated that line by approving an amendment to the PCA Book of Church Order permitting each of its dozens of presbyteries to decide what constitutes the "fundamentals of the system of doctrine" when examining the theological positions of men who are to be ordained to the ministry building. [viii]

The wisest among the PCA'due south bourgeois voices saw this action as the bodily death knell of orthodoxy in the denomination, and subsequent events have proved them right. Less than ten years after, the PCA's big tent includes ordained men such every bit Timothy Keller and Bruce Waltke who are open theistic evolutionists, Peter Enns who denies the historicity of Adam, and Federal Visionists and New Perspectivists too numerous to name.

Just when their confessional-subscription line was breached, about of the PCA'due south so-called conservatives once once more quietly stepped back from their second line in the sand, and drew yet another ane.

Their 3rd "this-far-and-no-further" line in the sand was Federal Vision theology. About and so-called conservatives satisfied themselves with the 35th General Associates's 2009 Study Report on the Federal Vision and New Perspective on Paul. [9] That report and the argue surrounding information technology said much but accomplished almost nothing, except to signal to the heretics that they could remain on the offensive. The report reminded clear-eyed observers of the toothless "diplomatic protests" lodged against repeated worldwide Communist outrages by United States administrations prior to the Reagan years, when official policy at long terminal inverse from detente to "nosotros win, they lose".

Just at present, in late 2011 and early 2012, so-called conservatives' 3rd "this-far-and-no-further" line in the sand has been crossed, boldly and blasphemously - officially by three presbyteries, and in words and deeds by endless ordained men across the PCA who encompass or tolerate Federal Visionism. Covenant Seminary, the denominational seminary which produces the bulk of the PCA'due south ministers, has go the breeding footing of this betrayment. Whoever controls a denomination's seminaries soon controls its pulpits. Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, long a hotbed of Federal Visionist theology because of the influence of men like Norman Shepherd and Richard Gaffin, besides supplies many graduates to PCA pulpits even though it is non an official school of the PCA. PCA minister Peter Lillback, who has publicly defended the heretics, is Westminster's president.

Will the PCA's so-chosen conservatives in one case over again quietly step back from their latest obliterated line in the sand, draw yet some other one, and say, "If the liberalizers are permitted to cross this line, then we will leave"? And what volition that line exist? Most probable it will be the Biblical qualifications for ordination to the offices of the church. That line too will exist crossed, and women and others who are unqualified to serve as pastors, elders, and deacons will be ordained.

Somewhen, if church history is any indicator, a future PCA line in the sand will be homosexuality - equally has happened in the Christian Reformed Church and the PCUSA, which have both caved in to one of the few things God directly labels as an abomination. Even today, many "conservatives" (is in that location such a thing?) in the PCUSA are stepping back from that latest of their hundreds of obliterated lines in the sand, and trying to find yet another way to justify staying within the apostate fold.

Does this not requite PCA "conservatives" a articulate idea of what they or their descendants volition be doing not many years hence? It seems that it does not.

What a pathetic sight the PCA has become - especially its and so-chosen conservative faction. If men of this mindset had been given the chore of fighting the Nazis seventy years agone, we would all be speaking German today.

Many professed conservatives insist that the PCA's Standing Judicial Commission will come to their rescue and, in time, restore orthodoxy. But amongst its membership 1 finds men who are a long-standing function of the problem. Dr. Brian Chappell, president of the PCA's heresy factory at Covenant Seminary, is a member of the SJC. Ruling Elder and SJC member Howard Donahoe was a defense counsel for Peter Leithart at his heresy trial. Ruling Elder Terry L. Jones is a fellow member of the Missouri Presbytery which virtually unanimously acquitted the heretic Jeffrey Meyers. Ruling Elder Bruce Terrell is a member of the session of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, where theistic evolutionist Timothy Keller is the pastor.

We could proceed. Many other nowadays and former members of the SJC have been men of the same ilk. They can hardly be called staunch guardians of orthodoxy. They would more appropriately be called foxes guarding the hen house. The bitter irony is that self-described conservatives, who claim to exist guardians of Biblical truth, serve collegially with such men on the SJC.

It seems that the PCA'south "guardians" have forgotten that true believers in Christ are in a state of war with ungodliness, not a dialogue nor even a fence -- much less a collegial fraternity. This is not only a problem in the presbyteries and on the SJC. The PCA world is filled with blogs and online forums - many of them hosted by the PCA's professing conservatives - where heretics and the self-described orthodox spend countless hours engaging in the travesty of discussing and debating the not-debatable. As Martyn Lloyd-Jones so well put it,

To regard a church building, or a council of churches, as a forum in which fundamental matters can be debated and discussed, or as an opportunity for witness-begetting, is sheer confusion and muddled thinking. In that location is to be no discussion nigh "the foundation," every bit we have seen. If men do not accept that, they are non brethren and we can have no dialogue with them. We are to preach to such and to evangelize them. [10]

In other words, we are in a war, and those who do not have the fundamentals of the faith are in the enemy camp. They are indeed "enemies of the cantankerous of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their abdomen, whose glory is their shame" (Philippians three:18-19). A man who is a heretic is to be rejected "after the offset and 2nd admonition" (Titus three:10), non the tenth or twentieth - much less tolerated because a presbytery of apostates decides his teachings are acceptable.

The enemy'southward weapons in this war are frequently strange to the believer - subversion, propaganda, tricks of parliamentary procedure, deliberate infiltration of many of the institutions of Biblical orthodoxy including seminaries, local churches, and denominational leadership. The enemy has non resorted to the more than overt and familiar forms of warfare because he has done so well without them.

Truthful believers must recognize that we face up an enemy whose objective is the spiritual emasculation of the church through the undermining and destruction of authentic Biblical Christianity within information technology.

The question is: What course will truthful believers pursue - victory or appeasement? The answer to that question will demonstrate who the true believers really are. A truthful believer understands that the one true Gospel is past nature an exclusive Gospel, that Jesus is the only Way (John fourteen:half dozen), and that no other "gospel" that redefines "Jesus" and the terms of the Gospel is tolerable for one moment within the church (2 Corinthians 11:iv).

A policy of accommodation - the policy of about so-called conservatives within the PCA almost from its founding - is nothing merely appeasement of the enemies of the cross of Christ. Appeasement, unchecked, leads inevitably to give up. Surrender ways bondage - chains to the tyranny and spiritual death propagated by the heretics, non merely for misguided "conservative" pastors and elders who remain in the PCA, only moreover for the flocks that God has entrusted to their care.

Far besides many cocky-described conservatives are willing to remain comfortably settled in spiritual Sodom despite its evils. Far as well many are agape to leave behind the pleasures of spiritual Egypt, thus subjecting themselves and future generations to bondage. That bondage has already begun, even if they do not yet recognize the closing common cold iron of the shackles.

Souls are at stake. Blood is already upon self-described conservatives' hands. They must non add more than.

God's boxing orders to true believers could not exist more clear:

Once more the word of the Lord came to me, maxim, "Son of homo, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: "When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the country have a human being from their territory and make him their watchman, when he sees the sword coming upon the country, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him abroad, his blood shall exist on his own head. He heard the audio of the trumpet, simply did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. Simply he who takes alert will save his life.

"Only if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from amidst them, he is taken abroad in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman'due south manus." So you, son of human: I have made y'all a watchman for the firm of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My rima oris and warn them for Me. (Ezekiel 33:1-7)

Practise not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accordance has Christ with Belial [literally, Satan, or a pagan god]? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them, and walk amongst them. I will exist their God, and they shall be My people."

Therefore, "Come out from among them and be split," says the Lord. "Exercise not bear upon what is unclean, and I will receive y'all." "I volition be a Male parent to you, and y'all shall exist My sons and daughters," says the Lord Omnipotent. Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:14-seven:1)

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle John warned the church concerning a human being who is a heretic, "exercise non receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds" (2 John ten). The give-and-take for house here is oikia, which speaks of your dwelling place or your household. In other words, John is maxim, do not fifty-fifty receive a false teacher privately, much less receive him publicly in the church. Do not have anything to do with him.

Furthermore, he says, do not even "greet" a imitation teacher. (The Rex James has "neither bid him God speed" which is non an authentic rendering of the Greek.) A literal rendering of the Greek would be, "A friendly greeting to him say not." The idea in the original is actually even more emphatic: "Practice not accept even a single encouraging word to say to a false teacher, or anything that might even sound like an encouraging word."

John gives us the reason for such an uncompromising stand up in verse eleven: The one who gives even the slightest encouragement to a faux teacher, the one who extends any sign of friendship to a false teacher, "shares in his evil deeds." The word that is translated "shares" is a form of the Greek koinoneo. It has to do with entering into fellowship or being associated with someone's evil deeds, becoming a partner in them, causing someone's evil deeds to spread or to proceeds influence. When people in the church are neutral most false didactics, or they give it even the slightest encouragement, or permit it to exist discussed and debated equally though it had some standing to be heard in the church building, they are partakers in it.

The Apostle Paul said that a fiddling leaven leavens the whole lump (1 Corinthians 5:vi), and that false doctrine spreads like cancer (2 Timothy 2:17). Information technology is mortiferous serious.

Over again, the question is: Victory or appeasement? That is the choice. Volition the PCA's cocky-proclaimed conservatives continue their dereliction of duty, or will they obey the clear commands of the Captain of their salvation? Victory, in this case, is a last warning to the faithful to do their duty, followed by clear and consummate separation from the PCA'due south apostasy. That is what those who say they are for the truth and opposed to error must practice, now. No more than lines in the sand.

1. A Joint Federal Vision Profession, as viewed at http://www.federal-vision.com/resources/joint_FV_Statement.pdf

2. From a bulletin posted by Jeffrey Meyers on the Yahoo�???�??�?® Groups, Wrightsaid List ("What N. T. Wright Really Said"), Bulletin 274, dated 8/30/2002 11:33 PM.

3. From a bulletin posted by Jeffrey Meyers on the Yahoo�???�??�?® Groups, Wrightsaid List ("What N. T. Wright Really Said"), Message 4652, dated 5/22/2004 8:21 PM.

4. From a message posted by Jeffrey Meyers on the Yahoo�???�??�?® Groups, Wrightsaid Listing ("What N. T. Wright Really Said"), Message 101, dated 8/xv/2002 i:forty PM.

5. N. T. Wright, What Saint Paul Really Said (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1997), page 41.

6. From a message posted by Jeffrey Meyers on the Yahoo�???�??�?® Groups, Wrightsaid List ("What North. T. Wright Really Said"), Message 101, dated 8/12/2002 11:29 PM.

7. The full text of the report is available on the PCA Historical Middle website, http://world wide web.pcahistory.org/creation/report.html

8. This was enacted by an amendment to PCA Book of Church Order chapter 21, section 4. The full text of the amendment, and the overture that brought it about, appears at the PCA Historical Center website,www.pcanet.org/history/documents/BCO21-4.htm.]

9. The total text of the report is available on the PCA Historical Centre website, http://www.pcahistory.org/pca/07-fvreport.pdf

10. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, "The Basis of Christian Unity," in Knowing the Times: Addresses Delivered on Diverse Occasions 1942-1977 (Edinburgh: Imprint of Truth Trust, 1989), 162-163.

sac0078

bellhinisal.blogspot.com

Source: http://www.teachingtheword.org/apps/articles/?articleid=79218

Share this post