Purpose of This Blog

The Final Goal of this Blog is to work towards the unification of the seceding denominations (and the one true original denomination) into a unified and public body of believers so as to properly fight the False Presbyterian Church (better known as the PC (USA)) and to subdue it from preaching a false gospel.

Monday, December 24, 2007

Your Voting

I have yet to figure out exactly how to have a permanent post for comments that does not begin to move itself down the page so until that happens (any help would be much appreciated) I am going to keep this post on top.

Please let me know in a sentence or two in the comments section of this blog post why it is you have voted the way you have on the poll question to the right.

17 comments:

Puritan Lad said...

Sounds Good. I am all for the Presbyterian Churches uniting, provided that they do not sacrifice sound doctrine in the process.

Ebenezer Erskine said...

What do you see, from your tradition as opposed to the other Presbyterian/Reformed denominations, would need to change for there to be a union?

Bill Crawford said...

EE:
Thanks for the contact here are my thoughts:

I've abandoned that hope for a better one (I think). I believe that as we break into ever smaller institutional units the larger universal church is actually strengthened. When we link up into lager institutional units the human institution begins to obscure the universal Kirk.

Program, law, discipline overshadow the work of the spirit

When we are big enough to compete - we do.

As to pressing issues that would have to be overcome:

Women's ordination - or lack thereof

Westminster adherence - or other confession - personally I like the list of Essential Tenets the New Wineskins Association of Churches uses - you can find a link on my blog.

Anonymous said...

I think the first thing we would have to overcome is to actually impart a general understanding to all involved as to what, exactly, the Reformed faith is as it is expressed in the Westminster Standards. There seems to be a shallow understanding of these things at best on the part of many. I say that as a member of my presbytery's candidates and credentials committee.

James R. Polk said...

There seems to be a shallow understanding of these things at best on the part of many.

Rev.

This is my pet peeve as well. Unfortunately, I've see too many uneducated elders who have little knowledge of the standards they vow to defend.

Ebenezer,

I voted yes. May God be glorified in our unity.

www.jude3.wordpress.com

Benjamin P. Glaser said...

I like the idea of unity but wonder how exactly people would go about reducing their own power.

Ebenezer Erskine said...

As Rev. Carpenter pointed out in the Purpose blog post Benjamin I think this really is the seminal question before us. How can we convince others that the "take my ball and go home" approach of the Reformed ethos of the last 80 years is the incorrect one?

Anonymous said...

Call it what it is. Sin from which we ought to repent.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Ebenezer for commenting on my blog. I have looked through many of the posts and have read many of the comments.

I definitely embrace the idea of unity and believe it necessary; but, as those who have come before and commented, I do not know how this would happen.

I voted yes in the poll for many reasons. I believe that Christ died for such a unified church that cannot function with such a plethora of denominations. There is One holy, catholic Church.

It seems that such denominational problems have arisen in greater force because of the elevation of human experience and reason over that of the Scriptures with the revivalism of Charles Finney in America and the classic liberalism in Europe.

The more I study the church fathers, Reformers, and the Scriptures it seems clear that the believer is not meant to lean on his wisdom to interpret Scripture alone but is meant to have the historic church and historic creeds as a guide in Biblical interpretation. The Holy Spirit has set up such institutions by the Holy Word in order that we might partake of the redemption that is in Christ...

Anonymous said...

(con't)... It is something uniquely established at the cross that is very much important.

I have greatly appreciated the discussion I have read and hope to learn from it.

- Tim (the Noldorin Calvinist)

Alan said...

EE,
I voted yes. and I do believe unification would be good; however, being in the PCA, one of the larger truly reformed branches, I see what size does--it lends itself towards aberration in teaching. Look at the Federal Vision problem we are having. Also, if one visits enough PCA churches, one will find many that do not appear any different than a Bible Church. One of the elders left a PCA church in St. Louis when he asked at an organizational meeting, "What is going to make this church any different than a Bible church?" The pastor's wife stood up and said "Why would we want to be?" The elder and his family never returned. So, I would love the unity and am excited to see where this blog goes. At the very least we will have made the acquaintance of some like-minded brothers, and sisters if any show up.

Kyjo said...

I voted yes, although I think perhaps I would prefer to have voted "yes and no." Not very helpful, is it?

While I relish the idea of one united visible Reformed demonination in the U.S. and Canada, I'm not sure how necessary or truly desireable the goal actually is. The differences that would need to be overcome should the goal be pursued are indeed numerous and great.

R.L. Dabney has an interesting take: "What is Christian Union?."

Anonymous said...

Kyle,

I understand your sentiments, but I actually don't think they're that numerous or that great, provided we are willing to bear with one another and submit to one another.

I think we could roll each individual denomination into non-geographical synods, and then come together once per year for a General Assembly. Set a ten year goal for complete geographical integration.

blund said...

I voted "yes" to uniting the denoms, and I think this is a reasonable way of thinking how the Spirit may be pleased to do so.

James R. Polk said...

Great article Blund. Thanks for posting the link.

Jason L. said...

Sir,

Thanks for visiting my blog. As far as this poll is concerned, I voted no...not because I believe your pursuit is without merit; I question the necessity of denominations and factions within the church of Christ.

I do not believe in ecumenism, nor do I subscribe to one or more definitions as being the "true Church". The pursuit of God's truth through the systematic, hermeneutical study of the Holy Scriptures should be the chief end of any group calling itself the Church.

Look forward to reading more...

Ebenezer Erskine said...

Jason,

You are welcome, thanks for visiting mine. I encourage your interaction and dialogue with the great people who post here. I also commend to you there sites as well. I understand your concerns and hope we can help address them Welcome Again Sir!