Seventeen82

We’ve all heard the jokes about Presbyterian’s being anti-fun, the so-called frozen chosen. The seen, but not heard denomination. The post you are about to read is going to sound like it came from the official spokesman of the “Presbyterians against anything nice” coalition. Maybe it’s true, maybe I am the grumpiest Presbyterian alive, but my goal here today is not to get hits or cause trouble. Rabble rousers are boring people. Men who seek out controversy don’t have enough to do and they aren’t really seeking to win converts to their position. They just like to see the fight.  At the end of the day I’m really a harmless little fuzzball who just wants Presbyterians to be Presbyterians, Baptists to be Baptists, and Anglicans to be Anglicans. Good fences make good neighbors. If you know where the other person stands it makes it easier to know where you stand. The topic I’d like to get into today is about the meeting space. Some call it the “sanctuary”, others the “preaching hall”, ...

  One of the most common exceptions taken in the ARP (and the PCA  et al ) by newly ordained men and those taking transfer exams in presbytery is without a doubt a certain clause in the explanation to Westminster Larger Catechism #109. This mainly concerns the prohibition against making mental images of the Godhead, especially the Second Person, in accordance with the catechism’s teaching on the Second Commandment. I will post the question below: Q. 109.  What sins are forbidden in the second commandment? A. The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, counseling, commanding, using, and any wise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself; the making any representation of God, of all or of any of the three persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature whatsoever; all worshiping of it, or God in it or by it; the making of any representation of feigned deities, and all worship of the...

  Boy howdy that was a year.  This past sixteen months was instructive in many ways. Those of us already distrustful of centralized power became even more so. Those of us who found comfort in existing relationships saw those strengthened. It was a time for clarity. The long term effects of the Covid panic won’t be known for a long time, which is why they are long term. The English language is funny like that. ;) So as most of our nation has returned to its normal wayward and idolatrous self I wanted to spend some time in my post for Seventeen82 thinking through two errors which poked their nose into the tent, ones  that we can go ahead and deal with without needing twenty years-time of reflection. ERASTIANISM How did Elizabeth II affect the Church in America? Well, let me tell you. The governing authorities made decisions for the Church in regards to Covid that they did not have the power to do, and that the people of God were not required to obey in accordance with S...