Comments on: Worship and the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) https://reformedforum.org/worship-and-the-presbyterian-church-in-america-pca/ Reformed Theological Resources Mon, 15 Aug 2016 15:28:10 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 By: M. Roberts https://reformedforum.org/worship-and-the-presbyterian-church-in-america-pca/#comment-3504610 Mon, 15 Aug 2016 15:28:10 +0000 http://reformedforum.wpengine.com/?p=2730#comment-3504610 On that day, after we have lost the hearts and souls of our society because we have not loved our neighbors and shared the hope that is within us, when America’s true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are so vilified that we must meet secretly in basements lest we be dragged from our homes and beaten (or killed), I hope that – as we meet in secret – we will find better things to do than squabble over musical tastes and styles.

]]> By: James https://reformedforum.org/worship-and-the-presbyterian-church-in-america-pca/#comment-1419579 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:02:28 +0000 http://reformedforum.wpengine.com/?p=2730#comment-1419579 The Catholic Church has an old adage “lex ordandi, lex credendi.” Our law of prayer is the source of our law of belief. St. Paul himself appeals to hymns and liturgical songs as proofs for what he says. Our liturgies communicate the faith to our future generations. If we want to maintain unity in faith, it’s important to maintain unity in worship.

]]> By: Kevin Easterday https://reformedforum.org/worship-and-the-presbyterian-church-in-america-pca/#comment-1417700 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:38:59 +0000 http://reformedforum.wpengine.com/?p=2730#comment-1417700 I am a ruling elder and licentiate in the PCA, but I am not speaking for my church; this is merely my opinion. I would agree in principle with what Mr. Smith has said. Yet, I would also suggest a few factors for why we are in this situation in the PCA. First, it seems to me that the PCA was formed with a negative identity. In other words, they weren’t so much saying who they were, but who they were not. They were not the PCUS, nor the OPC. But saying who you are not is not sufficient identity. I am in no way trying to impugn the men who had the courage to do what they did. I am simply suggesting that they might have formed a better identity if they would have decisively said what they stood for, instead of mostly what they stood against. That may have been the product of the times, as this sentiment was strong in the country as a whole.

Secondly, I would suggest that the post-modern mindset of using the same terms, but assigning a much different meaning may be the cause of such diversity among those who would hold to the regulative principle. Because of redefinition, the regulative principle is interpreted much differently today than it was 40 years ago. In the same manner the political sphere reinterprets the U.S. Constitution, so also we have done with regards to the constitution of the PCA. We are almost becoming semantically paralyzed because we ignore what would have been plain when the BCO was penned, all the while complaining that it was not made clearer in the beginning. The fact is no one can see into the future to understand how it will be interpreted. But it is a flawed argument to use today’s acceptance of things; things which would not have been accepted 40 years ago, in order to recast the original meaning.

And thirdly, I would suggest that the modern mindset is to find justification for diversity, rather than continue to uphold “indefensible” traditions. This is rampant in our society. Statements are made by “learned” people who say that no one can defend marriage as the Bible defines it. And what’s worse, Paul told Timothy this would happen. Men will heap up many teachers to justify their lusts, all the while trying to silence the one teacher who is preaching the truth; that their lusts cannot be justified. Therefore, as Edwards preached, men are exceeding prone to bring their principles to agree with their lusts.

If we are to stem this tide, we must not give in to the modern mindset. And really, can anyone honestly say that the modern mind has not invaded and is pervasive in any faithful denomination? The only remedy is the gospel, and the only thing we can do is beg God’s mercy and ask Him, by His Spirit, to turn our hearts towards a right and proper understanding of these things. If we are to live “semper reformata,” our constant plea must be for wisdom and clear understanding. We can’t rely on the world to help us in this. We must rely on the Spirit who desires to lead us into all truth.

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