I am sure it was emotionally wrenching for these congregations to leave a denomination with which they had been affiliated for so long. The PCUSA has been drifting for many decades, and it is good that these churches are seeing the drift, and are willing to take steps. They cannot reform the denomination, so loyalty to Scripture really demands that they make the break. In 1975, when I first started pastoral ministry, there was an elderly PCUSA minister in my community. He was well past retirement age, and I asked him why he continued on. His response was that the denomination’s confessions of faith were so wide that it was possible to be an ordained minister and not beleive in the virgin birth. I share this simply to note that the denomination has been drifting for a very long time. Machen’s classic book “Christianity and Liberalism” is just as relevant today as when it was first published. There will always be pressures to weaken our strong commitment to the whole counsel of God. As a fundamental Baptist, I rejoice when other groups recognize the need for Biblical loyalty. They need our prayers and encouragement.
Discussion
NewBiblical Loyalty
In 1975, when I first started pastoral ministry, there was an elderly PCUSA minister in my community. He was well past retirement age, and I asked him why he continued on. His response was that the denomination’s confessions of faith were so wide that it was possible to be an ordained minister and not beleive in the virgin birth. I share this simply to note that the denomination has been drifting for a very long time.
Machen’s classic book “Christianity and Liberalism” is just as relevant today as when it was first published. There will always be pressures to weaken our strong commitment to the whole counsel of God.
As a fundamental Baptist, I rejoice when other groups recognize the need for Biblical loyalty. They need our prayers and encouragement.
Dick Dayton