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Reformed Catholic
Puritan Board Freshman
Would you be in favor of removing the celebrations of Easter and Christmas too?
Edward
Puritanboard Commissioner
Yes; and how is this surprising? Do you not know that Presbyterians did not observe such things until basically the 20th century after a departure from first principles they held to since the Reformation? See https://www.cpjournal.com/articles-...sm-and-the-religious-observance-of-christmas/
Reformed Catholic
Puritan Board Freshman
I've heard this before as well.
The two PCA churches I've attended both held Ash Wednesday services, and every PCA church I've ever known has held Christmas and Easter services (though I'm sure there are those that don't). Within the PCA, which I see you are a part of as well, is it not open to individual church bodies to decide whether to hold Ash Wednesday / Christmas / Easter services? If not, isn't it troubling that an apparent majority of our churches are in such open disobedience?
The two PCA churches I've attended both held Ash Wednesday services, and every PCA church I've ever known has held Christmas and Easter services (though I'm sure there are those that don't). Within the PCA, which I see you are a part of as well, is it not open to individual church bodies to decide whether to hold Ash Wednesday / Christmas / Easter services? If not, isn't it troubling that an apparent majority of our churches are in such open disobedience?
The PCA does not have a directory for public worship; well, 2 or 3 chapters but not addressing this. So the PCA is a freeforall on such things. The PCA should be condemning such things as observance in their churches of Lent and Ash Wednesday services, but as the meme indicates, the PCA is a glass house and there is no moral authority to do this with any gravitas when most churches have services for the other two pretended holy days; even the big name conservative men each year make posts that belie any pretense that specialness isn't invested in these observances which removes them from "just preaching topically since its part of the culture" or what have you. But this is part and parcel with a poor observance of the one real holy day we have, the Lord's Day.
Edward
Puritanboard Commissioner
Well, 3.143 chapters now.
I just noticed something interesting the other day. A lawyer might argue that BCO 12-5 e. may make more of the Directory binding on the Session than is commonly thought.
"To exercise, in accordance with the Directory for Worship, authority over the time and place of the preaching of the Word and the administration of the Sacraments, over all other religious services, over the music in the services..."
The statement of the Third General Assembly that the bulk of the Directory isn't binding does not, in itself, appear to be binding. And that section doesn't limit it to the portions commonly thought to have constitutional authority.
I would suspect that would be seriously litigated in opposition too. We were not able to run it in the PCA issue of The Confessional Presbyterian, which is v19, now out and available (deadlines and needed work), but this is an article on the PCA's DfPW: https://pcapolity.com/2024/01/10/the-unfinished-business-of-the-pca-founding/
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