Abeard
Puritan Board Freshman
I have been talking to someone who is interested in joining a reformed Presbyterian Church but he still has few things he is wrestling with. Here is a quote of the questions he has..
"I struggle with:
1) Is a congregation a church in any sense other than those assembling together.
2) If the final court of appeal is a Synod or council or preabytery as in Presbyterianism or the congregation as in congregationalism. ( they didn't deny the use of council's and synods just their binding power). I guess ..Who have the keys of kingdom been given too? Exgetically it seems to me that they just were given to apostles as apostles, elders, and believers.
3) Also in Presbyterian polity, how are the keys to be used. I believe after reading a little bit, the idea that merely elders have the key is not necessarily the historic position. Some Presbyterians and Dutch divines felt tell it to the church meant tell it to the actual church and if they don't listen then the elders can turn the key. In that sense the assembly holds the key with elders."
Would anyone be able to shed any light on these questions or direct me to helpful resources? He has read Bannerman and Witherow.
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"I struggle with:
1) Is a congregation a church in any sense other than those assembling together.
2) If the final court of appeal is a Synod or council or preabytery as in Presbyterianism or the congregation as in congregationalism. ( they didn't deny the use of council's and synods just their binding power). I guess ..Who have the keys of kingdom been given too? Exgetically it seems to me that they just were given to apostles as apostles, elders, and believers.
3) Also in Presbyterian polity, how are the keys to be used. I believe after reading a little bit, the idea that merely elders have the key is not necessarily the historic position. Some Presbyterians and Dutch divines felt tell it to the church meant tell it to the actual church and if they don't listen then the elders can turn the key. In that sense the assembly holds the key with elders."
Would anyone be able to shed any light on these questions or direct me to helpful resources? He has read Bannerman and Witherow.
Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk