Edward
Puritanboard Commissioner
But UCC and PCUSA are members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
Which probably has a few Reformed folks in it.
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But UCC and PCUSA are members of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.
Which probably has a few Reformed folks in it.
Sadly about the 90% of the Reformed faith are in World Communion of Reformed Churches.
Honest question.Sadly about the 90% of the Reformed faith are in World Communion of Reformed Churches.
I won't concede that point. You are including far too many people under the 'Reformed' banner.
Are those denominations in other countries, particularly the third world, that liberal or not reformed?
What about this list of Reformed denominations and their numbers? Now granted some of the Canadian, American and Korean churches shouldn't be included but, are the rest fairly conservative and are able to be labeled reformed or are there considerably less true reformed church members?
If I am correct there were several merging attempts between OPC and PCA in the Past.
Quote Originally Posted by Calvinbeza View Post
If I am correct there were several merging attempts between OPC and PCA in the Past.
I've never heard about this....do you have any links?
It's amazing how the heart of man always tends to drift towards Prelacy, isn't it?
It's amazing how the heart of man always tends to drift towards Prelacy, isn't it?
How are we defining "prelacy"? Is it any movement towards bishops and hierarchical structures in the church, or is it a movement towards Anglo-Catholicism?
It was two merger attempts
Technically not mergers of equals - the OPC would have been subsumed into the PCA. PCA balked the first time, OPC balked the second time.
It's amazing how the heart of man always tends to drift towards Prelacy, isn't it?
How are we defining "prelacy"? Is it any movement towards bishops and hierarchical structures in the church, or is it a movement towards Anglo-Catholicism?
The context would indicate the former, I think...
I would hope not, since that puts Athanasius, Augustine, Cyril of Alexandria, Anselm, and the like in a rather awkward position.
I would hope not, since that puts Athanasius, Augustine, Cyril of Alexandria, Anselm, and the like in a rather awkward position.
Only awkward if we must believe that all of God's Saints must have a perfectly sanctified theology. I neither claim that for myself, nor any of the great saints that have come before me. For now we only see dimly and only know in part.
For myself, I confess (and have taken vows to uphold) that the Biblical form of Church Government is Presbyterian, which elevates no elders above any others, and so I believe that I follow in the same footsteps as Peter ("a fellow elder").
This is not a conviction I hold loosely, but one that I believe is vital to the health and well being of the church that was bought by the blood of Christ.
That is also bad that the Reformed community have scrattered so many denominations, conservatives, moderate and liberals, each group could be linked to several denominations- conservatives-PCA, OPC, URCNA, RCUS
Only awkward if we must believe that all of God's Saints must have a perfectly sanctified theology. I neither claim that for myself, nor any of the great saints that have come before me. For now we only see dimly and only know in part.
For myself, I confess (and have taken vows to uphold) that the Biblical form of Church Government is Presbyterian, which elevates no elders above any others, and so I believe that I follow in the same footsteps as Peter ("a fellow elder").
This is not a conviction I hold loosely, but one that I believe is vital to the health and well being of the church that was bought by the blood of Christ.
That sounds a lot like the Roman view of development of doctrine.
So if I start attending a Reformed Anglican church and believe that the idea of an overseer is a wise one, does that reflect the "such is the human heart"?
Only awkward if we must believe that all of God's Saints must have a perfectly sanctified theology. I neither claim that for myself, nor any of the great saints that have come before me. For now we only see dimly and only know in part.
For myself, I confess (and have taken vows to uphold) that the Biblical form of Church Government is Presbyterian, which elevates no elders above any others, and so I believe that I follow in the same footsteps as Peter ("a fellow elder").
This is not a conviction I hold loosely, but one that I believe is vital to the health and well being of the church that was bought by the blood of Christ.
That sounds a lot like the Roman view of development of doctrine.
So if I start attending a Reformed Anglican church and believe that the idea of an overseer is a wise one, does that reflect the "such is the human heart"?
This is not the Roman view of development of doctrine. Rather it is a recognition that even the best of men might have a theology that is flawed due to the traditions that they have inherited, and that the Church is not immune from corruption (see: Protestant Reformation).
None of us are immune from this. If you note, I appeal to Peter - who is an Apostle, and so I maintain that the early church was Presbyterian. For a good treatment of the subject, please see Thomas Witherow's short work "The Apostolic Church: Which is it?" You can read it for free here: http://www.apuritansmind.com/westmi...lic-church-which-is-it-by-dr-thomas-witherow/
It is a very helpful work, and I hope it is a blessing to you.
As for the question of whether it is a "wise decision", I maintain there are no wise decisions that are unbiblical. You would have to maintain that the office of bishop is one that finds its grounds in the Scriptures, and not simply through human wisdom. Please read Witherow if you have a chance.
If you will note my signature - I am an elder in a church whose ancestors fought for "Christ's Crown and Covenant", and would have died rather than affirm that the King of England is the Head and King of Christ's Church. So no, I would not find it wise to affirm anything about the Anglican form of Church Government.
I maintain there are no wise decisions that are unbiblical.