Do wet babies put you out of sorts? Do rapture gain-sayers get up your ire? Do you think that Calvin should be read only if he's accompanied by Hobbes? If so, I could use your help.
I'm planning a study series for this summer aimed at helping folks at our church better explain and defend from Scripture some of the distinctives of presbyterianism. I'd like to focus, in particular, on those reformed/presbyterian doctrines or practices which non-presbyterians find the most bizzare, mystifying, and perhaps even offensive.
What I could use from you, therefore, my non-presbyterian brethren, are your lists of these objectionable doctrines and practices. Perhaps I can phrase it this way: What are the top ten reasons you would not join a reformed and/or presbyterian church?
Anonymous responses are more than welcome.
9 comments:
Aahhhhh! [pant][gasp] I can't resist it...
1. Presbyterians seem to believe that Jesus' words in Luke 9:1 & 27, and Paul's words in 1 Thess. 4:17, were fulfilled at 70AD. Therefore, Presbyterians cannot explain how the gospel was preached after all those who were not deceived were caught up according to 1 Thess. 4:17. They cannot explain who those persons were that were left behind, because Paul refers to them as ones "in darkness". How did those left in darkness hear without any preachers? Was Ignatius "left behind"? Presbyterians may never know.
2. Presbyterians tinker with the concept of Sola Scriptura in the mind of their flock when they use the phrase, "according to the Westminster Confession."
3. Presbyterians tinker with the doctrine of Justification when they practice paedobaptism, an error which matures with the "Covenant Family" view, teaching that God's "covenant promises" are passed along through family generations. This results in false security not unlike the semi-pelagian who walks the aisle and places faith in an action of his own making.
4. Presbyterians do not practice feetwashing in the communion service, thereby ignoring one of Christ's plain examples and commands.
It is possible, however, for non-Presbyterian Christians to join a reformed church that addresses these questions biblically. :)
Thanks David,
1) I probably won't address preterism specifically in this study; it's just one of several eschatological positions within presbyterinaism, though I will probably address why we're not dispensational and why most of us, at least, are not premillenial.
2) Amen.
3) Yes, this is certainly one to address.
4) Enough of our folks end up having to explain our eccentricities to people of Anabaptist heritage to make this one a good candidate topic.
No charge for the ad time. :)
I have a question on the wet babies thing - are you going to be promoting 'LUVS' or 'HUGGIES'?
Are you crazy? Cloth!
lol...of course how silly of me!
only a couple i've got...for starters:
1. why are we calling it baptism when no one is getting immersed?
2. why do so many understand the literal nature of numbers in the middle of the Bible, but make it figurative at the beginning (as in six days) and end (as in 1000 years).
3. why is it i can't remember who the liberals are? pca or pcusa?
Were you wanting me to forward this to Cedarville's campus? Haha.. :)
That'd be great! :)
Maybe you could explain the Girardian scapegoating of the prophets God sends to correct errors in mainstream Reformed teaching, i.e. the persecution of Norman Shepherd and FV theology.
Or you could justify the view of church government as a series of graded courts. (Not that I've bought into episcopacy either, mind you.)
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