| Author | Message | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 43 Registered: 7-2005  |
Does anyone have any first-hand knowledge or information about the Confessing Church movement within the Presbyterian Church USA? Their web site is here: http://www.confessingchurch.homestead.com/ I'm still looking for a new church and have visited two PCUSA churches in my area in the past month. They are both part of this movement. I'm very drawn to one of these churches for several reasons, mainly the fact that it's part of this movement. One of the women in the Sunday school class I visited last week, held up her Bible and said to me, "Even though we're part of the PCUSA, we use THIS as our standard of belief." I'm interested to read your responses. | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1404 Registered: 3-2005 |
Honestwitness, Thanks for sharing the above site. I do have one question for you, and if my memory serves me correctly, I think you said that you were attending a Worldwide Church of God congregation, and that was last November I think when I read your post about that? If I am incorrect, then disregard this, but if you were atending a WCG, I would sure like to get your opinion of it, and maybe your assessment of your view of the WCG. As to this PCUSA situation, I do have some thoughts. I do like the intent of that group inside the PCUSA which is trying to hold it to conservative standards. However, the PCUSA has become very liberal--they deny inerrancy, and are soft on gay marriage and so many other issues. That church has really become apostate by definitions given by the likes of J. Vernon McGhee, and he was speaking 30 years ago. This remnant group of true confessing evangelicals within the PCUSA is trying to reform what has really become an apostate church. I would like to see them succeed, but I don't believe it is likely. It is somewhat analogous to evangelical SDAs staying in SDA for the purpose of trying to reform it, and it is unlikely to happen. The Presbyterian Church in America, (PCA) has broken from the liberal churches and is true to the Bible. I just disagree with them on Sabbath transference to Sunday, but Jess on this forum does go to a PCA church and it is solid. I also have periodically attended a PCA church and have been blessed. There are many other fine churches tht also hold to Biblical inerrancy and hold more New Covenant ideas. Stan | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 44 Registered: 7-2005 |
Stan, thank you for your insights about the PCUSA. I'll keep this in mind as I explore what they may or may not have to offer me. I have decided the WCG is not the right fit for me for several reasons. #1 is they worship on Sunday in the same SDA church I used to attend on Saturdays. I just can get past all the inner conflict of being in that sanctuary with an entirely different group of people. #2 is they use wine for communion. I'm a tee-totaler, so I really have a problem with that. I've been a tee-totaler for a long time, many years prior to even hearing about Adventism, so I can't blame the SDA church for my ethics on this topic. #3 is that on the night before I was last planning to attend the WCG church, I had a dream that made it VERY OBVIOUS to me that God was steering me away from that organization. In my dream I walked up to the church and saw that the entire congregation had moved outdoors to a very large grassy area. Then, one by one, every one of them laid down in the grass in the fetal position and just laid there, not doing anything. In the dream, I was immediately stricken by a heavy feeling that this was just not right, so I ran away as fast as I could. I think it means they're all still healing from the traumatic split and they don't really have any nurturing for me. I don't think it means they're necessarily dangerous. I have great respect for the pastor and his wife. They're very intelligent, articulate people who love Jesus with all their hearts and want very much to serve him. | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 185 Registered: 4-2005  |
Dear Honestwitness, I guess I goofed again. I was the first to respond to your inquiry, but I see only Stans shows. I must have clacked when I should have clicked or something like that. Yes my wife and I have been attending a PCA small church - more like a group - 25 to 35 and find some interesting things. First we were enraptured from our first Sunday in attendance over the superb exegesis presented by the pastor, who teaches more than preaches. He spent months on Rom 8. Real meat of the Word. Although this group is small, the singing is humble, but genuine. A real spirit of worship in "spirit and in truth," is observable and felt. People from varied backgrounds are attending because they are being fed the true meat of the Word, and Christ is uplifted, along with the Gospel, the Bible only, etc. The basic Reformation principles are observable, heard, sensed, and stressed. I still am not ready to join officially, but we are blessed every single week and are drawing close to the people. Everyone "seems" to be hungry for the Word and to uplift, glorify, worship and follow Jesus. There are a few picky things, like Stan, that I do not agree with, but they do not make these things tests of fellowship, nor do they emphasize them. The pastor is very knowledeable about the differences between the PCA and the PCUSA. Because of the negative impression given by the PCUSA, he mentioned in a Bible study one night that he wished we did not have to have the word "Presbyterian" connected with their congregation, which is called Covenant Presbyterian Church (just their own choice for a name for their group). There is a great web site which has all kinds of information which I'm sure you will find very informative and helpful. The links listed on the left, as you will find, can tell you more about their beliefs, history, vision, statistics, confession of faith, etc. This site I will list takes you to the Brief History of the PCA. www.pcanet.org/general/history.htm | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1411 Registered: 3-2005 |
Honestwitness, I want to thank you for your candor regarding the WCG. You, indeed are an honest witness as to obeying what the Spirit is telling you. That dream you had is very interesting. Somehow, the Holy Spirit made it as you say VERY OBVIOUS that He was leading you away from an organization--that despite its claims--still teaches another gospel as Jackob on the UCG thread made abundantly clear. I will continue to pray that God will continue to guide you as you prayefully consider finding a church that honors Jesus Christ and the inerrancy of His wonderful Word. Thanks Jess for the link on PCA. Stan | ||
| Honestwitness Registered user Username: Honestwitness Post Number: 45 Registered: 7-2005 |
I found another web site with information about the Confessing Church movement within the PCUSA. http://www.banneroftruth.org/pages/articles/article_detail.php?52. This article was written in 2001, and shows that at that time the confessing churches outnumbered the liberal-leaning ones. I attended one of these confessing churches near me today, for the second time in two weeks. And for the second time, I was extremely pleased with what I saw and heard. We studied 1 John today, focusing on The Word, Jesus Christ, and how we show we are His by our love one to another. Unless I learn something really disturbing about this church, that is not evident on the surface, I am wanting to let myself get excited that I have found my new church home. Please let me know if you have any warnings about this group, and thank you all for your prayers. | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1414 Registered: 3-2005 |
Thanks Honestwitness fro sharing that banner of truth link which is excellent. I also like the fact that there appears to be a revival taking place with these confessing groups. Who is to say? Maybe God is doing a great work to bring a liberal church back to its foundations. You seem to have God's leading in your life, and if you find good fellowship with other Christians that truly hold to the inerrancy of the Bible, then I think it is fine to be there if that is where you feel led. I wouldn't want to put limits on what God may be doing to call people back to faith. Stan |
