TenTheologicalChallengesFacingthePCUSA

FromFirstPresbyterianColoradoSprings AtthetimeoftheReformation,John Calvinsaidthattherewasanimportant questionthechurchhadtoanswer.The questionwasnot,Aretheregrievous diseasesinthechurch?Itwasassumedby allonbothsidesthatthechurchwassick. Thequestion,hesaid,wasCanwewaittoo longforthecureofthesediseases?1 time.Thosefourmajorareasgiveusatleast tenseriouschallengestotraditional orthodoxy.Aswethinkaboutthoseten challenges,wemustalsoaskourselves, Whatisthecureforwhatailsus? TheNatureandAuthorityofScripture

Challenge1:Diminishingauthorityof Scripture.Whilefewprogressiveswillsay Fordecades,thePresbyterianChurch thatscriptureisnotauthoritative,their hasbeentheologicallyunsettled.Twonew understandingofauthoritydiffersfromthe PresbyterianbodiesThePresbyterian traditionallyorthodox.Ontheprogressive ChurchinAmerica(PCA)and side,thereisanincreasing theEvangelicalPresbyterian Thesechallengesarerealand tendencytolooktothe Church(EPC)decidedthatthe sciences,boththehardand curefordoctrinalsicknesswas deepandourdecisionsabout socialsciences,for howtomoveforwardmustbe todepart.Thenthenorthern authoritativeguidance.Often madewithgreatthoughtand andsouthernstreamsofthe statementsfromphysicistsor churchreunited,formingour ferventprayer. geneticistsaretakenatface currentdenomination,the valueastruewhilescriptural PresbyterianChurchUSA claimsaretreatedwith PC(USA).Butthatreuniondid suspicion.Thisdivideovertheauthorityof notbringtheologicalhealthorharmony. scriptureisthedifferencebetweena Thepresentingproblemsoftheroleof communitythatisshapedbyscripture2 womeninthechurchandsexualitywere (orthodox)andacommunitythatshapes thecauseofintensedebatesandsplits.But scripture3(progressive). whateverthepresentingproblemswerein Challenge2:DifferingWaysof thedebatedujour,therewere(and UnderstandingtheNatureofScriptureand continuetobe)consistent,underlyingfault ItsInterpretation linesinfourmajorareasoftheologythat a. TheCreationNarrativesinGenesis12: widenedthegapbetweenleftandrightin Progressiveswouldsaythatthisisan ourdenomination.Thosefourmajorareas allegoricalormetaphoricalpoem.This are:(1)thenatureandauthorityof isoftenaresponsetothevery scripture,(2)thepersonandworkofJesus conservativeinterpreterswhoholdfor Christ,(3)thenatureandmissionofthe aliteralsixdaycreation.Butorthodox churchand(4)themoralconfusionofour 1

interpretersintheReformedtradition saythatwhilethisiscertainlyHebrew poetry,italsospeaksofwhattruly happened.Therefore,wearenot constrainedbysixliteraldays,but neitherdowetreatitsimplyas metaphor. b. MosesandthePentateuch: Progressivesassertthatfourdifferent authorswrotethefirstfivebooksof theBible,eachwithadifferentviewof God.ThismakesthePentateuchso complexthatalayreaderofscripture cannotunderstanditproperly.That discouragesthereadingofthetext andthusleadstoadevaluingofits roleinChristianformation.The orthodoxpositionisan acknowledgementthatMosesdidnt writeallfivebooks,butthat regardlessofauthorship,the Pentateuchisourreceivedtextthat hasauthorityoverus. c. NatureoftheLaw:Jesussaidthathe cametofulfillthelaw,butwhatdoes thatmean?TheOldTestament containsceremonial,dietaryand morallaw.Jesuscametofulfillthe morallaw.WeseeintheSermonon theMountthatJesusexpandsand deepensourunderstandingoftheTen Commandmentsthemorallaw.But wealsoseeinthegospelsthathesits loosetotheceremonialanddietary regulations.BythetimeofActs,those regulationsnolongerapply. ProgressivesaredubiousaboutallOld Testamentlaw,thinkingthatifyou throwoutonepart,youmustthrowit allaway.Theorthodoxsidewouldsay, withPaul,thatthelawispartofGods graceandthatwecanheedGodslaw 2

toourbenefitwithoutbeinglegalistic aboutit. d. JesusandPaul:Becausethefour gospelsaresodifferent,progressives oftenassertthatthecommunitiesof eachgospelwritercreatedtheirown versionofJesus.Reformedand orthodoxbelievethatwhilethereare fourgospels,thereisoneJesus.Each writerwrotewithadifferentcamera anglebuteachwaslookingatthe sameJesus.Aswell,many progressivesthinkthatPaulcorrupted themessageofJesusandthatwe wouldbebetteroffwithlessPauland moreJesus.Thatisproblematicwe havetoaskWhichJesus? ThePersonandWorkofJesusChrist Challenge3:DifferentUnderstandings ofthePersonandWorkofChrist.Itisnt enoughtosaythatoneisChristcentered becausethereisaconflictastowhoChrist is.ProgressivesoftentalkabouttheJesusof historyandtheChristoffaith.TheChristof faithmaybeinthegospels,buttheJesusof historyisbehindthegospels.Thisiswhere theunderstandingofscriptureaffectsones viewofJesusChrist.Progressivesliketosay thatJesusistheauthority,nottheBible. Butthenonemustask,Whereelsedoyou learnofhim? Challenge4:ThePersonofChrist. WhiletheorthodoxsideassertsJesusfull humanityandfulldivinity,many(butnot all)progressivesrejecttheVirginBirth, oftenassertingthatJesushadaunique divineconsciousnessthatresidedinhis humanity. Challenge5:TheWorkofJesusonthe Cross.Influencedbyfeministtheology,

whichassertsthatthetraditionalviewof thecrossseemslikeaformofchildabuse byanoppressivefather,progressiveshave distancedthemselvesfromthevicarious atonementofChristonthecross,oftento thepointofdismissingitentirely.The orthodoxandevangelicalviewisthatthe salvationeffectedonthecrosswasa TrinitarianworkoftheFather,Sonandthe Spirit.Itwastheoutworkingoftheloveof theTriuneGod. Challenge6:TheExtentoftheWorkof Jesus.ForwhomisthesalvationofJesus? Fortheevangelicalorthodox,theofferof salvationstretchesthroughthewholeearth. Thegospelistobeofferedtoall. Progressives,committedtopluralism,think thattheChristiangospelisforChristians, justasHinduismisforHindus.Intheir thinking,allwillbesavedthedoctrineof universalism.Sinceritymorethantruthis thekeytosalvation.Whenthequestionis asked,whataboutthosewhohavenever heard?thetwosidesanswerdifferently. ProgressivesanswerthatsinceGodisa lovingGod,allwillbesaved.Theorthodox sidewouldsaythatwecantsayforsure, butthatweknowthatGodisamerciful GodandthathoweverGodsaves,itwill alwaysandfinallybethroughJesusChrist. Challenge7:TheResurrectionofJesus. Therearesomeontheprogressivesidewho thinkthattheresurrectionisametaphorfor newlifeandtheywillspeakofresurrection faithratherthanoftheresurrectionasa realeventinhistory.Thisisanoutcome basedontheauthoritytheygivescience overthebiblicalaccounts.Theorthodox sideassertsthehistoric,bodilyresurrection andagreeswithSt.PaulthatifChristhas notbeenraisedfromthedead,ourfaithis useless.(1Corinthians15:4)The 3

resurrectionisthedefeatofdeathandifit didnotoccur,deathistheend.Godisnot boundbyabrokencreationhecanenter itandbyhispowerbringnewlife. TheNatureandMissionoftheChurch Challenge8:TheDoctrineofthe Church(Ecclesiology).Thereisabigdebate inthechurchabouttheessentialsofthe Reformedfaith.Progressivesdesireabig theologicaltent,thinkingthattheological tolerancewillpreservetheunityofthe church.Expressingthisview,JamesMcCord, apastpresidentofPrincetonSeminaryonce said,Ifyoueverhavetochoosebetween heresyandschism,chooseheresy.The orthodoxintheReformedtraditionalso valuetheunityofthechurch,whichisthe giftofChristtous.Itisnotsomethingwe makeourselves.Theunityofthechurchis importantbecauseChristprayedforitjust beforehewenttothecross.Theorthodox believethatthechurchsunityisexpressed initslifetogether,itspreachingandits worship,allofwhichmustconformtothe wordofGod. Challenge9:Christendomversus MissionalModelsoftheChurch.Inthe Christendommodel,thechurchseeksto maintainitselfusingoldformsforchurch governmentandthecallingandtrainingof pastors.Itisoftenprogrammaticasitseeks todrawpeopleinwithattractionalevents andactivities.Amissionalmodelseeksto moveintothecommunityandtheworld, goingtopeoplewheretheyarewiththe gospelofJesusChrist.Missionalchurches believethatGodisamissionaryGodwho sendshischurchintotheworldinthesame waythattheTriuneGodsentJesusintothe world.(John20:21).Thechurchdoesnot existforitselfbutforthepurposesfor

whichGodcalled,gatheredandsentit.This meansthatthechurchmustbeadaptive andnimble,justasthefirstapostleswerein proclaimingthelife,deathandresurrection ofJesus. Thegoalisnotbuildingthechurchas anendinitself.Rather,thechurchisbuiltin ordertobesentsothatwemaybe witnessestoGodsredeemingworkin Christ.Atrulymissionalchurchcannotexist apartfromitsbiblicalunderstandingofwho Jesusisandwhathehasdone.Thusthe theologicalchallengeswefaceareof extremeimportanceaswethinkaboutwho weareasChristschurch. TheMoralConfusionofOurTimes Challenge10:MoralConfusion.The Confessionof1967says,Anarchyinsexual relationshipsisasymptomofmans alienationfromGod,hisneighbor,and himself.4Whenthereisconfusionabout theauthorityofscripture,aboutwhoJesus

isandwhatsalvationis,thentherewillbe confusionaboutwhoweashumanbeings areandhowwearesupposedtolive.This extendsbeyondoursexualbehavior heterosexualandhomosexual,marriedor single.Itincludesourworkandbusiness ethic,ourrelationshiptowardour possessionsandourcareoftheearth. Thesechallengesarerealanddeepand ourdecisionsabouthowtomoveforward mustbemadewithgreatthoughtand ferventprayer.ThewordsofJohnCalvin helpguideinthisturbulenttime:[Letus exhort]mentoexpectthegoodwhichthey desirefromnonebutGod,toconfideinHis power,restinHisgoodness,dependonHim withthewholehearttoreclineuponHim withfullhope,andrecurtoHiminnecessity, thatis,ateverymomenttoascribetoHim everygoodthingwhichweenjoywe proclaimthatacompletefountainof blessingsisopeneduptousinChrist,and thatoutofitwemaydrawforeveryneed.5

1 JohnCalvin,TheNecessityofReformingtheChurch,inTractsandLetters,Volume1,page 125 2 RichardHaysinMoralVisionoftheNewTestament 3 DaleB.MartininSexandtheSingleSavior 4 TheConfessionof1967,9.67 5 JohnCalvin,op.cit.page147