Is the PCA Traditional or Progressive?

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

There has been much talk lately in our denomination (PCA — Presbyterian Church in America) about its current state of health as a result of an article written by former Covenant Seminary President Bryan Chapell titled, “The State of the PCA.” The article is actually a “slightly edited” version of an address that Chapell is giving at the PCA’s General Assembly in Chattanooga this week.

In the article, Chapell divides the PCA into three broad categories: traditionalists, progressives and neutrals. The traditionalists are very concerned about faithfulness to the Westminster Confession of Faith and the “cultural erosion” that is apparent in our nation; the progressives are concerned that the PCA is becoming increasingly irrelevant to the point that we are“culturally impotent;” the neutrals are in the middle, frustrated by the feuding that goes on between the traditionalists and progressives. Chapell notes that the differences are acute enough that his own children will probably struggle to stay in the PCA in the future if things don’t change.

Perhaps it makes me a “neutral,” but I see difficulties with both the traditionalists and the progressives. There are traditionalists who are responsible for creating what Chapell calls a “litigious culture” in our denomination — a spirit whereby some PCA leaders are “focused on what others in our ranks are doing or not doing” and more than willing to start a long squabble over the issue. This idea is backed up by a 2012 By Faith survey that found that 70 percent of PCA leaders and members think there is too much “debating and backbiting” in the denomination.

An example of this might be the debate that erupted in 2013 over the issue of “intinction,” a practice where the bread is dipped into the cup during the Lord’s Supper. The sacraments are important, so this is not a trivial issue, but, as Chapell says, it is dwarfed by larger issues facing the church today, such as gender issues and, in particular, pluralism. According to Chapell, “nothing comes close to that issue (pluralism) in being a challenge to our church’s future.”

For me personally, if I have an afternoon free to read up on some important issue, I will choose something related to pluralism over something related to intinction any day. Does that make me a progressive? I don’t know. Before coming to a conclusion on that question, I would just ask that you read my recent blogs on Presbyterianism and confessionalism.

The difficulty I find with the progressives is their assumption that the church must constantly be making itself presentable to the world, as if animosity from an unbelieving culture is a sign that we’re doing something wrong. Sometimes the progressive wing of the church reminds me of that insecure kid in 1980s high school who wears a mullet in a desperate attempt to look cool, but he never quite succeeds.

Richard Phillips is much more traditional than I am, but I agree with him when, in his response to Chapell’s article, he says, “We are not trying to win the culture, but rather to be used by God to save needy sinners from the grips of a hell-bound pagan society.” I just don’t think there’s any way to do that and receive applause from the world at the same time.

What I find quite encouraging about the PCA is that both traditionalists and progressives have, so far, been able to co-exist. And there is no reasons why that shouldn’t be able to continue if the commonly used inflammatory stereotypes can be eliminated: Traditionalist are not cold legalists who are stuck in the past,  and progressives are not a bunch of liberals in Presbyterian clothing. (Let me be clear that I am talking about the progressives who are ordained and in good standing within the PCA, not progressives outside of our denomination who might be considerably more liberal in their views.) At the same time, I am concerned about what will happen to the traditionalist if the progressives aren’t around to keep them in check, and I am concerned what will happen to the progressives if the traditionalists aren’t around to keep them in check.

So please, let’s not split up the PCA. We do not need yet another Presbyterian spin-off denomination. to explain to visitors and inquirers. In Chapell’s words, we instead need to avoid becoming “increasingly insensitive to how much we need one another to maintain a voice for Christ in an increasingly pluralistic culture.”

PCA Affirms Traditional Marriage After PCUSA Denies It

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

Here was the headline of a March 18 story reported by an ABC news station: “Presbyterian Church Approves Gay Marriage in Constitution.” “What?” I can imagine some people thinking after reading the headline. “New Life has approved gay marriage?”

This is an ongoing source of confusion for many who come to our church, particularly newcomers. There are actually multiple different Presbyterian denominations (OPC, ARP, EPC, RPCNA — talk about alphabet soup!), the two largest of which are Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA) and the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Strangely, given the fact that the two share the same name (Presbyterian), they are actually quite divergent on a number of topics, gay marriage included. (Click here for more information on the differences.)

Last month the PCUSA made it official — it is now allowing its ministers to officiate same-sex weddings. The General Assembly of the PCUSA actually approved this last summer, but to make it official, a majority of its 171 presbyteries needed to approve. That happened on March 17 when Palisades Presbytery voted to affirm the change.

This has occurred fairly recently after a former PCA church, City Church in San Francisco, released a March 13 statement about a new policy in which it has decided to no longer require members to abstain from homosexual practice, assuming it takes place within the bounds of marriage. City Church left the PCA in 2006 to join the Reformed Church in America (RCA) in order to allow women to assume the offices of elder and deacon, which is not allowed in the PCA.

It is interesting to note that it only took nine years for City Church to move from women elders to affirming homosexual practice. This is not to say that there is a necessary connection between the two, but it does lend credence to the slippery slope argument that is often quickly used in this discussion — and which is often scoffed at and dismissed just as quickly.

Where does the PCA stand in all of this?

First of all, the PCA is planting a new church in San Francisco — Glory San Francisco. Click here to listen to Pastor Christopher Robins explain his position on a number of controversial issues, including same-sex marriage (you’ll have to scroll through to find it).

Secondly, in response to the PCUSA decision, the PCA did release a statement affirming its support of traditional marriage. The statement is summarized well in this sentence:

“Neither the General Assembly nor any of the presbyteries nor any session (board of elders) of any congregation that is presently a member of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) has redefined marriage. Nor does the PCA intend to do so.”

7 Favorite Preachers

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

Thankfully, there are more opportunities today to hear good preaching than ever before, as one can hear multiple sermons from high-profile preachers on the Web. Below is a list of seven preachers that I consider to be highly skilled and Gospel-centered, and from whom I personally receive much spiritual edification and inspiration. Click the links and you will be directed to a list of sermons you can hear on-line:

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian (PCA) in
New York City

No surprise here. Keller has gained a measure of fame for his unique ability to make the Gospel plausible to skeptical, postmodern twenty-somethings in New York City. Some would call Keller soft, but even the most strident traditionalist has to admire how Gospel-centered his sermons always are.

John Piper, former pastor of Bethlehem Baptist in Minneapolis

Piper can get pretty deep in the weeds exegetically, but he can make just about any Biblical text seem like the most glorious and inspiring passage in all of Scripture. New believers might find Piper too erudite, but preachers in particular tend to look to Piper as a kind of mentor and example.

Zach Eswine, pastor of Riverside Church (EPC) in St. Louis

Eswine, a former Ball State student and later a published author and professor at Covenant Seminary, has the rare gift of being able to speak directly to the fragile human heart. He doesn’t speak about people; he speaks to people, right where they live, with all their fears and longings. Zach knows people.

Kimber Kauffman, former pastor of College Park Church in Indianapolis

I would have never gone to seminary if it weren’t for Kimber Kauffman’s influence in my life. Sadly, he is no longer in the pulpit and I could not find audio sermons of his on the Web, but back in the 1990s, he was a powerhouse preacher whom God used to dramatically grow College Park Church.

Richard Pratt, professor at Reformed Theological Seminary and president of Third Millennium Ministries

Passion, relevance, theological soundness, profundity — these are all important aspects of preaching. But hardly anything is more important than clarity, and this is where Pratt excels.

Rankin Wilbourne, pastor of Pacific Crossroads Church (PCA) in Los Angeles

Rankin teaches the Bible from the same kind of apologetic stance as Tim Keller — seeking to answer the big questions and make the Bible credible to the skeptic. He’s clearly influenced by Keller, but I don’t hold that against him. The church will need more preachers like Keller and Wilbourne as we move forward in the 21st century.

Alistair Begg, pastor of Parkside Church in Cleveland

His sense of humor and Scottish accent are added benefits, but most importantly, Begg is the consummate expositor of the Bible, exploring all the nuances of a text and yet making it all seem so relevant and engaging.

Movie Review: ‘Short Term 12’

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

I am a pastor in the PCA. I am also a fan of independent films. Never did I think these two worlds would cross, but they did this summer, and the topic they had in common was child abuse.

Let me explain.

The PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) had its annual General Assembly meeting in Houston last month. Here’s how this works: local presbyteries in the denomination will develop proposals, or “overtures,” which are then sent to the General Assembly for review and approval when PCA elders throughout the world gather to meet each summer. This year, more than half of the overtures submitted to GA dealt with the issue of child abuse.

An overture approved by the GA this year affirmed that church leaders should be informed about how to prevent child abuse in our churches; that the “heinous crime of child sexual abuse” should be reported to civil authorities; and that all church leaders should use their influence to protect children and support “victims who often suffer in silence and shame without the vocal and compassionate support of the church.”
Boz Tchividjian, associate professor of law at Liberty University School of Law, called this “perhaps the most robust statement on child protection adopted by any Christian denomination.” Kudos to the PCA. When ecclesiastical meetings of this kind can so often get tangled up in politics and minutia, how refreshing it is to see a church take a strong stand in defense of the most vulnerable in our society.

So what does this all have to do with indie films? Well, a film released last year highlights exactly why the church should come to the aid of abused children. “Short Term 12,” directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, examines the culture and activities of a treatment facility that provides care for children who have come from abusive homes.

The two main counselors are Mason, played by John Gallagher, Jr., and the appropriately named Grace, played by Brie Larson. We come to find that Grace in particular is wrestling with the emotional scars of her own abusive upbringing, but through the entire film, we see the profound effect that grace and mercy can have as Grace and Mason pour out their energies on behalf of teens for whom love has been a stranger.

This is one of the strongest movies I’ve seen in a long time. The performances are genuine and persuasive; the story is crafted with great skill. It’s an indie film, so it’s not like your typical Hollywood production. It’s low-budget, gritty, sparse, and somewhat solemn. It’s not in a hurry. There are no special effects. The soundtrack is understated and unobtrusive. Overall, it’s the film’s compassion that is most prominently displayed.
Sensitive viewers should take note that this is not a “Christian film.” The language is salty and there are some scenes with sexual content (but no nudity). But everything has its proper place and contributes substantially to the story being told. The film even makes a statement in favor of the sanctity of life.

Watch “Short Term 12,” and you’ll come away appreciating all the more the stance taken by the PCA in its 2014 General Assembly.

Why Bother With Annual Denominational Meetings?

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

You will be reading news reports this week, if you haven’t already, explaining that “Presbyterians” have decided in their annual General Assembly meeting to allow gay marriage.

When reading reports like this, it is important to note that not all Presbyterians are the same. In fact, not all Presbyterian denominations are the same. It is the Presbyterian Church in the USA (PCUSA) that has made this decision in Detroit regarding gay marriage, not the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the denomination to which New Life belongs. (To learn more about the differences between the PCA and PCUSA, go here.) 

The PCA also had its General Assembly (its annual denominational meeting) in Houston this past week. You can go here for a review of what that denomination decided.

If you think this is going to be another rant about gay marriage, it is not. Instead, I want to take a moment to discuss something much less controversial, far more boring, and yet no less important. It is the reason why denominations have “general assemblies” to begin with. After all, isn’t this where all the trouble comes from?

I can hear the objection now: “Why do denominations spend so much time and money conducting these lavish annual meetings, where everyone gets bogged down in arguments over irrelevant details, when they all could be spending their time so much better by feeding the poor, loving their neighbor and spreading the Gospel?”

Whether we agree or not with the decisions that are made at these annual meetings, there are at least two good reasons why denominations continue to have them.

1) General assemblies are Biblical.

In Acts 15 we have a description of the first church council, which is something very similar to a general assembly. In this chapter, a dispute arose over whether Gentile Christians needed to be circumcised in order to be saved. This was a very significant theological issue. It certainly was possible that every local congregation could have been encouraged to make its own decision on how to approach the question, but that’s not how the early Christians dealt with the issue.

Instead, Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem to talk to the apostles and elders about the question (15:1-2). This was the first church council in history. Lengthy debate ensued at the council, in which many different individuals spoke, giving their views on the matter (15:6-21). Finally, the council came to a decision (15:23-29), which was codified in a letter that was then delivered to various churches “for observance” (16:4).

In other words, church leaders came together to discuss a controversial issue; after lengthy discussion, they made a decision; finally, the decision was distributed to churches under their jurisdiction in the understanding that those churches would submit to the decision. The result was that “the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in numbers daily.” (16:5)

This is the model that Presbyterian general assemblies are seeking to follow. It is a Biblical model. Whether the decisions made by such assembles are Biblical is another matter entirely.

2) General assemblies are appropriate.

A Scottish preacher named Eric Alexander once said: “The most significant thing happening in history is the calling, redeeming, and perfecting of the people of God…The rest of history is simply a stage God erects for that purpose.” What God is doing in and through His church is more important than what takes place in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, the White House or the United Nations.

It is entirely appropriate, therefore, that leaders of the church should be called together to carefully and methodically conduct the business of God’s church and to make decisions with regard to controversial issues. This is also a sober reminder that the decisions of all such assemblies should be done in reverence and awe, in the knowledge that matters of eternal consequence are at stake, and that God will hold his leaders accountable for how they lead Christ’s bride.

4 Excellent Web Resources You Might Not Know About

Pastor Bob O'Bannon

Years ago, before the Internet, I came across a reformed tape library catalog that allowed a person to order cassette tapes of sermons and lectures given by reformed pastors and theologians. I would rummage through the catalog, looking for interesting topics and favorite speakers. Then I would complete the order form at the back of the catalog, put it in an envelope with my payment, drop it in the mail box and wait patiently for my tapes to arrive weeks later.

Today that process seems like such a burden! Now, I just sit down at my computer, press a couple of buttons, and hear my favorite speakers immediately – for free. When it comes to Christian teaching and preaching resources, we happen to have an embarrassment of riches right at our fingertips on the Internet.

If you’re reading this blog, you know this already. And you are probably familiar with some of the more popular Christian Web resources, like the Gospel Coalition, Bible Gateway, SermonAudio, DesiringGod, Monergism, etc. But since there is such an abundance of resources available, there are many you might not know about. It is these lesser known Web resources that I offer here for your consideration:

1) The Aquila Report – This is the site I visit most often. It is a collection of Web articles and blogs written about a wide variety of cultural, theological and church-related topics, with frequent inclusion of events occurring in the PCA. Each day several new articles are added, with topics ranging from reviews of the movie “Noah” to the spread of Shariah law in North Africa to the causes of spiritual depression to the latest development in the same-sex marriage debate.

2) Mars Hill Audio – No, this is not Mark Driscoll’s Mars Hill church. This is Mars Hill Audio, which has been hosted by Ken Myers since 1993. Its purpose is to “help Christians who desire to move from thoughtless consumption of contemporary culture to a vantage point of thoughtful engagement.” Each “audio journal” features several guests (mostly academics) who are interviewed by Myers in a way very similar to the style of interview you might hear on NPR radio. The most recent journal, for instance, includes discussions of the life and thought of Abraham Kuyper; how access to recordings enables a deeper understanding of music; and how the life of the Trinity calls us to lives of generosity. You must subscribe to hear all the segments, but click on “Fresh Tracks” to sample a free download.

3) Reformed Forum – This site offers weekly conversations on a host of Biblical and theological subjects, all from the perspective of reformed Presbyterianism. The dialogue can get pretty deep in the weeds theologically, but the hosts are witty, engaging and easy to listen to, so don’t be put off by the heavy subject matter. Guests most often are authors of recently released books, leading to discussions on topics like the question of canon, Warfield on the inspiration of the Bible, antinomianism, and how to develop a theology of productivity. Listen and learn!

4) Unashamed Workman – This is a Web site designed especially to instruct, refresh and encourage preachers. It offers a wealth of very practical and challenging articles on how to be a better preacher, including an ongoing series called “10 Questions,” where 10 questions about preaching are posed to a number of leading Gospel proclaimers, such as Tim Keller, Matt Chandler, Phil Ryken, Thabiti Anyabwile, Tim Chester, and many others.