Jason Stellman over at his blog has recently pointed out this same unfortunate phenomena of candidates not taking any exceptions, when most, if they had studied the standards more carefully, would have surely taken at least one exception. For example, do all those who took no exception to the Westminster Standards really believe that, "This covenant of grace is frequently set forth in Scripture by the name of a testament, in reference to the death of Jesus Christ the Testator?" Are these candidates aware that almost no scholar in biblical or systematic theology believes this any longer? Yet they do? Really?
Charles Hodge, in his argument against a type of subscription which demanded subscription to every proposition writes,
If the rule that no man should be allowed to exercise the ministry in our church, who did not adopt every proposition contained in the Confession of Faith, should be carried out, we verily believe we should be left almost alone. We are not sure that we personally know a dozen ministers besides ourselves, who could stand the test. (Charles Hodge, "Adoption of the Confession of Faith" The Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review 30:4 (1858): 686)But lo-and-behold, at one presbytery meeting all four or five men took no exception to any proposition found in the Westminster Standards? I'm sorry, but I will not be convinced that the PCA or OPC is all that more conservative than the Presbyterianism found in the mid-19th century, even while fully acknowledging all the mid-19th c. problems which led to the Old-school/new school split.
So for the love of virtue and honesty--take an exception.
3 comments:
Great post brother. I have been greatly concerned about confessional subscription for some time now. I believe that our confessions needs to be updated and revised for this very reason. The majority of men do not believe in the "testament" issue nor do they hold to exclusive psalmody or do they all hold to a six day creation. I guess the issue comes down to original intent of the authors? 8^)
Sadly with the way things are going in the PCA right now, I am expecting a split within that denomination regarding this very issue. What surprises me so much is to my knowledge the OPC has never been very specific regarding confessional subscription.
I hope all is going well for you and your family!
David,
Thanks. You are totally right about the problems plaguing the PCA. Just one more reason why, as of now, I am totally happy being in the OPC.
Hope all is going well with you and the 'fam' as well.
I'm totally with you, Mike. In interviewing candidates over the last few months, I've had the same reaction. Only one raised the testament/covenant issue.
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