Glimpses of GA

I gotta agree - "Call the question and all previous questions" was a sneaky move. It should probably be banned by GA standing rules.

One thing to watch is a generational shift on gay ordination. The newer generations (those in High School today and younger) often wonder why the heck we're arguing about homosexuality.

Stushie, it became pretty clear in the discussion on our first major issue of the week (regarding Islam) that there is a general lack of theological or biblical sophistication among the representation at GA. I'm certainly beginning to wonder if the GA is the appropriate place to make those types of statements.

Jim - We are glad that you made it back to Cedar Rapids safely. We have been checking in all week to see how things are goings. It has been a bit difficult for my mom to see and read since she was supposed to be there.

I know that my dad was there with you in spirit. He would have been very proud of you for getting up and speaking on the floor. We kept checking the photos from the week to see if we could see you, but we didn't.

Thanks again for keeping us updated, and for the beautiful memorial tribute you had to my dad on your blog.

God' Peace

Dude - #5, don't be bringing me into it ;-) Yeah, that was quite the experience. There is a great deal of pain and anger out there right now that will require me to really embrace being the moderator for the entire denomination. Some may not let me, but i will try. It was great meeting you in person and i am sure it will not be the last!

All week long, I watched the 218th General Assembly. It astounded me how many times people stated that Jesus would do this or say that to bolster their arguments. What a load of baloney! None of us were around with Jesus in New Testament times. We have no earthly idea about what He would do or say with regard to our cultural dilemmas and ecclesiastical issues. We question the authenticity of the Gospels and the authority of the scriptures. We transfer our own cultural preferences and see our own societal prejudices in the texts that were written by the people who truly knew Him.

We are a bunch of narcissistic hypocrites looking to justify our politically correct ways and cultural orientations. We cast aside our allegiance to Christ because we don’t want to submit to Him. We change what the Bible says because we want everybody to like us. And then we get up to the microphones and tell other people what Jesus would do as if He’s our best buddy, turning Him into a theological ventriloquist’s dummy by putting words into His mouth and thoughts into His head.

Bovine manure! We are the biggest bunch of failed followers in the history of Christianity and we have so diluted the Gospel that we have deluded ourselves into shaping Jesus like play dough and making Him a bobblehead character to sit beside our PCs. Our modern Presbyterianism is a theological tacky, mood manufactured, and cheapened grace of a faith. Even the word faith is false when applied to us – we have spiritual trends, and that’s about all.

Perhaps we still have time left. Perhaps we can return to what we once were. Perhaps the Church will go through a revival, instead of cultural capitulation and doctrinal denial. Philippians 2:9-11 can be the starting point.

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.