Why bother?…

To get an idea of what at least some NWI folks are aiming for, just read this comment from “Larry” to the last of Full Court Presby’s NWI convo updates:

I believe the various conservative organizations could easily co-exist. The problem has been that each of the conservative organizations have had a “winner take all” mentality.

I would have no problem if there were a mix of the following churches constituting the majority of all the churches in our Presbytery:

1.  CCM Churches
2.  NWI Churches
3.  PFR Churches
4.  Global Fellowship Churches
5.  PLC Churches
6.  Constitutional Churches
7.  VOW Churches
8.  One by One Churches
9.  San Diego Essential Tenet Churches
10.  PPL Churches

While each of the above churches have a slightly different focus, we could be assured they all have similar reverence for Biblical doctrine.

Such a majority coalition could clean up the mess currently in the PCUSA.  Such items as:
1.  Withdrawing from the WCC.
2.  Withdrawing from the NCC.
3.  Withdrawing from WARC.
4.  Closing the Washington Office.
5.  Closing the UN Office.
6.  Closing the 16 Synods.
7.  Repealing the property held in trust.
8. Changing the process for selection of GA Commissioners from primarily a rotational system to a system where the presbytery commissioners know where the nominees stand on vital issues.
9.  Reapportioning the Presbyteries so those areas that have lost membership also lose presbyteries.
10.  Dissolve relationships with seminaries pushing a radical leftist agenda.
11.  Repeal PUP #5.
12.  Reject the Trinity Report previously received.

Until the conservatives realize they need to first co-exist with other conservatives, the conservatives will never have enough votes to take control of the denomination.

Those two in bold are particularly striking and appalling. Gone is the reformed idea that God’s will is heard when we get together and listen for the spirit; rather we must eviscerate God’s will and impose our own, which MUST be in line with God’s will because it is the way that THEY read scripture. Gone is the respect for and freedom of the individual conscience before God (and they claim to embody the true spirit of the reformed church!); instead we must impose it upon our members and our leaders. Instead you see a desire to take over, control, impose. Look, friends, the Southern Baptist Convention is over there.

I know that this is one comment, but read what is going on over there. The hubris is breathtaking. I can understand faithful conservative members of the church trying to embody fully what they feel God is calling them to do and to be. Many do just that, and are willing to engage those with a different read on things but with the same faith, the same baptism, the same love and devotion and trust in God. But all of us should take care that we do not subsitute God’s will for our own. Danger lies on that path.

And I’m tired of working to maintain my abilities to trust and communicate with those pastors in “renewal” groups that continue to question my faith and love for Jesus Christ, my dedication to him, and my integrity as a pastor because I don’t read the scripture the same way they do. May God continue to grant me the ability to do so; because on my own, I’m sure I could not.