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Originally Posted by SemperFideles  Quote:
Originally Posted by DMcFadden Coming to this discussion recently, it has made interesting reading for an outsider to the process. As a Baptist, I cannot help but admire the care with which the PCA dealt with erroneous teaching in its midst. In my church background, there is absolutely NO way to deal with doctrinal aberrations. Some of you life-long presbys may have a quibble here or there about loose ends. But, it sounds as if the outcome was a "satisficing" decision for everyone. Wilkins gets to leave in good standing, the PCA avoids a fractious fight, and, while it does not tie up as many loose ends as a precedent, it makes it pretty clear what the doctrinal limits are in the PCA. Again, as a Baptist, I cannot help but admire a system that takes truth seriously. | I think this is a good point. I remember a pretty prominent Baptist member here that was critical of the Presbyterian denominations - beside himself that they had not yet declared the FV a heresy (this was two years ago that he was ranting).
It struck me as a bit hypocritical that his ecclesiastical convictions were for complete independency but yet he wanted the PCA, OPC, and others to be acting quickly as if it was a local Church with 2-3 elders.
What is remarkable about the process is not that there are mistakes made along the way in some cases but, given sin, that there remains some remarkable unity around the truth of the Gospel. That God allows so much unity across hundreds of congregations and many Presbyteries is to His glory! |
If my recollection serves me correctly the Particular Baptists had an association. In their midsts arose men who picked up unsound doctrine and they were confronted by Elders of multiple congregations and then disassociated from their midst if they didn't repent. I read about this recently from a book I picked up from Dr. Kear.
If you were in the ARBCA I think you would be in a situation where you would be challenged and disassociated if you were found doctrinally unfit. But the first place to start with would be from your local congregation. Your Elders would be the first line of defense against heresy and the congregation would be responsible also. It is dealt with a little more quickly in my opinion.
It really helps being a confessional church.