he beholds
Puritan Board Doctor
On this thread, Scott1 wrote this:
Does that apply to people in the church who would hold minority opinions of doctrine? For instance, and this is not an EP debate, what about the people who won't sing the hymns with everyone else? I understand why they cannot, because their consciences won't allow it, but should they be trying to peaceably learn why hymns are allowed? In that scenario, they don't sing the hymns because they believe it is a sin to do so--could that not cause faction because others would realize that the non-singers believe the singers to be sinning?
Or what about headcoverings, holidays, baptism or communion practices, etc.
How does/should a church handle a situation when some in the minority have different practices because they specifically believe to do otherwise is to sin.
Should the church itself change, as to not offend those who believe the majority practice to be sin? Or should the minority seek a new church if at all possible? And if there are no local churches that share the same beliefs, should they split off and start a church plant for another denomination? Or is it right for the minority to try to bring about change in the existing church? Or should they remain, while personally not partaking in the activity that they deem to be sinful, but being careful not to condemn? Or should they try to learn the reasons the church does what it does?
In Western Pennsylvania, there are a million different Reformed churches to choose from, so for a person there, I would think they should maybe switch denominations to find one that fits. But in a place where the only Reformed churches are PCA churches, what is the best scenario?
The effects of the second part of what you are saying is, in our denomination, as a member, you are not required to have comprehensive knowledge of your doctrinal standards, far less vow agreement with every statement/proposition in them.
I've come to learn here on Puritan Board some reformed denominations would require such for membership, but our denomination, the PCA, does not require that for membership. It does require that for church officers, but not for members.
The membership vows include peaceably learning the church's doctrine. That is, humbly studying (not trying to create faction, defiance, or dissent) and learning the doctrinal standards.
Does that apply to people in the church who would hold minority opinions of doctrine? For instance, and this is not an EP debate, what about the people who won't sing the hymns with everyone else? I understand why they cannot, because their consciences won't allow it, but should they be trying to peaceably learn why hymns are allowed? In that scenario, they don't sing the hymns because they believe it is a sin to do so--could that not cause faction because others would realize that the non-singers believe the singers to be sinning?
Or what about headcoverings, holidays, baptism or communion practices, etc.
How does/should a church handle a situation when some in the minority have different practices because they specifically believe to do otherwise is to sin.
Should the church itself change, as to not offend those who believe the majority practice to be sin? Or should the minority seek a new church if at all possible? And if there are no local churches that share the same beliefs, should they split off and start a church plant for another denomination? Or is it right for the minority to try to bring about change in the existing church? Or should they remain, while personally not partaking in the activity that they deem to be sinful, but being careful not to condemn? Or should they try to learn the reasons the church does what it does?
In Western Pennsylvania, there are a million different Reformed churches to choose from, so for a person there, I would think they should maybe switch denominations to find one that fits. But in a place where the only Reformed churches are PCA churches, what is the best scenario?