Marrow Man
Drunk with Powder
I went to the local food bank today to drop off some canned goods and such from our church. The older gentleman who met me at the door was friendly and asked which church the goods were from. When I said, "Midlane Park Presbyterian Church" as I always do (the food ministry is directly behind the Midlane Park Baptist Church, which stole our church's name a few decades ago, but that's another story for another day ), he sort of lit up and asked, "What's the difference between that kind of Presbyterian and PC(USA)?" (we're ARP). I guess I was feeling kind of snarky today and didn't weigh my answer carefully. I simply said, "We're conservative and they're not" or something like that. He asked what I meant, and I said we believe the Bible.
Well, you've probably guessed it by now: he's PC(USA). I'm sure I offended him, but he was friendly enough, I discussed that I had a PC(USA) background and knew of some of the struggles, mentioned that the ARP and the Southern Presbyterians (of which history he was familiar) were close knit for much of their history in this country, etc. Actually, in retrospect, I think he was actually trying to make sure that we were not part of the EPC, as he was apparently familiar with the New Wineskins initiative and the fact that the PC(USA) is losing churches to the EPC. He told me the church he attends, and I know it is a pretty liberal church (female pastor and they advertise on their website that they admit homosexuals to the Lord's Supper).
I went over the episode in my mind and how my mouth responded before by brain kicked into gear. In the future, I would probably first ask, "How much do you know about Presbyterianism" or something like that. Have any of you had a similar experience (especially PCAers and OPCers) and how did you handle it?
Well, you've probably guessed it by now: he's PC(USA). I'm sure I offended him, but he was friendly enough, I discussed that I had a PC(USA) background and knew of some of the struggles, mentioned that the ARP and the Southern Presbyterians (of which history he was familiar) were close knit for much of their history in this country, etc. Actually, in retrospect, I think he was actually trying to make sure that we were not part of the EPC, as he was apparently familiar with the New Wineskins initiative and the fact that the PC(USA) is losing churches to the EPC. He told me the church he attends, and I know it is a pretty liberal church (female pastor and they advertise on their website that they admit homosexuals to the Lord's Supper).
I went over the episode in my mind and how my mouth responded before by brain kicked into gear. In the future, I would probably first ask, "How much do you know about Presbyterianism" or something like that. Have any of you had a similar experience (especially PCAers and OPCers) and how did you handle it?