Originally posted by fredtgreco
Originally posted by PAIN IN THE NECK
Originally posted by fredtgreco
Originally posted by SolaScriptura
If the views expressed on this Board are any indication, I'd say a HUGE reason for all the schisms among Presbyterians is because of arrogant inflexibility regarding various matters pertaining to worship.
All too often I read remarks that indicate that the position held by person A is truly faithful to the 2nd Commandment, with the implication being that others are violating that moral law. Is there any wonder why churches break off fellowship from others when they believe that others are in sin for not worshipping as they?
The problem, in my opinion, is the elevation of one's worship preferences to the status of "faithful application of the moral law" while other views are derided as sinful. Such arrogance leads to schism, though the schismatics attempt to divert the attention from their sinfulness by saying that they are simply separating themselves from those who don't engage in "true" or "pure" worship.
Ben,
I'd like to mildly disagree, while affirming your basic frustration. Why is that? Because Calvin was exceedingly zealous for the pure worship of God, and yet he desired unity with Luther and the other Reformers, not separation. The Puritans railed against the excesses of the Anglican church, and yet remained in its communion until literally thrown out ("ejected") in 1662.
Desiring pure worship, and being strict in one's view of worship is not wrong. It is also not necessarily an unbiblical binding of conscience or elevation of mere preference. But it is shocking - to me at least - how quickly the Presbyterian Church has become fragmented, and even more so how many small denominations do not have union while they agree on 99.99% of
Reformed distinctives (i.e. EP, RPW, etc)
In fact, this is exactly the type of worshippers Christ is seeking:
John 4:23-24 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
God does seek those who desire true worship. But He also desires no less that they should be one:
John 17:11 "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are
John 17:22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!
Ephesians 4:1-16 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." 9 (Now this, "He ascended" -- what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ -- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
As I said, the key for me is standing firmly on convictions, while willing to see the greater unity of God's Church.
[Edited on 11/29/2005 by fredtgreco]
Steve, I think Pastor King meant much more by his post than pure sarcasm, although I see how it could have been perceived that way. As Wayne noted above, a lot of the issues that cause schisms are really the same at heart between both camps (hence, the answer for the Baptists will automatically tell a lot about the similar issue for Presbyterians). 
Right on.
