The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Losing Visible Church status

In SS we are studying the WCF, and yesterday we were in Chapter 25, Of the Church. The question was asked at what point does a church (denomination) crosses over the line and no longer can be classified as part of the visible church.

I wonder what your thoughts might be on the question? Some were of the opinion that the PCUSA falls into that although there might be some visible churches within the denom that are disobedient to the denom. The being disobedient to the denom appears to be somewhat spurious.

On another point, since the Invisible Church consists of all the Elect (believers) past, present & future, I suppose because a nonVisible church has Invisible Church members that they do not force the status of the apostate church to become Visible. I guess the questions becomes what is less pure?

A quick answer, from my own personal perspective would be a physical denomination or church becomes apostate, i.e., cannot be considered as part of the visible Church when it denies and/or ignores the essential doctrines of the faith, e.g.,:

- Trinity
- Deity of Christ
- Deity and/or personality of the Holy Spirit
- Inspiration, inerrancy and/or infallibility of Scripture
- Creation by fiat; ex nihilo
- Historic Adam and the Fall
- The doctrines of sovereign grace (aka: Canons of the Synod of Dordt

As I said initially, this is my personal view and I'm sure many would balk at my criteria since it would exclude the majority of denominations/churches in existence today with my inclusion of the "Doctrines of Grace". My justification for adding this requirement is due to the fact, that anyone who held to semi-Pelagianism/Arminianism in years past was excommunicated; i.e., considered to be an unbeliever since holding to this type of heresy would constitute a doctrine which taught a synergistic salvation. Thus, if an individual was not considered a believer; part of the visible church it would logically follow that a denomination or church would be equally deserving of that judgment as well.

In His Grace,

On the Last Day!