The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Evangelical Reformed Presbyterian

John,

I agree with gotribe that the danger lies in the subtlety that those promoting and teaching these heresies use. I seriously doubt that those in authority in the various local congregations come right out and say that they think that the Reformers and Puritans were wrong in the matter of justification by faith and that the WCF and other confessions that are in agreement with its statement on justification by faith alone need updating. The majority of laymen, I fear, are basically pew-potatoes and simply accept what the Elders/Pastor teach them.

Even a cursory reading of Church history will show that nearly every heresy that has gained a foothold in the Church did so gradually over a period of years, mainly due to the lack of action and discipline on the part of the governing bodies. For example, when Gresham Machen began a new work which was to eventually become the OPC, one need not doubt that many were perplexed and questioned the need to form yet another denomination. Well, I'm sure you know what happened to the Presbyterian Church when Liberalism and neo-Orthodoxy gained the upper hand.

There are those who believe that the "ship" is going down and can't be saved. Others believe that despite the noticeable lilt, things will be just fine if you just wait it out. To be perfectly honest, there aren't many examples where a denomination/church started down the slippery slope and succeeded in making its way back to the top.

Lastly, the seeds of this heresy have been planted already, not only in individual churches but also in the seminaries you will find professors who are at least sympathetic to NPP, etc. and who are teaching their students to be "open-minded" to it. In the Church you will find those who are willing to fight the good fight, even when the situation appears to be against all odds. Others believe they are reading the "signs" of an unstoppable downfall. May the Lord give the needed wisdom and strength to those who chose to stay and fight. But let's not be too quick to judge those who would rather run and live to fight another day.

In His grace,