The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Pray for Elders!

I wonder why it is historically the case that a small remnant of the faithful must separate from larger groups that become increasingly "tolerant" of ideas that deny the truth of the Scriptures and even their own Standards.

It wasn't that long ago that the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) did that very thing, separating from the larger - now apostate - PCUSA, and announced to the rest of the Christian world that they were absolutely and unreservedly committed to the Reformation. I was a high school sophomore when the PCA was born. My brother Mike, an OPC minister, told me once that it only takes about 40 years for a church - or denomination, for that matter - to apostasize. I couldn't make myself believe it then, especially as I was new to the Reformation at the time.

But having been in the PCA for most of the last 20 years now, and having seen the new "tolerance" for "Theistic Evolution" and "Federal Vision," calls like this one remind me of Mike's theory. They also remind me to pray for my pastor and church officers, for the local association (or presbytery) and the entire denomination. I know there are a lot of PCA folks here on this longstanding bastion of Reformed teaching and discussion, and as the PCA was my home for so long, I have not ceased to pray that our Father would hold them to His word and their own Confession. Whatever your denomination, pray for those in authority and leadership! It is these leaders who either serve faithfully or become the "experts" who slowly take the Church down the next slippery slope.

-Robin

I was just out of college and newly married when the split came. I stuck with the only Presby church, which went PCUSA, in our small town for quite a while ("it won't affect us"...yeah, right). Finally ended up Reformed Baptist because they are holding to the old paths, at least my little church is. Thank you for your post. It's all true. Much to think about. Praying for leaders is so important just as you said because once you start down that slippery slope you gain speed and there will be a rough landing on the hard bottom.