Implications of Changing Theology

I am speaking here as a Presbyterian minister; but many of the same types of changes and difficulties are afflicting most of the other mainline denominations; so if you are Methodist, Lutheran, UCC, or a member of the Episcopal Church, or some other mainline denomination,  these reflections may be of interest to you. As new Christians come into our fellowship, or as congregations and ministers depart the major bodies in the United States, it is interesting to reflect on why some are drawn to our congregations and why so many others are leaving.

 

First, consider the change that has taken place in our view of Scripture in the PC(USA.)  In previous decades, we affirmed that the Bible is "the word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice."  Today, we can only muster the confidence to say that it is "the unique and authoritative witness" to Jesus Christ.  The Westminster Confession of Faith asserted that "God is the author" of Scripture, that the Bible is "the final authority" in church controversies, and that the best rule for interpreting the Bible is to let Scripture interpret Scripture wherever possible.  In the Confession of '67, however, we are warned that although the Bible is a "witness without parallel," and given under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it is, "nevertheless the words of men" conditioned by various factors.  Why and how did this change take place?

 

Consider our view of reformed doctrine.  In former days, ruling and teaching elders in the Presbyterian Church, in assuming their ordination vows, affirmed that the reformed faith, as understood by the Westminster Confession, is "the system of doctrine" taught in Scripture.  Today, the essential tenets of the reformed faith are viewed only as "reliable and authentic."  Many today dismiss altogether the idea of a "system of doctrine" being taught in the Scriptures.  Christ is now assumed to be "above" the Bible as the revelation of truth. 

 

What about Christology?  Our Westminster Confession of Faith affirmed that Christ is "the only mediator" between God and man, as the Scriptures aver.  But today, even those new Christians who profess their faith are not required specifically to affirm that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation, or that they are dependent on Him alone for eternal life.  No longer do we proclaim that He was born of a virgin.  The Confession of '67, the most recent confession of faith in the PC(USA) Book of Confession states that Christ is "the one sufficient revelation of God."  It speaks of "one universal family," but nowhere affirms that He is the Way, the truth, and the life, as Scripture teaches.

 

Finally, what about today's church in matters of corporate and social witness?  In our Westminster Confession of Faith, which served as the Presbyterian creedal statement for more than 300 years, the church is to be engaged in "no intermeddling" in affairs of state.  In the Confession of '67, however, the church is to be actively involved in issues such as housing, education, poverty, racial discrimination, employment, and a host of other issues by implication or explicit expression.  We are to commend peace, "even at the risk" of national security.  There is no mention of church officers being "subject to your brethren" in the Lord; and there is no requirement that ordained officers inform their governing body if their views have changed since the ordination vows were taken.

 

These are all changes which have taken place in mainline Presbyterianism in my adult lifetime--most of them during my ministry.  It is not difficult to see why most Presbyterians have no idea what Presbyterians believe; and while I am not an advocate of churches leaving mainline Presbyterianism, it should not be hard to understand why many congregations are defecting to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and other bodies.  Have we taken a moment to consider the implications of our changing theology?