Tom Albrecht @copperhead

What’s the purpose of a denominational study committee that doesn’t study?

It's even worse, though. Once you conclude the document was AI generated, the next step is to speculate on what prompts were used. "Here's a thing we know is really bad... generate a report on the evil subject that looks like a neutral study paper. Include references."

Jonathan Tomes @postnuance

2 days ago

AI assistance is one thing, but the utter lack of review and consideration to its erroneous outputs, as demonstrated several times now, is inappropriate for a denominational study committee. These are the men that will use those very same erroneous findings to condemn their

1 13 69 4K 8

Just a reminder that John Witherspoon was one of the primary authors of the 1788 revisions and the preliminary principles, and he was not anti-establishment. #PCA

@GMRench You outta hear some of the fun stories that CREC members have been excommunicated for.

@OrthodoxPC Respect to Metropolitan Henes in keeping a beard long enough to foster the confusion between the OPC and EO.

@ReallyOldLife Of course adherents to a false religion do public good, but the measure of the "goodness" of their actions is the Christian religion. Any of their actions that conflict with the Christian religion is not a public good, despite their protestations.

Christians are not exiles. We are strangers and sojourners. Adam, by grace, was too.

@ReallyOldLife @AmericanPresby Agreed, yet being false, no other religion is part of the public good.

If Wolfe can back up his second paragraph with a response showing that the Presbyterians between 1788 and 1965 differed greatly from the conclusions of the report, it would give strong support that the report authors are confusing 20th century views with 18th.

Stephen Wolfe @PerfInjust

6 days ago

I’ve been able to look over the latest study report. I agree with some of it and obviously disagree with several things. The authors have, in several places, confounded and confused nature/grace (in ways they wouldn’t allow in their theology seminars, I hope), earth/heaven, and

16 63 419 17K 53

@wcf_linux @WVPitt

@ywomendeservles One of the best lines in Weird Al's UHF: "Teri? What are you doing here? I thought you never wanted to see me again." "Well what ever gave you that idea?" "Well, I think my first clue was when you said you never wanted to see me again."

@Ale29863961Yuri So, why was Lars Owen, who hated the Jedi, dressed in the same outfit?

The 9th Commandment requires “the preserving and promoting of…the good name of our neighbor… a charitable esteem of our neighbors; loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name” (WLC 144). Sadly, some Christians disregard this for brothers they consider to be “enemies.”

"We have, at one time, resisted the popular demand to make total abstinence from intoxicating liquors a term of membership. At another time, the holding of slaves. In firmly resisting these unscriptural demands, we have preserved the integrity and unity of the Church, made it the great conservative body of truth, moderation, and liberty of conscience in our country." - Charles Hodge

The Zach Garris case has become a flashpoint inside the PCA. What began as controversy over online comments escalated into a denominational trial that many conservatives now view as selective enforcement and ideological lawfare. The result may have backfired badly for the Rio Grande Presbytery, turning Garris into a symbol of growing frustration with the direction of the denomination. My latest article breaks down the timeline, the charges, the trial, and why this controversy matters far beyond one pastor.

The Presbyterian way includes checks and balances, from both the larger denomination and individual congregations, neither of whom are in the room. The appeal to GA will be judged by men not in the room. Court decisions must be sensible to those not in the room.

Kevin Twit @kevinjtwit

a week ago

@derekradney @dmichaelclary Whether a man’s words are loving is a judgment call, and that is why those who heard the evidence presented deliberated. That is the presbyterian way. Men who weren’t in the room judging the result without being part of the deliberation should be more careful with their words.

4 0 5 8K 2

If there is any justice in the PCA, the RGP will be cited and disciplined for this. It's one thing to make a mistake (Councils have erred, and will err). It's quite another to abuse the power of the court, and shake the sheep's trust in the whole system.

Sean McGowan @irishpresby

2 weeks ago

To clarify regarding the tweet below: 1) RGP did not admit any evidence on Charge 2: That means they didn’t admit the evidence of the tweet which would have provided the context of Garris’ interaction with Bradley. 2) RGP didn’t call on anyone to testify on Charge 2: They

23 51 359 30K 40

You should NEVER talk about methods you use to train your children, on the internet. I don’t care if it’s discourses among friends, I don’t care if you’re the most gentle parent in the world. There are sick people on the internet who will try to ruin your life. Don’t do it.

@JCalebJones By RGP, no less.

Seven thoughts about the Rio Grande Presbytery's suspension of @ZacharyGarris. 1. Pastors are in the word-speaking business. It's literally in our job description. We are called to speak what is true and correct error (2 Tim 4:1-5). Garris' job is to speak words to uphold the truth and correct error. 2. Garris was not convicted for being wrong. He was convicted for sarcasm. That's a standard the Old Testament prophets, the Apostle Paul, and Jesus Christ himself wouldn't meet. Sarcasm is a legitimate rhetorical tool in the pastor's toolkit. The Presbyters who voted to convict him obviously had a personal vendetta against Garris and used the courts to lawfare a good man. 3. The idol of decorum is a problem with modern evangelicalism. The PCA will tolerate gay affirming pastors like Greg Johnson (of Revoice infamy), but will not tolerate truth tellers like Garris whose only crime is hurting someone's feelings. 4. Decorum is an idol because it gives power to the weak bureaucrats of the institutional class. Strong men like Garris speak truth plainly and directly. Weak men weaponize subjective standards of decorum to punish any speech that offends them. No doubt, the Rio Grande presbyters who voted against Garris feel justified in their decision. They probably see themselves as righteous martyrs after the overwhelming backlash they've received since their ruling. But their standard is a highly subject rule of decorum, not the word of God. 5. The Rio Grande presbytery's attack on Garris is also an attack on every faithful pastor in the PCA (and beyond). Scripture tells us to not charge pastors with wrong without clear evidence of serious sin (1 Tim 5:19-20). This is not favoritism for pastors, but a recognition that every pastor is in a spiritual battle. 6. The Rio Grande presbytery's attack on Garris is also an attack on the sheep of his church. This decision harms the souls of God's people by wearying their shepherd and distracting him from the work he's called to do. The RGP is trying to deprive God's people of their shepherd. Their attack on Garris is the same as an attack on Garris' entire church. 7. Finally, the Rio Grande presbytery was doing the devil's bidding by attacking Garris. Their ruling would undermine the authority of the word of God in the church and sow seeds of doubt in the hearts of God's people. Calvin addressed this. Calvin said pastors need to be protected from frivolous charges like this as a "remedy against the malice of men" because "none are more liable to slanders and calumnies than godly teachers." He goes on to say, "this is the craftiness of Satan, to draw away the hearts of men from ministers, that instruction may gradually fall into contempt. Thus not only is wrong done to innocent persons, in having their reputation unjustly wounded, (which is exceedingly base in regard to those who hold so honourable a rank,) but the authority of the sacred doctrine of God is diminished" (Calvin's commentary on 1 Tim 5:19). The Rio Grande Presbytery's actions were shameful, and I pray the PCA's higher courts do the right thing by overturning RGP's ruling and vindicating Garris.