Pastor Phil Ryken finally weighed in on Presbyterians and Presbyterians Together. He has continued in that vein most recently with a Spurgeon quotation.
I think Ryken has legitimate concerns. Calling for charity as a way of marginalizing those who would refute error is simply a power grab and deserves to be deconstructed.
But it all comes down to questions of fact and risk management in our own time. Is a call for charity a prima facie attack on the church courts, or an encouragement to use them correctly? For example, what is the relationship to spreading lies about someone and “a vigorous defense of Reformed theology and a plain statement that certain exegetical conclusions and theological positions are outside the boundaries of confessional orthodoxy”? The answer I’m looking for is None whatsoever. But the reason why the exclusion of hearsay is so important to judicial process is precisely because a lack of charity can turn justice into injustice.
Again, people keep thinking that charity involves marginalizing the church courts and downplaying the teaching of the Westminster Standards. But the point that the other side is making (whether right or wrong in specific cases they have in mind) is that the Church courts will not come to accurate decisions without charity and fair-mindedness. Does the court come to a case already knowing the verdict? Or is it genuinely willing to listen to both sides and carefully deliberate. Charity is the only foundation for justice.
Well said.
Ben
[i] Again, people keep thinking that charity involves marginalizing the church courts and down playing the teaching of the Westminster Standards. But the point that the other side is making (whether right or wrong in specific cases they have in mind) is that the Church courts will not come to accurate decisions without charity and fair-mindedness.[/i]
Hi Mark,
Do you think Pastor Ryken (or Spurgeon) is saying or implying something different then your quote above?
I really don’t see how from what he posted that he is, but maybe I’m just not seeing it?
“For my own part, PPT is not a document I could sign in good conscience…. Too often, though, a call to charity has been used to advance doctrines that erode the foundations of gospel truth. The question is, therefore, how far charity extends….”
I thought he pretty clearly believes the document will tend to subvert the purity of the Church rather than protect if from slander. I was simply registering my agreement with his concern about the possibility and my disagreement that this is relevant to the present situation in the PCA and other such churches.