Thank you. I had known at one point that Machen was affiliated with what is now the OPC and that what we now call PCA came much later, but I had forgotten.
No kidding. I had always thought that the overlap between Presbyterians and premills was essentially zilch. But you learn something every day, I guess.
Thanks.
Upon recommendation, I ordered a copy of Rian’s The Presbyterian Conflict. Does that book cover anything with Buswell at Wheaton?
A two-part series by James W. Scott that ran in the WTJ ( 74/75; 2012: HISTORICAL AND THEOLOGICAL STUDIES: MACHEN’S LOST WORk ON THE PRESBYTERIAN CONFLICT PARTS I & 2) recently convinced me that Rian was at least deeply dependent on an unpublished manuscript by Machen in his book. Also, the histories done by the OPC side of the division of 1937 are tendentious. I used to believe that wasn’t so, but after reading a bunch of the primary sources (for the Wheaton/Buswell series) an archivist sent me this series of articles which I now think more accurate than Hart and Rian. The series is by Brad Gsell and the first in the series is found in the Winter 2014 issue of “Redeeming the Time” which, along with the rest of the series, can be downloaded here.
But if Rian was almost entirely dependent on Machen’s manuscript for his own, would I say Rian’s tendentious work is because Machen’s work before him was tendentious?
No. Remember that Machen died six months before the split. I’m convinced, based on reading the letters between Machen and Buswell just before Machen’s death, that Machen and Buswell working together could have held the center. Just my own opinion. Love,
In the 1990s I went to a PCA church that used to be Bible Presbyterian. My impression is that Bible Presbyterian was a Fundamentalist version of Presbyterianism. In addition to premillennialism, I think they wanted the church to take a formal stance favoring temperance. Certainly it was a controversy within my church when the Session decided to serve wine in addition to grape juice in Communion and when some of the singles decided to socialize by drinking beers in a pub.
Yes, but it’s inaccurate simply to say “fundamentalist” with the connotations of ignorance and intolerance when it comes to Buswell. He was a new Evangelical with no desire to despise his fundamentalist dispensational brothers, but Wesminster profs wouldn’t tolerate any association with anything smelling of fundamentalism. They were too sophisticated for that. Like all the pseudo intellectuals of Reformed world today. Like David Wells. Love,
I guess “fundamentalist” has pejorative connotations around here? Not my intent. But it is certainly a flavor of Christian faith and practice.
Lately I’ve been reflecting on the fundamentalist background of both of my parents, especially on my mother’s side. Our family didn’t go to church and I didn’t have the gospel as a child, but I’m becoming convinced that my moralistic upbringing may have served me better than my wife’s cheap grace upbringing served her.
My experience is that it has pejorative connotations almost everywhere. The Christian version of “clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right” is “liberals to the left of me, fundamentalists to the right.”
It’s rarely used merely descriptively.
Hirelings are super apostles. Good shepherds, though, are small, nearsighted, and serious.
When good shepherds oppose super apostles, the super apostle laughs and calls the good shepherd “overwrought.”
Super apostles are faultless beings. They’re admired.
No one admires good shepherds.
Learn to tell the difference.
#goodshepherd
2Corinthians 10:12 “For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.”
Learn to tell the diff #goodfalseshepherd
Hamas slaughtered 1200 Jewish civilians. It is the strategy of Hamas to shield behind their own Palestinian civilians.
You respond that the number of Palestinian civilian deaths from IDF forces is disproportionate to the number of Israeli civilians killed by Hamas on October 7?
Consistency demands that we Americans consider the number of 9/11 civilians deaths was 3000. And our military responses? How many deaths?
Make no mistake. Hamas goal was to destroy peacemaking looking good before October 7. Hamas could stop shielding among civilians and fight like men, on the battlefield away from hospitals, women, elderly, and children.
But then there wouldn’t be protests around the world.
Hamas is sitting pretty, aren’t they?
Wonderful truth for those of us with really shameful sins past and present from my dear brother, Scott God saves, from the uttermost to the guttermost
The Apostle Paul was never able to stop defending himself. It was such humiliating work to write things like, "We speak, not as pleasing men, but God Who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness (1Thessalonians 2:5)
False shepherds flatter their followers who pay them for the flattery by reposting their name and picture and words.
Learn to recognize when you’re being flattered rather than warned and protected. Smugness and inside jokes are a clue. #goodshepherd
To be accurate, 764 civilians and 373 IDF/security forces.
Of course Hamas are thugs and brutes. So too is Israel; they just spread many more civilian deaths over a longer timespan so no one notices. They even snipe at children over the border and laugh.
The American Empire is Brutish too, as you point out.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies states, “Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack killed approximately 1,200 Israelis” and Baron’s begins a February 1, 2024 article, “Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of more than 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to a new AFP tally based on the latest official figures available Thursday.”
There are many breakdowns of numbers, including statements that every Israeli other than the elderly and children is Israeli military due to universal conscription.
Really, let’s not quibble over numbers, You want to argue moral equivalency between Hamas and IDF while all the riots in our nation are going on all in support of Palestinians and their elected Hamas government. I’m not interested in joining you. Love,
NASB95: "Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which [fn]amounts to idolatry” Colossians 3:5.
Footnote: “Literally ‘is.’”
Greed is not idolatry. Greed only “amounts to idolatry.”
#Biblestraightup
Please clarify - are you saying here that the behavior of the rioters has delegitimized the cause they are rioting for, or are you saying that the Palestinian Cause should not be advocated for while some commit the evil of rioting in its name?
The woman who screams and cries and shouts and stomps her feet because her state no longer allows her to murder her little baby?
Shut her down. No media attention for shameless mothers parading their bloodlust. They are not victims. Their baby is. #nounionwithabortionists
I think I’ve said what I believe, and still do. Hamas’s October 7 terrorist slaughter and constant employing of civilians as shields is the proper lens through which to view the rioters around the world. Since the 70s, there have only been a couple more bloody massacres by terrorists. Don’t negotiate with terrorists. Don’t pity them or those who elected them. Of course Israel has been bloodthirsty and oppressive. No moral equivalency. Just keep reminding everyone: “October 7!” However you respond, I’ll not be doing so (unless to a straw man). I will read it, though. Love,
Diff tween United Meth endorsement of gay clergy & PCA/Gospel Coalition endorsement of effeminate/Revoice clergy is UMs have now moved from filthy inside of cup to filthy outside of cup whereas PCA/GC still sticking w/filthy inside of cup. #goodshepherd 40-year ban on gay clergy struck down
Last night was our final Pastoral Theology class at New Geneva Academy. We finished Bucer’s “Pastoral Care,” Manetsch’s “Calvin’s Company of Pastors,” Bayly/Von Hagen’s “Elders Reformed,” Baxter’s “Reformed Pastor,” and excerpts from Gregory the Great’s “Rule of Pastoral Care.” Zoom allowed for thirteen students/auditors including men in Taiwan and Alaska. What about you next time?