More on the PCA Standing Judicial Case Regarding Missouri Presbytery and Greg Johnson
The Standing Judicial Commission (SJC), the highest judicatory of the Presbyterian Church in America, rendered a decision on October 21, 2021, that Missouri Presbytery did not violate the investigation requirements of the Book of Church Order and did not err when it declined to process allegations against TE Greg Johnson.
The judgment answered the complaint that arose out of Missouri Presbytery which alleged that TE Johnson 1) “denies that same-sex-attraction is sinful,” 2) “compromises and dishonors his identity in Christ by self-identifying as a same-sex-attracted man,” 3) “denies God’s purpose and power to sanctify SSA [same-sex-attracted] believers,” and 4) “cannot meet the biblical ‘above reproach’ qualification for the eldership.”
The SJC voted 16-7 to deny the Complaint in TE Ryan Speck vs. Missouri Presbytery (SJC 2021-12).
Subsequently, the seven dissenting SJC members filed a Dissent on October 31, 2021.
The SJC Operating Manual allows the SJC to answer dissents. The SJC answered the Dissent here.
In addition, there were two Concurring Opinions, which can be read here and here.
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Mission: Make Worshipers
Christ’s commission to make disciples is directly connected with his worship—making disciples is making worshipers of God through Christ, and the sincere worship of God’s people will help to draw more people in that communion.
After Jesus died and rose again, he appeared to his disciples and many others, beginning a short period of teaching before he ascended back to heaven. During this time, Jesus prepared his disciples for the mission he was giving to them, telling them, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (John 20:21). In other words, just as God the Father sent the Son into the world to accomplish the mission of redeeming his people, so Jesus was now sending his disciples on a mission, and he made that mission explicit just prior to his ascension. Known as the “Great Commission,” Jesus commanded his disciples,
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19–20).
The imperative verb in this commission identifies the central purpose for the church, the body of believers the apostles would found: “make disciples.” Jesus’s mission for his followers was that they would make more followers, and the other participles in this commission as well as descriptions of this commission recorded in Mark and Luke explain how making disciples would take place.
First, making disciples requires proclamation of the gospel. Mark’s account of this commission emphasizes this necessity: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:14). Luke records the content of this gospel message: “Thus it is written, that Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:46–47). A disciple is a follower of Christ, and the only way to follow him is to repent and believe in him.
Second, baptizing new disciples in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit was to be the visible sign of membership into Christ’s body, the church. Baptism becomes an important church ordinance that identified converts with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
Third, Christ commanded that his followers teach these new disciples to observe all that he had commanded. Here we find explicit instruction regarding the formation of a Christian’s theology as well as his behavior.
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We Need a Little Christmas
Christians, take heart! Though we may be surrounded by darkness, Christians do not LIVE in darkness. By faith (belief) in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, we have been born again and are, in fact, indwelt by the Light of the World! We are children of God! Every year that passes brings us closer to the return of our King and true peace on Earth! May we all be blessed in our celebration of the day He entered this world and blessed us with His light.
For I’ve grown a little leaner,Grown a little colder,Grown a little sadder,Grown a little older,And I need a little angel,Sitting on my shoulder,Need a little Christmas now1
Here we are in the final days before the celebration of the incarnation. Our outside Christmas lights have been on each night at sundown since Thanksgiving evening. Just about every room inside the house has been dressed with decorations and lights, while various tart burners distribute fragrances throughout our home, adding to the festive atmosphere. Our home is also filled with the sound of carols. Inside our home, Christmas is here again – as long as the television news channel is not on.
Outside, wars and rumors of wars abound. We are often told that some conflict or other could spark WW3. Here in America, it seems that we are still locked in a cold war against each other. Fierce political battles are waged on the airwaves and on Facebook. Family members and lifetime friends are unfriending one another and parting company over issues, which, although important, will be forgotten in a few days in favor of fresh arguments, leaving mostly sadness, unresolved anger, and a little more darkness in their wake.
We want peace, but it seems there is no peace. In many ways, the stanza from “We Need a Little Christmas” is reflected back to us as we prepare for Christmas this year. Certainly, it isn’t a spiritual song, but many would agree that in this emotionally draining year, our culture has “grown a little colder, grown a little sadder, grown a little older.” We do need something to get us refocused and to bring peace back into our hearts.
Traditionally, at this time of year, we have sermons and articles telling the story of the birth of the Savior. The angel Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her of her coming pregnancy: She will be blessed to conceive and carry the Son of the Most High! Joseph, naturally upset by Mary’s pregnancy, also receives a visit from an angel, who tells him that he should go ahead and marry her because the child she is carrying is from God.
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Have You Cried Before God Lately?
I have found crying before God–—whether in confession or simply out of joy and thanksgiving because of his graciousness and mercies over a long period of time–—is salutary. It ends with a sense of genuine peace with God. God deserves our sincere humility before him. A thought came to me that perhaps the Holy Spirit is preparing my conscience and spirit for that time when I will personally bow before him in the life to come and perhaps sooner than later.
When was the last time you found yourself crying before God? I can’t remember anyone sharing with me or others that they cry before God. There was a time when the same could be said about me, that is, crying before God was not an event I experienced regularly or even rarely.
This is not about crying before God in pleading for something or something to happen. It’s not even about crying before God in confession of sin. This is about crying before God in humility and thanksgiving for his many mercies in your life.
I was reading Psalm 86 when I found myself shedding tears before God in awe and gratefulness for his great mercies in my life over the years. At this juncture in time, I have to recognize I’ve been granted a long life. In Psalm 90: 10, the Psalmist says: “As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, or if due to strength, eighty years, yet their pride is only trouble and tragedy; for it quickly passes, and we disappear.” Well, I recently passed not just that first number–—but lo and behold, even that second number!
This life has suffered many broken bones, near-death experiences, such as riding a moped and striking a car that turned in front of me, being lifted off the bike into the air and soaring freely over the car to just missing a curb. It happened in Montpellier, France returning home from class at the university. My very first thought was in French, “Ça y est” (This is it!). My immediate second thought and prayer were in English, “I commit my spirit to you, O Lord.” Soaring in the air, I thought I would die. Besides many broken bones and near-death misses, my life has consisted of not a few disappointments and many failures on my part.
As I look back on life, I’m reminded of many happy, positive moments, relationships, and experiences. I’m not a pessimist or an optimist. I tend to be a realist, which accounts for my seeing both failures and progress in my growth as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ.
I find myself acknowledging much of what David acknowledged in his life. I never imagined one day I would confess, as David did, that my “iniquities are more than the hairs of my head.” (Psalm 40: 12) And my head is quite full of hair. One recent morning, I was reading Psalm 86, a prayer of David. As I read through this beautiful prayer, I found myself first tearing up and then practically sobbing. It wasn’t a painful sobbing, but rather a humble and joyful sobbing. It was because I was so struck with how merciful God has been to me all these years. This wasn’t a first-time experience for me, as it has happened before in these later years. There’s a beautiful Black spiritual song entitled, “He Never Failed Me Yet.” How true that has been in my experience and relationship with God in Christ, that is, He is always faithful despite my frequent unfaithfulness.
In Psalm 86, David prays, “In the day of my trouble I shall call upon You, for You will answer me.” He has faithfully done that for me. Further on, he prays, “But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.” This speaks to his many, many mercies in my life.
At one point David prays this–—a petition I am making mine: Teach me, Your way, O Lord; I will walk in your truth; Unite my heart to fear your name.”
I have found crying before God–—whether in confession or simply out of joy and thanksgiving because of his graciousness and mercies over a long period of time–—is salutary. It ends with a sense of genuine peace with God. God deserves our sincere humility before him. A thought came to me that perhaps the Holy Spirit is preparing my conscience and spirit for that time when I will personally bow before him in the life to come and perhaps sooner than later.
Have you cried before God lately? You might find it to be as precious an experience as I have. It doesn’t hurt at all. It beneficially heals and rightly humbles.
Helen Louise Herndon is a member of Central Presbyterian Church (EPC) in St. Louis, Missouri. She is freelance writer and served as a missionary to the Arab/Muslim world in France and North Africa.