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Cogito, ergo Presbyterian

This edition of the Outlook is the final ‘regular’ issue to be published prior to the season of issues that prepare the way for the June General Assembly that will convene in Detroit. When our attention turns toward an upcoming GA, four seminal statements come to mind.

First, I think back to 2 Samuel 11:1 — “In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle … ”

Second, I think back to the apostolic council of Jerusalem — “ … there was no small dissension and debate … After there had been much debate … ” (Acts 15:2a, 7a).

Third, I think of the 19th century revivalist Charles Finney: “The devils of hell rejoice when the Presbyterian General Assembly is in session.”

Mostly, I think of the words of the late Presbyterian Outlook “Tuesday Morning” columnist David Steele. One of his final columns, published July 17, 2000, captures the flavor not only of what was then the annual gathering of commissioners and delegates, it also well expressed why we harbor such a love of books. It was titled, “The Thinking Has Been Done.” A few excerpts.

Growing up Presbyterian in Mormon Salt Lake City in the ‘30s and ‘40s when the place was still quite insular was no cinch. … The first question a person asked when they met me was “What ward do you go to.” … I began to resent the question — as do all minority folks who find the dominant culture ignores them. So when the question came … my answer became “psychiatric” or “Montgomery.”

The other day … I came across this often-quoted sentence that first appeared in the 1945 “Improvement Era” church magazine. In a message for ward teachers, this slogan is given: “When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done!”

… That slogan fits authoritarian churches very well. One can imagine the papal court sending messages like that to Martin Luther and John Calvin and others who were questioning church doctrine and practice. “Look, the Pope is God’s vicar and he has spoken.” And when our leaders speak the thinking has been done! So cease and desist!

As a Presbyterian growing up in Utah, I learned thinking was a virtue. At Westminster College in Salt Lake City, founded by Presbyterians, we were encouraged to question, debate and wonder. Serving God with the mind was of the essence of being a Protestant. I cannot imagine Presbyterians chanting: “When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done.”

Yet it is happening! In recent times some Presbyterian folk have been aghast at the idea of a conference where Christians are encouraged to imagine and reimagine their faith. Every now and then we’ll read about someone shocked that at this seminary or that a cutting edge scholar has been invited to lecture. I get this paper from the church I don’t attend, and they are up in arms because one of our prominent congregations had invited Bishop Shelby Spong to speak. Listening to this contemporary Episcopalian is an awfulthing? Come on!

‘Tis time we reaffirmed our Reformation heritage. When someone tries to tell us that all the thinking has been done, ‘tis time we stood up and shouted with Luther and Calvin “Nonsense!” God alone is Lord of conscience! And we must love the Lord our God with all our mind … .

I have to confess that some of the inventive thinking going on in the church is way too distracting to me — although the exaggerated and angry reactions of the orthodoxy police are much worse. I also grow weary of having to debate again policy proposals that were rejected by past GAs. But declaring that all the thinking and all the deciding has been done! … is a thousand times worse.

Jack long sleevedAnd so, even though this feels like the season when the kings go out to battle, and while it seems pointless to re-enact the disputations and debates of the apostles, and while our gathering may cause the devils of hell to rejoice, I’m glad for the Presbyterians to be meeting in Detroit. We have more thinking to do. Oh, and some more reading to do in the meantime.

—JHH

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