As I watch the slow disappearance of brothers and sisters who believe that the new wine in them demands new wineskins, I confess that I am saddened and frustrated. I am saddened because they are consciously choosing to weaken the evangelical presence inside the PC(USA); I am frustrated because I do not understand where their authority to do so comes from.
Recently, I was counseling a couple in which the husband had decided that divorce was the way to solve their problems. I asked him, “were you on any psycho-active drugs when you took your vows?” He answered no. “Do you recall the ceremony? Were you in your right mind when you took your vows?” Yes, he answered. I told him, “If you were in your right mind, and unimpaired when you stood before God and those present and made this covenant, divorce is not an option. If you don’t like it, that’s tough.” They have begun the hard work of repairing their relationship.
Where is the Biblical authority to leave? How is leaving a witness to the peace, unity–even the purity–of the Church? This denomination is sick–perhaps even sick unto death. What does that have to do with leaving? There are voices inside this denomination that clearly ring in my ears as voices of heresy and heterodoxy. What does that have to do with leaving? Perhaps the whole church ought to study Hosea again. The only sign that we are God’s is our faithfulness and obedience to God’s commandments. How is leaving a sign of that faithfulness, when all of us–Elders, Deacons, and Ministers of Word and Sacrament–took vows in our right mind, and unimpaired, to serve Jesus Christ in the PC(USA)?
I have heard over and over again that a denomination is not the same as the Church. But to someone who does not believe in Jesus Christ, are all these semantic differences even visible? What do they see? My friend who wanted a divorce said of his children, “someday they will understand.” Will they? Won’t they just see Daddy making promises that he didn’t keep? What does our current witness look like to the world, other than proof that Presbyterians don’t keep the vows they make to God anymore than anyone else does?
I know the pain of being evangelical in a presbytery that has defined being evangelical out of being Presbyterian. I know what it is to walk into a meeting of the pastor’s union with the red laser dots all converging on my forehead. All the pain and suffering in the world cannot justify chucking it all. What if our purpose as evangelicals inside the PC(USA) is to suffer, be crucified, and die witnessing to the Lord who called us? Does it matter whether we like the assignment or not? Where in the Scriptures does anyone win the argument with God about where they should be placed, or how their life should unfold?
I don’t like a lot of what I see happening in the PC(USA). I am aware that there is a group inside this denomination working slowly and steadily to try to wipe out all male Biblical names for God, substitutionary atonement, and other parts of our Christian heritage. But I was of sound mind on June 25, 1989 when I stood before the Lord and His people and took my vows. Divorce is not an option. I will stand in the Truth I know right where He planted me until I meet Him in glory.
Until we get there together, we cannot begin to repair the relationships that will enable the PC(USA) to come to life again.
