What Should Valley Forge Have said?
How should ABCUSA have responded to the ABCPSW withdrawal? I think they should have said something like:
“Dear Friends,
We hate to see you leave. Your fellowship has been good throughout the years. You have been a major financial support to the denomination, and your people have provided significant leadership. You have been good for us.
We understand why you are leaving. Its because as ABCUSA we will not accept your understanding that what the Bible says must determine the theological and moral standards of the denomination. We know you are committed to such a faith, as are many others in ABCUSA, but we are not willing to limit our understanding of God’s working in the world to a strict acceptance of what the writers of scripture meant when they wrote so many years ago. Therefore, we realize the validity of your withdrawal. Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together unless they be agreed?”
So we wish you well. We have seen the wonderful growth of your ministries, and we recognize the strength of your fellowship. We will be glad for you if God allows you to have continued growth in local congregations as well as your corporate association. We will welcome any ministry opportunity you wish to share in with us. We love you and we will miss you.
Cordially, with faith in Christ,
ABCUSA Leadership”
That would have been an honest, loving reply.
Sadly, the impression that may be taken from correspondence and statements out of VF and other ABC enclaves is at best negative. Like: PSW shouldn’t have done what they did, they should have overlooked theological differences. Or: There are lots of PSW churches that will remain ABC. We’ll start fresh out there, and to heck with those transformational ministries, their withdrawal won’t matter. Or: Good riddance, who needs those conservatives anyway.
Hey, it's history, the separation happened. Instead of grousing, complaining, criticizing, and name calling ABCUSA should be assessing its theological and moral positions in an attempt to get to where the denomination wants to be. The problem is that when a Bible believing region like PSW understood where the denomination wants to be they felt they had no other choice but to withdraw, and it is likely that if other regions take seriously the Bible’s teaching and really understand where ABC wants to be they will feel constrained to leave as well. How many times can ABCUSA say good riddance?
“Dear Friends,
We hate to see you leave. Your fellowship has been good throughout the years. You have been a major financial support to the denomination, and your people have provided significant leadership. You have been good for us.
We understand why you are leaving. Its because as ABCUSA we will not accept your understanding that what the Bible says must determine the theological and moral standards of the denomination. We know you are committed to such a faith, as are many others in ABCUSA, but we are not willing to limit our understanding of God’s working in the world to a strict acceptance of what the writers of scripture meant when they wrote so many years ago. Therefore, we realize the validity of your withdrawal. Amos 3:3 “Can two walk together unless they be agreed?”
So we wish you well. We have seen the wonderful growth of your ministries, and we recognize the strength of your fellowship. We will be glad for you if God allows you to have continued growth in local congregations as well as your corporate association. We will welcome any ministry opportunity you wish to share in with us. We love you and we will miss you.
Cordially, with faith in Christ,
ABCUSA Leadership”
That would have been an honest, loving reply.
Sadly, the impression that may be taken from correspondence and statements out of VF and other ABC enclaves is at best negative. Like: PSW shouldn’t have done what they did, they should have overlooked theological differences. Or: There are lots of PSW churches that will remain ABC. We’ll start fresh out there, and to heck with those transformational ministries, their withdrawal won’t matter. Or: Good riddance, who needs those conservatives anyway.
Hey, it's history, the separation happened. Instead of grousing, complaining, criticizing, and name calling ABCUSA should be assessing its theological and moral positions in an attempt to get to where the denomination wants to be. The problem is that when a Bible believing region like PSW understood where the denomination wants to be they felt they had no other choice but to withdraw, and it is likely that if other regions take seriously the Bible’s teaching and really understand where ABC wants to be they will feel constrained to leave as well. How many times can ABCUSA say good riddance?
posted by St. Louis K at 8:42 AM
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