It’s time to face the unvarnished truth. The biggest threat to the church at large and the PCA in particular has never been unbelief and rank compromise but confessional defection with good intention. It’s primarily the un-confessional yet well intended shepherds from within who are uniquely positioned to lead Christ’s sheep astray and infect the whole lump of a Reformed denomination. 

I’m afraid for a particular presbytery of the PCA.

In the relatively recent past the Philadelphia presbytery of the PCA admitted a Teaching Elder who held to the continuation and practice of the charismatic gifts of prophecy* and tongues, which is strange doctrine that is either hostile to the Westminster standards or strikes at the vitals of the Reformed faith. (BCO 21-4.f.) After this fundamental doctrinal departure from the Westminster standards was overwhelmingly confirmed as such by the PCA’s highest court—the standing judicial committee (SJC)—with 22 concurring, 0 dissenting, and 2 absent, the congregation left the denomination.**

Unfortunately, the Philadelphia presbytery seems to have learned little from the exercise and has remained doctrinally misguided and, frankly, compromised as it turns a blind eye to a “messianic” congregation in the presbytery that worships on Saturday rather than Sunday, again contrary to the plain teaching of the Westminster standards and vows taken by the presbyters. (WCF 21.7) Sadly, many are not moved by what should be considered in more sober moments as theologically abhorrent. Consequently, it’s safe to say that many have become lukewarm and indifferent to doctrinal fidelity.

From the church’s website:

“We believe that Jewish believers in Messiah have every right to maintain their Jewish identity and to worship in a Jewish way.”

If Jewish has religious connotation, then may Roman Catholics maintain their Roman Catholic identity and worship in a Roman Catholic way? Yet if the label has cultural or ethnic connotations, then what are these Jewish customs and values, and how might they be implemented as distinctly Reformed elements of congregational worship? (I’ll table thoughts about whether certain messianic practices and observances are inherently sectarian, unwelcoming, seemingly prideful and unnecessarily divisive to those who have intentionally strived to assimilate into Christian community.)

“We believe that there is no contradiction between Messianic faith, Reformed theology, or Jewish heritage. The Messiah of Israel is also the Savior of the World.”

Obviously the Messianic faith does not identify as Reformed theology otherwise the statement is nonsensical. So, what are these Jewish distinctives that are implicitly lacking or not swallowed up by the Reformed tradition? The obvious answer pertains at least to special and undo attention given to Jewish sacred days and seasons from the Torah such as Passover—Feast of Unleavened Bread, Sukkot—Feast of Tabernacles, along with attention to rabbinical observances including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kipper, Hanukkah—Festival of Light etc. Does religious emphasis upon such holy days have a place in the New Testament church?***

But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
Galatians 4:9-11

Much can be said regarding, for instance, participating in Passover Seders, as it relates to (a) Christian liberty of conscience and prudence, (b) Old Testament shadows and New Testament reality, (c) redemptive-historical promise and fulfillment, and (d) soteriological obfuscation and illumination. However, it’s not my intention to provide a thorough examination of the subject other than to notice that “weak and beggarly elements” have crept into a congregation of a presbytery and by extension into the PCA.

In short, historical remembrances that preserve Jewish identity casts an Old Testament shadow over the simplicity of the gospel and the unity of the Spirit and bond of peace that finds its sacramental expression in Christian baptism and the Lord’s table alone.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28

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