I agree with Rev. Ross that we need greater love for Jesus, but we also need to express love in the manner Jesus prescribed. The histories of the mainline denominations show us that without proper discipline, we will be left with nothing but politics. Biblical discipline may be hard, but it is an expression of love for Christ, love for the sinner, love for those similarly tempted, and even love for unbelievers who may stumble over a church “riddled with anger, pride, etc.

Mike Ross describes the PCA as “riddled with anger, pride, jealousy, competition, factions, with not a few ‘celebrity pastors’ who drive the engines of party strife in our midst.” Though I share Rev. Ross’ frustration with the problems in the PCA, I must respectfully disagree with his prescribed remedy. It is all too easy to denounce both sides as wrong and offer a third way in warm, but ambiguous, terms. He believes the solution is loving Jesus, but is there anyone in the PCA who really believes their various convictions to be at odds with a love for Christ?

I have every confidence that Rev. Ross is pursuing unity, but rather than bringing unity, such broad calls to love can actually serve to make those with broader theological convictions feel more justified in their own politics. Those who aren’t satisfied with these fuzzy prescriptions and press for greater theological fidelity can all too easily be written off as “unloving troublemakers.”

Obviously, all of us are in desperate need for greater love of Jesus, but seeing the problems Rev. Ross describes, I believe the PCA needs to examine how better to do what Jesus commands – exercise love through discipline. Biblical discipline is the best cure for politics, because it moves complaints out of Internet blogs and into the church. Meetings are not of parties, but the whole church. All sides have to listen to one another, rather than just talking about one another. Participants are reminded that the goal is to regain our brother, not merely silence him. We are strongly reminded that discipline is to be done with gentleness. And we are reminded that neither the progress of the church, nor its purity, trumps its unity.

I agree with Rev. Ross that we need greater love for Jesus, but we also need to express love in the manner Jesus prescribed. The histories of the mainline denominations show us that without proper discipline, we will be left with nothing but politics. Biblical discipline may be hard, but it is an expression of love for Christ, love for the sinner, love for those similarly tempted, and even love for unbelievers who may stumble over a church “riddled with anger, pride, etc.”

Jason Wallace is the Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Salt Lake City, Utah.