In keeping with the journalistic tradition of looking back at the recent past, we present the top 50 stories of the year that were read on The Aquila Report site based on the number of hits. We will present the 50 stories in groups of 10 to run on five lists on consecutive days. Here are numbers 21-30.
In 2019 The Aquila Report (TAR) posted over 3,000 stories. At the end of each year we feature the top 50 stories that were read. The top story this year received 15,790 hits.
TAR posts 8 new stories each day, on a variety of subjects – all of which we trust are of interest to our readers. As a web magazine TAR is an aggregator of news and information that we believe will provide articles that will inform the church of current trends and movements within the church and culture.
In keeping with the journalistic tradition of looking back at the recent past, we present the top 50 stories of the year that were read on The Aquila Report site based on the number of hits. We will present the 50 stories in groups of 10 to run on five lists on consecutive days. Here are numbers 21-30.
At its 47th General Assembly meeting in Dallas, Texas, the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) approved the Nashville Statement as being a biblically faithful declaration on the matter of biblical sexual ethics. The PCA GA was responding to questions and issues raised throughout the church arising from the Revoice Conference that was held in St. Louis, Mo., in July 2018. Eleven presbyteries filed overtures with the General Assembly requesting it to provide responses and guidance for the PCA arising from Revoice.
I know that every man is a sinner and that even my favorite pastors/theologians are almost certainly wrong about something. And we certainly shouldn’t dismiss every author out there because we disagree on a point or two. But is there a point at which the depth or breadth of the problems becomes significant enough that it’s time to rethink defending a man?
I would totally contribute to the Priscilla Report but not to the Priscilla Papers. If Dominic doesn’t get his boys to settle down, though, I might just have to publish Aqueerla Report: An academic journal of conservative same-sex attracted and/or gay celibate Presbyterian commenting on biblical and cultural exegesis, missional engagement, social and racial justice and universal flourishing.
According to the Holy Scriptures, a Christian who publicly identifies as a homosexual does not meet the qualifications to be an elder in the church. When he “comes out,” he must be “ruled out” as a qualified man to serve as an elder in the church. He doesn’t make the cut. He is not above reproach, no matter how many study committees say otherwise…I believe that the “Side B” status is untenable as we interpret the Scriptures, but just as clearly, where his identity is made public, it disqualifies a man from being an officer in the church. A member who needs help? Yes! But an officer? No!
“This Report is made because a majority of the members of Westminster Presbytery and many members of her churches are aggrieved by the public reports about the Christian character of Teaching Elder Greg Johnson, and we have a desire to pursue the peace, unity, and purity of the Presbyterian Church in America, for the sake of the honor and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the King and Head thereof.”
Why would a child of God who has been justified by the blood and righteousness of Christ alone, adopted into God’s family, and freed from slavery to sin by the powerful regenerating work of God in their life fight to apply such an abominable label, homosexual, to themselves? Our Lord bled and died not only to forgive people of the sin of homosexuality but also to liberate them from its enslaving power.
1,616 commissioners (1,209 Teaching Elders, 407 Ruling Elders) meeting in Dallas, Texas. The theme of the Assembly was “Press on for God’s Glory,” drawn from 2 Cor. 2:14, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” The Assembly continued for another year electronic voting and there were far fewer glitches in the use of the keypad than in previous years
We want to celebrate sinners of all kinds finding redemption in Christ. But we must not celebrate sin of any stripe through our in-Christ identity…But “gay” is an explosive category, identifying a whole culture that cannot be insulated from extremely destructive sin… if the Revoice sector of the PCA is going to insist on “gay in Christ” they have to know that they are provoking a great many brothers and sisters who really want to show charity but cannot understand why we would celebrate a sin-identity as part of the Christian experience.
“Yesterday I was with about 20 guys for a wild-game feast. As far as I can tell, in the circles I circulate in–places like Patheos for instance–I am the only minister who gives men like these much thought. They’re men who live on the periphery–but most people depend on them for the basic conveniences of modern life. There were welders, farmers, public utility employees, auto mechanics, et al. As far as the academics, writers, and ministers/SJWs I know, these men don’t even exist. (Or if they are aware of them, they’re scared silly by them.)”
However, the idea that, if the church had just delivered the message on homosexual practice as sin with more love and more balance, there wouldn’t be any expression of anger and bitterness from the gay-rights community is preposterous. Jesus was a loving guy and yet he was crucified for speaking the truth. Sin hates any restraint of its power and those under the controlling influence of same-sex attractions are no different. In addition, expressions of outrage and efforts at intimidation are an integral part of the homosexualist strategy for coercing societal approval of homosexual practice.
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