Disheartening...

I see that the PCA General Assembly voted to accept the negative study report on the Federal Vision/New Perspective. This is disheartening because it essentially cuts off any ministers who may have leanings in that direction. While I cannot speak to the Federal Vision or the Auburn Ave Theology (I've actually read very little of the writers within this strain), I am frustrated that writers like N.T. Wright, etc. are now considered in the PCA, at least officially, as something akin to "anti-gospel propagandists" (i.e. for not being in accord with the Westminste Standards).

Nor was I particularly pleased to hear that R.C. Sproul pulled out all of the rhetorical stops and waxed eloquent about the "gospel being at stake." As soon as that phrase is thrown out, it polarizes everything and ends all discussion. Thus, a discussion which should take at the very least a few days ends up being only an hour or so.

In addition, the PCA displayed an almost medieval heavy-handedness. Everyone on the study committee was against the FV/NP. Naturally then, their report reflected this. Similarly, not a single proponent of the FV/NP was even consulted in the preparation of the report. Frankly, I find this scandalous. Christian charity demands that everything be done fairly. Regardless, of whether one agrees with the FV/NP, the ends never justify the means. How something is done is just as important as why it is done.

As I have read through bloggers' reactions, I have once again been reminded that one man's goat is another man's hero. R.C. Sproul's speech has elicited everything from "soli deo gloria's" to shaking heads. This should serve as a warning to all of us. What we may trumpet as a great victory for the church, may appear to another's eyes to be a horrible defeat. This means that we should always be gracious with our words and not rub the salt into our "opponents'" wounds (if we are the "winners").