A crisis of authority (1): Critical church theory
Rev. Joshua Engelsma argues that contemporary troubles in Reformed and Presbyterian churches—including pandemic-related divisions, doctrinal controversies, church splits, and sexual abuse crises—are connected by an underlying crisis of authority in the church. This article examines critical theory's assault on ecclesiastical authority structures as one of two dangerous "rip currents" affecting the church today, with the author intending to provide a biblical perspective on proper church authority in subsequent editorials.
Rev. Joshua Engelsma, pastor of the Crete PRC in Crete, Illinois Over the last several years, the church of Christ has been rocked by wave after wave of trouble. These troubles are not isolated to our own denomination; it seems that many Reformed and Presbyterian denominations are facing similar issues. For instance, the onset of the covid-19 pandemic and the response of consistories in arranging worship services was polarizing. At around the same time, doctrinal controversies were swirling and...
Full article available on sb.rfpa.org