@wrightca@LadyNimby Same! One of several reasons we broke down and got our first milk cow. I used to think once the kids started moving out we might reconsider, but grandkids started arriving so now we are looking at getting a second cow. Realize ya'll are on a different scale but it is a blessing!
Seven thoughts about the Rio Grande Presbytery's suspension of @ZacharyGarris.
1. Pastors are in the word-speaking business. It's literally in our job description. We are called to speak what is true and correct error (2 Tim 4:1-5). Garris' job is to speak words to uphold the truth and correct error.
2. Garris was not convicted for being wrong. He was convicted for sarcasm. That's a standard the Old Testament prophets, the Apostle Paul, and Jesus Christ himself wouldn't meet. Sarcasm is a legitimate rhetorical tool in the pastor's toolkit. The Presbyters who voted to convict him obviously had a personal vendetta against Garris and used the courts to lawfare a good man.
3. The idol of decorum is a problem with modern evangelicalism. The PCA will tolerate gay affirming pastors like Greg Johnson (of Revoice infamy), but will not tolerate truth tellers like Garris whose only crime is hurting someone's feelings.
4. Decorum is an idol because it gives power to the weak bureaucrats of the institutional class. Strong men like Garris speak truth plainly and directly. Weak men weaponize subjective standards of decorum to punish any speech that offends them. No doubt, the Rio Grande presbyters who voted against Garris feel justified in their decision. They probably see themselves as righteous martyrs after the overwhelming backlash they've received since their ruling. But their standard is a highly subject rule of decorum, not the word of God.
5. The Rio Grande presbytery's attack on Garris is also an attack on every faithful pastor in the PCA (and beyond). Scripture tells us to not charge pastors with wrong without clear evidence of serious sin (1 Tim 5:19-20). This is not favoritism for pastors, but a recognition that every pastor is in a spiritual battle.
6. The Rio Grande presbytery's attack on Garris is also an attack on the sheep of his church. This decision harms the souls of God's people by wearying their shepherd and distracting him from the work he's called to do. The RGP is trying to deprive God's people of their shepherd. Their attack on Garris is the same as an attack on Garris' entire church.
7. Finally, the Rio Grande presbytery was doing the devil's bidding by attacking Garris. Their ruling would undermine the authority of the word of God in the church and sow seeds of doubt in the hearts of God's people.
Calvin addressed this. Calvin said pastors need to be protected from frivolous charges like this as a "remedy against the malice of men" because "none are more liable to slanders and calumnies than godly teachers."
He goes on to say, "this is the craftiness of Satan, to draw away the hearts of men from ministers, that instruction may gradually fall into contempt. Thus not only is wrong done to innocent persons, in having their reputation unjustly wounded, (which is exceedingly base in regard to those who hold so honourable a rank,) but the authority of the sacred doctrine of God is diminished" (Calvin's commentary on 1 Tim 5:19).
The Rio Grande Presbytery's actions were shameful, and I pray the PCA's higher courts do the right thing by overturning RGP's ruling and vindicating Garris.
@MrsGoresDiary Yes!! Our family has such amazing memories from trips like these. Now that grandkids are multiplying we are upping our game. We just bought a mini bus so we can continue to road trip all together. Let the hilarity, and family culture building, abound!
@tylerbowyer Indiana, the most liberal conservative state in the Union. The leaders are all desperate to be at what they perceive to be the cool kids table. *sigh*
@mrsmeganeverly You need to get the book Salt, Fat, Acid Heat. The author teaches you the basics with the goal of being able to cook from scratch without needing a recipe.
@AuronMacintyre Personally ended up flying unexpectedly, thought I made my purse airport safe, missed a pocket knife and a fire starter kit that included accelerant, TSA never found them. I can't imagine how many stories more there are. TSA is an ineffective joke.
@AuronMacintyre Went to Haiti for a week with a church group. One of the ladies borrowed a bag from her BIL to pack in. Made it through airport security on the US side no problem. Coming back the HAITIAN security found a bullet in the bag, turns out it was the BIL's range bag. TSA never saw it.
@AuronMacintyre Knew a gal that forgot she had emptied her entire mag of hollow points into her purse at the range to switch to practice rounds. Flew into DC no problems, TSA never found any of them in her purse.
@ChHouseBooks Homeschool graduate, homeschooled my kids with one still at home with a couple years to go yet. My other kids are married and having kids of their own that they all intend to homeschool as well. Guess you could say we are fans. Lol!
@KimAbishWise It has been time to primary @SenToddYoung for awhile now. Perfect example of the definition of a RHINO. He just hopes Hoosiers aren't really paying attention.
@Brian_Sauve Perhaps a more accurate comparison is to ask why we can arrest the leader of a foreign government and not those in our own that have tried to destroy our country. Unfortunately it is obviously a rhetorical question anyway.
Let me explain why people from the third world are often prolific scammers. This time with sock puppets for the literary challenged:
The first world assumes rules will be enforced. The third world assumes they won’t, and plans accordingly.
The first world is built on trust and delayed reward. The third world survives on speed, extraction, and immediacy.
The first world teaches civic duty because law protects effort. The third world teaches survival because law cannot be trusted.
The first world rewards cooperation over time. The third world rewards whoever gets there first.
The first world invests. The third world extracts.
The first world builds systems meant to last. The third world learns to live inside the ruins of broken ones.
Assimilating people from these areas is almost impossible. Certainly not worth the risk. No reward is worth it.
War veterans have so much experience with this.
Listen.
@DanielJHannan@Mike_Pence Indiana found out long before the rest of the country how much faith and integrity Pence had. Good grief, what do you think those words mean? As soon as things got the least bit difficult Pence folded on his so-called faith and integrity. He sold out once, why wouldn't he again?
@bebookled Adam should have protected Eve from the Dragon, she should have never been in a position to talk to him. Many big Eva women - "Yes! Adam failed in protecting!" Husbands need to protect their wives by oversight on what they listen to and read. Those same women, "Abuse!" 🙄