Tom Albrecht

A cyber architect in the defense industry, passionate about Reformed theology, Presbyterian polity, the economics of deceit, and caring for my family and church

[Jonathan Tomes @postnuance]

What’s the purpose of a denominational study committee that doesn’t study?

[Tom Albrecht @copperhead]

It's even worse, though. Once you conclude the document was AI generated, the next step is to speculate on what prompts were used.

"Here's a thing we know is really bad... generate a report on the evil subject that looks like a neutral study paper. Include references."

[Jonathan Tomes @postnuance]

AI assistance is one thing, but the utter lack of review and consideration to its erroneous outputs, as demonstrated several times now, is inappropriate for a denominational study committee. These are the men that will use those very same erroneous findings to condemn their fellow ministers and some of their own laymen. Many of them were heavily engaged in online polemics before the committee, then they set to canonize their conclusions, so they could then, in turn, condemn more authoritatively what they previously decided was true.

But, like other recent reports, they will throw the scholastic distinctions and careful considerations out along with those they intend to condemn.

[Sean McGowan @irishpresby]

Just a reminder that John Witherspoon was one of the primary authors of the 1788 revisions and the preliminary principles, and he was not anti-establishment. #PCA

[Tom Albrecht @copperhead]

@GMRench You outta hear some of the fun stories that CREC members have been excommunicated for.

[Tom Albrecht @copperhead]

@OrthodoxPC Respect to Metropolitan Henes in keeping a beard long enough to foster the confusion between the OPC and EO.

[Tom Albrecht @copperhead]

@ReallyOldLife Of course adherents to a false religion do public good, but the measure of the "goodness" of their actions is the Christian religion. Any of their actions that conflict with the Christian religion is not a public good, despite their protestations.

[Jonathan J. McKenzie @JonMcK1647]

Christians are not exiles. We are strangers and sojourners.

Adam, by grace, was too.

[Tom Albrecht @copperhead]

@ReallyOldLife @AmericanPresby Agreed, yet being false, no other religion is part of the public good.

[Tom Albrecht @copperhead]

If Wolfe can back up his second paragraph with a response showing that the Presbyterians between 1788 and 1965 differed greatly from the conclusions of the report, it would give strong support that the report authors are confusing 20th century views with 18th.

[Stephen Wolfe @PerfInjust]

I’ve been able to look over the latest study report. I agree with some of it and obviously disagree with several things. The authors have, in several places, confounded and confused nature/grace (in ways they wouldn’t allow in their theology seminars, I hope), earth/heaven, and ecclesial/civil; they’ve restricted government action in ways that few would recognize historically; and they have, in violation of Reformed principles, extended spiritual equality from theology and the church into politics and civil society.

The thing is, they must do this to affirm political liberalism—pull from theology to get universalist and egalitarian liberalism. And that’s the worst part of it. It functionally requires PCA ministers to be modern political liberals. Few Presbyterians born before 1965 could be ministers in the PCA. The report baptizes postwar liberalism.

I recommend that people read Reformed Christian Politics to find a better method, consistently applied principles, a close reading of the Standards, and faithfulness to the broad Reformed tradition. The irony is that we leave more room for variations of political arrangements. This recent report insists that the timeless politics of Jesus is modern liberalism.

I’m traveling. So I’ll provide an in-depth response later.

[Tom Albrecht @copperhead]

@wcf_linux @WVPitt

[Tom Albrecht @copperhead]

@ywomendeservles One of the best lines in Weird Al's UHF:

"Teri? What are you doing here? I thought you never wanted to see me again."

"Well what ever gave you that idea?"

"Well, I think my first clue was when you said you never wanted to see me again."

[Tom Albrecht @copperhead]

@Ale29863961Yuri So, why was Lars Owen, who hated the Jedi, dressed in the same outfit?

[Zachary Garris @ZacharyGarris]

The 9th Commandment requires “the preserving and promoting of…the good name of our neighbor… a charitable esteem of our neighbors; loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name” (WLC 144).

Sadly, some Christians disregard this for brothers they consider to be “enemies.”

[Tom Albrecht @copperhead]

"We have, at one time, resisted the popular demand to make total abstinence from intoxicating liquors a term of membership. At another time, the holding of slaves. In firmly resisting these unscriptural demands, we have preserved the integrity and unity of the Church, made it the great conservative body of truth, moderation, and liberty of conscience in our country." - Charles Hodge

[Jon Harris 🌲 @jonharris1989]

The Zach Garris case has become a flashpoint inside the PCA. What began as controversy over online comments escalated into a denominational trial that many conservatives now view as selective enforcement and ideological lawfare. The result may have backfired badly for the Rio Grande Presbytery, turning Garris into a symbol of growing frustration with the direction of the denomination.

My latest article breaks down the timeline, the charges, the trial, and why this controversy matters far beyond one pastor.

[Tom Albrecht @copperhead]

The Presbyterian way includes checks and balances, from both the larger denomination and individual congregations, neither of whom are in the room. The appeal to GA will be judged by men not in the room. Court decisions must be sensible to those not in the room.

[Kevin Twit @kevinjtwit]

@derekradney @dmichaelclary Whether a man’s words are loving is a judgment call, and that is why those who heard the evidence presented deliberated. That is the presbyterian way. Men who weren’t in the room judging the result without being part of the deliberation should be more careful with their words.

[Bryan of Alexandria ✠🕊️ @DBryanRhodes]

If there is any justice in the PCA, the RGP will be cited and disciplined for this. It's one thing to make a mistake (Councils have erred, and will err). It's quite another to abuse the power of the court, and shake the sheep's trust in the whole system.

[bendell werry 🌲 @bendellwerry]

You should NEVER talk about methods you use to train your children, on the internet.

I don’t care if it’s discourses among friends, I don’t care if you’re the most gentle parent in the world.

There are sick people on the internet who will try to ruin your life.

Don’t do it.

[Tom Albrecht @copperhead]

@JCalebJones By RGP, no less.

[Michael Clary @dmichaelclary]

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.