James

Christian. Father and husband. PCA deacon.

[James @jaaceofspades]

@thisisfoster To point 2: there seems to be a healthy aversion to celebrity culture in the PCA (Sproul historically and more recently Keller being the main exceptions). Would you advocate for stronger, more public voices?

Teachers tend to talk about “faithful service” over “influence.”

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

There’s a lot to it. I have article somewhere on it.

But I’ll say a few things that apply here:

1. The pastorate has become increasingly low status and that especially impacts a middle to middle-upper class denom like the PCA.

2. Keller is dead. In terms of visibility, it’ll probably be a while before there is a NAPARC presbyterian like him again. No one to inspire guys to the join the PCA in mass. I see this as a good thing on the whole as most of those guys turned out to be weak compromisers. Still, that channel has dried up.

3. The level of credentials required are expensive and (feels) time-consuming to a lot of high capacity younger men.

4. The PCA has a damage reputation with lots of people but especially 20s/30s white men.

[James @jaaceofspades]

@WVPitt @Eric_Conn @Brian_Sauve @The_Kings_Hall @New_Christendom You promoted this, you posted this, you deserve this.

[Ligon Duncan @LigonDuncan]

Since there is a little chatter going on on X about the sin of schism, this is a good time to remember the principled, godly, Scriptural, confessional, catholic-spirited, churchly argument of the PCA founders in the Message to All Churches (1973).

"When a denomination will not exercise discipline and its courts have become heterodox or disposed to tolerate error, the minority finds itself in the anomalous position of being submissive to a tolerant and erring majority. In order to proclaim the truth and to practice the discipline which they believe obedience to Christ requires, it then becomes necessary for them to separate. This is the exercise of discipline in reverse. It is how we view our separation.

Some of our brethren have felt that the present circumstances do not yet call for such a remedy. They remain in the Presbyterian Church in the United States. We trust they will continue to contend for the faith, though our departure makes their position more difficult. We express to them our hope that God will bless their efforts, and that there may come a genuine spiritual awakening in the Presbyterian Church in the United States.

We trust that our departure may cause those who control and direct the programs and policies of the Presbyterian Church in the United States to reexamine their own position in the light of the Word. Our prayer is that God may use this movement to promote spiritual awakening, not only in the new Church, but also in that from which we have separated. If in the providence of God, such were to occur, we would gladly acknowledge that the grounds for separation and division would have to be reassessed.

We declare also that we believe the system of doctrine found in God’s Word to be the system known as the Reformed Faith. We are committed without reservation to the Reformed Faith as set forth in the Westminster Confession and Catechisms. It is our conviction that the Reformed faith is not sectarian, but an authentic and valid expression of Biblical Christianity. We believe it is our duty to seek fellowship and unity with all who profess this faith. We particularly wish to labor with other Christians committed to this theology."

[Joseph Spurgeon @Joseph_Spurgeon]

These are just some of the “indictments” against Rick Appleton. This presbytery would have defrocked John Knox or John Calvin. The PCA is cooked

[James @jaaceofspades]

@PastorRothwell @thisisfoster These things aren’t as tidy as we’d like to think. The eggheads in the PCA and OPC might have fellowship at the seminary, but we aren’t accountable to each other more than an independent church.

[James @jaaceofspades]

@PastorRothwell @thisisfoster Fair enough, probably true. But no one should call anyone schismatic (Foster’s post) when the other party has an issue or circumstance drawing him away from the association. That’s a can of worms.

[James @jaaceofspades]

@PastorRothwell @thisisfoster The ecclesiastical fellowship piece makes sense, similar polity etc. But does the OPC have to answer to the PCA (for example) for anything other than the broad standards of NAPARC membership? No. No more than an independent church or association would.

[James @jaaceofspades]

@thisisfoster Transfer to the OPC from PCA? “Go right ahead!” PCA to SAC. You’re in trouble before you even take a call.

[James @jaaceofspades]

@thisisfoster There seems to be a pattern with selective enforcement/convictions on these things. Redeemed Zoomer, however misguided, is consistent. Why do we have OPC (and PCA) guys speak for NAPARC as though that’s the denomination and not their respective traditions? It’s inconsistent.

[Syd Steyerhart @SydSteyerhart]

The reason Star Wars and Star Trek are in complete collapse is that they were imagined at a time of aspirational Liberalism no one believes in anymore. We've all witnessed now where Liberalism leads. People want anti-liberal heroism, that's why 40k and DUNE still resonate.

[James @jaaceofspades]

ACB sounds like a great mother. But this (and her voting record) proves she’s a poor Justice.

[Fox News @FoxNews]

NEW: Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett details the chilling threats her family has faced, revealing the terrifying moment her 12-year-old son discovered a bulletproof vest in her bedroom during the fallout of the Dobbs leak.

Barrett also recounted a recent "swatting" incident at her home and receiving threatening anonymous deliveries, warning that while federal judges continue to do their jobs without fear or favor, the current threat level is "really high."

"I didn't expect that performing this service was going to put me in the position of explaining to my children what a bulletproof vest was, and why I had to wear one."

[James @jaaceofspades]

@realErikDPrince @Justice_ACB It’s not cowardice in the same way it would be for a man. It’s natural. This is why women should not rule. What makes a good mother does not make a good leader.

[James @jaaceofspades]

@ArthurMacwaters DISAGREE. 11 months is too long. 😂

[Kangmin Lee | 이강민 @kangminlee]

Clarence Thomas: "I'd rather die than withdraw. If they're gonna kill me, they're gonna kill me."

Amy Coney Barrett: "I'm scared for my life."

Women should not be justices.

[Bennett's Phylactery @extradeadjcb]

"I never thought that being a political figure would involve violence" is something that no political figure in any period of human history prior to women's suffrage would ever have uttered

[Michael Foster @thisisfoster]

Jared is kinda right.

Essentially, the PCA will not take criticism from outsiders. Instead, they'll circle the wagons and refuse to seriously consider that criticism simply because it didn't arise from within.

Then, rather than recognizing that as institutional pride, they'll recategorize it as "being churchmen."

Or, as a certain PCA influencer told me back in October...

[James @jaaceofspades]

@roddreher Literally an EO pearl clutching and promoting a Roman Catholic historian.

[Libs of TikTok @libsoftiktok]

The ideal Supreme Court