Ryan Kiser

Associate Pastor at Bridwell Heights Presbyterian Church (CRPC)

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

Here we see what the ignorance of true godliness doth in setting in order the state of every commonwealth and dominion. All men confess that this is the principal thing that true religion be in force and flourish. Now, when the true God is known, and the certain and sure rule of worshipping him is understood, there is nothing more equal than that which God commandeth in his law, to wit, that those who bear rule with power (having abolished contrary superstitions) defend the pure worship of the true God. But seeing that the Romans did observe their rites only through pride and stubbornness, and seeing they had no certainty where there was no truth, they thought that this was the best way2 they could take if they should grant liberty to those who dwelt in the provinces to live as they listed. But nothing is more absurd than to leave the worship of God to men’s choice. Wherefore, it was not without cause that God commanded by Moses that the king should cause a book of the law to be written out for himself, (Deut. 17:18;) to wit, that being well instructed, and certain of his faith, he might with more courage take in hand to maintain that which he knew certainly was right.

Calvin on Acts 18:14

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

@BasedMikeLee Appealing to our current president’s ability to discern a Christian denomination isn’t the flex you think it is.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

In order for the magistrate to protect the church of our common Lord (WCF 23.3), he must be able to discern the identity of a true Christian denomination. He cannot be ignorant of the Holy Scriptures which equips him for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

@DavidAFrench Neither the European Presbyterians or the American Presbyterians believed this.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

@BasedMikeLee @Portland_Sucks_ It is a different god and a different gospel. Joseph Smith made that clear.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

@tlloydcline Did you try the prologue?

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

@Nalin_Haley Toxic empathy.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

This is the result of a theology that condemns Christian establishment and promotes principled pluralism.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

"We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see."

-Joseph Smith, Heretic.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

“These ideas are incomprehensible to some, but they are simple. It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, and to know that we may converse with Him as one man converses with another, and that He was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did; and I will show it from the Bible.”

-Joseph Smith, Heretic.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

@BasedMikeLee "We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see."

-Joseph Smith, Heretic.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

@matt_everhard Looks like a fun night out! I always enjoy my visits to the Burgh. It’s stunningly beautiful.

I’m hoping to make it up there this year to see my Pens play before either Geno or Letang retires.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

@james_d_baird Spoken like a true Presbyterian!

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

Regardless of what they had in view, we know they professed that magistrates should countenance and maintain the Christian religion. I don’t know how that can practically be done while maintaining a neutral stance toward false religions. We aren’t called to do that in any other sphere of life. In our personal lives, we’re called to flee idolatry. In our families, we are to promote true religion and shun false religions. We raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. In the church, we fight false religions and promote true religion. But when it comes to magistrates, we want them to promote true religion but be neutral toward false religions? Knowing that a Christian is a slave to Christ and lover of truth, I don’t think it’s a Christian virtue to be neutral in any capacity, even as a civil magistrate.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

The religious context in 1788 was overwhelmingly and decidedly Christian in character. If you were to ask an 1788 American, “What is the religion of America,” he would answer Christian, albeit of many expressions.

Roman Catholicism made up less than 1% of the population and wasn’t tolerated in almost any colony. Muhammadism was non-existent. There were no mosques and only a handful of synagogues. The rank Secularism of our day was unknown to 1788 America.

Reading the 1788 Revised version in our context is wholly different than reading it in theirs.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

@ZacharyGarris Magistrates are being asked to do something they cannot do: be neutral in their religiousness while governing.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

According to the new PCA report on Christian Nationalism, anyone who believes WLC Q108 applies to the magistrate is in tension with the Westminster Standards and needs to state his exception.

By implication, a magistrate is not under God’s law but is a law unto himself.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

@irishpresby It doesn’t square with 108.

All potential candidates for ministry in the PCA should have to state their exception to WLC108 in that it applies to everyone except the magistrate who, apparently, is a law unto himself. I thought we were past the Divine Right of Kings.

[Ryan Kiser @rkiser07]

@james_d_baird A man’s liberty is not the liberty to do whatever he wants to do but only a right to do whatever he has a moral right to do.