Comments for No king in the land at http://www.pres-outlook.net , comment 1 to 3 out of 3 comments http://www.pres-outlook.net Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:26:03 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.pres-outlook.net/opinion/commentary/9741-no-king-in-the-land.html#comment-5325 What this committee has demonstrated is that the PC(USA) may not even be able to answer even a simple question with any certainty. If we can't even tell people what marriage is, why should we expect them to come to us for spiritual guidance in anything else. We continue our headlong plunge into irrelevance. Unity is becoming the cover word for institutionalizing dysfunction. - Al J. Sandalow Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:44:24 +0100 http://www.pres-outlook.net/opinion/commentary/9741-no-king-in-the-land.html#comment-5317 Mr. Koster believes that there is a central tent post—a covenant—around which Presbyterians can agree to gather. We used to think it was scripture, until we found how differently it can be interpreted and applied. Next the Confessions, until we reminded ourselves how much we dislike anything reeking of subscriptionism. Then it was the "Unity" of our PCUSA identity, until it sounded a bit elitist and seemed to exclude brothers and sisters of other denominations. Now it is on us to willfully commit ourselves to a covenant (the form is unimportant, says Koster) in order to preserve unity. But if our willingness to invest ourselves is of greater importance than the content of that to which we agree to adhere, why not just set up a golden calf? The people's willingness to commit themselves has no value in and of itself, it only gathers value when God is worshipped and glorified. We will either gather around God as known in Christ and revealed by scripture, or we will set up a convenient idol, which, though it may unify the people, will lead us only onto the wide path of this world. We don't want to go there. - Noel Anderson Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:45:12 +0100 http://www.pres-outlook.net/opinion/commentary/9741-no-king-in-the-land.html#comment-5315 Through the ages God has made covenants with His people, people have made covenants with one another, and commitments to covenants have broken over and over again because of our sinful human nature.  There may be "no king in the land" today but the Church is not without a King — His Name is Jesus!  The Scripture writers call Him King of kings and Lord of lords and the head of the body, the church.  In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers has written "We will come to Jesus for Him to be our comforter or our sympathizer, but we refrain from approaching Him as our Almighty God.” I believe that when we are willing to submit to the authority of Jesus, He will lead us by His Spirit to discover our Father's will in these challenging days. Paul's prayer for the church at Ephesus (1:15-23) is applicable for us in the PC(USA) today and for all others who desire to honor our Crucified, Risen Lord as King. Miriam McNeely, Elder Mooresville, NC - Miriam McNeely Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:33:20 +0100