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Discussion of George Gillespie's Wholesome Severity Reconciled with Christian Liberty
Re: DEUT.13:6-9 
Subject: Re: DEUT.13:6-9
From: "Gus Gianello" 
Date: Tue, 13 May 1997 01:17:46 -0400

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Dear Forum,
I cannot agree more with Mark Johnson.  It seems that "liberty of =
conscience" has become the banner under which all forms of religious =
anarchy are acceptable.  I read no where in Scripture that we must as =
Christians love the freedom to do evil.
The practical question is, how do we differentiate between gross forms =
of idolatry and legitimate religion.  I think the answer should be, that =
whatever is contrary to a Trinitarian development of the Christian faith =
ought to be suppressed as idolatry.  We ought to look not at tendencies =
of systems, but what they do actually profess in their symbolic =
formulas.  For instance, Mormons do actually profess belief in three =
gods, whereas Romanists hold to the Trinity.  In their own formulas they =
make a distinction (I think an invalid one) between worship (idolatreia) =
and reverence or veneration (latreia).  Technically, they say, they are =
not guilty of idolatry.
I do not like Romanism, I think it is heretical, but as Richard Baxter =
in his Christian Directory advances, their heresy is a heresy of =
addition, which is not as bad as a heresy of subtraction.
It is difficult to work out all the details of a theonomic application =
of Deut 13, consistently.  But the fact that it is difficult to do so =
does not in any way imply that such an attempt would be contrary to the =
teaching of the passage.
Rev Gus Gianello, M.Div
John Knox Presbytery, Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly,
Bishop, Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church, Bowmanville, Ontario,
Administrator, Canadian Extension, Whitefield Theological Seminary,
Professor of Cult Theology
Cdn. Editor "Presbyterian Review"
 ----
From: Chris Coldwell 
To: westminster@fpcr.org
Date:  12 May, 1997 3:14 PM
Subject: WF: DEUT.13:6-9



What makes you say "in the Old Testament the church was not separated
from the state"? 2 Chronicles 26:16f makes it quite clear there was a
separation of powers in the Old Testament. Now if the Old Testament
magistrate, distinct from the church, was to rule by God's judicial law,
should not a New Testament magistrate, distinct from the church, also
rule according to God's judicial law? Romans 13:1ff tells us that the
magistrate is God's minister, and his purpose is to execute God's wrath.
Isn't God's wrath expressed in the judicial law?


Mark Arvid Johnson

The truth is more important than the facts.
----
* CMPQwk 1.42 9931 *


Sincerely,
Chris Coldwell


--
Westminster mailing list.
Dick Bacon, Moderator pastor@fpcr.org
Chris Coldwell, Webmaster naphtali@naphtali.com


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Dear Forum,

I cannot agree more with Mark Johnson. It seems that "liberty = of=20 conscience" has become the banner under which all forms of = religious=20 anarchy are acceptable. I read no where in Scripture that we must as = Christians=20 love the freedom to do evil.

The practical question is, how do we differentiate between gross = forms of=20 idolatry and legitimate religion. I think the answer should be, that = whatever=20 is contrary to a Trinitarian development of the Christian faith ought to = be=20 suppressed as idolatry. We ought to look not at tendencies of systems, = but what=20 they do actually profess in their symbolic formulas. For instance, = Mormons do=20 actually profess belief in three gods, whereas Romanists hold to the = Trinity. =20 In their own formulas they make a distinction (I think an invalid one) = between=20 worship (idolatreia) and reverence or veneration (latreia). = Technically, they=20 say, they are not guilty of idolatry.

I do not like Romanism, I think it is heretical, but as Richard = Baxter in his=20 Christian Directory advances, their heresy is a heresy of addition, = which is not=20 as bad as a heresy of subtraction.

It is difficult to work out all the details of a theonomic = application of=20 Deut 13, consistently. But the fact that it is difficult to do so does = not in=20 any way imply that such an attempt would be contrary to the teaching of = the=20 passage.

Rev Gus Gianello, M.Div
John Knox Presbytery, Reformed Presbyterian Church General Assembly,
Bishop, Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church, Bowmanville, Ontario,
Administrator, Canadian Extension, Whitefield Theological Seminary,
Professor of Cult Theology
Cdn. Editor "Presbyterian Review"

----

From: Chris Coldwell <naphtali@naphtali.com>

To: westminster@fpcr.org

Date:  12 May, 1997 3:14 PM

Subject: WF: DEUT.13:6-9








What makes you say "in the Old Testament the church was not =
separated

from the state"? 2 Chronicles 26:16f makes it quite clear there was =
a

separation of powers in the Old Testament. Now if the Old Testament

magistrate, distinct from the church, was to rule by God's judicial =
law,

should not a New Testament magistrate, distinct from the church, =
also

rule according to God's judicial law? Romans 13:1ff tells us that =
the

magistrate is God's minister, and his purpose is to execute God's =
wrath.

Isn't God's wrath expressed in the judicial law?





Mark Arvid Johnson



The truth is more important than the facts.

----

* CMPQwk 1.42 9931 *





Sincerely,

Chris Coldwell





--

Westminster mailing list.

Dick Bacon, Moderator pastor@fpcr.org

Chris Coldwell, Webmaster naphtali@naphtali.com



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