The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum How are Elders Trained?

Johan,

Personally, I see great value in what Robin has espoused.. perhaps because I hold the same idea(s). Regardless of why or how heresy enters the Church (it was happening in Paul's day too), it is essential that Elders AND Deacons be educated. Whether that entails sending a few men at a time to a local well-established Bible College that adheres to the historic Reformed Faith... is there such a place today? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/giggle.gif" alt="" /> Or, they are trained by the seminary-trained preaching Elder. Or, if they take it upon themselves to read established Systematic Theology texts, e.g., Berkhof, Hodge, etc. They are to be well grounded in the truth of Scripture as well as as being fluent in the Bible itself.

Now, I also agree with you that education alone will never stem the tide of never-ceasing heresy. But I would have to believe that Robin wasn't even hinting that be the case. Some of the greatest minds that have been in the Church have apostatized. This is inarguably due to two things: 1) a weak man with an errant heart, and 2) the influence of the Evil One. Brother, there is a full-blown war going on in the world. And from the very day man was put on this earth, that war became evident, even though it preceded man.

What the Reformed churches have in their favor, although not a failsafe thing, are the Creeds, Confessions and Catechisms which came about due to this very thing; an attack on the orthodoxy of the Church's doctrine. Even a uneducated layman, if he can read, can discern most error when it appears by consulting these historic documents. Their original purpose was two-fold: 1) to guard against heresy and 2) as a standard of beliefs to which ALL may adhere to as biblical truth for their edification and sanctification. There is also the long history of the Church to which most today thumb their noses at. The argument against looking to our forefathers, who admittedly erred in some things, is that it is too much like Rome. Yet, invariably, the errors made today resemble Rome, e.g., NPP, FV, etc. So, they bring the world into the Church and pride themselves on doing something "new", "inventive", "productive", etc.. aka: pragmatism at the expense of truth.

Finally, there is another factor which would hinder heresy from entering the Church and that is church disipline... another ignored element which is one of the foundational marks of the true Church. (cf. Belgic Confession) For the sake of "tolerance", "academia", "respect", ad nauseam, men are allowed to bring even damnable heresies into the church without much or any resistance whatsoever. But what did Paul teach? If after three attempts to bring a brother (or sister) around to right thinking, Paul said to throw the bum out (loose translation <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/rofl.gif" alt="" />) with the hopes that he/she will see the seriousness of their ways, repent and return to the fold.

Dems my

In His grace,