A letter to the GA moderator and stated clerk: Will the real Jesus please stand?

In the 1950s there was a game show called “To Tell the Truth” hosted by a Mr. Bud Collyer. Three persons would be standing, all claiming to be the same person. A panel would question the three contestants, but only one of them was required to tell the truth. At the end of the round, the real person was asked to stand. The other two were impostors.

As of July 10, 2011, a new ordination standard became effective replacing the old one.

The former language of G-6.0106(b) was as follows: “Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among those standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W.4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.”

The new watered down language of Amendment 10-A, effective July 10, 2011, is as follows: “Standards for ordained service reflect the Church’s desire to submit JOYFULLY to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G-1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240; G-14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.”

There was one male clergy who decided to renounce his ordination as a result of G-6.0106(b) becoming a part of the Book of Order in the 1990s. This clergy was a practicing homosexual. Not long after the blessed G-6.0106(b) was deleted from the Book of Order, this individual applied for and got back his ordination. (This incident took place in one of the northern states.) Apparently, Amendment 10-A and the Jesus whom the candidate “joyfully promises to follow” gave approval to his behavior and allowed him to get back his ordination. The Jesus of 10-A is not the Jesus of Scripture. The Jesus of 10-A will give approval to any conduct which the Bible calls an abomination.

In Matthew 7, Jesus warns His followers to “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” He goes on to say, “Many false Christs and false prophets will appear performing signs and wonders for the purpose of deceiving the elect.” 2 Corinthians 11 warns that there is another Jesus, another gospel that is of another spirit, watch out! In the letter of John, John goes on to say, “Test the spirits to see if they are of God, for many false prophets have gone into the world.”

There is the Jesus of the Mormons, the Jesus of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Unitarians, and finally the Jesus of Amendment 10-A. When section G-6.0106(b) was voted “out of office,” the prohibition against fornication, adultery and same-gendered promiscuity was thrown out the window. Along with this, the Jesus of Holy Scripture was also “voted out of office.” (If I may interject, there are certain things you just don’t vote on, because God has already spoken and the matter is settled!) The Jesus of Scripture would not contradict the Heavenly Father who in Leviticus said, “You shall not lie down with another man as you would a woman.” The same holds true that a woman shall not lie down with another woman as she would with a man. It is an abomination.

The Jesus of 10-A, who one is to joyfully serve, is not the Jesus of Scripture, but the Jesus of 2 Corinthians 11. The people who are joyfully following this Jesus are following the wrong Jesus.

One of the signs of Christ’s return is the increase in apostasy, where the church begins to call evil good and good evil. This is actually a renunciation of faith, which is apostasy. Paul says to Timothy, “In the last days, men will not put up with sound doctrine (ordination standards), but instead gather for themselves teachers who will joyfully tickle their ears, entertaining the doctrines of demons, even denying the Master Himself.”

More and more, the PCUSA and General Assembly are showing a form of godliness but denying its power. Little by little God’s Spirit is being removed from the General Assembly with just an empty shell remaining. (If you want proof of this, take a good look at the mass exodus of churches leaving the PCUSA for either EPC or ECO.)

The people behind the movement to do away with Biblical ordination standards and who sincerely believe that God will bless these perverted lifestyles are actually being deluded by the Prince of Darkness himself. He is giving his blessing to what God calls an abomination. Romans goes on to say, “For this reason, God has turned them over to their reprobate minds.”

The good news is that one can still come to the cross for the forgiveness of and deliverance from sin. Come to the real Jesus with a repentant heart.

To the faithful remnant who have not bowed their knees to Baal (or compromised), keep up the good work, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor in the Lord will not go in vain.

Finally, let the righteous remain righteous, and let the wicked continue on in their ways.

Will the real Jesus please stand?

Tadashi Agari, elder commissioner

Presbytery of Stockton