The United Presbyterian Church this year has not only retired the Westminster Confession, but in particular has completely dropped the Larger Catechism. But the Larger Catechism contains the Reformed Presbyterian standards of Christian living. Do we live up to our standards? Do we make an effort to live up to our standards? Or do we only pay lip service to them? Have we become lax because of the secular pressure of our society?
Let us compare our conduct with what our standards require. The Larger Catechism, Question 117 is, "How is the Sabbath or Lord's Day to be sanctified?" The answer is, "The Sabbath or Lord's Day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all that day, not only from such works as are at all time sinful, but even from such worldly employments and recreation as are on other days lawful..."
Many Protestants have relapsed into the Romish position on this matter. For them, if they go to church for one service, the rest of the day can be given over to their own pleasure. This is not Presbyterianism. Especially it is not Reformed Presbyterianism.
Acknowledging that we all sin in thought, word, and deed, the Reformed Presbyterian Church, with its heritage from John Knox, can profitably review its Christian living and see whether its life, its actual moral stands is in accord with God's Word. We do not, like the Episcopalian recently, look on the Pope as the head of the Christian church; but have we retrogressed towards the Pope's corrupt position and the Romish disregard of the Lord's Day?
- Gordon H. Clark
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