I have been mulling over documents from the EPC, particularly the Book of Order and the Westminster Confession (1903), with the so-called “American Chapters.” At first, I didn’t know what to make of them, that is chapter 34 “On the Holy Spirit,” and chapter 35 which some TR types believe waters down the strong predestinarianism of the opening chapters. The chapter on the Holy Spirit is a positive statement about the current ministry of the Holy Spirit; some see it as a “charismatic chapter.” As a former charismatic, I don’t believe the chapter is anything to worry about for those TR’s uncomfortable with the langauge, however, I must agree with ch. 34 and affirm that I am no cessationist.
In addition, ch. 35 is a beautiful chapter on God’s desire to redeem the world. Many Calvinists trapped by their own systematic box cannot affirm God’s love for the world nor his desire that all men should be saved, which is what the Scriptures (you know, the “Arminian ones”!–ha!) say plainly along with being predestined from the foundation of the world. As a postmillennialist, I am very comfotable with the notion that God will redeem the world and that the number of the elect at the end of history will be that number mentioned in the Revelation “that no man can count.”
To add a taste of irony, as I waded through the confessional waters, I was curious and discovered that the ARP church (my former denomination) uses the same version of the confession!
