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| Prof Machen, Princeton Seminary Great, scholarly Presbyterian divine and antagonist to 19th-20th century "theological liberalism." That old "Princetonian line" of "careful scholars" my Dad told me. Indeed. |
A Second Personal
Encounter with Theological Liberals
After
last week’s stories (Penn State, SGM-debacles, and the 77th Episcopal
General Convention), we’ve been prompted to reflect on a collection of
encounters with theological liberals.
That is, this is an attempt to collect and digest many personal
encounters across the years with “theological liberals.”
A few
notes about definitions.
Definitionally,
the term “theological liberal” has some precision. It may refer to the theological movement of
the 19th and 20th centuries in the West. It often included Graf-Welhausian Documentarians
on Pentateuchal authorship (19th century), Synoptic chaos on Gospel
authorship (Bultmannianism, inter alia), and
denials of various cardinal loci in systematic theology (e.g. Auburn
Affirmation inter alia). Or, C. H. Dodd’s accurate depiction of
Pauline theology only to discover that one paragraph at the end of one book, to
wit, “But of course, we can no longer believe these things.” Much more can be said. Much more should be said. We are aware of the historic definition, but
we proceed more in a narrative direction.
However,
the current purpose is to collect, digest and “muse” on personal encounters with
theological liberals and their offspring.
For the present purpose, we widen the definition of “liberal” to include
absence of theological depth and rigor, to wit, doctrine doesn’t matter. Under this sense, one might include Joel
Osteen, Rick Warren, or shallow evangelical Hillbillies.
Enough on
definitions, although more could be said. But now, for another story of
liberals.
Background: People. Two individuals, one
church service, and one Navy Inspector General (IG) report are under review.
The
players were Dave and Bob (true first names).
Both were Navy Chaplains serving U.S. Marines at a Protestant Chapel
aboard Okinawa.
Dave was
a back-country North Carolinian with a M.Div. from a Southern Baptist Seminary. Dave studied under the quasi-liberal SBC influences of the 1970s, before the SBC cleaned up their seminaries. Dave had a deep accent. Dave was simple, gregarious, and friendly. Dave was entirely “un-theological.” A friendly sort, he was not the brightest
bulb in the room. Dave was a LT at the time. I knew Dave personally.
Bob had a
M.Div. from some Episcopal Seminary. Bob
was from the liberal Episcopal Church (TEC).
Bob was the senior Chaplain, a Navy Captain. I did not know Bob.
Background: The Incident. Dave, the SBCer, was the Chaplain running the
scheduled main Protestant service. Bob,
the senior, was just reporting aboard Okinawa.
Bob was not scheduled (yet) to run any services; he had just reported into Okinawa the week of
the divine service. Old Bob hardly knew
Dave yet and had never even attended ANY divine service yet.
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| USMC Chapel, Okinawa |
Well,
well, well, well…what do we have here?
Well,
well, well…Bob, the senior, appeared at the Chapel rear, the narthex area. He was “vested upwards,” as it were, like
some kind of lacey “High Episcopalian.” He had a “censer” smoking up the area. He had enlisted religious program specialists
with him. He also had a new set of
bulletins in hand. What Bob was doing
was entirely premeditated. Old Bob, the
stupid Episcopalian, was going to fix the service.
Again, the service had begun. Dave was upfront leading the congregation. Bob was aft of the congregants. Get
this! Bob, the whatever-liberal-donkey,
processed up the aisle, swinging the censer with smoke to the left and to the
right. He motioned the organist to
stop. The hymn was abrupted ended. The congregation was confused and
shocked. “What’s going on?” Big Liberal Bob announced to the crowded
congregation, “Chaplain X (Dave), please stand down. Have a seat. This censing is symbolic of
cleansing and this to `cleanse this sanctuary.’ Petty Officers, please hand out the new
bulletins. We will now begin to have an `appropriate
Christian service.’” I did not
witness this event. In a court, based on
this, my testimony would be hearsay and inadmissible. However…let this be said.
However,
I did read Dave’s affidavit about the event in an official IG complaint, signed
by Dave upon pain of penalty of perjury.
I read the official Navy IG report which found in David’s favour. As such, my testimony to reading
Dave’s affidavit and the IG report would be admissible. Ergo, this
story.
Bob, the
stupid liberal Episcopalian, violated federal law. I appended the 3-point statute from the
United States Code (see below). Here is one
part that Wizard Bob violated: 10
U.S.C. § 6031: US Code - Section 6031: “An officer in the Chaplain Corps may
conduct public worship according to the manner and forms of the church of which
he is a member.” In other words, Dave as a SBC Chaplain, was
legally authorized to conduct the service according to his own forms of
worship. The liberal Episcopalian had no
legal basis for his action, whatsoever. The IG recommended administrative resolution
(which has several meanings to those familiar with them, but that’s for another
day).
Bob, the arrogant, stupid
and liberal Episcopalian , was a terminal Captain. He was an unlikely candidate for ADM. Ergo, he thought he could abuse the junior
without consequence. Perhaps he received
a written rebuke for the record. He didn’t care. They could not fire him and he could
withstand any pushback. Bob had venom towards Dave.
I actually did not, do
not, and will never like Dave’s shallow SBC theology. However, Dave had a Constitutional right and
legal protection to conduct the services as he saw fit. Of course, arrogant Bob
thought otherwise.
The service was
stopped. The congregation was
shocked. Dave was horrified and confused. He ignominiously departed the nave area. He left the nave area and walked to where his
wife and children were seated. Dave and
his family walked out of the Chapel. He
told me he cried later about it (literally). Pretty weak, but it broke his heart and seared his memory for years after. He knew
his career was in jeopardy.
The next Sunday, Dave began an alternate Protestant service at
the same time but in the base’s movie
theatre (with sticky floors from the spilt sodas from the night before). Nearly the entire congregation left and
followed Dave, leaving liberal “Bob the Bozo” with a handful.
Upshot.
While the IG found for Dave, there was a disrupted
relationship that ensued. Dave did not
get promoted. Dave believed (with no
hard evidence) that Big Bob had engaged in what is ignobly called the Senior
Chaplain’s “telephone ministry;” this “telephone
ministry” was a long-standing joke about Senior Chaplains calling each other
around the word, sharing insider stories (they had Autovon phone lines that
allowed this without cost). Dave retired
after twenty years and without a further promotion.
The
Points. Here are some points.
(1) I’m beginning to reflect on many interactions
with theological liberals through the years, including leadership failures and
corruptions. The Penn State matter last week prompted this.
(2) Beneath urbane and dignified veneers,
theological liberals are hostile to many, including Reformed and Confessional
Churchmen. For example, read the
"comments" by theological liberals on blogs and news sites following
the Episcopal GC 2012. Venom, hostility and more;
a damnable devil can smile.
(3) Dave, the SBC, while not a self-conscious
liberal, was a shallow fellow theologically.
He was liberal in the sense
that doctrine didn’t matter much. Although
that was not the issue per the
above, this inserted point was an interpretation made by me through subsequent
conversations. Doctrine did not matter
to my back-country friend.
(4) Bob, the liberal TEC Chaplain, had venom and hostility to others unlike
him. Bob was not alone; I saw it in other liberals. This was just one of many instances.
(5) Bob was willing to break federal law. It should
be added that he violated DOD and DON laws also, mirror reflections of 10
U.S.C. § 6031. Bob, the braying
Episcopal ass, like others, was ignorant.
(6) Don’t
be fooled. Liberalism is as highly arrogant
as it is full of stupid, blind, willful, depraved and impertinent unbelief. The cumulative weight of many stories will
demonstrate this. As noted yesterday, I
suppose Isaiah or Jeremiah might not be nice to theological liberals. Both prophets are being reviewed.
P.S. Here is
the first reflection that precipitated the inquiry:
(1) Detwiler, SGM, Mahaney, TEC, Sandusky/Penn State & Leadership Corruptions
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2012/07/detwiler-sgm-mahaney-tec-sanduskypenn.html
(1) Detwiler, SGM, Mahaney, TEC, Sandusky/Penn State & Leadership Corruptions
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2012/07/detwiler-sgm-mahaney-tec-sanduskypenn.html
(2) A Personal Encounter with a Theological Liberal
10
U.S.C. § 6031: US Code - Section 6031: Chaplains: divine services
(a) An officer in the Chaplain Corps
may conduct public worship according to the manner and forms of the church of
which he is a member.
(b) The commanders of vessels and
naval activities to which chaplains are attached shall cause divine service to
be performed on Sunday, whenever the weather and other circumstances allow it
to be done; and it is earnestly recommended to all officers, seamen, and others
in the naval service diligently to attend at every performance of the worship of
Almighty God.
(c) All persons in the Navy and in
the Marine Corps are enjoined to behave themselves in a reverent and becoming
manner during divine service.
The following tags are applied. Mainline
Decline, Mainline Protestants, Theological Liberalism, Liberal Chaplains,
Theological Education, Uneducated Ministers, Dumb Asses.
