I was not present for the RPCNA's Synod meeting, but being present at the presbytery that first excommunicated Rev. Ketcham, I can say that the ignorance really is astounding and many Elders and Pastors in NAPARC are not to be trusted.
The deposition and especially the excommunication of Rev. Ketcham is a gross injustice. Rev. Ketcham and the Southern Presbytery to which he now belongs knows that I do not agree with them on everything, from exclusive Psalmody to how we would minister to minorities in our local churches to certain political matters and policies. Some of these matters would prevent us from being in the same denomination, and therefore they are not trifling differences.
But this does not at all mean that you cannot pray for their ministries to be blessed by God and faithful to Him. I do not at all believe that Rev. Ketcham has any sinful malice toward anyone of any race, beyond sinful anger that we all must examine in our hearts and repent of. Yet, look at the violence and hatred of White persons today by so many (not all) who are not White, indeed, even the self-loathing of many Whites! Will these presbyteries and assemblies admit that Whites are often unjustly despised today, and call those who are displaying sinful malice toward Whites to repentance?
I do not at all care for Bible-believing Baptists when they refuse to admit children of believers into the church membership and give them baptism, the sign of the covenant. Yet I can still appreciate and thank God for the ministry of a Paul Washer who has said that infant baptism was the golden calf of the Reformation!
Recall that Rev. Ketcham was holding back tears during his presbytery trial, longing for the day when our nation is restored to godliness once again, such that we can send out missionaries to the Africans and other nations and races that so desperately need the light of the Gospel. His love and pity for all was abundantly evident. He has not even said that we must cease all such missionary endeavors today, and I am glad for that because we should still minister to all. And Rev. Ketcham evangelizes and proclaims the gospel to all.
The bottom line -- it is not possible to excommunicate Rev. Ketcham for his views and still be thankful for men like Dabney, Thornwell, the Southern Presbyterians in general, but even men like Charles Hodge and other Puritans and Reformers who held the same or very similar views. My understanding is that at least one Pastor/Elder at Synod made this very point, or a similar point at least. Rev. Poplin, who was Rev. Ketcham's prosecutor at presbytery, has admitted as much in his very weak booklet regarding Dabney and Edwards, but tried to argue that the Church has since spoken on these issues and settled the matter. I went through Poplin's booklet in great detail, nearly word-for-word, in a multi-part video series, which you can watch here and also through these learn much about my own views in quite a bit of detail: https://youtube.com/watch?v=WrZcRV3HwCI...
The only way to righteously excommunicate Rev. Ketcham in this situation is to prove that he has sinful malice toward other races. And at Synod, his excommunication was nearly overturned, missing out by a 46-47 vote (by only 1 vote).
We are so leftist and egalitarian today that making any distinctions among nations and races or even male and female will leave you being charged with sinful malice in many circumstances. The same is true with differences between male and female. You will be called a misogynist, a sexist, a hater and abuser of women, etc., simply for saying the same things about women that Calvin and Gouge and all the Puritans and Reformers said. Many Ministers and Elders can hardly think clearly because they are so catechized by the spirit of the age, and many really do believe that Egalitarianism must be upheld in order for a pure Christianity to be upheld.
That is a severe indictment on our denominations today, our churches and seminaries and leadership. May God grant repentance, renewal, and rebuilding through new works and ministries that are faithful to the Word of God.
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