Interview with R.C. Sproul, Jr.

Presbyterian & Reformed News, Volume 6 Number 5, September–October 2000

Interview with R.C. Sproul, Jr.

It has been suggested that you are a “legalist.” Do you have any comment? (In your opinion, have you been slandered and/or libeled?)

There are, of course, two different kinds of legalists. The worst are those who deny the sufficiency of Christ’s work, and add some sort of meritorious works for how we have peace with God. The Judaizers are an example. The second affirms the true gospel, but adds man’s laws to God’s laws, saying “Thou shall” or “Thou shalt not” when God has said no such thing. Given the context of the debate, I would believe that the man making the claim would put me in the second category, not the first. To determine if I am a legalist, we have to determine what the law of God says. If I have gone beyond it, the accusation sticks. If not, he is an antinomian. No, I don’t think it is slander. I think it’s an error.

Why did you want to transfer into the PCA (particularly if you’ve been so critical of it)?

I wanted to transfer to the Westminster Presbytery because I have a great deal of respect for many of the teaching and ruling elders, and because they are close, it seemed like the best place for me to be under an authority. I have been critical of the PCA, as have you and lots of others. But I have never argued either that it is not a true church, nor even that it is not a Reformed church. I know of no other denomination with as many godly and wise men as pastors.

What have been your criticisms of MNA and the PCA?

My criticisms of the MNA and the PCA are very common. I find the whole church growth mentality to be troubling, as a lot of people do. As for the PCA in general, in my judgment, too often they are unwilling to make decisive stands on issues that matter; issues like creation, women in the pulpit, even the relationship of the evangelical church and Rome. We have PCA men that are all behind things like Evangelicals and Catholics Together, a document arguing among other things that, “Evangelicals and Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ.” That concerns me deeply.

Were you there when an elder said something to the effect, “R.C. Sproul, Jr., has nothing to offer this Presbytery, and this Presbytery has nothing to offer him”? Would you please comment on this statement?

It may be that I have nothing to offer the Westminster Presbytery. I wasn’t asking to join because it was my plan to remake it. I did believe, however, that the presbytery had something to offer me, the oversight a pastor needs as he, with the session, leads a congregation. The majority apparently believed that to help in this way would be too problematic for them, and so refused my request.

Concern has been raised about your views of worship. In what way or ways do your views differ with historic Presbyterianism and our Confessional Standards?

I don’t believe my views on worship differ from historic Presbyterianism and our Confessional Standards.

How has Tennessee-Alabama Presbytery (ARP) re-acted with regard to your request for transfer? Did the unusual actions by Westminster Presbytery elicit a sympathetic reaction from Tennessee-Alabama?

The Tennessee-Alabama presbytery was gracious enough to extend my status as a teaching elder in good standing until the Spring stated meeting. I consider that a sympathetic response, and am grateful.

Where are you going to place your ministerial credentials?

I am looking at some smaller Reformed and Presbyterian denominations right now.

Is there anything you would do differently with regard to the attempt to transfer to the PCA?

I would have done nothing different. I came looking for oversight. I spoke honestly about my convictions. And I was refused entrance. My conscience is clean, and I am perfectly at peace over the whole matter.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

While I am disappointed that the presbytery apparently found my views outside the bounds of what was acceptable, and while I still have the same concerns about the PCA I had before this happened, I still think the PCA is a perfectly legitimate denomination. I pray that other conservative people in the denomination do not misconstrue this as proof positive that all those who hold the views I hold are not welcome in the denomination. I pray for the peace and purity of the PCA.