There is a debate about the future of Presbyterian churches in Scotland. The debate is inadequate because it does not begin with Scripture but with historical and theological analysis, presumably to detect where things went wrong in order to put them right.
There is certainly a role for this, but the cure should arise from biblical behaviour irrespective of the past. The past helps to identify major issues, but the solution must still be biblical behaviour.
History will identify that abusive ecclesiastical behaviour is the major cause of dissentions and denominational splits.
Presbyterian History
Presbyterian zeal to build Christ church has a long history, not only in Scotland. Early American zeal, following the Second Great Awakening, led to the desire and attempt to recover the Apostolic church. It threw the baby out with the bath-water and the movement was ill-prepared for the challenges of the 19th century, such as evolution, biblical criticism, forms of worship, etc., but the readiness to experiment and change created a milieu for change and 19th-century America became a hotbed for religious cults.
This experiment with change continued into the 20th century with the 1910 Edinburgh missionary conference leading to the ecumenical movement, with its race to the bottom common denominator. It created ‘jobs for the boys’ on stages larger than the national scene, such as the World Council of Churches (WCC) but there was no progress in biblical solutions for the church.
International Presbyterianism was now large enough to influence world events, but the downward pathway away from biblical principles continued, and the 21st century now witnesses the multifath agenda after the intermediary interfaith movement.
With this background, the Presbyterian interest in church union in Scotland arises from declining numbers and not from biblical principles about Christ’s church.
Diagnosis
A diagnosis of the various issues will help but often this is used to justify continued denominationalism. Ultimately the church needs to recover its biblical roots. The Christian Gospel has the potential to grow anywhere and to produce fruit 30-fold, 60-fold and 100-fold. So why does it not do so at present?
It did so in the past, so why not in the present?
I have suggested that its poor governance is hindering progress. Unbiblical behaviour has impeded progress.
Christian behaviour should solve many a problem, if only it was preached and practised.
There is always a bias in favour of the status quo, but my suggested Reformation of Presbyterianism is intended to lead to an improved biblical analysis of the Church.
The present situation
Current Presbyterianism has become legal, hierarchial, partisan and overbearing.
Failed attempts at reform have focused on organic union on the false premise of Jesus’ High Priestly prayer in Jn 17. The ecumenical movement of the late 20th century has failed and it is now experimenting with interfaith dialogue with a view to integration by one means or another.
The failure of the ecumenical movement is no reason for the Presbyterian church to delay its own Reformation along biblical lines.
Organic union
Presbyterian Reformation does not mean organic union. If the spirit of Presbyterianism is not practised within a denomination, organic union will not improve it, but it will simply give more scope and opportunity for Diotrephes 3Jn 1:9 to strut on a wider stage.
Rather, biblical behaviour between different branches of Christ’s visible church might teach each denomination and its congregations how to behave at the individual level. It is behaviour that is the solution – Christian behaviour.
Using its God-given gifts
This means making use of all the gifts Christ has given to His Church. Instead of “I am of Paul, I am of Apollos”, Paul taught us that “All things are yours” 1Cor 3:21-22. When did you last act on this advice?
Although Presbyterianism developed in Scotland yet one will hardly ever see references to Scottish theologians in Wikipedia articles about theology. This is all the more reason for Scottish Presbyterianism to lead the way once more with biblical behaviour.
Just as the Scottish Enlightenment manifested the educational and intellectual abilities of Scotsmen, like Presbyterianism before it, so it is time for Scottish theology to develop Christian behavioural theology.
Much of modern Christianity is more interested in listening to German theologians and now American theologians and sometimes South American liberation theologians, but the attainments of Scottish Presbyterianism is largely ignored. This may be no wonder at present, in view of the parlous state of its fragmented churches and the lack of contribution throughout the 20th century. Until we put our own house in order, who will listen? However, if we put it in order on biblical principles of behaviour we will not only contribute something new to the global ecclesiastical community, but the smile of heaven may demonstrate the blessing that attends Christian behaviour at the collective, local and personal level.
The future
The future belongs to God, but Jesus has told us what to expect. He taught His Church to pray “Thy kingdom come.” It is not an empty prayer; it has purpose and a target in it. Prayer without action is dead, just as “faith without works is dead” Jam 2:17,20,26.
After the completion of Christ’s Advent Ps 110:1-2, the biblical millennium will produce theologians who will implement the necessary revision to ecclesiastical and personal Christian behaviour, which will contribute to the perpetuation of the Millennium. Meanwhile, we can begin to Work Towards the Millennium with behavioural reform.
Links:
24 Jul 2026: the spirit and form of Presbyterianism.
31 Oct 2026: inadequate Presbyterian debate.
14 Apr 2026: Northern Ireland and some distinctives.
