PCA Elder Repents of Revoice & Warns of Its Ongoing Dangers & Influence
RE Charles Higham reflects on his past support of Revoice based on his own experience, but now proclaims the truth that 'normal' is just a dryer setting and calls PCA to clarity, holiness, and freedom
In 2022 Ruling Elder Charles Higham attended the Revoice Conference held in Dallas, but now he tells the PCA we need to “stop pretending Revoice isn’t the problem.”
RE Higham had read Greg Johnson’s infamous book, Still Time to Care, which has been exposed for its problematic and deviant theology both by parachurch organizations, a PCA Network, and church courts. And now RE Higham has joined them in raising the alarm regarding Johnson’s defining work.
RE Higham found elements in the version of Christianity embraced by Johnson and Revoice to match up with his own personal experience of sexual temptation. But recently RE Higham issued a statement of public repentance for his support of then PCA TE Greg Johnson and Revoice.
As RE Higham explains on this week’s Bonus Episode of the Westminster Standard, concurrent with his embrace of the distorted, truncated version of Christianity propagated by Revoice and Johnson, he also noted a decline in his own personal Bible reading and other spiritual disciplines. For RE Higham, the trouble with Revoice is not largely a problem of “perception,” as one PCA TE explained it in 2020, but one of truth and practical, personal holiness.
This episode of the Westminster Standard was a joint endeavor with TE George Sayour of the Presbyterian & Reformed Churchman Podcast. TE Sayour has been faithfully warning about the dangers of Revoice, since the controversy began. TE Sayour has been calling attention to the legalistic, pharisaical, postmodern hermeneutic employed by the defenders of Revoice within the PCA (see his blog here). Because of his expertise on this subject, I was especially grateful to join TE Sayour to chat with RE Higham.
On this episode, RE Higham speaks out about the persistent danger to the PCA posed by Revoice and the “Side-B” ideology, ontology, and sympathies. RE Higham expresses concern that there continue to be defenders of the Side-B position and proponents of Revoice within the PCA.
On the episode, RE Higham warns the PCA must not perceive Revoice and Side B as merely a difference over terms and words. Elders must not hide behind vague terminology, but vigilantly guard the flock of God against the soul-crushing ideology for which Revoice advocates.
The purported terminology confusion regarding Revoice and Side-B is widespread. RE Higham suggests the late Tim Keller’s statements were part of the problem. According to Higham, Keller claimed the PCA’s human sexuality report was a repudiation of the Side B position, but at the same time Keller endorsed Johnson’s book, which is built upon the faulty premise that Side B is consistent with Biblical Christianity.
In his own statements on Twitter and his comments on this episode, RE Higham calls the PCA to be clear in rejecting Revoice and the Side B position and faithfully warn our members and communities of the danger of such positions. RE Higham’s own experience demonstrates the harm that flows from the false teachings of Revoice.
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But will PCA elders hear this gospel-centered and urgent call from one who suffered much and whom Christ has yet preserved as a trophy of His grace?
The PCA is not the only denomination to be disturbed by Revoice theology. Recently reports have circulated that Memorial [Independent? Presbyterian?] Church in Saint Louis is attempting to be received into the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. This development has motivated some congregations in the EPC to begin exploring other ecclesiastical fellowships. The leaven of Revoice not only hinders the holiness and peace of individuals, but it also divides whole denominations.
The PCA must make no provision for the theology of Revoice or equivocations regarding what “Side B” might mean. RE Higham presents a compelling, yet winsome case to abandon word games regarding holiness, sexuality, and sanctification and instead press on together toward the upward call of Christ.
The Westminster Standard Podcast is on a fortnightly distribution schedule this spring. Our next regular episode will premiere March 18, 2024. It will either be a conversation with TEs Nate Xanders and Ben Ratliff discussing the proliferation of PresbyMedia and what this indicates regarding the health of the PCA or a discussion with TEs Xanders and Chas. Stover with the hosts of the True Believer Podcast, which is investigating the brutal unsolved murder of Elizabeth Mackintosh at Covenant Seminary in 1990. If you have a preference for which you’d like to hear first, you can reply to this email or message me on Twitter x.com/theWSpod.