I think this is a very broad-brushed view of the situation.
Especially the indictment in your last paragraph.
I would rather take a more optimistic view of all that is happening. We are being sifted like wheat, that is sure, and when that happens, good things can rise up as a result. We need to be encouraged...and encouraging...if we want to contribute our share of building up the church.
I don’t think harsh and pessimistic attitudes are helpful.
Nor do I think it is helpful to paint such a picture: “fancy clothes”; “no concern for the gospel or morality at all”; “serving to increase profit margins”; “sacrilegious vipers” (!!!).
Philippians 4:1-8
Nor do I think it is helpful to paint such a picture: “fancy clothes”; “no concern for the gospel or morality at all”; “serving to increase profit margins”; “sacrilegious vipers” (!!!).
Would you have taken that view of such language as "whited sepulchers" when it was used a couple millenia ago? The fact is we should, no must, be more honest in our assessments of these people who have been so consistently unreliable. As it is now we are being led down the primrose path by a bunch of bureaucrats and politicians. It is time to wake up and see the situation for what it is.
The great mass of bishops in this nation have demonstrated over and over their lack of concern with morality and doctrinal integrity, and have consistently sided with political and monetary expediency. And now we are supposed to be convinced that they are all converted and instantly learned how wrong they were just in time for this one issue which just happens to place costs on them rather than those in their congregations? That would be convenient. I am sorry but I won't buy that until they take a position in which they don't have a monetary stake in the outcome.