Posted on 06/23/2014 6:39:22 AM PDT by Gamecock
At one point during this this week’s General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the hundreds of delegates, known as commissioners, gleefully bounced scores of red balloons in the air. At another point, they collectively broke into dance, confirming that most Protestants, especially if they’re old, white and Anglo, don’t look so great wiggling around. (Here’s a video, for mature viewers only.)
Mainline Protestantism, at least in its official curia, has been liberal for nearly 100 years. But for most of that century it was a thoughtful, dignified liberalism that still roughly adhered to historic Christianity’s moral architecture, even if it no longer upheld the core doctrine. But the yonder years of stately Protestantism, at least in the old Mainline, are largely over. And this week, the 1.7 million member PCUSA suffered a meltdown, authorizing clergy to conduct same sex unions, reaffirming its commitment to largely unrestricted abortion rights, and voting to divest from three firms doing business with Israel.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Thanks for the heads up. I’ll look into it before I make a fool of myself.
On the conservative side we have the Presbyterian Church in America, The Orthodox Presbyterian Church and The Associate Reformed Prebyterian Church. There are also a few that have a handful of churches in the denomination.
In the middle, but leaning conservative we have the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
All of the above make it easy for members and pastors to move between them, which is useful if you move a lot, like I do. Pastors go to the same conservative seminaries.
On the left we have the PC(USA) and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which is Presbyterian in church government only.
I agree with you.
In this context the issue is a theological liberalism and a theological conservatism.
It goes back to that question that Jesus asked, “who do you say I am? “
Conservatism, as I understand it, stands up for core principals. For Christians for instance, that is Biblical Inerrancy and the Authority of God and His Word. Socialism/Progressivism seems to put man above God instituting human relitavism instead.
For instance in Social Justice stealing from the rich is justified by getting rid of "Thou Shalt not Steal". Abortion is justified by getting rid of "Thou Shalt not Kill". Homosexuality is justified by getting rid of "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery". It all comes down to getting rid of God and His word because it is inconvenient to men.
Agree.That ship sank in the early 1900's, with FDR's welfare state.
Liberals would tell you that Jesus advocated paying your taxes and helping the poor. They have just as much of a case as conservatives have. Christianity is simply not built on the same principles as American conservatism. There are elements of it that can be used by both sides, but it's a pick-and-choose business.
Give Christians Conservatives someone to vote *for*, and then you'll understand.
bump
**Give Christians Conservatives someone to vote *for*, and then you’ll understand.**
Give us churches that preach Christ crucified and it won’t be an issue.
I appreciate the spin on my comment, but you are kinda being redundant ; )
Not at all. Go to the top of the thread and you’ll see I’m not. But this is the example of theological liberalism.
At the other end of the spectrum are churches that preach moralism. Jesus is trotted out, but the law is held supreme.
Pick and choose Christianity? You mean pick from some parts of the scripture and not others? That's not following the Lord, that's following self.
Jesus said "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). The Christian must deny their own way and follow Christ and His word. It is not pick and choose.
On the worship aspect, basically you have to avoid the Megachurch-like PCAs. Otherwise, the RPW seems pretty solid.
Nevertheless, that is what Christians do. They say they don't, but they do. I don't know anyone who has given away all their wealth to follow Jesus.
I think that would apply to nearly all mega-churches, regardless of affiliation. They are just big corporations with a customer base, for the most part.
As the scripture says "All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God". Yet the good news is that the Lord Jesus Christ has stood in our place and taken our failures, mistakes and sin upon Himself on the Cross for folks like us.
And because of His love, we reform ourselves as much as possible daily to His word. For all Christians, it is a process and a place Not already arrived at.
Do you know Christ?
And Democrats who are Christians are no more sinners than Republicans who are Christians. A Democrat who wants to feed the poor is no less Christian than a Republican who wants to end abortion. In fact, the Democrat who wants to feed the poor and resists judging fallen women is closer to Jesus’ actual teachings. That was my only point.
Our PCA church announced that, unlike the PCUSA, they voted to reaffirm the defense of marriage. While there was no dancing in the aisles, there were sustained and enthusiastic applauses.
I find it most difficult to understand how a Bible believing Christian can be for liberal socialist causes. Items like abortion, support of gay marriage, and other causes are completely opposed to God’s word. It isn’t surprising God was boo’ed at the Democratic convention and almost removed from the platform for they have become socialists.
You will know who are true believers by their fruits. And I certainly don’t believe a true believer will boo God or support such behavior-whatever they happen to say.
Such unrestrained enthusiasm is most unPresbyterian. ;-)
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