Liberal Christianity is paying for its sins

LA Times ^ | 7/9/06 | Charlotte Allen

[Oshkalaboomboom]

The accelerating fragmentation of the strife-torn Episcopal Church USA, in which several parishes and even a few dioceses are opting out of the church, isn't simply about gay bishops, the blessing of same-sex unions or the election of a woman as presiding bishop. It also is about the meltdown of liberal Christianity.

Embraced by the leadership of all the mainline Protestant denominations, as well as large segments of American Catholicism, liberal Christianity has been hailed by its boosters for 40 years as the future of the Christian church.

Instead, as all but a few die-hards now admit, all the mainline churches and movements within churches that have blurred doctrine and softened moral precepts are demographically declining and, in the case of the Episcopal Church, disintegrating.

It is not entirely coincidental that at about the same time that Episcopalians, at their general convention in Columbus, Ohio, were thumbing their noses at a directive from the worldwide Anglican Communion that they "repent" of confirming the openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire three years ago, the Presbyterian Church USA, at its general assembly in Birmingham, Ala., was turning itself into the laughingstock of the blogosphere by tacitly approving alternative designations for the supposedly sexist Christian Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Among the suggested names were "Mother, Child and Womb" and "Rock, Redeemer and Friend." Moved by the spirit of the Presbyterian revisionists, Beliefnet blogger Rod Dreher held a "Name That Trinity" contest. Entries included "Rock, Scissors and Paper" and "Larry, Curly and Moe."

Following the Episcopalian lead, the Presbyterians also voted to give local congregations the freedom to ordain openly cohabiting gay and lesbian ministers and endorsed the legalization of medical marijuana.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Excellent read on the effect of Liberalism on religion. Did you really expect it to be anything other than a disaster when the fringe is allowed to take over?

[dawn53]

Entries included "Rock, Scissors and Paper" and "Larry, Curly and Moe."

I think the LA Times read FR. Those were some of the suggestions given here.

[Terabitten]

When a Christian church cannot bring itself to endorse a bedrock Christian theological statement repeatedly found in the New Testament, it is not a serious Christian church.

Not quite. It's a social club. It's at this point that they should clearly have their tax status revoked, because they're no longer a house of worship - they're just a bunch o' liberals.

[Birmingham Rain]

"Among the suggested names were "Mother, Child and Womb" and "Rock, Redeemer and Friend." Moved by the spirit of the Presbyterian revisionists, Beliefnet blogger Rod Dreher held a "Name That Trinity" contest. Entries included "Rock, Scissors and Paper" and "Larry, Curly and Moe."


What a terrible disgrace. I hate that my eyes saw it to read it.

[dawn53]

Here's the previous thread about the change (where the 'rock paper scissors' analogy was mentioned.)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1652095/posts

[Notwithstanding]

catholic moral absolutes ping

[Tennessean4Bush]

Wow. Cannot believe LA Times allowed this to be printed.

[Caipirabob]

The fact of the matter is that as long as there is an organized structure to Christianity, the enemy will always be knocking itself out to infiltrate and corrupt it. CINO's are a direct result of their successes. They will promote any pervesion they can possibly manage as part of their "church" doctrine, but it is no closer to following the teachings of Christ than any random set of stereo instructions is.

[Birmingham Rain]

Thanks, Dawn.

"...Presbyterians also should seek "fresh ways to speak of the mystery of the triune God" to "expand the church's vocabulary of praise and wonder."

I think I'll stick to my limited vocabulary. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God" is simple enough for me.

[StonyBurk]

May be a denominational effect -but I was taught -first by the southern Baptists--then by the Christian Church -most importantly by the Scriptures themselves that whenever we
screw up--and play word games with the original menaing and intent of a passage or verse Then we get the contradictions and misunderstandings. the libs make th esame mistakes the
slaveholders made when they attmepted to justify their actions by use of the Scripture. We ought use Scripture to
change our life --not to twist it in attmept to justify our
evil deeds.

[Notwithstanding]

The church of the long-haul, that is to say the Catholic Church pastored by the pope, will weather this storm as it has all others: with the truth intact.

The novel groups that have no core but the Bible - a book that the early Church did not even recognize as the Word of God and which is open to wide array of interpretations -cannot weather the storms over the long haul and maintain the truth.

If it were not for the crystal clarity of Catholic doctrine, the "indpendent" churches would be wandering around wondering what the bible says about issues and moral dillemmas that are not covered by the bible.

I am all for the conservative protestant churches as I see that they embrace much of God's truth - but they are still wandering. They have no unity - and cannot have it according to their own doctrine - despite the very prayer of Jesus that we all would be one. Thanks be to God that Catholic doctrine does unite us all under one pastor who leads us all to be better followers of Christ.

[WorkingClassFilth]

These ain't fringers. These is yer basic old-fashioned apostates and heretics.

[Northern Yankee]

Yep... when politics, or political correctness, take control of the church's policies or doctrine, the church suffers.

I remember hearing a priest say that if the Catholic Church changed its doctrine on gay marriages, it would become more despised than it is now.

I absolutely agree.

[Caipirabob]

Great post - BUMP!

[vimto]

We must be clear about 'remnant' theology for these days - those who have not bowed their knee to Ba'al. A remnant saved by grace.

We also need to understand the doctrine of the visible and invisible church so not to get too discouraged.

These are the last days, days of grace bothers and sisters, watch and pray. The world goes it's own way. we are the apple of the Lord's eye and he covers us in the shadow of His hand.

Notice how the persecuted church is cleared about the Gospel. This blasphemous mockery is the result of too much comfort (among other things)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him ye creatures here below. Praise him all ye heavenly host. Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost. Now and unto the ages. Amen

[goldstategop]

Liberalism is godlessness. And who said the vain shall inherit the earth? Indeed.

(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)

[Reo]

"And they keep telling the Catholic Church that it had better get with the liberal program — ordain women, bless gay unions and so forth — or die. Sure.

Thank you, John Paul II! And thank you Benedict XVI. As a convert to Catholicism 12 years ago, I cannot understand how my two brothers, one Episcopalian and one Presbyterian, cannot see the wreckage occuring around them. They are blinded by their liberalism. It is very sad.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

look at the decline of the churchs in europe. liberalism really did a number on them.look at the northeast united states.following right along.very sad

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Are you trying to attemp to diminish the value of God's Word? Do you believe the words of a Pope are just as valuable, or even more so? To believe this, we would have to believe that ALL Popes have been consistent in their beliefs, and they have not.

The Popes change. The Word of God, (Bible) does not change.

[goldstategop]

Islam is the only religion growing since there's no such thing as a liberal Muslim. Either you accept the Koran as divinely ordained or lose your head. Christianity used to be equally severe in persecuting heresy til liberal paganism swallowed up much of the Church.

(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)