Posted on 12/07/2011 6:34:38 AM PST by IbJensen
Back in 2009, I wrote a piece in which I asked if the Christian church in America was being forced to go underground. As I recently read the news that pastors were being sued for preaching that homosexuality is a sin, I saw clearly that yes, the “real” Christian church in America, in order to continue to stay true to their belief and to God, will be forced to do as the early Christians did – go underground. » If you like this article, please subscribe to our daily newsletter
At the risk of being accused of being a wild-eyed, bible-thumping, Holy Roller, I need to explain what I mean when I say “the REAL Christian Church” in America.
In the past three decades, or so, many of the mainline Christian churches have slipped away from their foundation on the Holy Scriptures and adopted more and more secular tenents and leftist, politically correct, philosophy until they have become only a shadow of the true followers of Christ. In my opinion, those denominations can no longer claim to be “Christian” churches simply because -- they are not.
A few years ago, I left my own denomination, one of the mainline denominations in America, because it had chosen to forsake the tenents of the Bible and the “Good News,” the Gospel, as enunciated by the very person from whom the church had received its mission.
Allow me, please to state, flat out, that I do not hold myself to be a better Christian than any other follower of Christ. Nosiree! I am nothing more than a sinner saved by the grace of God – no more, and no less. It was a gift from a loving God. There was nothing I could have done and nothing I can ever do, which would have either bought that grace – or -- made me worthy of receiving it. In the eyes of God, I believe I am just as bad as the worst murderer on death row and just as good as the Pope. Our shared commonality is that we are all sinners.
Unfortunately, many of our mainline denominations have become nothing more than social clubs with many franchises nationwide. Their pastors “preach” feel good “sermonettes” about the environment, and things like “social justice.” In my opinion, that is not the mission of a church that purports to follow Christ. In fact, Christ, Himself, spelled out the mission of the church in what we refer to as The Great Commission.
After His resurrection and shortly before he ascended to heaven, he gave his followers this mission: 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20
That commission from Christ is the reason the church exists … period. To fulfill that mission the church MUST stand firmly upon the foundation of the Holy Scripture and the teachings of Christ. That means insisting that the standard(s) set by Christ are, and remain, the guiding force behind everything the church does. Of course, that means pastors are compelled to preach that those things the Scripture marks as sin are duly, and publicly, noted from their pulpits as SIN. If a church is reluctant to do this, or refuses to do this, then, in my opinion, that church is not a Christian church.
Today, in America, pastors are fearful of preaching the scriptures. They are fearful of pointing out man’s failings, man’s falling short of the mark. They are concerned that they will be dragged into court, and accused of slander or some form of libel because some sinner, as defined by the scriptures, has been offended or even embarrassed. It is a very real threat, especially to the evangelical church in America.
As a result those churches, which hold true to the gospel, now feel that they must consider meeting in secret for Bible classes, for worship services, or other bible centric gatherings.
The fact is, dear reader, America has deteriorated into such an ugly mess, that she has become the kind of country to which early America used to dispatch missionaries of The Gospel.
There is a clear attempt by the government (local, state, and federal) to criminalize biblical preaching and prevent thousands of churches and clergymen from practicing their faith without threat of penalty from our government.
So, yes, the Christian Church, I believe, WILL be driven underground in America, as it has been in other nations around the globe. Otherwise, it will cease to exist in this land many firmly believe was founded by Christians.
As much as it pains me to say this -- America is no longer a Christian nation. At least, America’s government no longer governs by men and women who base their convictions on the Judeo-Christian code of laws and beliefs.
And very soon now, I believe, the Supreme Court of the land will be in the hands of socialists, as well, and THAT will be the end of the experiment called “America” -- a nation which was to have been governed only by the voice of it’s people and their God.
The wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah could not hold a candle to the wickedness in America today.
If the true Christian church is to survive in America, it MUST go underground.
VOTE CONSERVATIVE IN NOVEMBER 2012
Of course once Christ's Church on earth began coping on its own with authority given by Jesus Christ a day was selected for honoring the birth of the Savior. That day was passed down the ages until today when muslims, government, so-called educators and others decided to denigrate the day in an attempt to relegate it to the ashcan as dictated by their god: satan.
More accurate to say it’s being forced into a ghetto.
I can well forsee the day where church meetings will be spread by text messages, like flash mobs. It’d be the only way to get around the Thought Police.
But yet that disgusting warbling “call to prayer” will be heard in every community, becuase we mustn’t offend our new Muslim masters.
There are many underground “churches” now. Go to any Spirit filled church and you will find “home groups”. That I think is were we are headed to small “home churches”. My brother helped plant about a dozen “churches” in east Germany. They operated as a “get together”. About 10 adults or so. Kids would be playing, there would be food on the table, and only pages from a Bible were brought. If they were challenged by the authorities, hey we are just having dinner. They didn’t meet in the same place very frequently or on the same day or time.
There are “churches” like that in Iraq. He did not help start those, but knows people who did.
It is not going to get easier only harder to meet together has believers.
Could the reason being why Jesus’s birth is honored because HE CHANGED the world?
Among the reasons I see Soviet style dissolution of the United States as a real possibility, roughly along red state - blue state lines.
I can see it coming. I currently do not attend church. My wife and I are members of a Presbyterian USA church. Since that denomination decided to throw in its lot with the secular world, there is really no point in going any more or giving them any more money. I can “go to church” in the secular world as well as in a secular church.
It couldn’t be because Jesus Christ is the Son of the true God of Heaven, earth and the universe could it?
I take that as a yes.
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
A Christian's most urgent and important mission is his **own** children. His next most important mission is that of the children of his congregation.
Yet....How many Christians ship their children off to prison-like and godless socialist K-12 schools? How can these children escape learning to think and reason godlessly, be comfortable with socialism and worldly secularism, and be compliant prisoners of the state?
How many parents pay tens of thousands of dollars for their children to attend godless universities and brag when their children have been accepted to the most godless universities in the world?
How many pastors have spouses that **willingly** work for, support, and uphold the godless socialist schools and therefore don't open Christian schools?
And...How many Christians, if they do use private schools, use schools that worship Marxist Liberation Theology rather than God?
I fear for this nation. One more generation of children mis-educated in godlessness and socialism in prison-like schools and we will sink into the muck of slavery. Why is it that other conservatives do not share my urgency and concern?
Yes.
While this article certainly describes the direction things are going, I believe it overstates the current situation. I know of no bible beliving Pastors who are afraid to preach the Gospel, or even the prohibitions against homosexuality, for fear of litigation. I also know of no cases where a Pastor has been held liable for preaching the Bible. Certainly, in Europe that is happening but it is not here yet.
So fear not those who can destroy the body, only fear the one that destroy both the body and soul in hell, then in the fear of God - if the people of God who are called His name will humble themselves, and pray and seek God's face, and turn from their wicked ways, then the Lord will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
< rant I dare say that Christians must get their children out of the government schools and raise the next generation of church leaders in the fear of the Lord, teaching them whatsoever things Christ has commanded them in His word. We teach disobedience when we teach that man is not fearfully and wonderfully made, but the result of a random collisions. We will lose the church as long as elders think of themselves as a board of directors and not as shepherds, we will lose the sheep as long as our mega-churches are so large that after 10 years the pastor/elders do not your name, we lose our message when we omit the message of faith and repentance or misplace the object of faith, we lose the next generation we remove them from worship and teach them that entertainment is what is really cool not giving glory to the creator and ruler of all creation. /rant
If they do it is their own fault
Sat back and allowed the liberals to take control of the country by voting for them
Also, if we are not to also become secular ourselves we MUST find fellowship with other Christians:
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another..." (Heb. 10:24,25)
At one time I would have not been for this, but there are too many Americans who want socialism. Too many people who are totally unfit to govern themselves. Parasites. They need to live in the socialist hell they want to impose on the rest of us and want us to pay for.
You should try one of the more conservative Presbyterian denomination like the PCA, Orthodox, or even the EPC. I don't know what area of the country you live in, but I'm sure you can find something more Godly and true to the Scriptures than the apostate USA church.
I left the apostate United Methodist Church over 15 years ago and it is the best thing I ever did.
Here is a link I found on Reformed churches:
http://www.tateville.com/churches.html
Cursed is the man who puts his trust in man,who puts his trust in an arm of flesh ,and who is turned from God.(something like that) Jeremiah 17:5 If the foundations are destroyed ,what can the righteous do ? (as it is written in Psalms . Whatever happens in America My God will protect His own. And I cannot be silent but am commanded to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This will eventually happen. We only have one car, and my wife is still somewhat connected to the current church because of friends she has there (she's been going there forever and we were married there in 1987); so she still attends the PC USA church. I found a PCA church I like, but it does not have a choir; and my wife likes to sing in a choir. We need to get another vehicle so that I can drive to a different church than her; or we both need to go elsewhere.
..which makes me wonder why every Twitter message ever transmitted has been incorporated into the Library of Congress. I can't help if some word-searching throughout those files is ongoing in an attempt to glean what the regime deems to be "hate" speech.
The day will likely come when pastors will no longer be sued for preaching against homosexuality... they'll be arrested.
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