Posted on 10/06/2022 7:07:32 AM PDT by fwdude
About 3,000 of the approximately 18,000 Protestant pastors in Germany in the 1930s openly supported Adolf Hitler, and about the same number ended up opposing his tyrannical rule.
But it was the vast majority of ministers, about 12,000, who chose to remain silent – arguing it wasn't their place to engage in politics – who enabled the Nazis to "crush the heroic 3,000" who stood up against the dictator, points out Eric Metaxas in his new book "Letter to the American Church."
"That is the nightmare – that they thought it would be safe," Metaxas said in an interview with James Robison on the "LIFE Today" television program.
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
Everyone needs to buy this book and give it to their pastor.
It gets much worse than that. In my church, there is a married lesbian bishop who is all-powerful regarding churches in the western part of the U.S.
She is ignoring any and all violations of church doctrine by permitting churches under her jurisdiction to favor gay marriages and gays in the pulpit. Some churches within her territory are now mostly gay. She teaches that some of the teachings of Jesus were in error and that He isn't actually God.
Why?
If that is the reason they are preaching, then there is a special place in Hell reserved for them.
Shepherds who don’t lead their flock to the Cross are leading them to Hell.
Bingo! (There ARE ‘non501c3’ churches out there...just look around.)
Since President Trump, by executive order, repealed the enforcement provisions of the Johnson Amendment, this is no longer an issue.
What we Believe
Faith
We believe that faith is a process - a journey. It isn't about having all the right answers. We come from many backgrounds and traditions. In our church, there are no tests of faith. The Bible is taken seriously but not literally.
Our church is founded on the right of each member to follow the Jesus path, according to the dictates of conscience, under the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit.
We affirm the sacredness of all mainstream religions as paths that can lead to the holy. We value our oneness with all who work for justice.
Staff
(****)
Pastor of Church Administration
What’s your most used emoji?
· Definitely the smiley face
If you were a pasta shape, what shape would you be, and why?
· I like the shape of the fusilli – twisty and spirally. It reminds me of life. I have not had much luck in getting tomato sauce to absorb into this particular kind, but it sure does look cool.
What would be your personal motto?
· Live in the moment.
What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working?
· Engaging in rich conversation, whether through a book or with a person.
Wrong approach.
No church should allow the insertion of any political speech — except to insist that there is no political speech allowed. The US has a division of church and state, many other countries lack that.
If a church starts spewing political crappola report them to the IRS. There is a reward from the IRS if your tipoff results in their collecting more taxes.
Folk in the congregation will object if they agree with the speech — this is how you spot a fanatic.
I know some of the points you are trying to make but I disagree with how you are making them. Our constitution does not have any problem with churches and has no "division" between church and state. It simply prohibits the "establishment" of a Federal religion -- something that was very common in the 1700s in other areas. In fact it did not prevent State Governments from established religion as there were some in that day.
Modern law tells churches that if they wish to be tax exempt they cannot be political institutions, but I want my Reverend to point out evil when he sees it and, yes, I also want parishioners to object if they so believe but to do it in the proper manner.
“Churches are all political organizations now.”
Churches are all democratic party behavioral change organizations now. They are also fearful of losing their tax status.
My church, prior to the social revolution of the 1960’s and on, was known as the “Republican Party at prayer.” Today it has seen a 180 degree switch and embraces woke-ism -just like our universities and government. Not necessarily in local churches but absolutely true in the national church leadership.
Of course, Jesus had nothing good to say about the leadership of his church either.
Churches should talk about Jesus.
I don’t need a preacher to talk about politics .
That would open the door to a steady stream of lecturing about global warming and other nonsense
This is the United Methodist Church which is currently in the midst of splitting up over this very issue.
Why are you a member, “my church,” of an apostate church to start with?
I am watching old churches in our little community dry up and die. Covid finished them off or turned them into social clubs. One church that went liberal in the 1980’s is in it’s death throws. They are bleeding members and $, their days are numbered. Two others stopped everything but Sunday morning services for covid. One is trying to start things going again but handling it in a ham handed fashion and making a mess and the other just doesn’t care about anything but a Sunday morning service anymore and it’s withering away to nothing.
Our church seems to be bucking the trend with growth. We did the parking lot service during covid for the month of April and we started in person services back in May. Right now we are one of the few doing Sunday school, morning/evening services, Wednesday evening services and youth program. We haven’t been scamming on other churches which doesn’t seem right to the pastor and deacons. They have just been saying we are having services and you are invited. We run between 85-125 on Sunday mornings and 40-50 on Sunday/Wednesday evenings.
The pastor and deacons so far have not bent an inch to the liberal agenda, but preach salvation and the church makes an effort to be there for members who are sick or had death in the families. When you walk in staff will greet you, but once you get seated you may have 15-20 people from the membership greet you and shake hands. It’s not promoted by the pastor or deacons, but it’s something that the church has always been known for, being friendly.
A visiting Czech pastor commented that the mortal sin of the American Churches is they are dependent on donations from their customers.
He stated that his church is state funded, and he has more freedom in preaching than an American pastor because calling out a sin will not lead to the closing of the church.
A perspective I found offensive at the time, but over the years have seen to have some merit.
The local churches still preach the Gospel...but the church leadership nationally has been heading down the wrong path faster and faster.
As said, the is the United Methodist Church...now not so united.
I would describe what is happening as a hostile takeover by LGBTQ at the management level. You can't blame the local congregations for fighting back. At the moment, there are plans for disassociation and the setting up of a new international church (the Global Methodist Church).
Does that answer your question?
Understood. I commiserate with the churches and pastors which try to hold the biblical, traditional line in teaching and doctrine within the UMC, but it is pretty much a lost cause now. The SBC is going in the same direction, and I cannot affiliate with that group any longer. I’d feel that tribute is being sent to the demonic head.
Guenevere, the Calvin College factory and other RCA establishments are struggling “to get along.”
This might be indicative from twenty years ago:
1998-JUN: Rev. Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, RCA general secretary, stated, in reference to equal rights for gays and lesbians: “No issue today has as much potential to spawn divisiveness, mistrust, gossip, suspicion and conflict in the church as this one. No issue has more capacity to confuse our focus, drain our energy, injure our fellowship and divert our mission than this one. No current issue can so easily demoralize our meetings, paralyze our process, fuel our anxiety and cripple our confidence as this one.” He proposed a moratorium of debate on the issue at the RCA’s General Synods through to the year 2000.
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