The Liberal Takeover of American Protestanism

Crossed Fingers: How Liberals Captured the Presbyterian Church ^ | 1996 | Gary North

[Zack Nguyen]

This is long, but I believe worth it. The bold sections are my additions. I left out some parts of the Foreward. I did not include the footnotes as that would have made a lengthy post truly mammoth. The book is free, and I would recommend that everyone follow the link and read it fo themselves.

It is my hope that the above excerpt from Dr. North's excellent book will spark discussion on the current state of the American Church.

Currently, the only Protestant denomination that has successfully turned itself from the left to the right are the Southern Baptists. I think this is because of their non-heirarchical nature. Though they pool missions dollars and money for seminaries, the hiring of staff and pastors is completely controlled by the local bodies. Therefore the grassroots stayed conservative even as the leadership trended left. This made it possible for the grassroots to take back the convention.

This last Sunday my family and I attended a Bible Church. Bible Churches are a relatively new phenomenon in American Protestanism: completely unaffiliated autonomous churches who have no denominational connection whatsoever. They are essentially a response to the liberalization of the Protestant church.

It occurred to me that these churches may have the best answer to liberalism. Since they fund their own missionaries and works of good service, liberals cannot take them over from the top down. In order for liberals to take over Bible churches they would have to do so one at a time, and that is virtually impossible.

What are your thoughts about this excerpt?

[ibheath]

bookmark for later reading

[Zack Nguyen]

bump.

[tom h]

I have no time to read the excerpt but I belong to an evangelical Presbyterian Church and while I love the place and the pastoral staff is clearly Bible-focused and conservative on the right things I still have some concerns.

For example, they are pro-environment and think that buying a small car is a moral act.

They are a reflection of their generation but I think that some of these theological seminaries are on the liberal side, also.

[Fitzcarraldo]

Francis Schaeffer was also concerned about this.

/http://www.rationalpi.com/theshelter/

http://www.francis-schaeffer.com/

[anniegetyourgun]

Thanks for posting this. Very interesting read.

Left the PCUSA many years ago, despite a good local congregation. Couldn't continue to have them taking our hard-earned tithes to "re-imagine God" in their own image. We have not returned to a denominational church since. Despite the protests of RC's and others, I have no reason to believe that the first church of Christians was anything other than non-denominational.

Having said that, I wish you the best in finding your new church home.

[Zack Nguyen]

I do not know where "pro-environment" would fall on Biblical orthodoxy, unless of course your pastor starts talking about "Mother Earth." It sounds like this is not the case.

You are probably right about the seminaries. I have been told that there are only 10 seminaries left in America that teach the Bible as fundamentally inerrant.

[Zack Nguyen]

Yes he was! I have his "Complete Works" on my bookshelf, and have been slowly going through them.

[Zack Nguyen]

Thank you very much! Is RC an Orthodox Presbyterian?

[doc30]

I'm an Elder at my church (PCUSA) and about a year ago we joined the confessing church movement, which is a move toward more traditional, conservative theology. The liberalization of PCUSA is not reflected in many congregations.

[Zack Nguyen]

Does the confessing church movement send their $'s to the PCUSA still? Or do you line item certain areas? Or is it working from within to change the PCUSA?

[frithguild]

I am a confirmed catholic who has been attending a Presbyterian Church for a couple of years. My wife grew up in a Presbyterian church. I am thinking of joining, but I just have not committed to taking that leap. Perhaps I have been concerned that I do not really know what it is that I am joining.

I will read this book. Thanks.

[B-Chan]

I am a confirmed catholic who has been attending a Presbyterian Church for a couple of years... I am thinking of joining...

Why?

You'd give up the Eucharist -- the true Body and Blood of Christ -- for a mere “memorial”?

No Eucharist, no Jesus. No Jesus, no point in going to church. Any Catholic who doesn't believe in the Real Presence might as well sleep in on Sunday.

Praying for you,

[Zack Nguyen]

This book can give you a macro historical view of the denomination, but only you can judge your individual congregation. I am glad to hear that you are attending church. Simply ask yourself if correct doctrine is being preached, if your money goes to reputable ministries, if the pastor and staff live morally upright lives and believe what they say. Finally, observe how/if God is working in your church. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you worship. As someone once said, find out where God is working and jump in.

[ruppertdog]

This is a problem I am dealing with as a member of PCUSA. We have a conservative, older pastor who is a good leader. I am scared to death as to what we will get from Columbia or Princeton when he retires in the next few years.

I wouldn't say that the church has become more liberal, I am just troubled by the cultural aspects it has absorbed- casual dress, contemporary music and a much more evangelical and emotional religious experience rather than a traditional intellegent approach to God.

As PCUSA luminaries like Frank Harrington and his contemporaries gradually die out and retire, it is apparent that those who replace them are very different in the pulpit. The seminaries are giving us New Coke instead of Coke, and the results have been negative in some of the denominations' largest churches.

Go to the PCUSA website where they keep the attendance records for Peachtree Presbyterian Church. After Dr. Harrington died, attendance dropped way off, followed by a steep decline in membership. This was one of the largest congregations in the nation.

http://apps.pcusa.org/chstats/index.html?ch_pin=22087

PCUSA is actually trying to allow God to reach everyone, in the tradition of John Knox. This includes all sinners, no matter what the sin. At the same time the church is sacrificing Knox's respect for and fear of God for greater mass appeal by allowing solemn tradition to be replaced by pop culture like casual dress, newer, hipper music and patently inoffensive sermons full of meaningless props.

Newer preachers generally tend to ignore or indirectly address the complex moral issues of today's society for fear of being offensive. That religion has become a reflection of culture in many ways in order to reach more souls is an interesting paradox. I think it has hurt the spread of Chrisianity more than it has helped.

This is my experience in Metro Atlanta. It is not limited to just the Presbyterian church. All of the newer mainline churches seem to have identical services and theology, with the execption being Roman Catholic, some newer PCA and EPC preachers(Presbyterian demoninations), and Southern Baptists. Any one else have any experiences to share?

[tom h]

"I do not know where "pro-environment" would fall on Biblical orthodoxy"

Check Genesis 2 (3?) where God declares that man is to be a steward of the earth's plenty. We are obligated to not waste the resources, as God's steward. And, our stewardship is not more important than countless other God-ordained laws.

Here's where the paradox begins:

Do I buy a small car to save fuel or a large car to protect my family? My family is more important than inert oil in the ground.

Do I purchase organically-grown food or that done by agribusiness? Well, the agribusiness food is far cheaper and less prone to spoilage (especially after irradiation). It will cure hunger in the third world far faster than liberals ever will.

Etc., etc. Being a good steward does not mean toeing the liberal line on the environment.

[armymarinemom]

My father in-law fell into liberalism due to his church hook line and sinker. I have noticed that he has partially removed his head out of the sand due to the war and liberals stand on homosexuality.
Before the war the local leader of the United Methodist Church in his city declared that he was a citizen of the world and had nothing against Iraq. That is a pretty bold statement for Socialism.
This statement made my father in-law open his eyes a bit as to just what what was going on within his own Church.
He has also noticed that liberals are full steam ahead with a lot of issues that he personally considers immoral.
The marriage of liberals and protestants is at a definite crossroads at this time.

[D Rider]

Whatever congregation you choose, remember: The Church is the "body of christ', and christ has only one body. You are either a believer or you are not. Sadly, many "churches" are run by those that who are not by any scriptural definition christian. If you concentrate on scripture, you will find that it has the ability to self correct bad theology. The basic question that you must ask yourself is "Is the Bible truly the word of God?" Then find a church that teaches the word, not the opinions of men.

[Wallace T.]

There are at least four seminaries in the Dallas - Fort Worth area that hold to inerrancy: Dallas Theological Seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Criswell College, and Christ For the Nations Institute. You could count the Southern Baptist seminaries in Kentucky and North Carolina in the inerrancy column. Ditto for the conservative Presbyterian seminaries, such as Covenant (St. Louis), Knox (Orlando, Florida), Greenville (South Carolina), Westminster (Pennsylvania and California), and Reformed (Mississippi). Also, there are conservative independent seminaries such as Denver Seminary ans seminaries run by denominaitons such as the Assemblies of God and the Nazarenes.

[Wrigley]

Interesting read ping.