Religion Today (Mainline Denominations join into one Protestant denomination in the Netherlands)

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) — With each signature on a parchment document, a group of Dutch clergymen watched their churches pass into history. What emerged — a new church combining three Protestant denominations — is now being watched from India to Indiana as the latest bid to consolidate religious energy at a time of serious challenges for mainline Protestants: shrinking congregations, faith-snubbing youth and deepening rifts about reconciling homosexuality and Scripture. At least six initiatives are under way around the world to bring together various Protestant churches, including a looser, nine-member association in the United States with such influential backers as the Episcopal, Methodist and Presbyterian leadership.

First they spoke a sweet, very nice but 'conservative' gospel that would never hurt anyone's feelings or actually birth anyone in Christ at all. Now they speak panic as they find they are having some difficulty selling their apostasy in the emotional economy/marketplace of the non-regenerate world.

Matthew 11:16-19 But to whom shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the markets, which, calling to their companions, say, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced: we have mourned to you, and ye have not wailed. For John has come neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon. The Son of man has come eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a man that is eating and wine-drinking, a friend of tax-gatherers, and of sinners: --and wisdom has been justified by her children.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

Had to check there a moment ~ the guys in Churches Uniting in Christ aren't exactly "apostates". For the most part these are churches driven by their ministers to seek a larger, more stable base for their retirement programs.

They actually believe they can have all the benefits of the United Methodist Church without having to put up with bishops (or their very thick hymn books full of songs no one ever heard before).

In the meantime they are losing members like crazy. In each and every denomination involved in this movement (which would be better served with any number of group retirement plans offered through Fidelity) they've come up with the idea that they have to cater to the gays.

Bye bye!

From the article...

"Dutch Protestant church leaders have tilted to more liberal views in recent decades in an attempt to keep pace with society. The new Protestant Church will grant "blessings" to gay couples and permit female pastors, but will not force local congregations to accept them. This, however, did not sit well with conservation factions in the three churches. At least 15,000 members refused to join the new church and have formed a breakaway group."

These liberal churches are dying, so they are forced to throw in together to say afloat.

More...

"...birthrates indicate trends that could leave even fewer worshippers in the European pews in decades to come. The flip side: Immigrant Muslim populations continue to grow."

The Muslims may be God's judgement on apostate Christianity. They've turned from the truth and now they may well feel what true bondage and spiritual darkness is like.

The Muslims may be God's judgement on apostate Christianity. They've turned from the truth and now they may well feel what true bondage and spiritual darkness is like.

That could very well be. India had the gospel once--look at them today. God says of apostate Israel: Deu 28:64-66 And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen

This may well be the future of some mainline churches but it is a deathbed reaction, not the symptom of renewal.

Mainline churches need to look at those segments of their own congregations which are growing. If they did, they would find that it is the emphasis on doctrine and reverence that are attracting people - not ever looser standards.

"This all feeds into what we call ecumenical efforts. The crass word would be 'seeking survival.'"

Bottom line. Mainline denominational organizations are dying on the vine, and this merger movement is a last ditch bid for survival.

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