Posted on 01/16/2005 8:50:43 AM PST by sionnsar
JA has pointed us to an article by Os Guinness, Kissing Judases: How the Episcopal leaders have betrayed their own faith. This is much like the one we read yesterday by Dr. Packer, and Guinness discusses the weaknesses of religious liberalism--indeed, he shines a spotlight on them:
The more serious weaknesses of religious liberalism are more damaging still. First, extreme liberalism abandons the fidelity of faith.
Significantly, the Jewish Scriptures always speaks of apostasy as adultery—a form of betrayal or cheating on God as heinous as a husband cheating on his wife. As an observer wrote of the parallel crisis in the Catholic Church, “It is a different and altogether more poignant thing when someone whose calling is to call people to faith no longer hears the call or has the faith.” The revisionist leaders of the Episcopal Church are openly promiscuous and disloyal in their infidelity to their own beliefs and teaching.
Second, extreme liberalism negates the authority of faith. ...
[This is an excerpt. Click through to read the rest of this excellent article. --sionnsar]
Weak leaders are therefore more deadly to a faith than its worst enemies, for the surest way for faith to die is by its own hands—death by a thousand reinterpretations.
I disagree. There is truth in the reality of God and in His ways. His True children will always recognize the difference between God's words and those of any false idol.
Weak leaders often strengthen Gods reality in his children's hearts because they must cling all the more to what they know is the truth rather than what the church leaders may be trying to pass off as the truth.
Strong leaders in the church may allow many followers to follow who have no idea what they re about.
"He who marries the spirit of
the age soon becomes a widower."
Sums it all up, doesn't it? The zeitgeist is a demon. Why does the West, whether Roman, Anglican or some other brand of Protestant refuse to understand this?
I disgree. Paul clearly tells us that in the last days there will be false teachers (read: bad leaders) who will lead many astray. I see it today in many denominations, not just the Epsicopalians - fanciful preaching, particularly among Charismatics, is leading many away from the faith.
In thorough agreement; great quote. I suspect.. no, I KNOW there are many in the West who understand this (or its essence, at least).. but those in the "mainstream churches" (sort of like "mainstream media") are today a minority, or at least not in charge.
A situation not likely to remain for long.
I agree that those that know the truth are not going to be swayed by poor leadership. But stong leaders are going to teach their followers the truth so that they are fully aware of "what they're about".
"Blind leaders of the blind" run the full spectrum of the little known, to the big, centuries old, religious organizations.
So many organizations have buried themselves in man-made doctrines to the point that they barely resemble the church that Jesus founded.
I'm reminded of a true story of the Lombardi era GB Packers. At a team meeting following a terrible team performance, Coach Lombardi (holding a football in his hands) announces that there is a need to start anew saying, "gentlemen, this is a football".
Christianity started out right with no man-made doctrines. Jesus commanded repentance and remission of sins to be preached in his name beginning at Jerusalem. To see this fulfilled, one must go to the book of Acts, chap.2 verse 38. Note that Peter says "everyone of you", no exceptions!
For example: To skip the book of Acts and move on to the epistles to teach the rebirth, is putting the cart before the horse. The epistles were written to people already born again. See the phrase, "To the saints at..." found at the start of so many of of them.
So many organizations have buried themselves in man-made doctrines to the point that they barely resemble the church that Jesus founded.
Oh yes this world is, and always has been full of false teachers, but ultimately, the ability to discern is left to the individual, when he accepts Jesus Christ as his own personal Lord and Savior.
I believe that once one has accepted Christ as his Savior, no matter what church, or particular lifestyle one decides is right, he has still been born anew in Christ, washed clean by his Blood, and saved forever.
Having found many false teaching in just about every church I have ever studied, Presbyterian, Congregational, Catholic, Judaism, (liberal, conservative and orthodox), I have come to the conclusion that each is good depending on your ability to discern and level of understanding, and each is full of human foibles. Only Christ is TheWay, The Truth, and Salvation.
8God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10
***Why does the West, whether Roman, Anglican or some other brand of Protestant refuse to understand this?***
Because those who follow the spirit of the age have set their sights on pleasing men rather than pleasing God.
I feel great weight and responsiblity to teach the Truth and the whole counsel of God. I dare not be responsible for leading anyone astray!
And well you should, there is a special place in hell for teachers who are trusted with our young and are not true to God's laws.
By the way when I said 'lifestyles' in my last post, I didn't mean deviant, I was thinking about the differences between, say, the Amish's and the Baptist's choices in 'lifestyles' or Catholic Priests and Nun's vows of chastity and the Greek Orthodoxy Priests who marry and have families. Each of those interpretations are Biblically valid, yet demonstrate the vast range of expressions, which God has endowed his beloved creation with.
In other words, I don't think that there is an orthodoxy from God's point of view, other than the Ten Commandments, and/or as Jesus himself said, really all law flows from these first two laws ~ to love God with all of your heart, mind, and soul (to keep myself on the straight and narrow, I add; works and mouth) and to love your neighbor as yourself. If the spirit, which you are testing, passes these two tests it should be a go.
Where is there any ritual in the New Testament? I find only, to 'do this in memory of me' the Eucharist; Baptism, and the advice to seek fellowship, to be a good neighbor, and to speak only the words of God.
Also, let us not forget Saul who became Paul. Saul who was the leader of the persecutors of the new Christians, who killed Christians, who then became Our Lord's greatest teacher. All things serve God's will.
be well!
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