lastchance: "I pray for all Protestants who are holding fast to the faith as given in Scripture and affirmed in the creeds. But more and more it seems they are being put aside in the name of appeasing the secular culture."
Here, here!! I concur wholeheartedly! Our culture has taken a strong foothold in the American churches today and it is certainly a tragedy.
I would strongly suggest that this is not a reflection of the Protestant churches alone. The Roman Catholics have seen a steady decay apart from the Chruch in Rome as well. Even though there is a guise of solidarity in the RC church, there are probably as many factions as there are mainline Protestant churches (in my opinion).
I would also agree that there are many "non-denominational" Protestant churches who are off in the weeds. Without some fundamental creeds or pastoral qualifications, theology runs rampant in many of these churches.
Probably the primary cause in the churches erosion this past century is due to poor education (both secular and biblical). We have subjugated our children to government education this past century and look where we have gotten. Our public schools have now displaced the church in many ways. Regrettably, I see this even in my own thinking as I am a product of public schools. Though it is hard to break, all things are possible in Christ Jesus.
The social elites of this great nation knew exactly what they were doing when they hi-jacked the education of our children!
You are very right. We Christians need to remember that those who despise faith and those who hold it do not differentiate between Catholic and Protestant, Non Denominational and Denominational, Church going and non church going Christians. They see any profession of faith that does not conform to their agenda as intolerable.
Yes there are real disagreements between those who with a sincer and contrite heart love and serve Christ with their whole beings. But with prayer and reflection we can find common bonds in our mission to live the Gospel. Let us not forget the real enemy in our zeal to prove one Christian group right and another wrong.
The enemy is ancient and clever. So pray for each other always with charity.