Ping!
You forgot the United Methodists . . . There’s nothing Bible-based there anymore. Too concerned with building homeless homes than souls.
“Sooner or later, it will be dust; and displaced Christians will be left with two choices: return to Holy Catholic Church or give themselves to the world.”
Or, you know, just stay faithful to the Word of God and Christ, even if nobody else is standing with us. That’s always an option too.
Q: In light of all the recent publicity about same-sex marriage, where does the LCMS stand on the issue?
A: God gave marriage as a picture of the relationship between Christ and His bride the Church (Eph. 5:32). Homosexual behavior is prohibited in the Old and New Testaments (Lev. 18:22, 24, 20:13; 1 Cor. 6:9–20; 1 Tim. 1:10) as contrary to the Creator’s design (Rom. 1:26–27). The LCMS affirms that such behavior is "intrinsically sinful" and that, “on the basis of Scripture, marriage [is] the lifelong union of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:2-24; Matt. 19:5-6)” (2004 Res. 3-05A). It has also urged its members “to give a public witness from Scripture against the social acceptance and legal recognition of homosexual ‘marriage’ ” (2004 Res. 3-05A). At the same time, the Synod firmly believes "the redeeming love of Christ, which rescues humanity from sin, death, and the power of Satan, is offered to all through repentance and faith in Christ, regardless of the nature of their sinfulness” (1992 Res. 3-12A). The Synod developed a Law/Gospel ministry plan for use in ministry to those who are troubled by homosexual desires, Ministry to Homosexuals and Their Families.
The Synod's Commission on Theology and Church Relations has prepared a report titled Human Sexuality: A Theological Perspective that discusses the issue of homosexuality on pages 32-36. Another resource addressing the matter of same-sex relationships available online is the document Theological Implications of the 2009 ELCA Decisions.
There is additional information found in the Frequently Asked Questions on Homosexuality.
http://www.lcms.org/faqs/lcmsviews#samesexmarriage
“This “evolution” of theology and “modernizing” of church doctrine is a trend that I predict we’ll continue to see in non-Catholic Christian circles for years to come”
Yeah, cause the Roman Church is exactly the same as it was 500 years ago, or 100 years ago, or 30 years ago. And Vatican II never happened. That Synod on faggotry never happened last month either Roman propaganda. Its ok, we know it isn’t aimed AT protestants. Like all propaganda, it is really more for internal consumption to keep the flock assured that they are correct.
Sorta like a soviet propaganda poster hanging in a Moscow subway.
Of course, not all Protestants are willing to “move with the times”, so to speak; . . ."
No, they all "move with the times". A given generation may refuse to abandon what they've been taught but Protestant and Protestant derived groups are all just Pop Christianity as spread by the mass media of the day.
Each generation latches on to whatever makes it easier for them to go along to get along with Pop Culture. It's been that way ever since Luther and the only thing that's changed is how fast follow-on generations openly accept what their parents refuse to accept.
Protestants bailed out when they accepted artificial birth control in the 1930s, leaving the Catholics alone to battle Hollywood and pornography. (apologies for the redundancy) We held-sway until the sexual revolution, then all hell - quite literally - broke loose. A downward spiral since. Morality drives the culture, the culture drives politics, and the vicious cycle begins.
How come these articles start out interesting but always end up simply trying to discredit or marginalize the Bible?
“I do believe, however, that Christianity was never meant go in this direction”
That’s pretty much saying he doesn’t believe in Western Civilization or the USA.
Same sex marriages from places called Christian churches is indeed troubling. So are gay priests molesting children.
“Yet, the Protestant Reformation severed the Tradition from the Bible, and put all other authorities beneath it. By doing so, they created a type of religious relativism “
That is complete nonsense and the reverse of the truth. While the “infallible” pope may declare the world flat and then later recant, or make other mind changes, God’s word is unchanging. The corrupt churches to which you refer have abandoned the authority of the scripture.
“As Catholics, the Bible is not our sole source of authority”
Galatians 1:8 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
AV
Even Christ Himself who DOES have the authority answered satan from scripture.
2 Thes 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first[to elevating the pope i.e. Catholicism], and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; [the papal system]
AV
Daniel 7:25 25 And he shall speak great words against the most High[popes], and shall wear out the saints of the most High[foxes book of martyrs], and think to change times[pope Gregorian calendar] and laws[code of Justinian elevating papacy]: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
AV
The author misses the point of the 5 solas. The protestants he is concerned about did not apostatize because they held to the five solas, but because they abandoned them. Roman Catholics have little to strut about as well, they have their scandals, their homo-lobby and their ongoing inclusion of the likes of Nancy Peolsi. This schadenfreude is to the author's shame.
“I’m not among the ilk who believe that Protestants can’t go to Heaven, though the path is significantly more challenging”
This is funny stuff!
Great Article, It has been in my thoughts and Heart for a long time. One of the things I Pray for is May God Shepard them Back Home to his Church on Earth.
God Bless
The firs line sort of tells it all, doesn’t it? Not staying with the Bible has its consequences.
**the largest Presbyterian denomination in America voted to allow their clergy to perform same-sex “marriages” within the church, thus joining the ranks of other Protestant denominations, such as the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Episcopalian Church, and United Church of Christ.**
Sorry - no matter how much anti Protestant stuff is posted on FR, this ex-Catholic now Missouri Synod Lutheran is staying protestant.
Very naive article. There just isn’t that much difference between Catholics and Mainline Protestants on social issues nowadays.
Why do you do this...honestly?