Gospel truths lost amid the malaise (church in decline because “liberals have taken control”)

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | July 18 2003

[dead]

This is one-side of the argument, presented in today’s Sydney Morning Herald.

For the other side, see:

Church's rejection can fuel hatred ("Excluding homosexuals does not reflect God's way")

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[Zack Nguyen]

Watching God work in history is fascinating. In America, membership in Southern Baptist churches, assorted charismatic, and nondenominational Bible churches has skyrocketed since the 1960's, while membership in much of mainstream Protestanism has declined.

Liberals may take over denominations, but they do so only to run them into the ground. God sends the faithful elsewhere.

If anyone is interested in this topic of liberal takeovers of denominations, there is an excellent book available on the topic. It is free and written by a guy named Gary North, whom I do not always agree with but whose research is impeccable. The book is entitled "Crossed Fingers" and concerns the liberal takeover of the Northern Presbyterian Church.

It is available here:

http://www.freebooks.com

You can read it in html if you want.

[ken5050]

Slightly off topic, but let me pose a question to you, if I may...If the Mass SC comes out with an OK for gay marriages...do you see any scenario under which gays will sue in state court to compel a church to marry them?

[End Times Sentinel]

Liberals may take over denominations, but they do so only to run them into the ground. God sends the faithful elsewhere.

An excellent point and a fact that we're struggling with in The Catholic Church today, as well.

 

Owl_Eagle
" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I can hardly recognize the Methodist Church these days from what it was just 20 or 30 years ago...

[VOA]

thanks for the book reference...
I can't recall the title, but a few years ago someone wrote a book with the
general premise that the feminization of many churches was helping to empty the pews.

I guess I'm with the neanderthals, which must explain why I like Chuck Swindoll
(served in the US Marine Corps before entering the ministry)

[txzman]

I think that is why non-denominational, more fundamentally-based churches continue to grow.

In Northern Dallas the explosion has been absolutely amazing. And many are ex-members of mainstream Methodist and Catholic Churches that could no longer make the church's view of their faith match what they read for themselves in Scripture.

[cricket]

Agree that is the Liberals and their agenda specific motivations that have undermined all Church based religions.

The Catholic Church has long been a target and the Liberal Left count their successes daily.

[WVNan]

The non-denominational churches are structured on the congregational model. They are autonomous and don't have to answer to higher church officials. They do tend to grow faster. The negative to that system is that when a dispute arises the church usually splits, although that may not necessarily be a bad thing. I've about decided it may actually be a healthier system than letting liberal leaders destroy all the churches. Only way to deal with the liberal heirarchy is to ignore them. They can't keep an eye on all the churches. My little church just ignore their silly mandates. What are they going to do, fire us?

[Marysecretary]

Me either, and that's why I'm no longer a Methodist. It's a shame, isn't it?

[Marysecretary]

We had a church split some years ago and it was heart breaking. However, God sent in so many more people and they aren't just pew warmers either. We got rid of a lot of people who did not see the vision of the church and were always complaining. I'll take the new ones over them any time.

[Marysecretary]

I belonged to a little Methodist Church near my home before moving here and I just found out a while back that the Conference closed the church down without telling the people (small congregation), sold its windows, furnishings and even the tin ceilings before anyone could blink. Fortunately, someone bought the church and now there's a community church there. So, they can do a lot to you. Beware.

[The Grammarian]

If they do, I see many churches restricting marriage to only those who are active members of their church community. If that doesn't work, then ask and do as Peter and John said in Acts 4:19, "Do you think that God wants us to obey you rather than him?"

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Agree. 'swhy we don't go.

[Zack Nguyen]

Slightly off topic, but let me pose a question to you, if I may...If the Mass SC comes out with an OK for gay marriages...do you see any scenario under which gays will sue in state court to compel a church to marry them?

That's a great question. I have often wondered the same thing. I am not a lawyer so I cannot answer definitively.

However, I do know how God-less governments behave, and when the state declares itself Almighty (as they would be doing symbolically in the case of Mass SC) it will tolerate no counter claims to it's sovereignty. So ti would seem logical that at some point the left will find it necessary to crush the church's witness through the use of raw state power.

[Zack Nguyen]

I guess we're all Neanderthals then! :)

[Zack Nguyen]

Thank you. I watch EWTN sometimes, and I am encouraged by the fact that everyone on their appears to be very conservative, and hold to the faith strongly.

[Zack Nguyen]

Of course they won't succeed. God always leaves a remnant. :)