With all the talk now about how different denominations of the Christian faith should be taking up Progressive causes such as transgenderism, endorsement of gay marriage, and preaching from the Koran in some instances, can there be any shock that the once largest Christian denomination is selling off their headquarters. Yes that is correct, the Episcopalian Church of the United States, the church which gave us George Washington (an Episcopalian vestryman), the church which was our offshoot of the Anglican Church is dying a painful and horrible death. Sadly, this death was easily foreseeable and at the same time, hidden in plain sight.
Several years ago, the Episcopalian Church split over the issue of liberalizing church doctrine. However they have gone so far overboard that now, Church pastors at their annual convention no longer refer to God, but to “The Big Guy” or “The Man”. Now that may be fine and dandy for lay people, but to someone who is supposed to lead a flock of sheep, the fact that the shepherd will not even mention the name God in a speech is scary, to say the least. And to make matters worse, a couple short years ago, the Episcopalian convention actually refused to consider a resolution confirming that Jesus is Lord.
The greatest event in Christian recorded history is the resurrection the conquering of death– and a Christian denomination refuses to call Jesus our Lord?
But this is what political correctness will do to a group. People don’t want to offend anyone – so they are afraid to say to atheists who are unsaved that they are playing a dangerous game with their souls. They want to raise money but are afraid of offending their donors. At this year’s convention, a delegate named David Virtue said and I quote: “In all the talk about same sex this and transgender that, there is absolutely no talk about sin. A psychologist friend of mine opined that talk of sin here would be considered psychologically damaging and offensive to a lot of people, especially gays, so it is off the radar screen. No sin please, we’re Episcopalians”.
Think on this for a minute. The Bible teaches that we are all sinners, and that to become straight with God, you need to admit you are a sinner and need God, and to accept that Christ died on the cross for each of our sins. Yet now the Episcopalian Church will not allow for any mention of sin.
Ten or so years ago, I attended a small Episcopalian Church in Western Loudoun, and my 2nd time there, was mind blown to actually see the Pastor open up the Koran and start preaching about how the Koran and Bible were similar. Uh, while there may be a few similarities from the Old Testament, the fact is that the 2 books are as different as night and day. Suffice it to say, I never went back.
Having Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori refer to Christ as “Mother Jesus” doesn’t help matters. Jesus was not a female. Jesus was a male, and not only our Lord and Savior, but also the ultimate tough guy. How many others would willingly go to their death (borrowing a line from the hymn) to save a wretch like me?
However there is a small conservative faction of the Episcopalian Church which is sticking with Biblical principles – and these few churches seem to be thriving. Take the Plano Texas Christ Church – on any Sunday, the Plano Texas Christ Church (which split off from the Episcopalian Church over progressivism taking over) now has an average of 2,200 attendees per sermon, where the average liberal Episcopalian Church will have less than 80 members on any Sunday. Somehow somewhere, you know the liberal’s heads are spinning over being outdone by conservatives once again. http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/home-page-news-and-views/why-is-the-episcopal-church-near-collapse.aspx?
It must be mentioned that Jesus did not come to Earth to have everyone get along. He came to Earth to do several things. Among them was to call out the hypocrisy of the ruling class of the Jewish nation, to explain how God wanted us to love everyone, to overthrow the existing order of the day, and to be sacrificed in the most painful way known to Mankind at the time to be the payment for each of our sins. He came to Earth to show us how God wanted us to live – not to condone immorality of any type.
Once again, the Progressive agenda kills something off for its own glory. However this time – they are harming themselves. Taking on God in God’s own house is never a good idea.
