[PetroniusMaximus]

"The liberal Christian Church is today's Laodecia."

I would say that Laodecia is more characteristic of broad portions of Evangelical Christianity. ("You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'") - i.e. outwardly sucessful, but spiritually impoverished.

The liberals aren't even a part of the Church.

[Froufrou]

Good observations.

[Mr. Silverback]

I think Petronius is onto something. However, the worth of the Evangelicals varies from church to church, and is, more directly than almost any other segment, tied to the spiritual state of the pastor. In some it's "shiny, happy people," in others (James McDonald's megachurch in the Chicago burbs comes to mind) the preacher talks about sin a lot and is very hard on it.

[bcsco]

"The liberals aren't even a part of the Church."

When I used the phrase "The liberal Christian Church is today's Laodecia" I was referring to the liberal Christian Church; not liberals in general. There are liberal Christians and Conservative Christians. I was referring to the former group.

As Revelations 2 states they are neither hot nor cold but lukewarm. They profess Christianity but do not consider the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God. That to me is lukewarm.