Posted on 02/24/2009 10:16:27 AM PST by TaraP
Two mainline denominations have announced decisions indicating a further move away from Bible-based Christianity.
In Michigan, the new bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan is an ordained Zen Buddhist. Northern Michigan's Episcopal congregations and delegates overwhelmingly elected the Rev. Kevin Thew Forrester at their convention on Saturday.
The diocesan website says Thew Forrester "has practiced Zen meditation for almost a decade," and the Buddhist community welcomed his commitment by granting him "lay ordination." The website also says Northern Michigan's new bishop "resonates deeply" with "his own interfaith dialogue with Buddhism and meditative practice."
Meanwhile, Presbyterian Church (USA) representatives in Arkansas and central North Carolina have endorsed amending the church constitution to allow non-celibate homosexuals to be ordained as ministers, elders and deacons. The votes were taken at regional presbytery meetings on Saturday.
Homosexual men and women can be ordained in the PCUSA, but church standards currently forbid sex outside of traditional marriage between a man and woman.
The amendment goes into effect if a majority of the denomination's 173 presbyteries approve it. So far, 24 presbyteries have voted for the amendment and 39 have voted against it, according to the Presbyterian Lay Committee, a group that opposes ordaining non-celibate homosexuals.
WOW..Learn something everyday..
Homosexual men and women can be ordained in the PCUSA, but church standards currently forbid sex outside of traditional marriage between a man and woman..
HOWEVER:
Two Men who engage in Sodomy is just fine with the church..
(Disgust)
Sounds like PCUSA is engaging in discrimination of the nature of which caused the USSC to throw out Texas’ laws against same sex sodomy.
Isn’t all that odd that PCUSA and CPUSA seemt to have the same goals in mind.
The PCUSA has abortion coverage in the clergy health insurance package. That made them completely apostate before this episode, IMO.
Should not be surprising....we got the 700 Club now supporting the Global Warming Myth and Socialism...
Exactly!
They might as well tear out all scriptures in the bible that speak of morality...
After all the 21st Century is about accomodating Homosexuals
Which has been the downfall of society ever since.
I do not understand why you have a problem with sodomy temple prostitution. These are ancient practices common to nearly all primitive religions.
Main line protestant denominations have been practicing cultural religion for decades. There is no serious attempt to adhere to basic Christian doctrine.
Orgiastic and mystic pratices are the logical extension of the devolution of protestantism. They are already practicing infant sacrifice. Look for altar orgies next.
Yep. You know, that whole bit about adultery is cramping my style - can't we get rid of that too?
/s
“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
1 John 3:7-9
“Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.
No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.”
Deliberate rebellious sin that these people promote and live by is the character of the enemy and in direct rebellion to God.
But they have the right doctrine of the Trinity. That is the important thing.
Um. . .what? The Branch Davidian is/was a cult.
By the way, as I recall, the attack against them wasn't based on the religion they practiced, but because they had an arsenal of weapons and were suspected of child abuse. I'm not defending the government's actions in this case. Just saying the issue was never their faith.
Presbyterians are divided by different denominations. PCA and OP are very solidly Christian. Perhaps others as well. I only know about these two.
It’s time to realize that the only true church is the fellowship of believers, organized only by faith and heart, the head of which is Christ alone.
Back to the Word, folks. Forget what men say and get back to basics.
Every one of us has easy access to scripture. Check what religious leaders say against what The Book teaches. Then run from the wolves.
FOUR TYPES OF PROPHETIC SIGNS
A. Sign Events signs predicted in Scripture will alert the Church to the timing of His return.
B. Sign Trends in society and creation will escalate and thus signal the final generation.
C. Cosmic Signs highly unusual phenomena in the sky, this even includes weather
D. Personal Signs subjective prophetic experiences that alert believers to the End-Times
THE THREE PROPHETIC TIME FRAMES: SEEING THE BIG PICTURE
A. Scripture describes 3 prophetic time frames related to the last 7-years of this age (Dan. 9:27). The last 7 years is made up of 2 distinct periods each lasting 3½ years.
B. The first time frame is the beginning of birth pangs with wars and rumors of wars (Mt. 24:4-8).
The second time frame is the increased labor pangs in the first 3½ year period (of the last 7 years) which is characterized by counterfeit world peace (1 Thes. 5:3; Dan. 9:27).
The third time frame is the hard labor pangs in the final 3½ year period of the Great Tribulation.
With all due respect to your analysis:
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
— Matthew 24:36-39, the words of Jesus
“...Isnt all that odd that PCUSA and CPUSA seemt to have the same goals in mind..”
add ELCA, UCC and now the Methodist Church is adding their name to the list.
I feel paranoid - am I out of step - or them???
Ah, but only Presbyterian Church USA shares letters with Communist Party USA.
I misread - thought it was ECUSA instead of CPUSA - you’re right!!
And that would refer to the Rapture of the Church not the Second Coming of Christ....
We need to be ready for the Rapture..As Jesus comes as a thief of the night....
Tara, what part of “at the coming of the Son of Man” do you not understand?
That is absolutely referring to Christ coming again, as a thief IN the night, not OF the night. Like a burglar who comes when you are sleeping and not expecting it.
We need to be ready for anything this life throws at us, understanding fully that it could all end at any moment and that our Savior will welcome us into His arms when it does.
Seriously, quit trying to interpret Scripture and just read what it says. You understand that, while it says those living when He comes will be “caught up in the clouds” to meet him, the word “rapture” is not in scripture but rather one that man made up?
Just asking you to read scripture with an open mind and new eyes. It’s much better that all the stuff that flawed theologians throw at us.
Yes and the Bible is not in the Bible either..Harpazo is the rapture..Caught up..read Thessolonians..
We will be caught up with Jesus in the Air..Jesus is not Coming to earth, this is not the Second Coming..I understand Scripture very well...
The Antichrist will not cannot come to Power with the True Church of Christ on the earth..We will nto go through the Great Tribulation...
Fine. Whatever. You’ve apparently developed a complex theology based on men’s teachings, so stay where you’re comfortable.
And what does scripture say about the antichrist?
“Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” I John 2:18-19
“Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.” II John:7
Sounds like the antichrist is — and has been — among us all along, unless, of course, we follow some extra-scriptural doctrine taught by men.
Thank you. I knew there was another one.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.