I left the Episcopal Church many years ago because they slipsided eagerly into fashionable apostasy.
I know there are a few remnant churches, struggling to hang on to the tradition - but until they return and preach the gospel - I will not go back just for the liturgy .
Denominations have lost all appeal to me, if they do not adhere to the Bible. I no longer trust their notions of what is “ok”.
God’s ways are not “man’s ways”. Most people seem to want “warm, permissive, and easy, not hard, difficult and restrictive”, particularly when it comes to our personal sins.
None of us measure up. So, we want to belong to a “feel good about yourself, no matter how many ways you miss the mark” denomination. All that matters to the “denominations” is envelopes in the basket” - not saving souls. Damn them all.
Not that I am perfect. God forgive me my many sins. But I have no need for “priests without chests” (snatched from C.S. Lewis) who are afraid to call our human sins what they are, sins we are ashamed to admit, even to ourselves.
Jesus knew this about us, and we do not deserve His gift, his sacrifice, but because of Him, we can hope that we can be forgiven, if we sincerely ask, and keep on trying.
Great post.
I know of someone, once a devout Christian, who is a member of this sort of church. “Fashionable apostasy” pretty much describes it. Praying nightly for this person.
I mostly agree with you. The General Convention for the past 30-40 years lost its focus on the Gospel. Sexuality became more important than evangelism. What has happened in the Episcopal Church has also happened in other mainline denominations - and universities and the government. The homosexual movement began to infiltrate these institutions during the hippie age and over the years have become dominate.
What I have seen is that most of the southern Episcopal churches have fallen in line, but not all. The people in the pews for the most part don’t go along with the modern movement and remain traditional. They don’t fight it, they just say this is my church and we will continue our old ways. They are not about to leave for they married, baptized and buried family members over the years from the same church. Many are buried in the church yard. The Prayer Book is the same and is fully compliant with Scripture, always has been. More Scripture is heard in worship than other churches and for the most part preaching is on the scripture. Some of the big churches and urban churches go off on liberal tangents. But the ones away from the blue patches on the map stay scripture bound for the most part. So, it’s a mixed bag. Where I attend from time to time is as I have described. Call me naive, but I don’t believe the people in the pews are in lock step with the national leadership.