The Coming Evangelical Divide

Keep Believing ^ | 17 June 2014 | Ray Pritchard

[Mrs. Don-o]

Gamecock, you told me once or twice something about your moral code which I respect very much: you said (correct me if I'm wrong) that you don't prescribe oral contraceptives in your practice.

Now I have to ask you another question: are you a member of a denomination - church - faith community that teaches that OC's are OK? Or not OK?

[Salvation]

You are still a Catholic. Your baptismal and conformational marks do not leave your soul. You can come back at any time.

[roamer_1]

FWIW, evangelicals believe in Sola Scriptura. That means NO evangelical church will accept homosexual acts as acceptable. It also excludes much of Catholic theology, as any good Catholic ought to realize. But this thread is about evangelicals and pseudo-evangelicals, and how the latter are revealing themselves in their compromising of Sola Scriptura.

That's a fact... And I see this type of division to be very healthy - Protestants/Evangelicals/Pentecostals have the option of voting with their feet - 'Come out of her, my people' would seem to require feet.

[MrB]

Homosexuals are Christ’s “winnowing fork”, and indeed, He is separating the wheat from the chaff.

[Gamecock]

That is an interesting question and I think my answer will perplex some.

My church preaches the centrality of Jesus. We put very little out there, in writing, about most “social issues.”

That being said, the clear preaching of Jesus in all of Scripture is all of the schooling we need. My denomination is staunchly prolife. The pews are FULL of children who are cared loved by all. We believe that homosexuality is a sin, but that we who are straight are wretches too.

What is fascinating is the number of little Saints in our midst who were born with birth defects. It seems that people who truly bite off on the absolute sovereignty of God know that our denomination is the place for them.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Ealgeone: "The real question is how many will come to follow Jesus as Lord and only Jesus as Lord....not a church, not mary, not icons, etc. "

Here's the thing: I follow Jesus as Lord and only Jesus as Lord, and it's the Lord who tells me, in His Word, that He was building His church. Hmm. Where'd it go?

Jesus said if you have a dispute, you should take it to the Church. Which sorta implies you could find it, and it would have the authority to solve disputes.

Paul says the Church of God is the pillar and foundation of the Truth. That makes it kinda Biblically important, doesn't it? He wrote pages and pages on the Church. Was he on the wrong track?

Scripture also says all generations would call Mary "Blessed." I do. Don't you?

So it seems you've set up a false dichotomy: Jesus OR Jesus' Church, Jesus OR Jesus' Mother, and Jesus the Image (ICON) of the invisible God, OR Jesus' Icons.

The Church is described Biblically as Christ's s Body and also as His Bride. Why would you want to, or how could you, split Christ from His Church, or choose one but not the other?

It's not an either/or thing. It's Christ being All in All.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Gamecock, it is wonderful that you do not prescribe birth control pills in your practice; wonderful to hear of your pro-life commitment; and touching to think of the love and care shown to every little one born in your congregation, not just the planned, the perfect and the privileged.

God bless you all!

[dbehsman]

I hope the author demands this same fealty to the Scriptures in all matters.

And I hope the folks who support same sex marriage give the same respect to religious freedom.

But we all know how that's going to work, don't we?

(There are many church-going folks who think some questions must be answered by the Scriptures God gave us while others can be settled merely by a vote of men.)

(There are many secularists who can never tell me where the depravity is going to end, and how they're going to stop the downward spiral of depravity with only secularism)

[ealgeone]

Scripture also says all generations would call Mary "Blessed." I do. Don't you?

I agree....Scripture does call her blessed....but nothing beyond that.

[ealgeone]

“I would add that we need to address ALL forms of sin. It seems in our churches that we have our “favorite” sins to call out. These are the easy ones like homosexuality.” I don’t think that is the case at all. What I see is that calling adultery, lying, greed, etc sins is just not controversial. Everyone agrees that those are sinful, so churches are not dividing over the issue. Some churches have taken it upon themselves to declare that homosexuality is NOT sinful, so of course they have created a controversy over it.

good points.

[ealgeone]

and that rock was peter’s confession of Christ as Lord. Jesus is the cornerstone upon which the church is built...not a very, very fallible man. Which denomination or sect taught you that doctrine ? Paul confirms the holy catholic apostolic church is founded on the apostles and prophets of Israel, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. It is not founded on Peter's profession of faith, albeit the LORD chose Peter as his delegated shepherd. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

And that foundation would be what? Nothing but the Gospel. That's what Peter declared when he said Christ was the Son of the Living God. That's what the apostles were teaching. I agree they laid the foundation. A house under construction has to start somewhere. Christ is the cornerstone as you noted. The apostles, prophets and other built upon it. And today, you and I can continue to build upon that foundation by sharing the Gospel with those who are lost.

The Gospel isn't intended to be complicated as some make it.

[ealgeone]

What false teachings?

Praying to Mary as noted in the catechism...having icons of Mary and other "saints", the perpetual virginity of Mary, the assumption of Mary, Mary as the Queen of Heaven, mary as our advocate, helper, co-redemtrix, indulgences, purgatory, faith+ works, the papacy itself, papal infallability ....i could go on, but you get the idea.

[metmom]

Back to a church with known child rapists acting as priests with the blessing of the hierarchy?

No thanks.....

[metmom]

You are still a Catholic. Your baptismal and conformational marks do not leave your soul. You can come back at any time.

Catholic baptism and confirmation never mark the soul to begin with. That's simply a claim and power grab by a power hungry, control freak, organization which refuses to let go of those who, without any choice of their own, had Catholic baptism inflicted on them.

I am not a Catholic. My old self died. It was crucified in Christ and the live I now live in the body I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. Old things are passed away. All things are become new.

Catholics can rail all they want about how *once a Catholic always a Catholic* but that it from the pit. I'm free from bondage now and the RCC has no claim on me at all.

They do not own me. Jesus does.

[Mrs. Don-o]

The Old Testament tells us even more about Mary than the New Testament. And she's all over Revelation. But lots of people don't notice, because they don't know where to look.

This is worth your time.

YouTube Video on Mary in the Bible (LINK)

[LearsFool]

My hope is for the saving of souls, not denominations nor even nations nor cultures.

This nation claims to be a “Christian nation” (not even a Biblical concept) yet we see wickedness and disobedience against Christ at every turn. Many churches will stand with Christ only when doing so agrees with their aims, and ignore His commands otherwise.

Take the much-despised “Noah” movie, for instance. There was a great outcry demanding Hollywood adhere to the Scriptures. But where is the outcry that our PULPITS adhere to the Scriptures? Will we demand accuracy to the Bible from Hollywood atheists but not from ourselves?

The sexually depraved might win their battle for legal - and even social - approval of their perverted lusts. But when their wickedness-gone-wild drives souls to Jesus for refuge, I fall to my knees and thank God for the curses which bring people back to Him. THAT is the real victory!

[ealgeone]

Please tell me you’re not going with Mary as the new Eve in the Old Testament?

[kaehurowing]

The PCUSA is about to approve same-sex “marriage.”

Despite that, they claim they can achieve “reconciliation” between the two sides. http://www.layman.org/committee-recommends-ga-approval-measures-will-allow-sex-marriage-pcusa/

Of course that is impossible. A substantial number of churches are on their way out already, and many more will follow. The homosexuals and their supporters will be left with another smoking ruin of a denomination.

All because homosexuals demand that everyone must agree with their lifestyle, even though Scripture is clear it is a deadly sin and totally incompatible with being a Christian.

[Gamecock]

Not just congregation, but denominations.

We move every couple of years and look for conservative Reformed churches wherever we land.

I see this as typical in these denominations.

And thanks for reading. ;-)

[HarleyD]

You took the words right out of my mouth post.

In my mind I think there is no greater evidence that we're heading into the final chapter than the rise of this issue. This shouldn't even be an issue. I'm reminded of Aaron:

Exo 32:3 So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron.

Exo 32:4 And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!"

Exo 32:5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD."

We make God in our image and then we celebrate the Lord thinking this is pleasing to God.

Appeasement is the tool of the devil. We can't have God on our terms.