Posted on 11/27/2004 1:12:41 PM PST by telder1
Heetderks is president of the synod of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, which officially formed in May from the former Dutch Reform Church, the Calvinist Reformist Church and the nation's small Lutheran Church. Dutch Protestant church leaders have tilted to more liberal views in recent decades in an attempt to keep pace with society. The new Protestant Church will grant 'blessings' to gay couples and permit women pastors, but will not force local congregations to accept them.
...Dutch Protestant church leaders have tilted to more liberal views in recent decades in an attempt to keep pace with society, according to a recent report by the Associated Press. Six months after the Netherlands Reformed Church, the distinct Reformed Churches in the Netherlands, and the nation’s small Lutheran Church merged to form the Protestant Church in the Netherlands, the new church announced that it would grant “blessings” to gay couples and permit female pastors.
Though the Protestant Church in the Netherlands said that it would not force local congregations to accept gay couples blessed by the church, the new decision did not sit well with conservation factions in the three churches, according to AP. At least 15,000 members refused to join the new church and have formed a breakaway group.
It is a scenario that is all but unfamiliar in recent years, and an issue that has surfaced across many congregations in many places.
Most recently, the Episcopal bishop of Los Angeles, Jon Bruno, announced that he would stop blessing same sex unions, in an attempt to win back three conservative breakaway churches that broke ties with the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) because of vast theological differences on issues such as homosexuality.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
Note that one of the former denominations is said to be Calvinistic. This acceptance of sodomy by a historically Calvinistic Church is the result of a false, merely philosophic, non-creating 'theology' being held up as 'Calvinism' and a shell game of feelings of the old creature in the place of substative real, literal new births in Christ. At the least it is proof of a false doctrine beng floated as Calvinism merely to make it appear to be conservative and therefore acceptable.
Jeremiah 29:8,9 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.
Daniel 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he pervert by flatteries; but the people that know their God shall be strong, and shall act.
In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen
Instead of elevating ourselves toward God, it is simpler if we lower God to us. (Sarcasm.)
One way of putting it. On the other hand these guys weren't very devout anywaym so it's not a great loss to see them abandon Christianity.
Needless to say, neither Calvin nor Luther would have approved.
Guess this is just another group, telling God they know better! WHoa to our world, Whoa to our country.
The slippery slope just got greases some more. May God help his church.
'On the other hand these guys weren't very devout anywaym so it's not a great loss to see them abandon Christianity.'
How very Christian of you. You attitude is certainly in line with the Bible's teaching.
I didn't know there were any Protestants left in Europe.
http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/LWI/EN/1513.EN.html
It looks like anyone can be "Lutheran" these days.
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