Scottish audio version here
Psalm 33:11 But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
John 7: 43 Thus the people were divided because of Jesus. (NIV)
Today, there will be a sad parting in our Presbytery of East Tennessee. Our biggest church, Signal Mountain of Chattanooga, is leaving the denomination. Throughout the last fifteen years, they have tried to remain with the PC(USA) but after last year’s faith fiasco at the General Assembly, they are now pulling out.
The Progressives and Pluralists in our denomination are causing untold damage across the church. Their insistence in changing the faith of the church to accommodate cultural ways is more about defiance and rebellion. They are not growing the church; they are wrecking it and tearing down the walls.
But the purposes of God’s heart can never be thwarted and what is emerging is a neo-orthodoxy, where people are longing and clinging to the Gospel because they know within their hearts that the truth about life exists in Christ’s words and ways. The pseudo-progressives are actually regressing into pagan, heretical, and heathen ways – the real progressives are those who are walking onward and upward in the Kingdom of God.
So, today will be a sad time for our presbytery, but it will also be a triumphant time for God’s Kingdom. The old ways still remain – the Trinitarian values, qualities and titles that we ascribe to God will still be revered. Our people may be divided, but it’s because there are some who are still devoted to Jesus – not the Historical or Hysterical Jesus – not the Buddhist or New Age Jesus – but the One, True and Living Christ who is accurately revealed to us in the New Testament.
In the end, it’s all about faith and not our preferences. We kneel to no one but Christ. We call no one else Savior and Lord. The Progressives and Pluralists are creating another god, a different Christ, a more culturally acceptable Jesus. They are not reading the Gospel – Jesus was an anti-cultural radical and the true Church has been fighting the good fight against society since it was first established on the Day of Pentecost. And, long after the Progressives and Pluralists are dead and gone, Jesus Christ of the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John will still be worshiped, glorified, and exalted.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, our church is divided because of You. Some of us have taken sides with the world and the devil in order to be more acceptable to society. Others of us have remained loyal to Your ways and words, as we read and hear them in the New Testament. Let Your Holy Spirit fall upon our churches and our people. Let Your true ways be proclaimed and Your Gospel be truly taught. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.
3 comments:
Although it is sad to see a large church go, one cannot help but sense that God is guiding them and making them stronger. As Stan at Birds of the Air just blogged about, God uses heresies to strengthen His church. God bless.
Thanks Jim. The meeting went well and there was hardly any animosity. The moderator, Dan Stansbury, from Rivermont, Chattanooga, did a great job of leading us through the intricate procedures.
It's a sad day for the PCUSA, but a triumphant one for the Kingdom
I send out these HH devotions by email to over 100 people in our church group. This is some feedback I received and my response:
I am certain that everyone who read your May 29 devotional could feel the passion and concern in your message. I surely did. However, those of us who are not familiar with what you mean by "accommodating cultural ways" is more "defiance and rebellion" really do not understand what the issues are that you address. It astounds me that Presbyterian Church USA would be classified as regressing to "pagan, heretical, and heathen" ways. Exactly what are you talking about. None of your description applies to Presbyterians that I know. What I do know is that Jesus loves us all...regardless. If you have time, would you address these matters either in an email reply or through your Erin Devotional.
Mary Elyn
Here is my response:
Thanks Mary Elyn for your response to yesterday's devotional. I'm glad that you could feel the passion and concern that I have for the church at this moment in time.
There are two movements in the PCUSA which stem from what's being taught in some of our seminaries. The first is Progressive Christianity which rejects Christ of the Gospels that we know and tries to pare down who He was by declaring that much of what we read in the Gospels is a fabricated myth. In the end, they conclude that Christ is a mere man, not divine, which was an ancient heresy that was prevalent in the 2nd-4th centuries AD.
The second movement, which sometimes is promoted by those who are Progressives, is that of Pluralism. Originally ecumenists, these Presbyterians have become inter-faith advocates who believe that all faiths lead to salvation. Most of their promotions tend to be of New Age ideas and they are fascinated with Eastern spiritualism. "Many paths, one salvation" would be their creed and this is something that worldly people would ascribe to. If any path leads to ultimate salvation in God, then we can do anything we want. This is religious hedonism, which is modern paganism.
It breaks my heart to see the church being so divided over issues that the first disciples encountered, confronted and prevailed against. What really concerns me is that some Presbyterian pastors in small churches are espousing and advocating these ideas.
There is a book which deals with some of these issues called "The Gagging of God" by D. A. Carson. I haven't read it, but I ordered a used copy from Amazon.com of which I am awaiting delivery.
God bless you for your questions. I hope these answers have helped.
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