Welcome back to The Old Paths.
As I mentioned in my debut post, this blog will consist of things that catch my eye. Most notably, the controversy that is taking place in one of the West’s foremost Christian mainline denominations. It has not only caught my eye, but the eye of the world.
Once again, the people of God are in the court of public opinion and are being asked, “To whom will you bend the knee: Christ or man?”
On February 9, the Church of England backed a proposal that will allow “priests offer blessings to same-sex couples.” The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who has previously stated publicly that marriage is between one man and one woman in biblical covenant, seems to have capitulated before the tickling hears of mankind.
“Justin Welby told members of the Church of England’s Synod must not give in to the ‘fear of a slippery slope’ when it comes to considering proposals for clergy to bless same-sex couples,” GBN wrote.
Ok, I don’t know how it could be clearer to Western Christians that a slippery slope does exist. I do not find it coincidental that since the infamous Obergefell v. Hodges ruling in 2015, the United States went from the gay movement saying, “We want equal marriage laws,” to “Why won’t you let us trans your children???”
The slippery slope is not a fallacy. It does exist. Romans 1 covers that clearly when the Apostle Paul tells us that God gives mankind “up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.” (Romans 1:26b-27, ESV)
Unfortunately, the weak-kneed kowtowing to cultural demands and cries of the Anglican doctrine of marriage being called “antiquated and unloving” has forced the hand of the bishops. And they’ve shown their true colors. They would rather bow before Nebuchadnezzar than stand before the Living God.
I saw a tweet around the same time, unrelated to the Anglican controversy, but poignant, nonetheless. It asserted that mainline Protestantism is culturally irrelevant. The most popular pastors and public theologians today are non-denominational, mega-church types. Those are the guys with podcasts and online ministries that reach the masses.
When was the last relevant mainline Protestant to hold any sway in American life? I would contend, possibly, J. Gresham Machen, and that was approximately 100 years ago.
Currently, I would say the only mainliners that hold to any sort of doctrinal fidelity or Christian morality at all that are really left are Tucker Carlson, Rev. Justin Holcomb, and Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. All are Episcopalians.
Now, mainline denominations are nothing but empty pews with a butch, pink-haired lesbian who somehow claims the title of “reverend” and “preaches” on the necessity of abortion access by invoking the Magnificat. Whatever that means. The whole charade they put on in The Episcopal Church, many United Methodist Churches, and PCUSA churches is just sad.
If it wasn’t for the conservative African Methodists, the United Methodist Church in the United States would be even more progressive.
But that is the good news. While American Episcopalianism, or Methodism, or Presbyterianism, or any of those previously mentioned denominations are hemorrhaging members, faithful Methodists, Presbyterians, and Anglicans will always exist.
Thank goodness we do not serve a God that is dependent upon the fidelity of our denominations. The Episcopal Church may be apostate, but a faithful Anglican witness will continue. For every Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with a trans bishop, there is a Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod congregation that is continuing to preach Christ. The Church of England may have lost their way, but faithful Anglicanism will remain.
The invisible church of God has always been a subset of the visible church. There are likely countless individuals that have been baptized in the Triune Name that are not with Christ for eternity. That’s the risk we face when we ask, “Did God really say?” about marriage, or abortion, or justice. Some will hear, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”
So, if you’re one of the remaining faithful Christians in any of these denominations, it’s time to go. If you’re an Episcopalian, consider finding an ACNA church. If you’re a Presbyterian, consider finding a PCA or a Presbyterian-leaning CREC church. If you’re a United Methodist, find a Global Methodist church.
The beautiful, ornate cathedrals of Christendom where the Gospel was cherished for generations have been coopted by the enemy. Now, they’re just synagogues of Satan and full of whitewashed tombs.