Monday, May 04, 2009

Exodus Continues

What happens when a denomination stops being the Church?

I mean particularly when the Word is not rightly preaches, when sacraments are not rightly administered, and Godly discipline does not occur.

People of good conscience leave - either by choice or by force.

Read of the ongoing saga in Denison Iowa and the continue decline of the PCUSA.

I feel for Rev. Rihner's family who has lost its sense of security and fellowship. Living in a small town they are now headline local news. Their father and husband has been attacked without clear reason by an institution claiming to be "the church" - what an incredibly sad day.

However, when godly people have rallied to their cause, where they have recieved support and sustanance from Christian brothers and sisters, there Jesus Christ has been proclaimed!

3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

1 Lagniappe (comments):

Toby Brown said...

This is a disgusting perversity. My words cannot express the contempt that I hold for this presbytery. They must be shunned as pagans.