I am a member (by virtue of being the pastor of a local church) of a "Ministerial Alliance" of Churches in our County (and area). The Ministerial Alliance is comprised of "Christian" Churches, the definition of which is rather loose, and includes most "Christian" denominations. Our purpose is to work together in the community on matters where we agree, and cooperate on prayer events, Thanksgiving Community Service, and stuff like that.
I've felt uncomfortable, at times, knowing that some of the Pastors in that group are more into the "social gospel" or even "liberation theology", or have views - theological or political - with which I am at odds. I kept convincing myself I could overlook those things "for the greater good" of the community.
I think - no, I know - I have reached a point where I can no longer be part of that group.
Last year, several of the Churches got involved in the immigration issue, where our County Commissioners had declined to accept a bunch of refugees, and gave good reasons why. Several of the Churches, however, unbeknownst to me and a number of the other Pastors, invited those County Commissioners to our monthly meeting to "have an open dialogue", but it turned into a 'bashing' session, all but calling them UNCHRISTIAN for refusing to allow the refugee camp. One of the female commissioners was in tears. The Pastor of her Church was one of the ones doing the "dressing down".
Lately, it seems like the battle lines are being drawn. One of the Churches has a homosexual youth minister, who is very vocal about "same sex issues". The Church is fine with that, as are a number of other Churches.
Several of these Churches are putting on a symposium where they are inviting the public to come "learn how Islam and Christianity have the same goals, and we need to learn to cooperate". I can't agree with that in any sense. The problem is that they tend to imply, or even declare, "we (the ministerial alliance) speak for the local Churches". They don't.
Several of our Churches are openly embracing the gender identity issue, and painting anybody who disagrees as "hateful" or "judgmental" or "unloving" (the same way some of our Tweb liberals do).
Several of the Pastors met with me yesterday morning for prayer about some other issues - we meet occasionally just to touch base, encourage one another, fellowship, and go to lunch. This issue was heavily on my mind, but I hadn't discussed it with anybody outside my own Church.
One of the other Pastors began expressing his concern that the Ministerial Alliance seemed to be rapidly approaching apostasy. He gave several of the examples I mentioned here, along with some other issues of which he was aware, including several of the member churches discussing their denominations new guidelines on how to marry same sex couples.
Before long, we were all in agreement that we needed to "come out from among them and be separate". That, of course, will have consequences, as I'm sure we'll be cast as "the hateful" or "narrow minded" churches and pastors. We're prepared for that.
BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE happens, I'm going to talk to the President of the Ministerial Alliance, who happens to be a good friend. I suspect he's more on the "social gospel" spectrum, but I don't know where he is on the same sex issue, the "Islam is our friend" issue, and some of the other issues that exist.
There is a SLIM possibility that these liberal churches are a minority, and maybe the Ministerial Association needs to just clarify "that's not us". I seriously doubt that. I think there are churches that have pretty well gone apostate, and maybe the majority of other churches are just complacent about that.
Your prayers are sought, cause this could turn out to be quite a battle.
CIVIL discussion is invited.
I've felt uncomfortable, at times, knowing that some of the Pastors in that group are more into the "social gospel" or even "liberation theology", or have views - theological or political - with which I am at odds. I kept convincing myself I could overlook those things "for the greater good" of the community.
I think - no, I know - I have reached a point where I can no longer be part of that group.
Last year, several of the Churches got involved in the immigration issue, where our County Commissioners had declined to accept a bunch of refugees, and gave good reasons why. Several of the Churches, however, unbeknownst to me and a number of the other Pastors, invited those County Commissioners to our monthly meeting to "have an open dialogue", but it turned into a 'bashing' session, all but calling them UNCHRISTIAN for refusing to allow the refugee camp. One of the female commissioners was in tears. The Pastor of her Church was one of the ones doing the "dressing down".
Lately, it seems like the battle lines are being drawn. One of the Churches has a homosexual youth minister, who is very vocal about "same sex issues". The Church is fine with that, as are a number of other Churches.
Several of these Churches are putting on a symposium where they are inviting the public to come "learn how Islam and Christianity have the same goals, and we need to learn to cooperate". I can't agree with that in any sense. The problem is that they tend to imply, or even declare, "we (the ministerial alliance) speak for the local Churches". They don't.
Several of our Churches are openly embracing the gender identity issue, and painting anybody who disagrees as "hateful" or "judgmental" or "unloving" (the same way some of our Tweb liberals do).
Several of the Pastors met with me yesterday morning for prayer about some other issues - we meet occasionally just to touch base, encourage one another, fellowship, and go to lunch. This issue was heavily on my mind, but I hadn't discussed it with anybody outside my own Church.
One of the other Pastors began expressing his concern that the Ministerial Alliance seemed to be rapidly approaching apostasy. He gave several of the examples I mentioned here, along with some other issues of which he was aware, including several of the member churches discussing their denominations new guidelines on how to marry same sex couples.
Before long, we were all in agreement that we needed to "come out from among them and be separate". That, of course, will have consequences, as I'm sure we'll be cast as "the hateful" or "narrow minded" churches and pastors. We're prepared for that.
BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE happens, I'm going to talk to the President of the Ministerial Alliance, who happens to be a good friend. I suspect he's more on the "social gospel" spectrum, but I don't know where he is on the same sex issue, the "Islam is our friend" issue, and some of the other issues that exist.
There is a SLIM possibility that these liberal churches are a minority, and maybe the Ministerial Association needs to just clarify "that's not us". I seriously doubt that. I think there are churches that have pretty well gone apostate, and maybe the majority of other churches are just complacent about that.
Your prayers are sought, cause this could turn out to be quite a battle.
CIVIL discussion is invited.
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