Articles
Where to Start?
With the progress of religion (Christianity mostly), there appears to be none: church gatherings on a decline, and church buildings being sold, or otherwise left to decay. In addition to these factors are the facts of doctrinal adjustments, i.e., long held doctrines are being superseded by cultural changes. Religious institutions, denominations, synods, councils, whatever choice of terms might be adopted, many, yes many, kowtow to the liberal, immoral, and radical movements of the time and believe legalization earns respect and legitimatizes immoral conduct. This fact is evidenced by the following that charts the Methodist church from 1784 to 2023, to what is called the Global Methodist church, and as has been stated by their own writing, saying, “By the end of 2023, the United Methodist Church will be significantly less united, torn asunder by a host of issues but mostly over how to address same-sex marriage and gay clergy. Schism over LGBTQ issues is a well-trodden path for mainline Protestant denominations, and the United Methodists have taken some lessons from the Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Lutherans. Here's a look at the breakup of the United Methodist Church, why it matters, and where it fits in American Christianity” (The split in the United Methodist Church, explained | The Week).
(See PDF for Chart)
Departure from well established biblical principles is as clear as a sunbeam on a cloudless day. Why has religion, especially Christianity, become a derision, a laughingstock, and an occasion for, as the apostle Peter commented, concerning a life of lasciviousness, “the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Pet. 2:2), or as James stated that the unlawful actions of a Christian set the stage for the ungodly to “blaspheme the honorable name by which ye are called” (James 2:7).
Even among the “churches of Christ,” ungodly and unrighteous doctrines are being adopted, and by them, “the way of the truth shall (is being) evil spoken of” in order to cast a bad light upon those standing for the truth. Indeed, the words of Isaiah ring out, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” ret
- Where_to_Start.pdf (156.31 kB)
