The Evangelical Church is breaking apart

[XtremeJibber2001]

This ultimately happened to my church, too. Politics are driving religion in many cases and, for some, politics is their religion.

THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH IS BREAKING APART
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archi ... cs/620469/

Platt said church members had been misled, having been told, among other things, that the three individuals nominated to be elders would advocate selling the church building to Muslims, who would convert it into a mosque. In a second vote on July 18, all three nominees cleared the threshold. But that hardly resolved the conflict. Members of the church filed a lawsuit, claiming that the conduct of the election violated the church’s constitution.

Platt, who is theologically conservative, had been accused in the months before the vote by a small but zealous group within his church of “wokeness” and being “left of center,” of pushing a “social justice” agenda and promoting critical race theory, and of attempting to “purge conservative members.” A Facebook page and a right-wing website have targeted Platt and his leadership. For his part, Platt, speaking to his congregation, described an email that was circulated claiming, “MBC is no longer McLean Bible Church, that it’s now Melanin Bible Church.”

What happened at McLean Bible Church is happening all over the evangelical world. Influential figures such as the theologian Russell Moore and the Bible teacher Beth Moore felt compelled to leave the Southern Baptist Convention; both were targeted by right-wing elements within the SBC. The Christian Post, an online evangelical newspaper, published an op-ed by one of its contributors criticizing religious conservatives like Platt, Russell Moore, Beth Moore, and Ed Stetzer, the executive director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center, as “progressive Christian figures” who “commonly champion leftist ideology.” In a matter of months, four pastors resigned from Bethlehem Baptist Church, a flagship church in Minneapolis. One of those pastors, Bryan Pickering, cited mistreatment by elders, domineering leadership, bullying, and “spiritual abuse and a toxic culture.” Political conflicts are hardly the whole reason for the turmoil, but according to news accounts, they played a significant role, particularly on matters having to do with race.

[Bigjohnski]

OH ANOTHER TRUMP HATER

[easyrider16]

As someone who spent his formative years going to evangelical church services two or three times a week, this comes as no surprise. At age 18, when my Assembly of God church wanted me to become an official member, I refused because they required you to profess belief in all this extra-biblical nonsense. I was perfectly content to identify as a Christian and profess belief in the Bible, but I had no desire to buy into all the extra crap the AG added on (example - one of their silly rules was abstinence from alcohol - always funny to try and watch them justify that one when confronted with the story of Jesus turning water into wine).

The reason there are so many Christian denominations is politics, dating all the way back to Martin Luther. Whenever human beings get into leadership positions they try to impose their will on others. The church is not immune, and in fact I have found it to be worse than most other institutions in this regard. It's one reason I no longer attend church. I've seen churches split over stupid reasons that have nothing to do with the creed, though churchgoers constantly try to bend biblical text to support their agenda. A person who wants to impose their will on others is scary, but a person who wants to impose their will believing it is also God's will is terrifying because they can justify almost any heinous act.

[daytripper]

Religion is just as crooked as politicians. I grew up Catholic with a strong belief in God. I no longer believe in God.

[XtremeJibber2001]

example - one of their silly rules was abstinence from alcohol - always funny to try and watch them justify that one when confronted with the story of Jesus turning water into wine

I left a church for a similar rule that was not Biblical. Jesus didn't just turn water into wine ... it was something like 300 gallons of water into wine for a relatively small party! Side note, The Wedding at Cana is one of my favorite paintings ... should you find yourself at the Louvre, check it out.

It's one reason I no longer attend church.

Sad to hear this. It's frustrating and at times I want to walk away too, but Church is a central part of scripture and we're called to be part of the solution when there's problems. Not saying I enjoy it at all! Hopefully in time you find yourself back at church.

I've seen churches split over stupid reasons that have nothing to do with the creed, though churchgoers constantly try to bend biblical text to support their agenda. A person who wants to impose their will on others is scary, but a person who wants to impose their will believing it is also God's will is terrifying because they can justify almost any heinous act.

My most recent church didn't split, but the importance of politics grew 2016-2020. Our Pastor presented scripture as written, but many members were made uncomfortable at times by scripture. Felt the Pastor was 'too liberal' and should not present scripture that was 'less popular'. Elders over time pushed out the Pastor and chaos ensued for several months after this.

Religion is just as crooked as politicians. I grew up Catholic with a strong belief in God. I no longer believe in God.

I grew up Catholic, too. Lots of issues in the church that pushed me away for nearly two decades. Because I want you to believe in God, I encourage you to consider reading CS Lewis Mere Christianity. CS Lewis was an atheist most his adult life.

[easyrider16]

My most recent church didn't split, but the importance of politics grew 2016-2020. Our Pastor presented scripture as written, but many members were made uncomfortable at times by scripture. Felt the Pastor was 'too liberal' and should not present scripture that was 'less popular'. Elders over time pushed out the Pastor and chaos ensued for several months after this.

This is so familiar to me. When I was a teenager I read the Bible cover to cover about 5 or 6 times. In my experience, most Christians never do this and are really only familiar with a handful of passages. Truth is the Bible is wildly liberal, particularly the New Testament, where early Christians basically lived like communists. Yet you hear all these conservatives claiming that socialism is somehow not biblical.

I think when it comes to politics and religion, most people believe what they want to believe and not what the facts actually indicate.

[daytripper]

My belief in God is gone and never will come back. I have no issues with you believing in god and would never attempt to stop you from believing. Please do the same for me.

[XtremeJibber2001]

My most recent church didn't split, but the importance of politics grew 2016-2020. Our Pastor presented scripture as written, but many members were made uncomfortable at times by scripture. Felt the Pastor was 'too liberal' and should not present scripture that was 'less popular'. Elders over time pushed out the Pastor and chaos ensued for several months after this.

This is so familiar to me. When I was a teenager I read the Bible cover to cover about 5 or 6 times. In my experience, most Christians never do this and are really only familiar with a handful of passages. Truth is the Bible is wildly liberal, particularly the New Testament, where early Christians basically lived like communists. Yet you hear all these conservatives claiming that socialism is somehow not biblical.

I think when it comes to politics and religion, most people believe what they want to believe and not what the facts actually indicate.

I don't think The Bible can be pigeonholed. It doesn't fit into Republican, Democratic, Socialist, etc. buckets. I see elements of all parties in scripture.

Unfortunately, there are many that find scripture inconvenient. Some don't want to hear cursing is bad, they shouldn't gossip, they should love their enemies like themselves, they shouldn't lust, they should give Caesar what is his, etc.

[easyrider16]

I don't think The Bible can be pigeonholed. It doesn't fit into Republican, Democratic, Socialist, etc. buckets. I see elements of all parties in scripture.

I agree. Perhaps I should have said, parts of the Bible are wildly liberal. Some others are wildly conservative. I think we agree on the central point though that neither political party can lay claim to being somehow more biblical or in line with Christian dogma.

Unfortunately, there are many that find scripture inconvenient. Some don't want to hear cursing is bad, they shouldn't gossip, they should love their enemies like themselves, they shouldn't lust, they should give Caesar what is his, etc.

Some scripture is very inconvenient! One very troubling issue for me was where the apostle Paul condemns homosexuality. I had trouble understanding why it's wrong for two men to be in a committed relationship when they aren't hurting anybody.

This goes back to my view of the Bible that I think we've discussed on here before. I find it hard to accept that all of the evangelical Christian Bible is God-inspired scripture. I put the most stock in the words of Jesus as recorded in the five gospels. Outside of that, I think a lot of it is fallible men writing their ideas on religion rather than God-inspired scripture.