Friday, September 19, 2008

The distorted Gospel of liberal Christians

A member of a UCC congregation thought I was singling out her branch of Christianity in a previous post. I wish it were only UCC-ans who had the problem of following another Jesus (the community organizer Jesus), but it's mainline Protestants in general. I simply observed that you can tell Obama is a Christian because he follows the path of the UCC by imposing change and repentance from the top down instead of allowing God to work in the sinner. I won't go into all eleven pages of a sermon given at a WordAlone convention in 2007 by Rev. Prof. Karl P. Donfried, Dr. of Theology, but here's a brief summary in that presentation of what's happening in my denomination/synod, ELCA, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, with headquarters in Chicago.
    “. . . the ELCA has, for all intents and purposes, jettisoned Scripture as the anchor of our faith by removing it from its creedal and confessional context and because the ELCA has allowed those who reject this Lutheran context to be among its most prominent interpreters. Instead of proclaiming a Gospel of grace and redemption that calls sinful humanity to repentance and new life, the ELCA adamantly promulgates a message based on secular humanism that is fixated on issues of racism and sexism, and that is more concerned with establishing new rostered racial justice monitors than it is with feeding and nurturing the ordained pastors of this church. This alien and distorted Gospel, no longer drawing on the deep wells of Scripture as classically interpreted, is now actualized through a political agenda of good works that is hell bent on rectifying the injustices of a selfish and violent world with superficial language about “social justice” that seems to aspire to the highest levels of naiveté. At every corner exuberant banality appears to be the order of the day."
As a way of explanation, UCC is way out in front in "good works" and revising Biblical texts to change the world (since Jesus didn't or couldn't), the latest being marriage of homosexuals, adding homosexuals to clergy rosters, and falling head first in the cesspool of modern environmentalism that will eventually destroy any hope for an improved life for third world citizens. But that's only because they are the oldest in the United States being descendants of the Puritans. The Lutherans didn't even have a hymnal in English until about 130 years ago, having come here not from England, but Germany, Scandinavia, the Baltics, etc. and eschewing "diversity" and the English for about 100 years.

The other day I took something into the church to be photocopied--a list of the beautiful paintings by Jeri Platt of mission work in Haiti (second floor, Mill Run campus). I glanced down at the staff member's desk and my eye fell on a printout that included the words, "diversity" and "social justice." Groan. Probably sponsored by a government grant like our summer lunch program, but I just didn't ask. It's too upsetting to see the church and the gospel co-opted by the "exuberant banality" of government-speak.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOL.. you just can't leave an assumption alone can you. You included the UCC in your criticism: I pointed out that my experience was different than what you were opining. A point that you simply ignore because, I believe, it doesn't fit in with your view of what the UCC and other mainstream churches believe and practice.

Secondly, I'm male.

By all means believe it is distorted. Just recognize that I consider your view of the Gospel to be selective and distorted.

Which is why it is so wonderful that we can join the church of our choosing.

Norma said...

The Protestant tradition is collapsing and you're still laughing. You're a guy? Sure do sound girly to me.

Anonymous said...

LOL... really. Ouch. That hurt. Now my masculinity is all threatened and stuff.

Yes.. and in 16th century Europe, many felt that the Catholic tradition was collapsing. Yet, the Catholic Church is alive today and still seem pretty vibrant. Perhaps some mainline Protestant denominations will disappear.. or merge into other like-minded congregations. However, it will be sorted out regardless of our personal beliefs. If a vast majority of people disagree with me, so be it. I don't practice my faith in accordance with popular trends. I doubt that you do, or would, either.

I believe that there will always be other people who believe as I do, and we will always find a church to worship and practice together.

I would encourage you to join a church that suits your needs. If you are not happy with the direction of your Church, there are others that I think you would find a home with. However, no matter how you much you disagree with us, those of us who feel a mission to promote what we believe to be Jesus' social message are sincere. I think your disparaging remarks and the mocking of our beliefs (I believe that is what you've done) reflects more upon you than it does on us. I think you set yourself up to be shown the same intolerance that you exhibit. Reflect upon the Golden Rule, and the wisdom behind it.

Norma said...

I am a member of a congregation that follows Jesus and is Biblical and preaches the gospel as well as offers many opportunities for service, but it's not inverted. I haven't mocked your beliefs or those of ELCA. Go to your denomination's web page, read its documents. Check the exodus. I have.