From the Ashes, a New Church

Judgment upon the corrupt church

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."--Matthew 5:13

If you're a true born-again, bible-believing Christian, then the Episcopal Church isn't the place where you belong.

From onenewsnow.com: "Officials with the national (Episcopal) church have "inhibited" Bishop Mark Lawrence, taking away his clearance to perform ministry functions for 60 days -- the time allotted for him to respond to allegations having to do with the division between the liberal, dominate faction of the church and biblically based members like himself. In response, his diocese has severed its relationship with the Episcopal Church."

Lawrence's sin in the eyes of the Episcopal ruling elite? He opposes such things as abortion, same-sex marriage and ecumenism; three prevailing views adopted by many apostate churches today where Jesus Christ is now considered as just one of many pathways to God. That certainly wasn't what the Episcopal Church and the other Protestant denominations taught for centuries since their inception. But that's what these churches teach today and it's no big wonder why Protestant denominations such as the Episcopal have lost millions of members since they abandoned the biblical Jesus Christ for a universal counterfeit.

According to Jeff Walton, a spokesman for The Institute on Religion & Democracy, "I think the Episcopal Church has really shot itself in the foot by doing this. They're losing one of their larger, more vibrant dioceses. Indeed this diocese is one of the few that's posted growth in recent years, and there is just nothing that the liberal leadership of the Episcopal Church is really gaining by effectively forcing this diocese out the door."

Tragically, as more churches abandon the biblical Christ for a phony, inclusive Christ, the more they lose members. Lawrence's diocese was one of the few in America that was actually gaining new members while most have been losing them. What this episode proves is that many people are still seeking spiritual truth in these times of incredible evil and depravity. And when they find it, they embrace it like a lost treasure.

Unfortunately, many churches today aren't seeking truth and they aren't interested in obeying Christ's command to go throughout the entire world "and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19) Rather, they're only interested in attracting new members so that they can generate new revenue and try to stay in business.

But that isn't working, as evidenced by the the mass exodus of Christians out of these religious mausoleums. 

And so, for Mark Lawrence and other Christians who have been told to get lost by the mainlines because they refuse to abandon the real Jesus Christ and his commands, here's what you need to do: You need to get back to what the early First Century church was all about; to focus on Jesus Christ and his eternal power over sin and his majesty. And you need to share that with the world. Churches need not meet in exquisite buildings with fancy stained-glass windows. They can meet in homes, basements, garages, office buildings etc. Because where God's people are, that's where the Holy Spirit is, regardless of the venue or meeting place.

And you can get back to being what the church is supposed to be; God's beacon of truth and light to a dark and dying world. Let the mainlines and the big mega-churches keep doing their inclusive, ecumenical thing--their end is coming and it's coming soon. But, as the apostle Paul said: "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction." (2 Timothy 4:2)