It's a tragedy of declining church attendance in the mainline churches in
the last 60 years.
Many churches, once vibrant communities of Christ-believing
and proclaiming members have become beacons for social justice messages devoid of the Spirit.
What is noticeable in these old denominations are the lack of young families with children attending. Many of these dwindling congregations consist of elderly and single middle-aged people.
Your comment 'ecumenical pageantry' is so true. The truth is replaced with symbols and rote rituals but the substance of a vital life in the Spirit is gone.
Actually, the churches that offer the Traditional Latin Mass has been growing exponentially, and mostly with young faithful families. You may have heard about these particular churches, because the FBI i
Has been caught spying on them. Check out the stories if you don’t believe me. There is a reason that our government is going after these good and faithful Catholics. For those who are looking for the truth, it can be found in the one, holy, catholic (universal) and apostolic Church. It is the church that Jesus Christ founded. It is the only place that you can receive the sacraments that Jesus established. It is the only place that you can receive the true Body, Blood,, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. This is the truth, and I hope you who read this seek it out and find it for yourselves. God bless you and keep you!
I wasn't addressing the R. Catholic church or the Trad. Latin Mass in my comment. I was speaking of the mainline protestant churches; Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Anglican, etc. Many in these denominations are benevolent and espouse a form of Universalism that is the antithesis of the gospel.
Any church that has the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as the focus of worship are growing. I was speaking of the churches that have political and cultural agendas/grievances that are their first and foremost priority.
Ephesians 2:14-22 speak to Christ's purpose to break down walls of hostility, through His blood (atoning sacrifice) to create unity between people, to give us access to the Father through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:21 'And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.'
But that is my point, that to combat the decline in church, attendance, people need to turn to why the traditional Latin mass churches are so successful and attracting members!
The liberalism of embracing same-sex marriage and homosexual clergy in the mainline protestant denominations has caused schisms and disaffiliating members to leave. The positive
news is new fellowships have formed and there are vital bible-believing non-denominational churches in most communities.
One of the better discussions of Machen’s fabulous book that I have read. It is amazing that one can read it and feel that it was written in our times. My oath was not totally unlike yours. By God’s grace I landed in better churches by my mid-thirties. It was as though I was born again a second time suddenly understanding what the Bible as a whole was all about. Like you I had thought doctrine md creeds were dull and my first visits to these new churches made me wonder if all this “liturgy” and creeds were not healthy but Roman Catholic. As I visited a United Reformed church I asked the elder why they had all those elements in each worship service. He told me that as faithful as a pastor might be he is only human and may not preach the pure gospel each service, so they build “guilt, grace and gratitude” (the gospel) into the service. I discovered the wonderful Heidelberg Catechism that you quoted. And later I would delve into the rich confessions on the Presbyterian tradition, which are agreed with. The result has been a richer understanding of scripture and a steady assurance of. Machen’s book eventually came along and helped me get a better understanding of what I had experienced in my first Christian experiences as a teen and young adult. May God be pleased to reform and revive his church in America.
Thank you for sharing this! Your story reminds me of one of my first experiences of a very, very liturgical service. I once visited a church in Leesburg, Virginia on a trip. It was some sort of reformed Episcopalian church, with needlepoint kneelers made by various families over the years. They sang from the Psalter and read from the Book of Common Prayer prior to the lengthy "homily", which was also biblically sound (if a bit dry). These are to some degree stylistic elements, of course, but I loved the seriousness with which everything was conducted! Very old-fashioned and formal, but wonderful and spirit-filled all the same. I treasure that memory to this day.
Thank you for your excellent article! They do not have eyes to see or ears to hear because they loved not the Truth. God is Truth and Satan is Lies.
"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess. 2:10-12
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." 1 Tim. 4:1-3
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith." 2 Tim 3:1-8
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Timothy 4:3-4
Paul lamented the churches he'd nurtured were already succumbing to "the mystery of iniquity". Christ usefully observes that those who fall short of the meticulous observance of the scribes and Pharisees are hopelessly damned. Conservative Christianity's doctrines may be closer to the truth than that of the liberals, but then no one is saved by doctrines even if they are sound and biblical. All of Christianity is destroyed through a lack of knowledge of God's will through a bewildering inability to rightly divide the word.
Well said.
It's a tragedy of declining church attendance in the mainline churches in
the last 60 years.
Many churches, once vibrant communities of Christ-believing
and proclaiming members have become beacons for social justice messages devoid of the Spirit.
What is noticeable in these old denominations are the lack of young families with children attending. Many of these dwindling congregations consist of elderly and single middle-aged people.
Your comment 'ecumenical pageantry' is so true. The truth is replaced with symbols and rote rituals but the substance of a vital life in the Spirit is gone.
Actually, the churches that offer the Traditional Latin Mass has been growing exponentially, and mostly with young faithful families. You may have heard about these particular churches, because the FBI i
Has been caught spying on them. Check out the stories if you don’t believe me. There is a reason that our government is going after these good and faithful Catholics. For those who are looking for the truth, it can be found in the one, holy, catholic (universal) and apostolic Church. It is the church that Jesus Christ founded. It is the only place that you can receive the sacraments that Jesus established. It is the only place that you can receive the true Body, Blood,, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. This is the truth, and I hope you who read this seek it out and find it for yourselves. God bless you and keep you!
Interesting, and I have also noticed that the traditional Latin mass seems to attract more serious (and pro-life) Catholics in our area.
I wasn't addressing the R. Catholic church or the Trad. Latin Mass in my comment. I was speaking of the mainline protestant churches; Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Anglican, etc. Many in these denominations are benevolent and espouse a form of Universalism that is the antithesis of the gospel.
Any church that has the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as the focus of worship are growing. I was speaking of the churches that have political and cultural agendas/grievances that are their first and foremost priority.
Ephesians 2:14-22 speak to Christ's purpose to break down walls of hostility, through His blood (atoning sacrifice) to create unity between people, to give us access to the Father through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:21 'And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.'
But that is my point, that to combat the decline in church, attendance, people need to turn to why the traditional Latin mass churches are so successful and attracting members!
The liberalism of embracing same-sex marriage and homosexual clergy in the mainline protestant denominations has caused schisms and disaffiliating members to leave. The positive
news is new fellowships have formed and there are vital bible-believing non-denominational churches in most communities.
The R. Catholic church is now reeling from comments made by Pope Francis regarding the blessing of homosexual unions. https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2024/01/26/pope-francis-same-sex-blessing-247031
The obvious trajectory with this decision is opening a path towards normalizing same sex unions in the Catholic Church.
'The Clobber Verses' are in the inerrant Word of God whether people like them or not.
(Genesis 19:1-38, Leviticus 18:22, 20:13, Romans 1:25-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Timothy 1:9-10
and Jude 6-7)
I almost didn't read this. So glad I did. Very interesting, thanks.
One of the better discussions of Machen’s fabulous book that I have read. It is amazing that one can read it and feel that it was written in our times. My oath was not totally unlike yours. By God’s grace I landed in better churches by my mid-thirties. It was as though I was born again a second time suddenly understanding what the Bible as a whole was all about. Like you I had thought doctrine md creeds were dull and my first visits to these new churches made me wonder if all this “liturgy” and creeds were not healthy but Roman Catholic. As I visited a United Reformed church I asked the elder why they had all those elements in each worship service. He told me that as faithful as a pastor might be he is only human and may not preach the pure gospel each service, so they build “guilt, grace and gratitude” (the gospel) into the service. I discovered the wonderful Heidelberg Catechism that you quoted. And later I would delve into the rich confessions on the Presbyterian tradition, which are agreed with. The result has been a richer understanding of scripture and a steady assurance of. Machen’s book eventually came along and helped me get a better understanding of what I had experienced in my first Christian experiences as a teen and young adult. May God be pleased to reform and revive his church in America.
Thank you for sharing this! Your story reminds me of one of my first experiences of a very, very liturgical service. I once visited a church in Leesburg, Virginia on a trip. It was some sort of reformed Episcopalian church, with needlepoint kneelers made by various families over the years. They sang from the Psalter and read from the Book of Common Prayer prior to the lengthy "homily", which was also biblically sound (if a bit dry). These are to some degree stylistic elements, of course, but I loved the seriousness with which everything was conducted! Very old-fashioned and formal, but wonderful and spirit-filled all the same. I treasure that memory to this day.
Thank you for your excellent article! They do not have eyes to see or ears to hear because they loved not the Truth. God is Truth and Satan is Lies.
"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess. 2:10-12
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth." 1 Tim. 4:1-3
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith." 2 Tim 3:1-8
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Timothy 4:3-4
https://www.eaec.org/The-Hidden-History-of-the-Antichrist--Summary-of-Lucifer-and-the-Kabbalistic-Jews--Teresa-Hillebrandt.pdf
Paul lamented the churches he'd nurtured were already succumbing to "the mystery of iniquity". Christ usefully observes that those who fall short of the meticulous observance of the scribes and Pharisees are hopelessly damned. Conservative Christianity's doctrines may be closer to the truth than that of the liberals, but then no one is saved by doctrines even if they are sound and biblical. All of Christianity is destroyed through a lack of knowledge of God's will through a bewildering inability to rightly divide the word.
Are you the entity that used to be known as "Bionic Mosquito"?
No, but I think I'll starting referring to myself that way around the house!
Thanks, Ashely, for sharing your discernment and loving trust in God's Word.
If we forget about God, we cannot complain about the world.
https://risingdawn360.substack.com/p/good-people-you-dont-get-to-have your sane world without Christ
monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/machen/Christianity and Liberalism - J. Gresham Machen.pdf