Religious Right

Many Churches Have Changed, and Jesus’ Priorities Are Fading From View

Here’s a comment Tammy posted the other day — reprinted here with her permission.

Although the views of conservative Christians mentioned in your article may not be indicative of EVERY conservative Christian, there are enough of them out there with these views, (some of them quite well known and vocal) that it has had serious consequences on the effective witness the rest of us are trying to live.

I am a Christian and have attended a Southern Baptist church since I was saved at the age of 12. In the 34 years since, the message and tone from the pulpit, church leaders, and even the convention itself has changed. Many church members did not notice because the change was very slow and very subtle. I have spoken to a number of Christians from a variety of churches in person and on the web, and they describe their situation as being like waking up after a deep sleep, and wondering who these people are in the pew next to them.

The social issues at the forefront of the ongoing political and religious debate are abortion and homosexuality. The dividing point in the Christian community is twofold.

Number one is how do we deal with these problems; are we militant, intolerant, judgemental, prideful, etc., or are we confident enough in our own relationship with Christ that we live by His example?

Number two is why are some Christians ready to embrace these two issues with open arms, but refuse to acknowledge other social issues that Christ was much more clear about in the Gospel? We end up looking pretty hypocritical to the world at large, as we debate among ourselves a right course of action. A lot of us are very quick to point out another’s failings and shortcomings, but we are unable to see that “there is none just… no not one.”

Just my two cents. God Bless, TammyJo58

Visits: 75

Leave a Reply to Anonymous X

6 Comments

  • Arover2,

    There are others who feel as you do. I am Southern Baptist and my husband is Catholic. We are both Christians and love the Lord. We attend both churches. We have both seen a change in BOTH denominations.

    I have gone so far as to find the names of more mainstream Baptist Churches in our area that we could visit. We have hesitated to do so, because we have many friends in our present churches. I am convinced that there are others within God’s church today that are going through the same thing that we are.

    I told my husband Sunday that I’m going to contine to pray for those that are caught up in the political rhetoric, but I’m also going to continue to serve the Lord just where I am. I don’t think He wants us to desert His church.

    I think He wants us to continue to serve where we are, living out the two greatest commandments; love the Lord your God with everything within you, and love your neighbor as yourself. If we strive for that, we will be a living example for those in our church and those that are on the outside looking in. Today, more than ever before, it seems there is a need for a Christian example in both of those places.

    God Bless,

    TammyJo58

  • I was born and raised a Roman Catholic, and age 18 I joined the U.S Marines. I severed eight years with them. Over those years I drifted away from being an active Christian and a Catholic.

    After leaving the military, I met and married my wife, had a family and with my wife having a protestant background, we began attending a Southern Baptist Church and I joined also.

    As the years went by, my children grew and they married with families of their own.

    With the passing 1980’s , there became a definate change with my denomination, and it’s agenda. It became a war like attitude on the Democratic Party as well as any “liberal” stance in America.
    It got so bad, that even my friends at work that were Pentecostal or Charismatic, were seeing the same thing in their churches too. Christian Coalitian had moved in on us on full force.

    It got so bad that my family and I, had to change churches over the last few years a number of times. I count 5 churches we have tried. Now we really have no church to call our own.

    We basically have dropped out, and no longer active at all. We are still practicing Christians, and serve God in our own way and in our community on different projects to help the many laid off American workers, the elderly and homeless.

    From time to time, I find myself going back to my Catholic Church, to attend Mass and the spiritual reverence I once knew growing up. No. I am not a “denominationalist” either. I know God’s people are in all Churches that truthfully seek Him.

    I spend early morning time with the Lord, in prayer and in His holy scriptures. Jesus is still a very much part of my life, and my families. But somehow the majority of the American Church, as a whole, have lost touch with Him. The T.V. evangelists have done their damage to our nation too.

  • Hi!

    One of the things I believe in strongly is the “priesthood of the believer.” Each of us have a personal, direct relationship to God. We are so blessed! Why would we jeopardize this relationship by placing our faith in a mere man – whether he be a teacher, pastor, politician, etc.? It’s a giant step backwards!

    In the past, I have actually sat under the preaching of the word where the pastor had the courage to challenge me to read the word, study it, pray about it, and find out for myself if he was preaching the truth. I have had past pastors say from the pulpit, “Don’t believe it just because I say it!” I wonder how rare that is now? I myself have not heard it in a long time. It seems the emphasis now is on conformity, going with the flow, building a base of power by shear numbers. If you don’t agree, you have to be wrong. How arrogant! No man knows the mind of God, but there are many men of God out there today that would have us believe they do.

    The single most important piece of advice that I could give any Christian is this – Lean not on your own understanding – or the understanding of anyone else – depend on God for your understanding. Read your Bible, study it, talk to God – but don’t forget to LISTEN!

    Just my two cents!

    God Bless,
    TammyJo58

  • One of the things that concerned me about Jonathan’s responses to the article this came from was that he said that not all conservatives embraced the views expressed, but there is certainly something wrong with our churches if they are following leaders they don’t agree with blindly. His responses give me the impression that the conservatives who follow them are surrendering their will to someone other than God.

    I have read that the leaders of the religious right are phasing out Pat Robertson (and rightly so), but I do think they take advantage of the impression he likes to create that Christians are being persecuted for their faith to manipulate their followers. But when they do focus on two issues and ignore other biblical priorities like opposing war, torture, and poverty they do look like hypocrites. I’m not sure if I agree that the religious right is being persecuted, but if they are it’s more likely to be because of the lack of faith they show when they follow people rather than God.

 
Share
Share
Tweet