Should we worry that the apostasy (or falling away) spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is fast becoming a reality in the Christian world? Let's consider some of the more concerning changes which have happened in mostly liturgical churches over the past few decades.
And now the United Methodist Church (UMC) Minnesota Conference has voted to removes "Father" from the Apostles' Creed for their worship service. In other words, even though the Bible refers to God as Father and He - this United Methodist Conference refuses to acknowledge Him as Father - because they insist that God be genderless.
In other words, they are acceding to the Secular Society's demand that all our world be genderless - that our world be seen as an LGBTQ+++ world. In this new UMC teaching, regardless of what God has authored in His Bible - whatever you want to be, just name it and claim it. You can be male, female, or anything in between. Or, you can be the newest fad - completely GENDERLESS!
I have long been a Baptist-flavored Christian and while our Statement of Beliefs, i.e., what we believe and teach, mirrors the Creeds of liturgical churches (Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed) - those are not integral parts of our worship service.
As Baptists our beliefs do reflect most of the theological positions articulated in those early creeds. For example, the Apostles' Creed expresses belief in the virgin birth, the resurrection, and the Second Coming. We Baptists embrace those beliefs. The Nicene Creed describes the doctrine of the Trinity as one God manifested in three distinct and equal persons. Baptists also believe and teach the doctrine of the Trinity. The difference being that we stop short of officially embracing the creeds and instead focus on individual saving faith.
Yet, for me personally, having spent a number of years in my younger life attending and studying in the Roman Catholic church - I do find some beauty in the Apostles' Creed. And now to have churches which have long been true to the Bible and our Christian faith - beginning to grow more and more secular, to see them actively adopting secular norms and teachings - I find very disturbing.
NO, I do not wish folks "Happy Holidays" - I wish them a "Very Merry Christmas!" NO, I do not have a Holiday Tree, I have a Christmas Tree. And when folks start taking CHRIST out of Christian, when folks start taking CHRIST out of Christmas - that sincerely bothers me.
And today when I find that thisUnited Methodist Church (UMC) Minnesota Conference has gone against His Bible and made God the Father genderless - I do begin to think that the apostasy is reaching End Times level.
The Apostles' Creed - Traditional Version:
Newly modified United Methodist Genderless Version:
Let me point out a typical flaw in their version. Even though this new UMC version is careful to remove all gender from the name of God - they still refer to Jesus Christ as "He." So, it seems that, to them, God the Father is genderless - while God the Son is not! Hmmm? Wonder how they will justify that?
Folks, I sincerely pray that you have your Eternal Life Insurance (the free gift of life in Jesus Christ) all in order. For, based upon current events, in the not too distant future we believers may be hearing Jesus Christ telling us, "Come up here" (Revelation 4:1) and we will be in glory with our Lord.
However, before that happens - are your Eternal Life Insurance premiums in order? Or is there a FRAN (Friend, Relative, Associate, Neighbor) who does not have his or her Eternal Life Insurance in place, i.e., the Holy Spirit indwelling, guiding, teaching, convicting, protecting?
Is there a FRAN with whom you should be sharing Jesus Christ and helping that FRAN become part of the Family of God? After all, that is OUR Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15) - to Go, Make disciples of all our FRANs, Teach them, and bring them into our church fellowships where, as a Family member, they can be baptized in the presence of their new spiritual family - confirming that their Eternal Life Insurance is valid.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
1. In 1972, the United Church of Christ became the first mainline Protestant denomination in the United States to ordain an openly gay clergy.
2. In 2003, the Episcopal church in New Hampshire ordained an openly gay man to the position of bishop.
3. Since 2010, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has been ordaining gay clergy.
4. Since 2012, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has been ordaining gay clergy.
5. The Presbyterian Church (USA) voted to allow Same-Sex Marriages in June 2014.
6. The Episcopal Church in the United States and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) also allow ordination of openly gay and lesbian clergy.
7. Internationally, many churches have ordained openly lesbian or gay clergy.
8. And, in recent years we have seen clergy from many denominations publicly speaking and demonstrating FOR abortions.
And now the United Methodist Church (UMC) Minnesota Conference has voted to removes "Father" from the Apostles' Creed for their worship service. In other words, even though the Bible refers to God as Father and He - this United Methodist Conference refuses to acknowledge Him as Father - because they insist that God be genderless.
In other words, they are acceding to the Secular Society's demand that all our world be genderless - that our world be seen as an LGBTQ+++ world. In this new UMC teaching, regardless of what God has authored in His Bible - whatever you want to be, just name it and claim it. You can be male, female, or anything in between. Or, you can be the newest fad - completely GENDERLESS!
I have long been a Baptist-flavored Christian and while our Statement of Beliefs, i.e., what we believe and teach, mirrors the Creeds of liturgical churches (Apostles' Creed, Nicene Creed) - those are not integral parts of our worship service.
As Baptists our beliefs do reflect most of the theological positions articulated in those early creeds. For example, the Apostles' Creed expresses belief in the virgin birth, the resurrection, and the Second Coming. We Baptists embrace those beliefs. The Nicene Creed describes the doctrine of the Trinity as one God manifested in three distinct and equal persons. Baptists also believe and teach the doctrine of the Trinity. The difference being that we stop short of officially embracing the creeds and instead focus on individual saving faith.
Yet, for me personally, having spent a number of years in my younger life attending and studying in the Roman Catholic church - I do find some beauty in the Apostles' Creed. And now to have churches which have long been true to the Bible and our Christian faith - beginning to grow more and more secular, to see them actively adopting secular norms and teachings - I find very disturbing.
NO, I do not wish folks "Happy Holidays" - I wish them a "Very Merry Christmas!" NO, I do not have a Holiday Tree, I have a Christmas Tree. And when folks start taking CHRIST out of Christian, when folks start taking CHRIST out of Christmas - that sincerely bothers me.
And today when I find that thisUnited Methodist Church (UMC) Minnesota Conference has gone against His Bible and made God the Father genderless - I do begin to think that the apostasy is reaching End Times level.
The Apostles' Creed - Traditional Version:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (universal) church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Newly modified United Methodist Genderless Version:
I believe in God, the CREATOR Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, GOD'S only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended TO THE DEAD. On the third day He rose AGAIN. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the CREATOR. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (universal) Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Let me point out a typical flaw in their version. Even though this new UMC version is careful to remove all gender from the name of God - they still refer to Jesus Christ as "He." So, it seems that, to them, God the Father is genderless - while God the Son is not! Hmmm? Wonder how they will justify that?
Folks, I sincerely pray that you have your Eternal Life Insurance (the free gift of life in Jesus Christ) all in order. For, based upon current events, in the not too distant future we believers may be hearing Jesus Christ telling us, "Come up here" (Revelation 4:1) and we will be in glory with our Lord.
However, before that happens - are your Eternal Life Insurance premiums in order? Or is there a FRAN (Friend, Relative, Associate, Neighbor) who does not have his or her Eternal Life Insurance in place, i.e., the Holy Spirit indwelling, guiding, teaching, convicting, protecting?
Is there a FRAN with whom you should be sharing Jesus Christ and helping that FRAN become part of the Family of God? After all, that is OUR Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15) - to Go, Make disciples of all our FRANs, Teach them, and bring them into our church fellowships where, as a Family member, they can be baptized in the presence of their new spiritual family - confirming that their Eternal Life Insurance is valid.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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