Anticipating the flight of Christians faithful to the clear teaching of the Scriptures on marriage, the Roman Catholics are issuing a wide welcome to refugees fleeing the Presbyterian Church (USA).
In a post encouraging Roman Catholics to welcome the return of those who have wandered from “the Church” into Protestantism and ultimately found themselves in a denomination that practices “gay marriage and infanticide,” Mark Shea says “we must make it our business to welcome them.”
Shea tells his Roman Catholic readers that “as the mainlines continue to bleed out due to outrageous betrayals of the gospel like this, the refugees stream in many directions as they flee such rubbish, and not a few of them head for Rome for the very simple reason that the Church goes on teaching what she always taught.”
Shea is right that many will leave the PCUSA over its most recent actions to authorize gay marriage and its failure to stand clearly with Israel. And I hope that wherever those who leave go, they will be welcomed and transplanted into a living community of faith where the Gospel of Christ is preached without shame and people are led to lead lives that are worthy of the calling of Christ. But I admit that I hope folks will discern a church home where the essential tenets of the Reformed faith guide the preaching and teaching.
Ask yourself:
Is it clear that the Gospel, the Cross and Jesus are central to the life, worship, witness and ministry of this particular church?
Is God honored as sovereign over all — all decisions, all advocacy positions, all worship practices, all curriculum, all programs, all those in leadership, all in all?
Is the Bible held in its right esteem as the Word of God and actively submitted to in the faith and life of the church and her people?
What other questions are you asking about your church these days?
What are you doing if indeed the Gospel is not preached, God is not honored or the Scriptures are not upheld in the church you call “home?” Let me know here or via Twitter @preslayman
20 Comments. Leave new
I am not going anywhere – thank you. I am staying. Everyone else can criticize and move on. I am staying.
Both ECO and EPC are viable alternatives for churches and individuals that are leaving because of PCUSA’s abandonment of the Gospel and Scripture.
I left the PCUSA years ago and became a Catholic. I love it. We welcome anyone to investigate the Church. The questions the author poses are good and the Catholic Church has good answers for them.
Several years ago I left for the PCA. Although I had been ordained as an elder in the PC(USA), giving that up in exchange for sound doctrine in the fundamentals, great Biblical preaching, and a vigorous community of believers was no problem. The two PCA pastors I know best are both from the PC(USA) and respect the gifts of women to the Church. And to tell you the truth, I have not missed monthly session and Christian Education meetings in the least.
I left 15 years ago and became a Wesleyan. I have peace of mind knowing that my money is not paying for abortions. Wesleyans actually follow the Bible.
So – when the “gay thing” comes up in the Methodist Church, what will do you then? Where will you run and hide? It is only a matter of time before they have to deal with it, too.
If you can sleep at night knowing that your tithes and offering are paying for pastors’ abortions, that’s your decision.
We left to start an EPC plant a few years ago, and have loved every minute of it. Very impressed with the leadership of this denomination and its solid doctrinal stances, and loving the focus on discipleship!
I’m not sure another “mainline” denomination is the way to go in this day and age. The only ones that have thus far held the line are the Baptists and the Catholics, and both are under attack. I do think the Baptists will probably hold the line due to their reverence for Scripture, but I am concerned about the Catholic Church–it only takes one bad Pope and they could be running headlong into the abyss (although I say that with due respect for the fact that the Catholic Church has been around for 1900 years and has survived bad times and bad Popes before!) Sadly, it is becoming clear that the Methodist church has been infected by the same secular bug as the others. I think it won’t be long before the Americans in that church will use political maneuvering to sideline the more orthodox African branch of their church, and then they will be free to adopt the same political agendas as PCUSA.
Whatever the situation, my prayers go out to all those who feel lost right now. Take comfort knowing that there are alternatives, but please take your time and let God guide your decision.
Anyone considering the Roman Catholic Church should read the modern Catholic Catechism.
This document bears the full authority of the Roman Catholic Church.
While it is very well written, well organized, complete and unambiguous – it clearly describes a religion far removed and contradictory to any reasonable Biblical interpretation on many vital points (including salvation) –
notwithstanding that there is much in their catechism with which we agree and that is excellently expressed.
There are plenty of other Presbyterian denominations much more faithful to the Bible than either the PCUSA or the Roman Cathoilic Church.
Paying for pastors’ abortions? Really?
Abortion is legal in the United States. Period.
Yes, and at one point slavery was as well. Just because something is legal doesn’t mean that it is also moral or right.
We añd others from a liberal church have found a Bible presbýterian one which we love.
It seems that many more PCUSA congregations would leave this liberal , anything goes non-scriptural dicta if it were not for having to either turn their church property over to the PCUSA and start over, or pay a ridiculous sum to keep the property and become a confessing congregation. The Calvary Christian churches in this area are bible teaching and welcoming for all to join the congregation, but do not permit instruction or leadership roles to those living in sin who proclaim their actions to not be sinful.
Exactly right Jim. The Presbyterian church I grew up in back in the 50’s knew right from wrong, & they don’t anymore.
Yes, abortions are covered in their medical plans.
Wesleyans are not Methodists. It’s a separate denomination & very conservative.
Thank you for this. While I respect the conscience of those who feel led into the Roman Catholic Church, it must be emphasized that the choice is not only between a collapsing, unbiblical mainline church and the Roman Catholic Church. There are still healthy, growing, biblical and confessional Protestant churches.
as the saying goes, talk is cheap. when the one world religion under the antichrist is introduced and everyone is asked to pledge allegiance to secular humanism suddenly i suspect things will get very quiet around here.
the enemies of the Church are always easy to spot; 90% truth, 10% lies.