Christianity under attack...from within!!

(All scripture quotes are from the NASB unless otherwise noted)

    Christianity has been under attack by a movement from within the church for years (even decades), but it has been rising at an alarming rate more recently, and seems to be at its peak today. What is this attack that's affecting the Christian Church? It's called Liberalism. First, let's take a look at the definition of Liberalism as it pertains to the church:

Liberalism - a movement that favors free intellectual inquiry, stresses the ethical and humanitarian content of Christianity, and de-emphasizes dogmatic theology.

    Basically, this movement tries to take the focus off what the bible says is right and acceptable by God, and replaces it with what man says is right and acceptable. The most glaring example of this is a very "hot topic" that a lot of churches have changed their views on recently, and that would be homosexuality...In particular, homosexual pastors and the support of gay marriage. There are several denominations that have change their church bylaws or are now open to gay clergy and/or gay marriage: The Episcopal Church (click here), The Methodist Church (click here and here), The U.S. Presbyterian Church (click here), United Church of Christ (click here and here), and the Evangelical Lutheran Church (click here and here)...and the list is growing every day.

    Before I go into defending why the liberal idea of homosexuality is biblically wrong, I would like to say that there is no hatred by me toward any gay or lesbian person. I hold to a Christian view of - "love the sinner, hate the sin". Homosexuality is a sexual sin against God, just like adultery. That is the way I believe it is viewed biblically, and people who regard themselves as Christians should turn away from those types of sexual sin. When man tries to justify sins that are committed against God, that is where liberalism comes in and a departure from the bible takes place. Many people (both Christian and non-Christian alike) will get offended at statements like this, but the bible is very clear about matters such as these. After all, the bible was given to us so that we may have an "instruction manual" if you will, on how we are to live and conduct ourselves as Christians. Since we as fallen human beings have a rebellious nature against God, the bible at times is not always viewed in a positive way. Some people believe that the bible is too strict or too ridged and that we should make certain allowances when dealing with different issues that come up, but God gave us commands and instructions to help us grow as Christians. I also believe that God's word will always rules out if a human idea or belief conflicts with what the word of God says in the bible.

    With that being said, I would like to go all the way back to the beginning of God's creation as my most strongest argument in this article to demonstrate what His purpose was when man and woman were created. In Genesis 2:18, the bible says, "Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him'." Then in verses 22-24, it says, "The man said, 'This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.' For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh". These scriptures show that God made man and woman to be together as partners while on earth, not man with man or woman with woman. I think that these verses, which talk about the beginning of creation, are very cut and dry as to what God intended for the human sexual relationship to be...it was to be between a MAN and a WOMAN.

    Another scripture passages that condemns homosexuality, and demonstrates how man has fallen away from God is 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, which says, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God". Paul is talking here about sins that are being habitually committed by the people at Corinth (a lifestyle). Homosexuality is one of the sins that is listed among many others. I interpret this as saying that if you live your entire life in the sins listed above without repenting and turning away from those sins, you won't inherit the kingdom of God. Paul affirms that true Christians are able to come out of these sins and live according to God's words because in verse 11 he goes on to say, "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." All things are possible through Jesus Christ, and this is what Paul is trying to focus on.

    Finally, the last scripture verse that I would like to bring up is Romans 1:18-32. Here Paul is talking about a group of people who were definitely rebelling against God. They knew the truth of God, but exchanged it for a lie, worshiping the creature instead of the creator (verse 25). In verses 26 and 27, Paul goes on to speak specifically about homosexuality, referencing men laying with men, and women laying with women. Paul calls this an unnatural act because he knows that it's outside of what God intended when He created man and woman. This is where we as human beings get ourselves in trouble with God. We know what God wants from us through His word, but we just put that aside and elevate our own selfish needs above His. That is what Paul is talking about when he said that "we worship the creature instead of the creator". This is the very cause of sin. Again, if we can be washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus Christ like Paul spoke about in 1 Corinthians 6:11, we can overcome any type of sin that comes our way.

    Liberalism also takes the word of God and lays it aside for some other teaching, doctrine or idea that seems less offensive or more politically correct in man's view. Another way that this can be illustrated is by directing you to an article in the news which shows what the U.S. Presbyterian Church is contemplating on doing when it comes to the Trinity (click here for the article). In the article, it talks about the U.S. Presbyterian church trying to change the term of the Trinity that we know as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to a more "gender-inclusive language". Some more acceptable terms according to the article would be, "Mother, Child and Womb" or "Rock, Redeemer and Friend". Evidently there must be some Christians who feel threatened by a male God, and want to change God's word by redefining it to what they want it to be. Jesus clearly identified who was to be recognized in the Trinity when He said in Matthew 29:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." This is another glaring example of liberalism taking over our churches.

    Will your church be next? Who knows, but we can't just sit around and wait for the liberal majority to rule over God's word. It's up to us as true Christians to make sure that we study God's word so that we know how to defend it. Paul said the following in 2 Timothy 3:14-17, "You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." We need to be more concerned with what God says to us through His word in the bible, and less concerned with what man says. We will never reach heaven by relying on man for our salvation. We must honor God's word by correcting the errors of man. If we commit ourselves to doing that, then the misleading ideas and the political correctness of liberalism will NEVER penetrate the walls of the true Christian Church, which is the body of Christ. I pray that this article reaches as many Christians as possible, and that God will strengthen us to stay involved with our local churches to make sure that we have the ability to fight against things like this when they present themselves. (Share this article with a friend)

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