Subject: When did the catholic church go wrong? |
Bible Note: Ed, those findings you cited on the state of the churches in our country are interesting but more than that, they are downright disburbing. And I have no reason to question their accuracy. I fear they are sadly true...... But, you know, the trend CAN be reversed. There is no excuse for a church to become exclusive and clanish and treat visitors as imposters. There is no excuse for waving any denominational flag as if it were the symbol of the only church that held the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Most of the mortal wounds that are being struck on churches are self-inflicted...... But a church doesn't have to commit suicide. There is another option. Let me tell you about one that is alive and well. I know of a church in the downtown area of a moderate-size city. It is not clanish. It welcomes all visitors warmly. It preaches and teaches the Bible. It places no premium on man's mere opinions about God and His word. It exalts Christ, not denominationalism, although it is a member of the largest Protestant denomination in the United States. It is vibrant. It is alive. It is large and continues to show steady growth...... I know these things to be true about it, because it is the church that my wife and I are members of. We rejoice and are glad always to enter this house of the Lord. --Hank |