The Left Took Over the Churches,
and the Right Never Fought Back
American Thinker,
by
Robert Oscar Lopez
Original Article
Posted By: tisHimself,
4/10/2020 5:51:56 AM
Amid so many historic aspects to the 2020 election, one bit of important history may be getting lost. While Trump has ushered in a whole new era in politics, changes to American church life during the last four years have been sweeping. This essay will provide an introduction to the church's present battles, for readers who may not have been following Christian media or who find the situation confusing.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
abuela10 4/10/2020 6:16:50 AM (No. 374653)
You mean the Protestants
3 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
MSUDoc 4/10/2020 6:18:17 AM (No. 374654)
This article is almost incoherent.
It also ignores one undeniable fact: As men fell away and women became prominent (and finally dominant) in the Church, things fell apart precipitously.
Church became less about eternal truths and more about temporal cultural left-wing issues — Female clergy/priestesses, LGBT rights (and marriage), immigration, climate change, and so on.
The Church is sick from cancer within leaving it vulnerable to the demonic influences from outside. It’s happening everywhere in the American church. Another Christian reformation is truly needed — Unless the End really is needed.
40 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
NancyD 4/10/2020 6:35:36 AM (No. 374663)
My mother does not recognize the Catholic Church that she grew up with. It saddens her beyond belief and she doesn't know what to think anymore. How sad is that?
It's obvious that the left is running the Church these days, otherwise I believe that there would be an uproar to the State saying we cannot worship in person.
If there was ever Proof of Separation of Church and State THIS would be it, however THERE ISN'T. What does THAT tell you?
23 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
WhamDBambam 4/10/2020 7:44:46 AM (No. 374707)
The Protestant church in which I grew up just kept getting loonier and loonier over the years.
19 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
privateer 4/10/2020 7:51:42 AM (No. 374711)
The Commies-Left-Progs---Democrats for short, are using fear to take away our Freedom to Worship. After all, the only proper worship is of the State. This is how terrorism works: using abject fear of something to make you do something you do not wish to do. You need not actually fear those creating the terror; just the thing they use against you, in this case a plague or death. Like a mustang that has been saddle broken; you are now ready to be ridden.
7 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Timber Queen 4/10/2020 7:58:11 AM (No. 374719)
I'm with #2, the article is tough to follow as the author assumes his previous material has been read. He chides conservatives for not putting up a fight in the churches like they did in higher education. When did "conservatives" battle for the colleges? The Left wormed in, just as in his example of the SBC, where a trusted "conservative" leader leaves behind Marxist apprentices. Its been a generational simultaneous takeover of all aspects of society; religion, culture and politics.
I also think Mr. Lopez is a bit late to the game. The smoke of Satan has always been present in the Christianity, from Judas' kiss to Peter's thrice denial. Despite heresies, schisms and the Reformation the Catholic Church still retains the teachings of the Apostles and Church Fathers. Pope Frank may be more a Marxist than a Catholic, but his political spouting has no effect on Doctrine. The Sacraments remain and always will be. Many hammers have been broken against the anvil of the Church.
The greatest gift St. John Paul II gave the faithful was the 1993 Catechism of the Catholic Church. Should any pope deviate from or teach contrary to Sacred Tradition or Scripture, I will continue to follow the CCC. I'd rather be in JPII's corner on Judgement Day.
17 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
franq 4/10/2020 8:10:05 AM (No. 374733)
Left = The Devil.
9 people like this.
The Missouri Synod Lutheran Church is still dedicated to preaching Christ Crucified and Faith in Jesus Christ as a gift from God and 100% required to be acceptable to God! Challenge yourself and read “Law and Gospel” by Walther! Scripture stands alone but Walther helps me understand complex theology that I can’t get to on my own...I’m not smart enough!
8 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
Yuban 4/10/2020 8:22:01 AM (No. 374753)
The Left has not and will not take over my Church. My Church is non-denominational and will remain that way. That being said, I do not need a Church to be able to PTL. I have a personal relationship with the Lord that makes each and every day a joyous day indeed. Your Church is not nearly as important as is making sure you live your life thru the Word, the Bible. Christ will always remain the same. The Church, not so much. Have a joyous and blessed day my friends.
12 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
Rumblehog 4/10/2020 8:41:11 AM (No. 374778)
Theologically, it's "Faith alone in Christ alone," and saved by God's grace, through faith in His "uniquely born" Son, as the foundation of the Christian church. After salvation the Bible is abundantly clear, there is to be one well qualified, male only, Pastor-Teacher teaching his flock, the "Mind of Christ" found in God's Holy Scripture.
The World Council of Churches back in the 1970's were a global Communist front used to infect vulnerable denominations, cripple them, and make them totally ineffective, starting with the Episcopalians, Methodists, and now Lutherans. One by one they've all fallen victim to the wolf in sheep's clothing Jesus warned us about.
If the Word of God doesn't make you cringe, hurt, feel guilty, or dazed then it's not being presented properly! We are totally depraved as fallen humans, and the "medicine" we need does not go down well at first, but over time it becomes a daily source of strength and encouragement. We need more Christian heroes in these troubling times, and as always. When we stand before the Judgement Seat in heaven, no one will want to heard Jesus ask, "Why didn't you fight for My Word to be taught?"
Get back to the Bible, Christians!
11 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Strike3 4/10/2020 8:51:14 AM (No. 374794)
When half of the congregation as well as the pastor embraces sins like homosexuality, gay marriage and allowing illegal aliens to take sanctuary after they sneak across the border, the average devout churchgoer is going to abandon that church. Once the Left befouls something it will never be the same.
22 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
HPmatt 4/10/2020 8:58:51 AM (No. 374814)
Our church fought for 20 years, finally said ‘enough’ and left PCUSA, founded ECO with other conservative/biblical churches. The church reformed and aiways reforming....
5 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
hurricanegirl 4/10/2020 9:05:40 AM (No. 374829)
All of you are forgetting the most important thing about the church: It's not a PLACE of worship or even a DENOMINATION. The church is all born-again believers. So as long as there are believers on planet earth, there will be "a church." As for the denominations, they may need to fall by the wayside, but the people (the true "church") within those organizations can at any point regather and start fresh again.
And lastly, let's not forget Jesus' promise in Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it."
The reason why the "gates of Hades" won't ever overcome the true church is because inside each church member lives the all-powerful God.
16 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
oldmagnolia 4/10/2020 9:53:50 AM (No. 374898)
#3 I am like your mother. The damage to the Catholic Church began with Vatican II. I was in a Catholic school then. The nuns and everybody were so confused, they didn't know what to do. The Jesuits were prominent during the years of this Council. Social justice replaced "love one another". The change from Latin to vernacular to evangelize Africa didn't go very well. The seminaries became a free for all instead of places very difficult to enter. Latin was taken away from their curriculum. Today, the seminaries are practically empty. Nuns were allowed to become "focolarinas" and free to live out of the convent. With this, they disappeared from schools and hospitals - two things they did well. The liturgy was completely changed with the priests facing the congregation giving their backs to the Tabernacle, thus to Jesus himself. Homilies became propaganda instead of focusing on the Gospel and Epistles of the day. The solemnity of the music was thrown out favoring the guitars and the bongos to please "the youth". Well, they didn't. There are places that the "old church" still exist. One of our cousins is a Benedictine monk and a priest. We have been at the abbey many times. Over there they still preach the Gospel. We still go to a traditional church and watch the monks celebrations on line. There is one thing about the virus though. People are facing death and they are coming back to God. Let's see for how long.
12 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
rikkitikki 4/10/2020 10:09:03 AM (No. 374920)
Jesus and His apostles devoted their public ministries to preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, a focus many mainstream churches never truly embraced in the first place. In fact, the only Christian groups actually growing in today's world (above a birth rate factor) are those preaching Jesus' authentic Gospel.
And while Jesus' Gospel of the Kingdom certainly includes the Gospel of Salvation, it also includes a whole lot more...including physical healing, demonic deliverance, etc.
Until "The Church" again recovers Jesus' true Gospel, it's just preaching theology, or whatever passes for that these days.
5 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
jeffkinnh 4/10/2020 10:16:06 AM (No. 374930)
The problem with the Right fighting back against the Left in church is that we are all supposed to be worshipping God in unity. Politics are a human thing, not a God thing. Dragging Leftist politics into the church is divisive but the Left doesn't care. The Right DOES care but doesn't feel that we should be battling out issues in church. The Left is subtle, speaks quietly, but is relentless and ultimately intolerant. As they gain ground, people who resist are painted as not only wrong but ungodly. The Right, especially in church, is tolerant and their stance is, this doesn't belong in church. The Left refuses to accept that and continually assaults the right.
The Right eventually either goes nuclear, destroying the peace of the church through the desperation the Left has created OR withdraws to maintain their peace with God but sets aside the religious structure that has become toxic.
Part of this can be seen when trying to discuss something with a liberal. They are emotional, not rational and their emotions are difficult to address and modify. The more you push for a rational discussion, something that often undermines their stand, the more emotional they get. Personally, getting into a screaming match in church is repugnant to me. In some cases, that's the choice you have to face. My personal choice is that I go to a church that like so many tilts liberal. I do NOT belong to the church. I am not a formal member. In some ways, I always have one foot out the door. I participate in things that work for me and avoid the more liberal aspects. I NEVER bring up Conservative issues. Yet some liberals feel free to spout offensive liberal statements from time to time. As long as it is occasional, I deal with it.
6 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
tennisbum 4/10/2020 10:35:08 AM (No. 374965)
We are the church, not the building, even with all of our sins and flaws so long as we are true Believers in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Remember the Greatest Commandment and then the Second Greatest Commandment. Live by these in our daily lives.
Sadly many denominations have chosen to interpret the Bible to fit in our "progressive, secular world" "The Bible can mean whatever you want it to mean " rather than what the Bible says. "Right is wrong and wrong is right 'cause that how I feel" goes the current liberal dogma.
I am a member of the United Methodist Church. It is about to split into a Traditional group and a Progressive group because a significant number of the so-called leaders want gay clergy and same sex marriage within the church. IMHO God already addressed this issue in His Book, the Bible. It is a non-issue. But of course, some of the leaders are much more intelligent than God and are attuned to the needs of the current progressive world....sarcasm off.
I really don't need a denomination in order to worship. I need a Bible believing, Bible preaching, Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior church whose members are actively out in their community serving and helping their fellow man...the Second Greatest Commandment. Be Blessed and be safe from the virus.
8 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
iraengneer 4/10/2020 11:01:38 AM (No. 375015)
Both my sister and her husband, were, until recently, on staff at a "christian" university that has gone heavily into the lefty-lib-loon world. The denomination (which I fled after high school) has mirrored that, with lesbian bishops and "pasors", fulsome praise for illegal aliens, disavowal of "non-inclusive" verses, and all the rest. That university also houses a seminary, where those who don't buy in to this trash are pushed aside or out, and the faculty is almost entirely llefty lib. As is the publishing arm of that denomination.
And they are not alone in this. Ever hear of The Religious Coalition For Abortion Rights? Now renamed Religious Coalition For Reproductive Choice. The United Methodists are heavy into it. Among others.
Nor do I give any pass to the Catholics, Roman or otherwise. My ancestors suffered ghastly and vile persecutions and death at their hands, and the current doofus would happily do likewise to those who differed with his Glow-bull Warming lies, or the rest of his efforts to redefine facts.
Christians are supposed to be a walking testimony to the Lord, the risen Christ. And there is some of that, certainly. But there are many, in the pulpit and in the pews, who will not be hearing a " well done, good and faithful servant". Not even.
6 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
Ketchuplover 4/10/2020 12:25:49 PM (No. 375146)
The article failed to mention a major movement of the 19th Century that started in Europe. America began to import this liberal heresy from German theologians and its effect is still widespread today. It is often referred to as the Historical-Critical Method of interpreting Scripture. No longer should one accept Divine Inspiration and Scriptural Inerrancy. Instead, one should use common sense. Human reasoning superceded God's Word. Six-day Creation? That doesn't make sense! Look at all the scientific evidence to refute it! Jonah swallowed by a big fish? Ridiculous! No such fish exists capable of that. A virgin birth? You can't be serious! Jesus feeding 5000+ with five loaves and two fishes? Makes for a good story, but it's just an allegory. Couldn't happen. The Resurrection? Well, the writers had to come up with something that would counter the depressing news of Jesus' "defeat"
at the hands of the Romans.......On and on it goes. In the 60s and 70s the Missouri Synod Lutheran Church was being torn apart by this heretical thinking, culminating in the seminary walk-out of most of its professors and students who embraced this rubbish. Several congregations broke away and eventually became absorbed into what is today called the ELCA church, the largest Lutheran body in America, which in its founding, refused to accept Biblical inerrancy and Divine Inspiration, and since are adrift without any moorings. The Missouri Synod, thankfully, had this battle early-on. Most other denominations, if they chose to fight it, were too late. Like the ELCA Lutherans, they have elevated their "common sensiblilities" over what Scripture says.
4 people like this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
anniebc 4/10/2020 12:53:18 PM (No. 375209)
I never liked Al Mohler, and he's showing his true colors in the SBC. I think he wants the leadership to slow the slide, not stop it. Beth Moore can be president after he soft slides, and like Hillary, Beth can complete the SBC's destruction. It's embarrassing and demeaning that some white people (white woke men, in particular) believe they show themselves to be good people because they advance the cause of non-whites and poor old, oppressed white women. They think they're white saviors while they are completely destroying denominations. Know this, when they destroy the denominations, they take all the wealth with them to advance their marxist cause. Happens that way every time.
4 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
Chuzzles 4/10/2020 1:27:15 PM (No. 375259)
Satan and his minions have been taking them over, tempting churches to brazenly bow to worldly trends like women in the pulpit, when that is expressly forbidden in Romans by the apostle Paul. There are plenty of left leaning churches out there right now, but the thing is, they are not Christian any longer. They are Churchians, for they no longer choose to follow God's gospel, only bend to the world. We all can think of examples especially among the television evangelists who chase gold instead of God. They are in for such a shock when God is ready to inform them.
2 people like this.
Reply 22 - Posted by:
or gate 4/10/2020 3:05:49 PM (No. 375360)
This is what Communists do.
2 people like this.
Reply 23 - Posted by:
Harlowe 4/11/2020 12:45:07 AM (No. 375790)
The author is to be commended for his concern in wanting to protect Christian Churches from leftist infiltration and dominance; thankfully, some churches have resisted opposition forces for centuries. For example, #10 points out the failings of some denominations for being members of the World Council of Churches and cites Lutherans among them; while the ELCA is a member of the WCC, the LCMS and WELS have not been members since 1972.
Resistance to heretical thinking in the 60s/70s was strongly resisted by the LCMS, and the LCMS continues to be watchful and mindful of adhering to Holy Scripture, “the inspired, infallible and inerrant Word of God as the only source and norm of Christian doctrine and practice.” From its early founding, Lutheran Reformers were guided by the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles, as well as some writings of the Early Church fathers (Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Tertullian from the second century; Origen, Cyprian, Anthony of Egypt, Athanasius, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, Gregory of Nyssa, John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria, Hilary of Poitiers, Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine, and Leo I covered the third, fourth, and fifth centuries; Gregory I, Bede, and John of Damascus from the sixth, seventh, and eighth centuries.) The LCMS believes “salvation is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus alone apart from works of the Law.” Scripture interprets Scripture.
2 people like this.