The Great Apostasy is Here!
One hundred years ago, a Scottish Presbyterian missionary shocked the athletic world, when he refused to run in his premier event, the 100-meter dash, at the World Olympics. The problem? It was held on a Sunday. He considered running on the Lord's Day to be a sin.
He was excoriated by the British press, even called by some, a traitor to his nation. Yet he was unfazed. The next day he was scheduled to run in the 200 & 400 meters, neither of which he had trained for. He won the Bronze in the 200, and the Gold in the 400. Overnight he became a national hero.
Yet, rather than parlaying his success into prestige and wealth, he returned to China to continue his work as a missionary. During WWII, the Japanese interned him in a concentration camp, where he continued to run a different race: The race of Faith. He died of brain cancer just months prior to the end of the war.
What stood out about Liddell was his absolute devotion to Christ, the Scriptures and the Gospel, as documented in the 1981 film, Chariots of Fire.
Today, 100 years later, the leadership of the Presbyterian Church [PCUSA], bear no resemblance to men like Liddle. Over the last few decades they have rejected the authority of Scripture, the deity of Christ, and the Gospel. In 2014 they recognized same-sex marriage, leading to a major split and formation of the conservative Presbyterian Church in America [PCA]. Overall, the PCUSA has experienced a 26.5% decline in membership. [The real numbers are probably much higher.]
Despite the handwriting on the wall, last week, the PCUSA leadership voted by a 2 to 1 margin, to revise the PCUSA Book of Order with the following statement:
" In Christ... God unites persons through baptism, regardless of... gender identity, sexual orientation... or theological conviction. There is therefore no place in the life of the Church for discrimination against any person."
Further in the document, they create new criteria that essentially bars the ordination of pastors who are not LGBTQ affirming.
The United Methodist [UMC] has followed in suit. They also have revised their Book of Discipline, by allowing for the ordination of "self-avowed practicing homosexuals... officiating same-sex marriages, and declaring that sexuality is...
“God’s good gift to all persons and commit the church to being in ministry with all people, regardless of sexual orientation."
Not surprisingly, they too have lost over a quarter of their members. Over 7,000 churches have disaffiliated; including the entirety of the African churches.
The Great Apostasy foretold by Paul as a percussor of the End, appears to be well on its way. Many, who have supported the mainline denominations, both Protestant and Catholic, are hearing God's voice of warning and obeying:
“Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." [2Corinthinas 6:17]