Lehigh Valley Conservative

You know I have been hard on the politicians and blaming them for just about everything. And one of the area’s that has not been addressed is the church and what it is or is not doing so let me beat on them and their ministers in this posting.

To over simplify the church’s job is to say it is their job to point folks to Christ and turn out Godly citizens and that they have not been doing, not lately anyway. Allow me to quote extensively from Richard S. Wheeler’s book “Pagans in the Pulpit” published by Arlington House Publishers 1974.

“Many of the great social enterprises of our times, such as the quest for equality or for peace, have been firmly—even rapturously—supported by the Christian clergy. But somehow, things don’t quite fit together. The New Testament, of which I have an extensive knowledge, seems to be saying one thing, while the sermons, tracts, and books of a well-publicized segment of the clergy say something else. Newspapers dwell tenderly on worker-priests, on radical ministers, and on the currents of theology that seek an opening to the left.”

Mr. Wheeler is setting the tone for the book as he opens his argument in the Preface. I wish to do him justices, so I will be quoting him accurately but I think he has narrowed his scope too much by including only liberal and/or so called left wing clergy. It is not only that element but also those that stand in the pulpit and preach another Gospel of Jesus Christ. Heresy which cause the person to act in a fashion that is less then honoring to God’s Law and man’s duty to God-Family- Country, this is were I think the bigger errors occurs. But let me stop and continue with quoting Mr. Wheeler’s book.

“The persistence and moral certitude of such a large body of liberal clerics aroused my curiosity. Apparently, thy were not only discovering Christian values in secular, left-seeking social doctrine; they were boldly reinterpreting the concept of God Himself, changing him from a personal omniscient Father to a pantheistic abstraction.”

Let me quickly say the ministers today would not consider themselves to be left or radical but yet they would agree with and preach this other Gospel. These next couple of sentences state, Mr. Wheeler’s position and his claim as to what he is willing to do.

” I worried about all this: perhaps I had missed something great in the faith or had misinterpreted Christianity or had been taught false values. So I began to survey the Scriptures, as well as the various commentaries that illumine them, willing to recast my faith no matter where the inquiry might lead.”“I was particularly mystified by the total absence of institutional reform in the New Testament.”

He uses a word that has been banter about by some of the presidential candidates in this election and it is a word that should immediately raise concerns when heard. The word is “Progressive” note how he uses the word.

” The concept of progressive social reform does not exist in the New Testament, either directly or derivatively, even though Christianity is a religion with a unique social ethic. What does exist abundantly is a concern about the condition of the soul.”” He (Jesus) began simply with people, with humble building blocks rather than grand social blueprint.”

” Did it follow logically that in modern, complex times the pursuit of institutional change was an extension of Christian love? After the church transformed hearts, was socialism the next step?” ” Capitalism, private ownership, economic licentiousness, and inequality are all to be wiped out. They are the fruits of sin, and socialism is to demolish them and restore goodness. These reforms are to be imposed from above: by Congress, the executive, the Supreme Court, and the United Nations, all under the moral and ethical guidance of liberal clerics. Evil is to be destroyed and people changed for the better because they will no longer be exploited. Thus, for the liberals the linkage between the teachings of Jesus and socialism is natural and inevitable, and the switch from faith to progressive ideology is natural. The social gospel provides an understandable and seductive viewpoint.
Nevertheless, I found the silence of the gospels disturbing. If only Jesus had said something prophetic about the evolution of his church toward political reform!”

—”Perfect Christian socialism.”
” His apostles did not concern themselves with the social structure of Judea or the political structure of the Roman world.”

” The primitive Christians busied themselves converting all classes, from senators and patricians to slaves and the dispossessed. They did not teach a class solidarity that could be used against the rich, but taught a doctrine of love, faith, and reconciliation— a fraternal concern for other. It was a doctrine based on voluntary endeavor; on gifts of charity rather than welfare based on coercive taxation; on a proffering of love rather then the imposition of law enforced by state violence.”

This article is rather long but it needed to be said and Mr. Wheeler said it well. Let me close with just a couple of thoughts. The Constitution of this land was founded and written to reflect the Law of Scripture, God’s Law and you will either have that law or you will have the law of the ACLU which is no law (ANTINOMIANISM Greek “anti” against nomos “law”) and if that be so let someone or something have mercy on you because God will not. This separation of Church and State is such a phony distraction that I can’t believe it has such a hold over the leaders of the country. The simplicity of it is this; the Government shall make no national Church as they had in England period, end of discussion. Let us go to church this Sunday seeking Jesus Christ and pray God will help you find Him for His yoke is light. And while you’re there say a prayer for this country and it’s leaders. By the way because you’re in America you don’t have to go to any church, but do think about your soul why because you should be concern were it will have its final resting place.