The Soul of a Lion

The closer one comes to God, the greater should be one’s sense of sinfulness. The further one gets form God, as today, the more we hear the philosophy of the new age: “I’m OK, You’re OK.” This loss of the inclination to sacrifice has led to the obscuring of the Church’s redemptive mission. Where the Cross is downplayed, our need for redemption is given hardly a thought.

I happened upon an interview with Dr. Alice von Hildebrand, wife of Dietrich von Hildebrand, a great Catholic theologian and thinker.  Dr. Alice is a notable thinker in her own right.  An interesting read about Pope Paul VI and the “smoke of Satan that had entered the Church.”  

“PC”USA

 

During the course of my “web surfing,” I came across a site written by lay Presbyterians concerning issues in their church (PCUSA).  If you do not yet know, the mainline protestant churches here in the US are loosing membership at an alarming rate.  Many attribute the loss to being, well, “pc,” that is politically correct (as opposed to theologically correct.)  Take a look at this site.  These are some of the committee assignments for the upcoming 217th General Assembly in Birmingham, Ala., June 15-22.  Here are some of the committees, the issues for these committees and the committee leaders. 

No. 4 Church Orders

Repeal G-6.0106b and the current Authoritative Interpretation on ordaining homosexuals.

Rev. Karen Akin, moderator Second PC, Little Rock, Ark. (Arkansas Presbytery)           Rev. Julian Walthall, vice moderator Spanish Fort PC, Spanish Fort, Ala. (S. Alabama Presbytery)

No. 6 Ecclesiology

PUP report, including recommendation that would allow ordaining bodies to decide on their own whether to ordain practicing homosexuals.

Rev. Blair Monie, moderator Preston Hollow PC Dallas, Texas (Grace Presbytery)              Rev. Catherie Kotfila, vice moderator Brunswick PC Troy, N.Y (Albany Presbytery)

No. 11 Peacemaking and International Issues

Divestment of PCUSA holdings in corporations that do business with Israel.

Rev. Gretchen Graf, moderator First PC, Grand Rapids, Mich. (Northern Plains Presbytery)              Elder David Henderson, vice moderator (Milwaukee Presbytery)

No. 13 Theological Issues and Institutions

Trinity doctrinal statement calls for using traditional and new language – Father, Son and Holy Spirit and alternatives such as “Mother, Child and Womb.”

Elder Nancy Olthoff, moderator (East Iowa Presbytery)              Rev. Irvin Moxley, vice moderator Fairmont PC, Cleveland Hts., Ohio (Scioto Valley Presbytery)

Is there any wonder why God-fearing, God-loving Presbyterians are leaving their church?  The gay issue has destroyed any pretense of obeying Holy Scripture.  They have been working on divestment from companies that do business with Israel when the Palestinians have elected avowed terrorists to govern.  When will PCUSA renounce Islamo-facists who murder innocents wholesale? 

And look at #13.  A doctrinal statement apparently equating “Mother, Child and Womb” to the Blessed Trinity (do I smell feminist theology’s putrid arroma?)  And in what way could one possibly compare these (let’s see…both contain three items?)  Here are some other trios to consider:  Larry, Curly and Moe or how about Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

PCUSA has truely become “PC”USA