A Call for Exodus Is Not Heeded by Most

I am considering the story of Moses and the slavery of the Israelites under the power of a Ruler “who knew not Joseph.” Four hundred years is a long time. It is long enough to grow complacent and dull of hearing the Spirit’s guidance. God seemed to be the only one who wanted his enslaved children to be free from their oppressors. Prince Moses had already fled the country to evade prosecution for murder. He was glad to be out of there. He was content to live the life of a shepherd. He was getting in touch with his roots and the God of his fathers. Not only God need to demonstrate his power to convince the oppressive forces to let his people go, but he also had to convince his chosen liberator and his chosen people that their spiritual health demanded a new location. They were enslaved but had accommodated themselves to this state of bondage.

This is a biblical archetype that I believe demonstrates a spiritual dynamic present in many Mainline Protestant denominations that oppress their people with “another gospel.” Not only do they live under the oppression of heterodoxy (false teachings) but also with the material oppression of holding them hostage using their property as leverage. "If you leave us, we will claim all your stuff." What a strange thing for quasi socialist organization to do! Those who refuse God’s redemption, do so because they have grown accustomed to the spiritual dullness and the ever dimming Light around them.

I just learned recently that the congregation I served for ten years was forcefully and ungraciously denied their request to be dismissed (freed from bondage) from their membership in the Pines Presbytery in North Louisiana and South Arkansas. While a handful are still living in the state of spiritual lethargy, most members of the congregation suffered for decades with pangs of conscience after every General Assembly meeting and after every godless, even child killing, pronouncement from the Office of the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly. The highest court in the Presbyterian Church (USA) is called the Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC). If a presbytery made a decision some of its members believed to be contrary to the teaching of Christ they could file an action with the Synod’s PJC to plea for a reversal and correction of a clearly errant decision. Cases about the ordination of proud homosexuals who want to be married or hold offices would routinely be decided in a manner that contradicted the clear teachings of the Bible. In a recent case the highest court in this denomination actually claimed that the Bible is too confusing to be useful on matters of personal morality. In its place they turn to human wisdom that, in the light of God's word, is foolishness.

Most preachers in the PC (USA) are practical atheists who believe thoughtlessly that Jesus was simply one more exemplary person whose life should be an inspiring example to us all. His death did not atone for sin because sin does not exist except in some subjective state of mind. Those in the pews need to be psychologically cured from their guilt feelings but not judiciously reconciled by a Savior who pays the price for their transgressions against a Holy God.They have learned to honor the religion of their oppressors. They have grown dull of hearing the Word of God from Scripture, through the voice of the Spirit. In a conversation I had with a pastor whose congregation sold their church building to an Islamic Society he defended this transaction by claiming "we are all children of Abraham." When I pressed him, he admitted that he had no interest in sharing the Gospel of any "person of faith" from any other religion.

The mission of the Presbyterian Church (USA) exchanges the life giving Gospel for cause politics. There is little wonder why those of us who are not ashamed of the Gospel; who actually believe it is the power of salvation to all those who believe it and proof of damnation for all who deny Christ’s provisions for their redemption through his once for all finished work on the cross, are uninspired by the lack luster lifeless liberalism dominating the pulpit and publishing houses of our PC(USA).

Out of 10,000+ congregations in the PC (USA) fewer than 500, less than 5%, are prepared to heed God's call for Exodus. They are not asking for anything that is not already theirs based on the simple provision of the Ten Commandments. We are commanded not to steal; which presupposes that property is owned by some and not owned by others. The Presbytery of the Pines would rather see a building go dark or be turned into a community center or even a Mosque than to admit their doctrine is false and their vision is untrue to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the speakers at the most recent presbytery meeting said as much when he stood to support the motion to tell those at Minden whose consciences were offended to leave their congregation if they aren’t willing to support the PC(USA).  

When you pass a congregation with the name of PC(USA) on it, remember that most such congregations have left the faith once delivered to the saints and have replaced it with the doctrine inspsired by the spirit of our age. If you should visit or belong to such a congregation unwittingly, take your Bibles with you and please listen carefully to what the preacher passes off as the Gospel. Remember the story of the Exodus. You are not spiritually stronger than the Children of God whose eyes grew accustomed to darkness of a false religion. Ask the Spirit to renew and rekindle the Light of Jesus within you.