Agnosticism in The Church Today

     This is one of the most enlightening books I have read on the dangers of

     Religious groups who veer from the Word of God for their own views

     of self importance and superiority, to the exclusion of all others.

       Link:        http://users.stargate.net/~ejt/gnostic1.htm      

     The link above is the index page which lists the book by chapter and is available

     for reading by clicking on each of the 10 chapters.     

     STRANGE FIRE - THE RISE OF GNOSTICISM IN THE CHURCH     

     By Travers and Jewel van der Merwe

     

           Dedication and Foreword

·         Chapter 1: Strange Fire

·         Chapter 2: Gnosticism

·         Chapter 3: A Gnostic Gospel ?

·         Chapter 4: The Supernatural

·         Chapter 5: The "Elite" Concept

·         Chapter 6: The Mystic "Link"

·         Chapter 7: Spirituality

·         Chapter 8: The Exaltation of Man

·         Chapter 9: False Prophets      

·         Chapter 10: Neo-Gnosticism

Are we to sit by and let these strange teachings develop without a word? Must we just ignore what is happening and smile passively in agreement without a protest?

A popular evangelist will stand before a congregation and ask, "how many here have read my books?" As hands go up, the evangelist will nod his approval and continue. He will give a Scripture text, but does not refer to it again. Instead he will quip out phrases that are met with cheering and clapping from an adoring audience. Before long it sounds like a pep rally with enthusiasts ready to jump on whatever bandwagon is presented with no thought to what has even been said.

Another insight about Strange Fire, as referred to in the bible, is offered by Ray C. Stedman found at http://www.pbc.org/files/messages/3533/0510.html

Within the movement were many children of God who remained true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, there were those that started out well, but along the way were influenced by "strange" fires that have brought the church to accepting so many different teachings today.

Where Did the Right Go Wrong?

Economic and political commentators have noted a pattern between changes in US national debt and US presidential terms since the mid-1970s. Commentators have noted that US national debt (as a percentage of GDP) has increased under Republican Presidents, but has decreased under Democratic Presidents. However, this pattern has only been strongly pronounced in the last three decades, and was not observed earlier, during the Post-World War II period. 

Ronald Reagan, originally a Democrat, embraced the Republican ideology as early as the 50’s and joined the Republican Party in 1962. He was persuaded to seek the California governorship and won that office in the 70’s. He was defeated in his run for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968 as well as 1976, but then won both the nomination and election, defeating Jimmy Carter in 1980.

As president, Reagan implemented changes both political and economic.  His “Reaganomics” aka “Trickle-down Economics”, along with massive deregulation, set America on a dangerous economic path.  He raised the debt limit 17 times.

In fact, all the way back to Truman, Republican presidents have added the most debt.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/infographics/us-national-debt

With little or no regulation, corporations made their own rules and “greed” kicked in. The “Trickle-down Economics” enabled the rich to become richer and the poor struggled.

George H.W. Bush continued on the same path as Reagan until the Clinton years.

Clinton presided over the longest period of peacetime economic expansion in American history The Congressional Budget Office reported a budget surplus between the years 1998 and 2000,

After the Clinton years, the Republican party took on a harsher, further right, ideology.

It was win at all costs and thus, a strong political organization was born.  This political group was closely aligned with the religious right.  A campaign was born and hitched it’s star to the churches of America.  Al Gore didn’t have a chance after the votes were counted, or “not” counted, due to hanging chads in Florida.

George W. Bush rode right into the White House with the support of a political organization steered by Carl Rove, and the conservative christian right. At some point during this period, the churches gradually took on a new identity and would never be the same.  A marriage took place between politics and christianity. This is where the right went “wrong”.

I lament the lack of old time Christian churches where the “Word of God” was preached from the pulpit and  not used as a vehicle to win elections.  

Do you speak Christian?  http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/07/31/do-you-speak-christian/?hpt=hp_bn8