The thing is many of the “mainliners” are ceasing to be Christian and trying to rationalize sin as their “gospel”. So we must not be yoked to them as St. Paul testifies in 2 Corinthians 6 and stridently in 2 Corinthians 6:14-15.
What is a 21st century example of what I am referring to? For some reason I still get some mail from the congregation I was raised in my youth ( which was not what it must becoming). I still gave to their food pantry so maybe that is why.
Anyway, a current letter reads:
“Church of Christ Uniting, a merged congregation of the United Methodist and Presbyterian USA denominations, is committed to being the hands, feet, voice, and heart of Jesus in our community. We value all individuals created by God and welcome them into the life of this congregation. To further advance our mission, a group of COCU members have been prayerfully considering becoming a Reconciling Congregation. To be reconciling means that our church would support proactively, the inclusion of everyone in our fellowship, including individuals of all genders, races, and sexual orientations.”
The letter goes on to rationalize that they can basically redefine anything the United Methodist Church law ( this “church” was originally Methodist) says:
“Will we be breaking UMC church law if we become a reconciling congregation? Are we in violation of the book of discipline? No, there is no disciplinary restriction on becoming a reconciling congregation. One of the methods of changing unjust laws is to actively resist them. Jesus did it all the time.”
“What about the Bible?! How we read: Most people know that there are a few isolated passages of scripture that speak of people ‘lying with same gender partners.’ These are dynamics of power and submission, elders with youngsters, and orgies, temple prostitutes in the context of the Roman Empire. Nowhere does the Bible address loving, same gender, committed relationships.”
Funny when I read Leviticus 18, Leviticus 19, Leviticus 20 which precede the Jews history with Rome by centuries, adultery is condemned in detail. When I read Romans 1, the same moral law is preached by St. Paul and also what he was dealing with in the church at Corinth. When we read the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, Matthew 6, Matthew 7 we see it is repentance ( Matthew 4:17) is the remedy for transgressing the law and not stoning as outlined in the old covenant. Is there a difference between the commandments the Lord says in Matthew 19:16-19 to what St.Paul says in Romans 13:8-10?
I wonder what St. Rafael or St. Theophan would think of what there is today vs what they knew in their lifetimes?