Wither? Christianity

From all the talk that is heard, you would think that orthodox Christianity was dying out, gasping its last ineffectual breath. At the least you would think it was a dinosaur due for extinction any day now. But it isn't, & never will.

There are certain groups out there like The Jesus Seminar who think they are doing us all a favor by "demythologizing" the Bible to get at what they call "The Historical Jesus". Their goal is to change Christianity into something new to survive in the future. They are failing miserably.

The kind of religion they end up with is that of a so-called god who is so weak & powerless that it is anything but a real god. In trying to make things relevant, they have made god irrelevant.

When faced with facts that "liberal christianity" really what is becoming irrelevent & dying out they refuse to face reality. Instead, they reply with a denial mechanism that should give years of employment to many a psychiatrist/psychologist for years to come.

There have been almost 2000 yrs of attempts to kill off orthodox Christianiy. It has failed miserably. & never will.

I recently read an article in Crisis magazine that looks at Episopal Bishop (Ret) John Shelby Spong. The article goes in to much greater depth about him & what is going on with those who are out to change Christianity from what God ment it to be to this garbage they are pushing. It can be found at their website: http://www.crisismagazine.com/feature2.htm

As a Catholic, I have seen many attempts to do to the Church what Bishop Spong & others propose. Like the others, most of them are in denial. They think they are winning, what Pope John Paul II & the othere in Rome have done to stop them will die out when he dies. Wait for the next Pope. They forget over 25 yrs ago, he was that next pope who they thought would do what they wanted. He didn't. They fail to see that more & more of the faithful are demanding the end of the experimentation etc. They want the Novus Ordo Mass to be celebrated as it should. Let's get rid of this feelgood, nicey nicey garbage that focuses on us. Let's return the Liturgy to what it is supposed to be, the people's work which to WORSHIP GOD. (Note: This has been more of a problem in the Roman Church than in most of the Eastern Churches of the Catholic Church.)

I am a realist, the Church is filled with humans who sometimes fall short. There have always been people who have failed to be faithful to their calling. But, the Church's mission is to be a hospital for those who are spiritually ill, in need of healing, forgiveness & the gift of the Holy Spirit to enable him/her to live as he/she should. Over the centuries God has raised up great saints to renew, restore, rebuild His Church. People like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Claire, St. Benedict, St. Scholastica, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Therese of Liseaux. & God is a merciful God who extends His Mercy to all who will receive it. 1 of the greatest signs of God's Mercy is the sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance) Jesus instituted. God promised He will never leave, never abandon His Church. & despite any attacks, the Church will continue to proclaim the message of God's love & forgiveness of our sins. The gift of reconciliation with God that is available for all who will receive it.

God doesn't want to see anyone go to hell. But, His Justice requires Him to respect the free will of those who have rejected His gift of Jesus & let them bear the fruit of that choice. God doesn't condemn anyone to hell. He lets us decide. Each of us can chose to go to hell. He loves each & everyone of us & is waiting for us to come to Him. He is making us the best offer there is. If you haven't made that choice yet, please do now, before it is too late. Lent begins Wed. God is waiting.