As a committed 4th generation Nazarene, I've been watching the UMC disaster with great interest. I appreciate your perspective on the ways in which we are following in the UMC's footsteps. Note that in my experience, entire sanctification is rarely taught anymore, and our historic understanding of it has shifted. There's a lot of "love" being preached and the meaning of this hijacked word is almost never defined. We're encouraged to avoid divisive conflict and thus allow the disease to continue to grow towards a larger catastrophe.
I warned people in the church of the nazarene.. I was told I was wrong and they'd never go the way of the United Methodist Church. How wrong they are..
I too am frustrated with how seminaries are governed and funded. I know SBC seminaries have boards that answer to no one in the SBC, yet the money from local churches fund them. Southern Seminary churns out more pastors for the Presbyterians than it does Baptists, yet we pay the bill. 90% of Southern Baptists are not Calvinists, yet you MUST be one to teach at Southern Seminary. I could not teach there, even tho I can affirm the confession of the SBC, and even tho my money goes to pay for that school. I realize this is a different issue than liberalism, but the foundation is the same. Most seminaries are not controlled by the persons who pay the bills. They have an infrastructure in place that keeps the powers that be in place, while raking in the widows mites from from the churches. So ANYTHING can be taught at these seminaries until the average person wakes up and says "no more".
Jeffrey, even though I’m not an official member of the now, GMC congregation that I still serve as the adult SS facilitator, I’ve always tried to keep whoever would listen to me about the hierarchical rot that was taking place when they were still UMC. You’d be surprised to find out how many were totally uninformed about was going on within their own denomination. They didn’t seem to care unless these things directly affected them. This is one of the many reasons why I’m absolutely convinced that unless some radical reformation must take place within the institutional church, or else it will certainly die off. I do believe that what you’re doing here at Plain Spoken and your Substack site are a big help, but I also believe that you might be preaching to the choir. The local church pastors are going to have to step up to the plate and warn their flock about the wolves amongst the sheep.
I have an exhortation on that very topic at the end of the other piece I published a few minutes ago. Yes, I am preaching to the choir. I can't help but notice the choir is growing. Not as quickly as I would like, but it is growing. I hope to add a steady impetus for people to think more deeply and react a bit more strongly as they see things more clearly. Thanks for your kind words, Robert.
You are right but their congregations are looking into the problem of the umc if there church doesn’t disaffiliate then they will change churches. I think in 2 years when the dust settles the umc will see a big fall in attendance and membership. This is not the end this is only the beginning of the evil ones push to total corruption of the the people’s souls
I've been watching this sort of stuff happen for quite a bit of time. Eastern Nazarene College is closing after being ravaged by this theological position. The current ENC president is currently realigning the course and has taken a lot of corrective measures, but it wasn't enough to save what had been destroyed by her predecessors. I have also passed on this article to my District Superintendent as well as a couple others in higher positions than my own. I know, at the very least, they will raise the concern upwards to the extent of their influence.
A long time professor at Asbury Seminary told me over 10 years ago, that if the Nazarenes continued on their current trajectory, they were roughly 20 years behind the UMC in the results.
In my church doctrine is made very clear and is openly available to anyone. People don’t get a chance to twist the church’s core beliefs. To be an employee of the church you have to agree to preach, teach and live these doctrinal points. My church correlates all teaching manuals for all age groups to make sure “pure doctrine” is taught. Pretty simple and avoids the creeping of secularism into church institutions. All of the above is done worldwide. Church members in Lima, Peru hear the same Gospel truths as those in Accra, Ghana or Denver, Colorado.
EDS (episcopal divinity school), before they closed, had the single worst course catalog in history - queer perspectives on this, on that, all recent hires gay, dean was gay “abortion is a blessing” - these schools are poison. bishops that tolerate this poison should be treated with the same contempt as these doctrines.
I was raised in the church of the Nazarene. I have been in the UMC for the past thirty years as an organist. It upsets me to hear this about The church of the Nazarene seminary.
The creeping in has been happening for many years. Northwest Nazene College hired an openly practicing art professor back in the late 60's. Many called for her to be fired, but they never did as far as i know. Homosexuality was happening in multiple Nazarene churches in the valley I was raised in. Some were addressed by shipping the person or persons to another non-suspecting congregation only to have more lives destroyed. I left the Nazarene church many years ago but still have family and friends in the Nazarene church. I will say it isn't any better in most other denominations.
Was not looking at screen and thought you said the pro-LGBTQ teacher at NTS was teaching a Demon course instead of a DMin course. Thought what I heard was more accurate.
The scriptures are the truth. You can’t change them to fit your narrative!!! This goes against GODs word!!! The seminary is completely against the word and should stop calling themselves Christians. The faculty has disgraced themselves and have committed blasphemy!!!
As a committed 4th generation Nazarene, I've been watching the UMC disaster with great interest. I appreciate your perspective on the ways in which we are following in the UMC's footsteps. Note that in my experience, entire sanctification is rarely taught anymore, and our historic understanding of it has shifted. There's a lot of "love" being preached and the meaning of this hijacked word is almost never defined. We're encouraged to avoid divisive conflict and thus allow the disease to continue to grow towards a larger catastrophe.
Well said!! So true!!
Jeffery... I just want to encourage you to continue on your path of truth and light. You are truly connecting the dots of cause and effect.
I warned people in the church of the nazarene..
I was told I was wrong and they'd never go the way of the United Methodist Church.
How wrong they are..
I too am frustrated with how seminaries are governed and funded. I know SBC seminaries have boards that answer to no one in the SBC, yet the money from local churches fund them. Southern Seminary churns out more pastors for the Presbyterians than it does Baptists, yet we pay the bill. 90% of Southern Baptists are not Calvinists, yet you MUST be one to teach at Southern Seminary. I could not teach there, even tho I can affirm the confession of the SBC, and even tho my money goes to pay for that school. I realize this is a different issue than liberalism, but the foundation is the same. Most seminaries are not controlled by the persons who pay the bills. They have an infrastructure in place that keeps the powers that be in place, while raking in the widows mites from from the churches. So ANYTHING can be taught at these seminaries until the average person wakes up and says "no more".
Jeffrey, even though I’m not an official member of the now, GMC congregation that I still serve as the adult SS facilitator, I’ve always tried to keep whoever would listen to me about the hierarchical rot that was taking place when they were still UMC. You’d be surprised to find out how many were totally uninformed about was going on within their own denomination. They didn’t seem to care unless these things directly affected them. This is one of the many reasons why I’m absolutely convinced that unless some radical reformation must take place within the institutional church, or else it will certainly die off. I do believe that what you’re doing here at Plain Spoken and your Substack site are a big help, but I also believe that you might be preaching to the choir. The local church pastors are going to have to step up to the plate and warn their flock about the wolves amongst the sheep.
I have an exhortation on that very topic at the end of the other piece I published a few minutes ago. Yes, I am preaching to the choir. I can't help but notice the choir is growing. Not as quickly as I would like, but it is growing. I hope to add a steady impetus for people to think more deeply and react a bit more strongly as they see things more clearly. Thanks for your kind words, Robert.
You are right but their congregations are looking into the problem of the umc if there church doesn’t disaffiliate then they will change churches. I think in 2 years when the dust settles the umc will see a big fall in attendance and membership. This is not the end this is only the beginning of the evil ones push to total corruption of the the people’s souls
Matthew 24:10 "And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another."
I got a Masters in Theology from Trevecca Nazarene University a few years ago, and they got way too excited about Walter Brueggemann for my liking.
I've been watching this sort of stuff happen for quite a bit of time. Eastern Nazarene College is closing after being ravaged by this theological position. The current ENC president is currently realigning the course and has taken a lot of corrective measures, but it wasn't enough to save what had been destroyed by her predecessors.
I have also passed on this article to my District Superintendent as well as a couple others in higher positions than my own. I know, at the very least, they will raise the concern upwards to the extent of their influence.
A long time professor at Asbury Seminary told me over 10 years ago, that if the Nazarenes continued on their current trajectory, they were roughly 20 years behind the UMC in the results.
In my church doctrine is made very clear and is openly available to anyone. People don’t get a chance to twist the church’s core beliefs. To be an employee of the church you have to agree to preach, teach and live these doctrinal points. My church correlates all teaching manuals for all age groups to make sure “pure doctrine” is taught. Pretty simple and avoids the creeping of secularism into church institutions. All of the above is done worldwide. Church members in Lima, Peru hear the same Gospel truths as those in Accra, Ghana or Denver, Colorado.
I went to A Bible College in the Stone Campbell movement in the 80's. The corruption was rampant even back then. Sad.
EDS (episcopal divinity school), before they closed, had the single worst course catalog in history - queer perspectives on this, on that, all recent hires gay, dean was gay “abortion is a blessing” - these schools are poison. bishops that tolerate this poison should be treated with the same contempt as these doctrines.
I hear the Metropolitan Community Church affirms LGBTQ
I was raised in the church of the Nazarene. I have been in the UMC for the past thirty years as an organist. It upsets me to hear this about The church of the Nazarene seminary.
The creeping in has been happening for many years. Northwest Nazene College hired an openly practicing art professor back in the late 60's. Many called for her to be fired, but they never did as far as i know. Homosexuality was happening in multiple Nazarene churches in the valley I was raised in. Some were addressed by shipping the person or persons to another non-suspecting congregation only to have more lives destroyed. I left the Nazarene church many years ago but still have family and friends in the Nazarene church. I will say it isn't any better in most other denominations.
DON'T go down the same road as the UMC ! God cannot bless those who turn their back on Him.
Too late!
@@nickolasgenoff4896 Have it your way then
Was not looking at screen and thought you said the pro-LGBTQ teacher at NTS was teaching a Demon course instead of a DMin course. Thought what I heard was more accurate.
Will you be going to Costa Rica to the GC in Sept I think?
,.... Certain men have crept in,.. everywhere,....
The scriptures are the truth. You can’t change them to fit your narrative!!! This goes against GODs word!!! The seminary is completely against the word and should stop calling themselves Christians. The faculty has disgraced themselves and have committed blasphemy!!!