Obviously we’re a long way from being where Jesus is calling us. He is being formed in us, but ever so slowly. As I look back over the centuries, I can’t help but see God’s love and mercy continually manifesting itself in our lives. How did we ever escape the Dark Ages? And if the period from 500 to 1500 was not for the highlight reels, can we say that the last 500 have been? I’m afraid not. We’re still looking for many answers, partially because the church doesn’t allow us to ask the questions that will lead us to those answers.
God does supernaturally drop some answers on us from time to time; however, the principle is really embedded in Prov. 25:2. Martin Luther and Zwingli broke the mold, but didn’t point us to a new one. Robert Lund phrased it in a modern-day parable when he said, “Protestants struck the jug from the Pope’s hand, but kept the broken pieces in their own.”
What Reformation? 
The elitist clergy just changed robes from Catholic to Protestant: meaning they are still naked. There’s still way too much heirarchy in the non-Catholic churches. Can you say denominationalism? Who would want to be the “head” of a forty five million member denomination or group- Natioanl Association of Evangelicals.? Not Ted Haggard. What a shame.
Most protestant denominations still have a hard time keeping up with the incredibly huge cathedrals that Rome has produced all over Europe, but some are giving it a shot. Have you been to Salt Lake City? If not, we have some major edifices here in Houston, worth tens of millions+ that you could visit.
For those who know such things, it’s said that in America, the value of church owned land exceeds $500,000,000,000.00! In simple English, one-half a TRILLION! In essence we could wipe out poverty in America. But, that’s another issue.
And instead of being libertated from religion (in that time it was Catholicism), Luther helped keep in place the intolerance of other religions. Hard to beleive that such a reformer was yet so blinded. I beleive we call it self deception. We are still very good, too good, at persecuting the fringe (can you say those who might have one piece of doctrine that is different than ours?).
There is good news though. Many are still looking, and in fact are despetrating looking for answers to how we establish the Kingdom of God here on earth, as it is in heaven One such way is though questioning what we believe and embrace, in love of course.
How are you doing with some of those questions?
Keep up the good work » »