Secularizing the Church

Please forgive us, but it is drivel like the following that shows just how far away from the truth ‘Christian America’ has fallen:

Woodberry and Shah continued:

"Most Protestants . . . tend toward separation and independence from ancient church structures and traditions as well as political authorities. The main reason for this is the important role of individual conscience.

Because saving faith must be uncoerced and individual, it requires in practice a diversity of independent churches to satisfy the inevitable diversity of individual consciences."

 . . .

Rather than view the many denominations negatively, it was instead viewed positively, that they would be a check on each other to insure no one would be established as the official state denomination.

--Mr William Federer, https://newsmaven.io/americanminute/world-history/wesley-s-religion-of-the-heart-francis-asbury-methodist-preacher-oombOKPqPUCWAjv0rpGNYA/

Is the Holy Church, the ascended and glorified Body of Christ, really of the same nature as a fast food restaurant, a knot of competing chains fighting for ‘marketshare’ of potential customers?  Should these competing church chains ‘sell’ salvation by slyly tailoring it to appeal to individual tastes, by stirring up the fallen passions, the same way Burger King and Wendy’s sell a hamburger combo to the man on the street?

Anyone who would divide the Church like this does a great evil.  If ‘churches’ were meant to divide and fight for members like a pack of wild dogs over the bones of a carcass, then St Paul would not have admonished the Corinthians, who were doing exactly that:

[10] Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

[11] For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

[12] Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

[13] Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

[14] I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

[15] Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

--I Cor. 1:10-5 (bolding added), https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/k/kjv/kjv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=5072031

Christ is not divided, nor is His Body the Orthodox Church.  But more on that soon, we hope.

In the meantime, may Misters Federer, Woodberry, and Shah pray to God for me, a sinner.

--

Holy Ælfred the Great, King of England, South Patron, pray for us sinners at the Souð, unworthy though we are!

Anathema to the Union!