Identifying the Signs of Apostasy: Grade Your Congregation and Synod

I published a few articles about the Episcopalians recently, causing me to think about how close they are to the Lutheran situation. A number of fatal characteristics are at work in those Lutheran groups that still congratulating themselves on how faithful they are. The following list fits any denomination, including the Lutheran franchises:

• The most prominent theologians of the past are largely ignored, dusted off only for anniversaries.
• The true leaders of the denomination are widely known as heretics, and they glory in their ability to teach against whatever their group claims to believe and practice.
• The schools have been turned over to incompetents whose only virtue is their fidelity to the new thinking.
• Serious doctrinal issues are ignored at all costs, but even the slightest criticism of false doctrine is addressed with voices quaking with rage, "You are destroying the love and unity of our fellowship."
• The periodicals and journals are so bland that no one pays attention to them.
• The leaders, at various levels, are helpless to do anything about false doctrine and practice, but they assassinate anyone who dares to raise a question about their poor leadership.
• Women are in authority over men and teaching men, with women's ordination a fact or already de facto in place.
• Clergy think of their careers first, fearing the synodical leaders, who step in and get rid of them at the drop of a hat.
• A divine call may be discussed, but it is really a position in the franchise. The leaders feel justified in meddling with any congregation that threatens to become conservative, but they defend and protect those on the other side.
• The real leaders are part of overlapping lobbies that push the denomination according to their agenda.
• Open communion is either considered a right for anyone who happens to drop in, or portrayed as a way to include more people as members.
• Respectful worship is despised while entertainment is promoted as "the way to grow," an absolute necessity.
• Sermons are replaced with coaching sessions, bad imitations of pep talks from business meetings.