What exactly is happening in the church today?
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde stirred up quite the controversy after she rebuked President Trump in the National Prayer Service following the inauguration. Now, she is being hailed as “prophetic” by an episcopal priest.
Word and Way spoke to Episcopal priest and former U.S. Senator John Danforth about Budde’s sermon, which he called “prophetic ministry.”
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Saying that Budde’s message was infused with biblical “truth and power,” but falling on “deaf ears,” with Trump, Danforth told the outlet, “…that’s what prophetic ministry does. It speaks from the standpoint of what the understanding of the speaker is of the Word of God to the world at large…” He then compared the cause of social justice to that of the prophet Amos, Jeremiah and even Moses.
Yet, what Budde said, in reality, was nothing more than identity politics wrapped up in a rebuke against an incoming president during a time of celebration. The message was not one of unity in the body of Christ, but rather one of division. The question now remains: How much of the church is being deceived by a message rooted more in culture than biblical truth?
According to Axios, the Episcopalian Church in Utah has had a dramatic surge since Budde’s rebuke of the president, some of which is directly related to her sermon. This comes at a time when outlets like Sojourners noted Budde’s plea to be about “themes of unity.” Unfortunately, we see more and more who call themselves Christians falling for the ploy that somehow compassion like Jesus means accepting sin instead of preaching the gospel, which reminds us that He came and died for us, not to stay where we are, but rather for us to become free from the bondage of sin, death and the grave.
/**/If you find yourself in a church that does not preach the truth of the gospel, focusing on Christ’s finished work on the cross, perhaps it is time to venture out to a Spirit-filled church. Take the time to pray for those who are under the deception of cultural Christianity, that they may come to know who Jesus is in Spirit and in truth.
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Abby Trivett is content development editor for Charisma Media.
