GREAT article again Rod. We are hiring a new pastor in our liberal Presbyterian church. How can I help turn the ship? What are questions to ask when interviewing a new pastor candidate? And what characteristics and wording do we look for? I want someone that goes against the grain of where our current "big picture" Presbyterian church is headed on the big issues. We have lots of internal "struggle" that I am ready to be brave and speak out. Our members are not fully aware of what the church as a denomination is saying, doing, and writing about. Thanks!
If your church is like most of the ones I've been part of, that's going to depend a lot on who else is on your search committee, and what your congregation thinks about that liberalism. Are they conservative, while the elders are liberal (this is not uncommon), or are they pretty liberal too?
You have to know where you stand before you can plan.
In April of 2019, the famously conservative Southern Baptist Convention adopted an infamous resolution, Resolution 9, bringing into the Convention both Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality "as an analytical tool subordinate to Scripture." This is, at best, a fundamental misunderstanding of Woke Marxism (thus CRT/I), which are explicitly designed to identify anything they are put in subordination to, subvert that thing, and then occupy a position of dominance over it (which they deny they are doing). In this must-listen episode of my subscribers-only podcast, James Lindsay OnlySubs, I go into this facet of Theory and raise important questions about why anyone would think this was a good idea. Join me to hear all about the threat from within to a conservative religious icon. -James Lindsay
>>"But in practice, even loving one’s neighbor is defined subjectively, according to the accuser’s feelings, not God’s law."
And in turn, that acquiescence to subjective feelings commences a journey down the slippery slope of subjective feelings; from some reasonable basis for ... then on to lowest common denominator ... then continuing toward delusional (e.g., transsexuals and dare not offend same) ... and eventually to rock-bottom.
Over and over like clockwork. You can just hear the Israelites doing this in the generations after Joshua: "oh, it's not really any big deal to worship Baal, even though *I* wouldn't do it", and "There's no problem with marrying a Baal worshipper: you have to be more accepting and winsome." Turning quickly into "if you're opposed to Baal worshippers, we're going to cancel/kill you," and "Anyone who doesn't want a Baal worshipper leading our synagogue is an intolerant Baalophobe!"
I love this article and your comments, Rod. Our pastors present the gospel very well, but initially I noted they never strayed into controversial biblical teaching and admonition. Recently, my wife and I noted in the last few months, our pastors have stated biblical truths regarding homosexuality. Both times it made me relieved. They were confirming biblical truth over common unbiblical societal beliefs. I imagine it is tough for them as we do have liberals within our church and I imagine they get messages regarding their sermons. This reminds me to pray continually for their strength in preaching truth and not self censor so as not to offend the flock and reap the woke whirlwind. For the record, if I found that to be the case, I'd do whatever I could to support these men of God. We're mature enough and strong enough in our faiths, that we fear no unrighteous judgements meted out by man or woman. Ostracization by man can be mentally torturous but if your stance be righteous, you are blessed by the judgements made against you by the unrighteous-- because that is what they are. They are the wolves in sheep's clothing seeking to devour.
👏👏👏 Thank you, Michael Clary and Dr. Martin! This was a tremendous piece! As a theologically liberal Lutheran who despises the inception of wokeness into the Christian Church I applaud this piece! No! There should be no enforced theological or political conformity in churches! Maoist like struggle sessions meant to break people down are sinful and un-Christian behavior. The Christian Church must welcome ALL theological and political views! Left, right or center all have a place in His flock! Diversity of thought is a gift from God as far I’m concerned. If you are a victim of one of these Maoist like struggle sessions follow Michael’s directions here to the letter and don’t let up or give in. The woke inquisitors twisting the word of God to their own ends are sinners themselves. It is THEY who need to repent and ask God for forgiveness NOT you! We do NOT use the word of God to make false accusations and manipulate and shame others!
We need a second Council of Trent where Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox denominations will meet up and officially decided what is and is not permissible as religious doctrine! We can have a degree of diversity in our theological beliefs for sure but we can’t let anything go. Things like the concept of a nonbinary God, drag queens in Church, prosperity gospel, speaking in tongues, etc. should be called out for what they are, heretical and blasphemous practices. All theological views should be welcome in the church as should all people regardless of race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, political views, ethnicity, and national origin. Also, the Church should have no problem with Christians being Freemasons, supporting Zionism and the state of Israel, being friends with atheists, agnostics and people of other faiths, listening to non-religious music, or celebrating Halloween.
We are ALL part of the body of Christ and the universal human family he created! I want to hear pastors and priests preach national unity from the pulpit and that we should love one another regardless of political views. Also, I want to be clear just because one is a Christian Zionist, doesn’t mean they can’t also support Palestinian nationalism or don’t care about the Palestinian people. I as a Christian Zionist myself absolutely agree with both points! I believe God gave the holy land to both peoples so they could live together in peace and prosperity as a model for the rest of the world as to how we human beings can resolve our differences. As a Christian Zionist I believe the Palestinian people are NOT getting in the way of God’s plan they are PART of it. Yes, the Jews are most certainly God’s chosen people but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love all nations equally. It just means he had a special plan for them.
Evangelical Churches should discontinue all such struggle sessions and reform themselves. The Christian Church must be de-wokeified and Marxism and liberation theology removed from the church. The illiberal part of the religious right also needs to be kicked out. No more BLM or Pride flags being hung outside churches. Those should be banned by a new Council of Trent. There’s a really easy way to show you’re a church for everyone-treat all churchgoers regardless of race or sexual orientation with respect and love them as your fellow man and act as Jesus would towards them. No more political sermons in Church either. But pastors and priests may express their views outside of formal services.
GREAT article again Rod. We are hiring a new pastor in our liberal Presbyterian church. How can I help turn the ship? What are questions to ask when interviewing a new pastor candidate? And what characteristics and wording do we look for? I want someone that goes against the grain of where our current "big picture" Presbyterian church is headed on the big issues. We have lots of internal "struggle" that I am ready to be brave and speak out. Our members are not fully aware of what the church as a denomination is saying, doing, and writing about. Thanks!
If your church is like most of the ones I've been part of, that's going to depend a lot on who else is on your search committee, and what your congregation thinks about that liberalism. Are they conservative, while the elders are liberal (this is not uncommon), or are they pretty liberal too?
You have to know where you stand before you can plan.
The Southern Baptist Convention & The Subordination of Scripture
https://www.therightreasons.net/topic/99906-the-southern-baptist-convention-the-subordination-of-scripture-onlysubs-w-james-lindsay-ep-80/#comment-634046
Jan. 31 2022
In April of 2019, the famously conservative Southern Baptist Convention adopted an infamous resolution, Resolution 9, bringing into the Convention both Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality "as an analytical tool subordinate to Scripture." This is, at best, a fundamental misunderstanding of Woke Marxism (thus CRT/I), which are explicitly designed to identify anything they are put in subordination to, subvert that thing, and then occupy a position of dominance over it (which they deny they are doing). In this must-listen episode of my subscribers-only podcast, James Lindsay OnlySubs, I go into this facet of Theory and raise important questions about why anyone would think this was a good idea. Join me to hear all about the threat from within to a conservative religious icon. -James Lindsay
___________________________
+ More
>>"But in practice, even loving one’s neighbor is defined subjectively, according to the accuser’s feelings, not God’s law."
And in turn, that acquiescence to subjective feelings commences a journey down the slippery slope of subjective feelings; from some reasonable basis for ... then on to lowest common denominator ... then continuing toward delusional (e.g., transsexuals and dare not offend same) ... and eventually to rock-bottom.
Over and over like clockwork. You can just hear the Israelites doing this in the generations after Joshua: "oh, it's not really any big deal to worship Baal, even though *I* wouldn't do it", and "There's no problem with marrying a Baal worshipper: you have to be more accepting and winsome." Turning quickly into "if you're opposed to Baal worshippers, we're going to cancel/kill you," and "Anyone who doesn't want a Baal worshipper leading our synagogue is an intolerant Baalophobe!"
There is literally nothing new under the sun.
I love this article and your comments, Rod. Our pastors present the gospel very well, but initially I noted they never strayed into controversial biblical teaching and admonition. Recently, my wife and I noted in the last few months, our pastors have stated biblical truths regarding homosexuality. Both times it made me relieved. They were confirming biblical truth over common unbiblical societal beliefs. I imagine it is tough for them as we do have liberals within our church and I imagine they get messages regarding their sermons. This reminds me to pray continually for their strength in preaching truth and not self censor so as not to offend the flock and reap the woke whirlwind. For the record, if I found that to be the case, I'd do whatever I could to support these men of God. We're mature enough and strong enough in our faiths, that we fear no unrighteous judgements meted out by man or woman. Ostracization by man can be mentally torturous but if your stance be righteous, you are blessed by the judgements made against you by the unrighteous-- because that is what they are. They are the wolves in sheep's clothing seeking to devour.
Related
Are Baptists Nicene Christians?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g9fH_-VL0o
Ready to Harvest
Nov 23, 2025
👏👏👏 Thank you, Michael Clary and Dr. Martin! This was a tremendous piece! As a theologically liberal Lutheran who despises the inception of wokeness into the Christian Church I applaud this piece! No! There should be no enforced theological or political conformity in churches! Maoist like struggle sessions meant to break people down are sinful and un-Christian behavior. The Christian Church must welcome ALL theological and political views! Left, right or center all have a place in His flock! Diversity of thought is a gift from God as far I’m concerned. If you are a victim of one of these Maoist like struggle sessions follow Michael’s directions here to the letter and don’t let up or give in. The woke inquisitors twisting the word of God to their own ends are sinners themselves. It is THEY who need to repent and ask God for forgiveness NOT you! We do NOT use the word of God to make false accusations and manipulate and shame others!
We need a second Council of Trent where Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox denominations will meet up and officially decided what is and is not permissible as religious doctrine! We can have a degree of diversity in our theological beliefs for sure but we can’t let anything go. Things like the concept of a nonbinary God, drag queens in Church, prosperity gospel, speaking in tongues, etc. should be called out for what they are, heretical and blasphemous practices. All theological views should be welcome in the church as should all people regardless of race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, political views, ethnicity, and national origin. Also, the Church should have no problem with Christians being Freemasons, supporting Zionism and the state of Israel, being friends with atheists, agnostics and people of other faiths, listening to non-religious music, or celebrating Halloween.
We are ALL part of the body of Christ and the universal human family he created! I want to hear pastors and priests preach national unity from the pulpit and that we should love one another regardless of political views. Also, I want to be clear just because one is a Christian Zionist, doesn’t mean they can’t also support Palestinian nationalism or don’t care about the Palestinian people. I as a Christian Zionist myself absolutely agree with both points! I believe God gave the holy land to both peoples so they could live together in peace and prosperity as a model for the rest of the world as to how we human beings can resolve our differences. As a Christian Zionist I believe the Palestinian people are NOT getting in the way of God’s plan they are PART of it. Yes, the Jews are most certainly God’s chosen people but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t love all nations equally. It just means he had a special plan for them.
Evangelical Churches should discontinue all such struggle sessions and reform themselves. The Christian Church must be de-wokeified and Marxism and liberation theology removed from the church. The illiberal part of the religious right also needs to be kicked out. No more BLM or Pride flags being hung outside churches. Those should be banned by a new Council of Trent. There’s a really easy way to show you’re a church for everyone-treat all churchgoers regardless of race or sexual orientation with respect and love them as your fellow man and act as Jesus would towards them. No more political sermons in Church either. But pastors and priests may express their views outside of formal services.
This reply sounds to me like the crazy ramblings of the woke. I don't think your ideas are even close to a solution.
Here are some great books on Christian history for Dr. Martin and all his Christian readers:
• The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision by Henry Kamen
• God’s Battalions: The Case for the Crusades by Rodney Stark
• Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti-Catholic History by Rodney Stark
• Christianity and the First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCullough
• All Things Made New: The Reformation and Its Legacy by Diarmaid MacCullough
• Lower Than the Angels: A History of Sex and Christianity by Diarmaid MacCullough
• The Light Ages: The Surprising Story of Medieval Science by Seb Falk
• Columbus and the Quest for Jerusalem: How Religion Drove the Voyages That Led to America by Carol Delaney
• The Myth of Hitler’s Pope: How Pope Pius XII Rescued the Jews from Nazis by David G. Dalin
• Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ by Reza Aslan
• Moses: A Life by Jonathan Kirsch
Now I know why Jesus only had 12 apostles. The social cost to follow Jesus was judged too high for others.