July 6, 2024 / Off with her head!

Hey, Calvary Fremont –

Off with her head!

Facing accusations of extravagance, insensitivity, and being out of touch with the suffering of the common people, Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France, was guillotined in October of 1793. (America’s 21st century Woke Revolution did not invent Cancel Culture!)

Likewise, a lot of heads are rolling in the Church these days. Almost every week the blade falls and the head of another influential, well-known pastor or spiritual leader comes kerplunking down the steps. Yes, it’s true – the Evangelical Church is in a crisis! But we’re not alone. Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church are experiencing ‘head’ aches, too.

Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, is getting major pushback from significant sections of the RCC due to his declaration that priests can now bless homosexual unions. Because of this, many believe that the ‘head’ has lost his mind. One archbishop claims that Pope Francis’ call for blessing same-sex unions proves that he is a ‘servant of Satan.’ Many in the Roman Catholic Church are saying ‘Nope’ to the Pope.

As reported in the July/August 2024 edition of Touchstone Magazine, there is trouble brewing in the Eastern Orthodox Church as well. Archbishop Elpidophoros is expected to succeed Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America as the new Ecumenical Archbishop. This is the top spot, the ‘head’ of the worldwide Eastern Orthodox family of churches.

Elpidophoros firmly maintains the sanctity of life in the womb while at the same time advocating a woman’s right to abort that sacred life. This has confused many people. (I can see why!) When he was in Greece in 2022, he baptized two babies (conceived by surrogacy) of a gay couple. Many Eastern Orthodox Christians have a massive ‘head’ ache.

Not to be outdone by Archbishop Elpidophoros, Patriarch Krill of the Russian Orthodox Church has fully supported Putin and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Here is his Biblical rationale – the Russian Church is the ‘Restraining One’ of 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 (the one keeping back the Antichrist). Its invasion of Ukraine is a holy war in which Russia and its people are fulfilling their mission of the “Restraining One” by protecting the world against the onslaught of globalism and the victory of the West that has fallen into Satanism. (Like Dave Barry has said, “You can’t make thus stuff up.”) Many orthodox believers inside and outside of Russia are scandalized by this nonsense and have called this statement ‘heresy’ and ‘false prophecy.’

The ‘heads’ of the Evangelical (Protestant) Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox Church are either rolling down the platform stairs or are spewing nonsense and breaking 2,000 years of history and tradition and are caving into Culture and Empire. To say this is a tempestuous time for the Church worldwide is a gross understatement.

I am grieved over the moral failure of the Evangelical Church. I am puzzled over the inroads of the LGBTQI+ into the ancient traditions and theology of the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. I am scandalized at Patriarch Krill and the Russian Orthodox Church being the lapdog of Putin and his lust for Empire. But I am not worried by any of this. None of these many men are the Head of the Church – Jesus Christ is! There is no moral failure or cowardice in Christ. Jesus Christ does not cringe before the power and authority of men. Though Evangelical leaders, Popes, Archbishops, and Patriarchs are mowed down by sexual sin and yearn for power and the approval men – ultimately these men are not our leaders.

Though our human leaders go the way of Marie Antoinette, we have Jesus Christ risen from the dead enthroned above us. We have God-breathed Truth in our hands. We have God the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within us. Let the heads roll – our Head remains.