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I was raised in the United Church, and quit when they started ordaining homosexuals. I have not found a church since then that actually practises what the Bible preaches, therefore I do not attend a church or follow any mortal leader.
My very simplistic view of the New Testament pretty much boils down to what I'm told are called the two beatitudes: Love thy God, and love thy neighbor. If you do those two things, you can't really go far wrong. Revelations is a book that is not meant to be understood except by those for whom it is written. And yes, there are certainly many "false prophets" leading people astray, even today.
Now, because I suspect I would hear a return post regarding my decision to leave the church I was raised in, I must say that loving your neighbor and being preached to by your neighbor who refuses to repent of his sin are not the same thing at all. We're all sinners, and we're all saved by grace, and I guess if it's a sin to hold my opinions about homosexuality I'll have to face the music when my time comes, too.
As for those televangelists whose avarice you have noted - I do not donate, but neither is it for me to judge them on their actions. They'll have to be responsible for their actions themselves, when the time comes. The people who are misled are unlikely to value my opinion on the matter, so there's little that I can do about that.
Interesting thread - thanks.
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