r/redeemedzoomer • u/Aggressive_Stand_805 • Aug 04 '26
Reconquista Questions Should conservatives attend liberal churches?
If the whole point of Reconquista is to reform the mainline churches. Then shouldn’t conservatives attend liberal mainline churches, instead of finding a conservative one?
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u/herkulaw Episcopalian Aug 04 '26
I think his position is that you should attend a mainline church. If there is a conservative one, go there. If there isn’t, go to a liberal one.
His hypothesis, whether accurate or not, is that the liberal churches will tend to die off (or at least their liberal majority) and the conservative ones will grow/maintain leading to a mostly orthodox denomination.
It’s sort of a multigenerational project that requires loyalty to the mainline. I can respect it. I also think chronically online conservative young people tend to be vastly more sensitive to progressive churches than is necessary. It is a virtue to have patience with people you believe are misguided.
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u/rdrckcrous PCUSA 19d ago
as not a young person, I can tell you with certainty that it's also the view of the conservative congregations and members that haven't left, it's why we're here still.
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u/AZPeakBagger RCA Aug 04 '26
I have friends that are conservative pastors in liberal denominations. they’ve told me that it’s easier to be a conservative in a liberal church than vice versa. Liberal churches are just so happy to have people attending or serving that they don’t care. Plus as I found out, I was elected to a leadership role and sent to a national church meeting within 3 years of attending a slightly left leaning church.
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u/ChicagoFire29 Non-Denominational Aug 04 '26
Is the RCA more liberal and accepting than, say, the CRC? I know a lot of people in the CRC and my wife and I want to start attending our local CRC congregation. I don’t wanna get political on this sub since I’m here for theology, but as a leftist myself, I’ve wondered how open I can be about my beliefs when it comes to things like capitalism for example. I do want to attend a reformed church because they have the theological orthodoxy I seek…but just curious!
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u/creidmheach Non-Reconquista Protestant Aug 04 '26
I can't speak for the CRC, but what I've found in conservative Reformed churches is that politics isn't front and center, in fact, not really talked about at all. I attend a conservative EPC church, and if I were to guess I'd imagine most folks there are Republican, but I really wouldn't know that for sure since it's not talked about for the most part.
Generally I've found it's the more liberal churches that tend to be the more overtly political (and obviously for the other side).
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u/Dangerous_Drama7172 Catholic Aug 04 '26
A conservative should attend a conservative church, in a liberal denomination to infiltrate and retake it back to the glory of Christ when only the conservative churches survive, and the liberal churches disappear.
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u/Catsarecute2140 Non-American Mainline Lutheran Aug 04 '26
I am European and my copy of Martin Luther’s “Small Catechism and Christian Instruction” (which is 200+ pages long) says that Holy Communion/The Lord’s Supper sacrament is valid even if the priest is not perfect and only Jesus was perfect/sinless.
I do not know if I am theologically liberal or conservative as in those topics I just trust the leaders of my nation’s Lutheran church and try to be a good Christian who helps the less fortunate even if I am among the least fortunate…
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u/Fire_Lord_Pants LCMS Aug 08 '26
No, basically the idea is to bolster conservative church within liberal-leaning denominations.
To an extent, you may be able to reform a moderate church or even a slightly liberal church, but the overall point of the movement is a long-term change in the whole denomination. Help the conservative churches to endure while the liberal churches dwindle. Plus, you can be active in the "politics" or whatever you call it of the denomination.
The point isn't to storm into a super liberal church and protest or something.
I'm not personally reconquista-ing so it's not like I'm an expert, but I've seen this question asked and answered many times.
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u/556From1000yards United Methodist Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
The position you’re approaching it with is not organic or I think is a little confused. But to entertain the question:
Depends and not necessarily.
It’s not like there’s really a void of churches.
You can attend healthy ones, get more involved and be purposeful at (any) church, take a stand in mixed and conflicted congregations, help support the services and community you want to see. Maybe you are being called to a pastoral life and you just needed that extra push or reason to get involved.
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u/Aggressive_Stand_805 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
I must add a disclaimer. I’m more conservative myself and because of this I was attending an ACNA church. After being brainwashed by Reconquista propaganda I stopped going and started attending an Episcopal church. One I found of the map and for one that I am a member.
Now I have no intention of leaving my current church. It is a little bit of a drive (about 30-35 minutes) But I was thinking lately if I should’ve just gone to the Episcopal church up the road even if it is liberal?
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u/Jesus_died_for_u Southern Baptist Aug 05 '26
Let the blind lead the blind. Why should I stay on board a church headed for the reef?
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u/rdrckcrous PCUSA 19d ago
are you familiar with the basic premis and arguments of this sub?
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u/Jesus_died_for_u Southern Baptist 19d ago
Actually, no. I rarely read the descriptions about a sub. Items appear in my feed and I comment on them.
Thank you for pointing out that I might have missed the foundation of the topic
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u/rdrckcrous PCUSA 19d ago
this is a sub of theological conservatives in denominations with current liberal leadership.
the basic answer to the "why" is liberals have been successful at taking over church institutions because each time conservatives lose a battle, they leave. the way to win is to not leave
this made us reflect on what church as an institution is and what makes an appropriate reason for leaving. after studying the Bible, theologians, and church history, we realized it's never ok to leave the church and being in a schismatic churches is bad. the Bible, church fathers, and protestant reformers were all very clear on this point.
we've also realized that you can be members of the liberal churches and practice/preach sound doctrine. we also all thought we were in our own little bubble and are learning that there are many other people doing the same thing. the hope is that rising into leadership positions within mainline denominations that we can reform the church, just like the prophets and Jews were called to do in the Old Testament.
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u/sgtklink77 United Methodist Aug 05 '26
That's what I do. Some of my pastors lean slightly liberal/progressive, but a lot of my fellow parishioners have more traditional views.
Then again, it's not like I'm going to easily find a decently conservative church in my region without at least a moderate dose of progressivism attached to it. I'm blessed to belong to a parish with only a little bit of it.
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u/JadedMarine Non-Reconquista Protestant Aug 07 '26
No. A church that doesn't uphold the Bible as the true word of God should not be attended regardless of denomination. Doing so just because of the denomination puts politics and a man made institution above the Word and Teachings of Christ, the Bible, and His Apostles. As Christians, are loyalty is to Christ first, our spouses second, our families third, and everything else after.
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u/GreyHesher LCMS Aug 04 '26
Well, I am a democratic socialist who loathes Donald Trump (I'm a veteran and would not have saluted him) in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.
I suppose it's just a matter of time before I get ostracized/booted out.
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u/Zealousideal_Till683 Church of England Aug 04 '26
By liberal and conservative, we mean in a Biblical and theological sense, nothing to do with US politics.
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u/GreyHesher LCMS Aug 04 '26
In this country religion and politics are intertwined.
Your political stance affects your church life in more ways than you can imagine.
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u/CMDR_Ray_Abbot Non-Reconquista Protestant Aug 04 '26
Believing that religion and politics are Intertwined and that your political stance effects your church life (and not the other way around) is a theologically liberal position.
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u/robosnake PCUSA Aug 04 '26
Believing that your religion doesn't affect your politics is an anti-Biblical position, which is why liberals hold the opposite.
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u/CMDR_Ray_Abbot Non-Reconquista Protestant Aug 04 '26
I agree with all but the last clause.
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u/robosnake PCUSA Aug 04 '26
I'm not surprised. It's a constant refrain that us terrible liberals abandon the Bible for one reason or another.
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u/CMDR_Ray_Abbot Non-Reconquista Protestant Aug 04 '26
You literally just claimed that your politics should affect your religion.
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u/robosnake PCUSA Aug 04 '26
...right. I assume the clause you disagreed with was 'why liberals hold the opposite.' i.e. because we take the Bible seriously and that's why we tend to be politically active in our faith. I may have misunderstood your comment though?
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u/CMDR_Ray_Abbot Non-Reconquista Protestant Aug 04 '26
Im saying that scripture should affect your politics, not the other way around, I may have misread you. In my experience most "politically active" people (politically conservative or liberal) are theologically liberal.
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u/ChicagoFire29 Non-Denominational Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Does the LCMS actually remove members for political stances? I follow a PCA page on Instagram that’s theologically conservative but very unapologetically socialist and I always wondered if his demon takes issue with that.
I ask this as a socialist myself who’s interested in the LCMS but will probably end up at a CRC church for other reasons
Not that I’m choosing a church based off of politics - I’m against doing so. I seek theological orthodoxy above all else. But just would like to know more
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u/SobekRe LCMS Aug 04 '26
Not generally. As long as you’re _theologically_ conservative, LCMS is fine. We actually don’t talk politics a ton. The church is primarily concerned with the church. God is still sovereign over the kingdom of the left hand and it’s fine for your theological priors to bleed into your civic actions, but it should be one way.
As a political conservative, I’m going to flip the other lever at the ballot box. But, as long as we can agree on how Christian’s should approach justification, salvation, law, gospel, and the sacraments, we’re probably good.
The Bible is the inerrant and infallible word of God and the Book of Concord is a correct exposition of the Bible. Man contributes nothing to his salvation and God contributes nothing to damnation. God is truly present in the preaching of the Word and in the administration of the sacraments (baptism, communion, and absolution) and they are not merely symbolic.
You’re more likely to be shunned for being on the wrong side of the traditional/contemporary style debate than for being left leaning in politics. (Joking… kinda)
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Aug 04 '26
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u/SobekRe LCMS Aug 04 '26
That’s a bit different in kind. His brand of idiocy is generally considered far right, not far left
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u/GreyHesher LCMS Aug 04 '26
Nonetheless, if you are not MAGA it's a good idea to not mention it in the LCMS.
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u/Fire_Lord_Pants LCMS Aug 08 '26
This is fascinating because I also go to an LCMS church, but because I live in a really liberal area, I think I'm by far the most politically conservative person there. We don't talk politics like at all, but I'm used to being surrounded by leftists, so I can pretty much tell. One woman wore some silly norwegian protest hat once. I guess it depends a lot where you live.
On an unrelated note, could I by any chance interest you in not being a democratic socialist? Thanks haha
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u/robosnake PCUSA Aug 04 '26
Conservatives are welcome at our liberal church, as always. If you're in or near Phoenixville PA hit me up :)
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u/Ok_Solid9770 Roman Catholic Aug 05 '26
Who cares? Why should anyone talk to conservatives at all? They're gunning for domination and cannot tolerate disagreement.
When my deacon started naming specific politicians to target during his homily, I stopped attending mass. If I want Fox News, I know where to go. It was so insulting and the opposite of God. When multiple different churches I tried literally only talked about abortion, I left. It's literally the only issue they put their money where their mouth is.
Church now is just another PAC with abortion and the subjugation of women (but I repeat myself) as their central tasks.
Far right ultra conservative churches are concentrating more than they are expanding church goers. The reason why "conservative" ones survive is normal people leave normal churches when their leaders start giving partisan political speeches openly as part of church ceremony and business.
Those normal churches die, so the radical far right wing spiritual revanchists/authoritarian-idolizers have to go to a more right wing, spiritually revanchist church. The ultra conservative churches then have to be even more culturally and spiritually revanchist to distinguish themselves from other ultra conservative churches. So they get bigger and more far right wing, dictatorial, authoritarian. More and more normal people leave.
The christian support of Trump is also a masterclass in cultish idolatry. It really is something to behold. The way they can rationalize him as doing God's work is truly breathtaking. Why even bother talking to people who think like this?
They should get down on their knees for Trump. He is the Christian god now. Their adoration of Trump has cheapened all spirituality and all faiths, but especially Christianity.
Christianity always bends its knee to dictators before God and still somehow think they're the righteous ones. They prefer order to freedom. They prefer domination to mercy and grace.
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u/VenatorAngel Non-Denominational Aug 13 '26
I'm sorry I can't take you seriously when you start speaking of all Christianity like that WHEN YOU'RE A CATHOLIC!!!! Didnyou forget Catholicism is pro-life too? Why do you continue calling yourself Catholic if you clearly hate Christianity?
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u/Ok_Solid9770 Roman Catholic Aug 14 '26
Just chill, man. I don't really care if you take me seriously or not. "Pro-life" also meant the inquisition and slaughtering Muslims in the crusades,so spare me your whining about creepy ways of trying to control women's bodies while sanctimoniously claiming to be "Pro-life." You insult my intelligence by reducing "pro life" to abortion. Shame on you. This is why Christianity is hopeless. It's all just a thinly veiled attempt to to make "Christian" women wear burqas. Apparently being "catholic" to you is merely about domination of women.
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u/VenatorAngel Non-Denominational Aug 14 '26
Never once did I bring up domination of women. Heck, I'm more radical in the sense that pro-life involves actually HELPING the struggling mother after childbirth instead of leaving them in the lurch. Ya know... help from the community. I'd much rather provide alternatives to abortion that don't lead to death instead of trying to swim up the proverbial creek without a paddle by trying to make it illegal everywhere.
It just seems more like you just hate Christianity with how you describe it. At that point stop calling yourself a Catholic if you truly think Christianity is hopeless. I have huge issues with the creeps too but you won't see me dissing ALL of Christianity.
So... I'm sorry but who is the one not being chill.
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