Let’s take a moment to discuss this church’s “Remnant Theology.” I’m not going to waste anyone’s time and take it apart biblically. There’s not space or the interest for that here. Let’s just reboot our common sense and approach it that way.\r
First off, google “Remnant Theology” and look at the Wikipedia page. Well: would you believe it, guess who else thought they were in the Remnant? Anglicans. Catholics. Seventh-day Adventists. \r
Each of these groups had people who were fascinated with the notion that *even in the fold of believers* there are better, purer people. You know, the good ones, the ones we can trust. In short, us. \r
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There are serious theological problems with this since so much of the Remnant stuff hails from the Old Testament. But just on a purely academic level, look at the hubris required to even preach this stuff.\r
First, you have to believe there is such a thing as an inner, inner circle. \r
Second, you have to believe you are clever enough to discover it exists.\r
Third, you have to believe that you’re lucky enough to BE in it, or at least have a chance to.\r
Only it’s not luck is it? It’s that you’re smarter, more faithful and obedient. You’re BETTER. Basically Remnant Theology is about being better than others, even avowed Christians. And not just that there is a group that is better, it’s that IT’S YOU. Or it CAN BE YOU. \r
And there we go. The beating heart of this church, the legalism. Of course the core of their theology would line up with their strivings, their actions-based system.\r
Everyone thinks they were somebody famous in a past life. Everybody wants to be special. It’s not enough to just be you, humble, accepting God’s grace, working with Him to show His love and mercy. \r
Other elephant in the room: if your church is tiny and shrinking by the week, of course you claim Remnant Theology. Just like the unlovable buffoon who confronts his glaring singleness by claiming that he’s “an acquired taste.” No friend. At some point you have to come to terms with reality. It’s not us. It’s you. You’re not in some mystical group of 3,000 that you wrenched out of its scriptural context. You just need to stop being you.\r
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