The term “Seven Sisters of Protestantism” once referred to the dominant mainline Protestant denominations in the United States. These were the churches that sat at the center of American religious life for much of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Today, however, many of these institutions bear little resemblance to the historic Christianity they once championed. Having embraced the winds of progressive culture, they have largely abandoned the pillars of orthodoxy and orthopraxy in favor of accommodating worldly ideologies.
Many conservative observers—myself included—now question whether these denominations remain Christian in any meaningful, biblical sense.
Let us begin with defining what is meant by “Progressive Christianity” and contrasting it with biblical, Reformed doctrine.
What Is Progressive (Woke) Christianity?
“Progressive Christianity” refers to a theological and ethical framework that claims to be Christian while embracing the core ideologies of modern secular progressivism.
This includes beliefs rooted in Critical Theory, LGBTQ+ affirmation, intersectionality, climate activism as gospel work, feminism, and religious pluralism.
These ideas are often borrowed not from Scripture but from Marxist, postmodern, and secular humanist ideologies.
At its root, Progressive Christianity is not merely about a different tone or posture—it is about a different religion. While it uses the same vocabulary as historic Christianity, it redefines essential terms:
| Term | Biblical Definition | Progressive Redefinition |
|---|---|---|
| Sin | Rebellion against God’s law (1 John 3:4) | Social injustice, intolerance, or failure to affirm identity |
| Salvation | By grace through faith in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8–9) | Liberation from oppression, systemic reform |
| Jesus | Fully God and man, the only way to God (John 14:6) | A moral teacher or revolutionary leader |
| Scripture | Inerrant and infallible Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16) | A human record of spiritual experiences to be critiqued |
| Justice | Conformity to God’s law (Mic. 6:8) | Equity outcomes through redistribution of power |
This revisionism has turned once-great denominations into echo chambers of the culture, reciting the shibboleths of progressivism while denying or distorting the gospel of Christ.
Who Are the Seven Sisters?
The term “Seven Sisters” refers to the following mainline Protestant denominations:
- United Methodist Church (UMC)
- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
- Episcopal Church (TEC)
- Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA)
- American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA)
- United Church of Christ (UCC)
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
These groups once held to historic Protestant confessions but have since largely embraced progressive theology and practice at the denominational level. While exceptions exist in individual congregations, the direction of these institutions is unmistakable.
Christian Doctrine and Practice
Before comparing the Seven Sisters with biblical Christianity, we must define the essentials of the Christian faith.
Essential Doctrines of the Faith (Orthodoxy)
- The Triune God – One God in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19).
- Biblical Authority – The Scriptures are inspired, inerrant, infallible, and the final authority (2 Tim. 3:16; John 17:17).
- Original Sin and Total Depravity – Humanity is fallen in Adam and unable to save itself (Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1–3).
- Christ Alone for Salvation – Jesus is the God-man who died a substitutionary death and rose bodily (1 Cor. 15:3–4).
- Justification by Faith Alone – Righteousness is imputed to believers apart from works (Rom. 3:28; Gal. 2:16).
- Regeneration by the Holy Spirit – Salvation includes a supernatural rebirth (John 3:3–8; Titus 3:5).
- Bodily Resurrection and Final Judgment – Christ will return to judge the world (Acts 17:31; 2 Cor. 5:10).
- The Church as Christ’s Body – The church is the pillar and support of truth, distinct from the world (1 Tim. 3:15).
- Exclusive Gospel – Salvation is through Christ alone, not religious pluralism (John 14:6; Acts 4:12).
Essential Practices (Orthopraxy)
From an orthodox Christian perspective, Christian ethics flow from God’s unchanging moral law as summarized in the Ten Commandments. This includes:
- Marriage and Sexuality – Marriage is the lifelong covenant between one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4–6). All sexual activity outside of this covenant is sin (Heb. 13:4; 1 Cor. 6:9–11).
- Church Leadership – Pastors and elders are to be qualified men (1 Tim. 2:12; 1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9).
- Abortion – Human life begins at conception and is to be protected (Ps. 139:13–16; Ex. 20:13).
- Transgenderism – God made humanity male and female, and this binary is good and not interchangeable (Gen. 1:27; Deut. 22:5).
- Worship Regulated by Scripture – Worship must be regulated by God’s Word (John 4:24; Lev. 10:1–3).
- Discipline and Church Purity – Sin is to be confronted lovingly for the health of the church (Matt. 18:15–17; 1 Cor. 5:1–13).
- Separation from Apostasy – Believers are to come out from false teachers (2 Cor. 6:14–18; Rom. 16:17).
Summary Comparison: Doctrine and Practice
| Category | Biblical Christianity | Seven Sisters of Protestantism |
|---|---|---|
| Bible | Inerrant, infallible, final authority | Inspired but fallible; filtered through culture |
| Trinity | Affirmed | Affirmed (often downplayed) |
| Christ’s Divinity and Resurrection | Bodily resurrection essential | Affirmed doctrinally, often reinterpreted metaphorically |
| Salvation | Grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone | Often replaced with social activism |
| Sin | Transgression of God’s law | Often defined as oppression or intolerance |
| Sexual Ethics | Man-woman marriage only | LGBTQ+ affirming, many with gay clergy |
| Gender | Male and female immutable | Transgender identities affirmed |
| Leadership | Male-only pastors/elders | Women and LGBTQ+ clergy permitted |
| Abortion | Condemned as murder | Often defended as a right |
| Religious Pluralism | Salvation in Christ alone | Often embraces multiple paths to God |
In the previous section, we defined the essentials of Christian orthodoxy and orthopraxy from the perspective of conservative Reformed Baptists and Presbyterians.
These biblical doctrines have grounded the faithful church for two millennia. In contrast,
Progressive Christianity—now dominant in the Seven Sisters of Protestantism—has jettisoned these moorings in favor of conformity to the spirit of the age.
But how did this descent occur? What does it look like in practice? And how does it relate to the biblical doctrines of Scripture’s inspiration, infallibility, and inerrancy?
Let us now turn to a closer examination of each of the Seven Sisters and the path they have taken to theological liberalism.
The United Methodist Church (UMC)
Historical Roots:
The UMC formed in 1968 through the merger of the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren. Early Methodism, under John Wesley, upheld strong views on sin, holiness, and the authority of Scripture.
Descent into Liberalism:
In recent decades, the UMC has been engulfed in internal conflict over sexuality and biblical authority. Though official doctrine (as of 2022) still affirms traditional marriage, many U.S. bishops openly defy this teaching. LGBTQ+ clergy have been ordained, and same-sex weddings have been conducted in defiance of church law.
Breaking Point:
This tension culminated in the creation of the Global Methodist Church in 2022—a new denomination launched by traditional Methodists unwilling to stay in fellowship with liberalized UMC bodies. The split underscores the magnitude of the UMC’s doctrinal compromise.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Historical Roots:
Formed in 1988, the ELCA emerged from mergers of earlier Lutheran bodies, some of which retained confessional moorings. It claims Martin Luther as a theological ancestor.
Descent into Liberalism:
The ELCA officially affirms same-sex marriage and ordains openly LGBTQ+ clergy. In 2021, it installed its first transgender bishop. Its seminary training often includes feminist and queer theology. A 2022 report by its Task Force on Studies for Justice and Peace declared that Scripture must be read “in light of contemporary contexts,” subordinating it to cultural consensus.
Biblical Authority:
The ELCA states that Scripture is “inspired” but simultaneously claims the Bible is a “witness” with historical and cultural flaws. This is a classic maneuver of liberal Protestantism—affirming inspiration in vague terms while denying infallibility and inerrancy.
The Episcopal Church (TEC)
Historical Roots:
The American descendant of the Church of England, the Episcopal Church was historically liturgical, hierarchical, and theologically diverse, but at least nominally Christian.
Descent into Liberalism:
TEC was one of the earliest mainline bodies to ordain women (1976) and openly gay clergy (1990s). It approved same-sex blessings in 2003 and formalized same-sex marriage rites in 2015. In 2006, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori openly taught religious pluralism and denied the necessity of Jesus for salvation.
Theological Collapse:
TEC leaders increasingly promote universalism, climate activism as gospel work, and interfaith syncretism. One bishop declared in 2018 that Jesus “was not sinless.” These are not fringe figures; they are denominational representatives.
Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA)
Historical Roots:
PCUSA descends from the rich theological heritage of American Presbyterianism, which once gave the world stalwarts like Charles Hodge, J. Gresham Machen, and B.B. Warfield.
Descent into Liberalism:
PCUSA now ordains practicing homosexuals, performs same-sex marriages, and openly challenges biblical authority. In 2018, its General Assembly replaced traditional references to “God the Father” with “God of many names.” It has flirted with goddess worship and radical feminism in worship liturgies.
Apostasy on Display:
In 2011, a survey revealed that only 41% of PCUSA clergy believed Jesus is the only way to salvation. That number has likely declined further. PCUSA congregations are dwindling, with thousands departing to more conservative denominations like the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) and Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).
American Baptist Churches USA (ABCUSA)
Historical Roots:
While some Baptists remained doctrinally sound, the ABCUSA represents the liberal branch of American Baptist life. It formally adopted a denominational identity distinct from conservative Southern Baptists.
Descent into Liberalism:
ABCUSA permits women pastors, affirms homosexual “Christians,” and tolerates congregational variation on major doctrinal issues. Though it claims congregational polity, the national denomination has issued statements in favor of progressive causes, including abortion access and LGBTQ+ affirmation.
Biblical Authority:
There is no uniform commitment to inerrancy. Local churches often determine their views, but the national posture trends progressive. The absence of theological discipline has allowed severe doctrinal drift.
United Church of Christ (UCC)
Historical Roots:
Founded in 1957 from the merger of Congregationalist and Reformed traditions, the UCC was initially doctrinally conservative but soon became a vanguard of Protestant liberalism.
Descent into Liberalism:
UCC was the first mainline denomination to ordain an openly gay minister (1972) and to affirm same-sex marriage (2005). It heavily promotes Critical Race Theory, climate activism, and transgender inclusion.
Apostasy Formalized:
The UCC’s theology is summarized in its slogan: “God is still speaking.” While that sounds appealing, it is used to justify ignoring Scripture in favor of ongoing progressive revelation. In reality, it denies God’s once-for-all authoritative Word (Jude 3).
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Historical Roots:
Emerging from the Restorationist movement of the early 1800s, the Disciples emphasized Christian unity and a return to New Testament simplicity.
Descent into Liberalism:
Today, it ordains openly gay clergy, supports abortion rights, and is fully aligned with woke activism. It also permits member congregations to deny core doctrines such as the Trinity or the exclusivity of Christ.
Crisis of Identity:
Its identity as a “non-creedal” church has allowed doctrinal chaos. As with other liberal denominations, numerical decline is severe, with aging congregations and shrinking seminaries.
The Doctrine of Scripture: Inspiration, Infallibility, Inerrancy
The central fracture point between biblical Christianity and Progressive Christianity is their view of Scripture.
Biblical View :
- Inspiration – Scripture is God-breathed (θεόπνευστος) and comes from the mouth of God (2 Tim. 3:16).
- Infallibility – It is incapable of teaching error in all that it affirms (Ps. 19:7–9).
- Inerrancy – In its original manuscripts, the Bible is without error in all it affirms—whether doctrine, ethics, or history (John 17:17).
This is not blind bibliolatry; it is a submission to Christ, who said, “Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).
Liberal Denominational View:
- Scripture is inspired “in a general sense.”
- The Bible is a product of its time and contains human biases.
- Biblical commands on sexuality, gender, or exclusivity are often rejected as outdated.
As a result, these denominations no longer operate under the authority of God’s Word. They instead subject Scripture to cultural critique and treat moral commands as optional or oppressive.
Have They Contaminated Themselves with the World?
In every sense, yes. James 4:4 declares:
Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
The Seven Sisters have not merely stumbled; they have institutionally allied with the world, the flesh, and the devil. They have sacrificed orthodoxy at the altars of modernity. Their pastors bless what God calls sin. Their theologians mock the authority of Scripture. Their churches are no longer salt and light (Matt. 5:13–16), but instead serve as religious arms of secular ideologies.
To be clear, individuals within these denominations may still be born again, especially in isolated, faithful congregations. But the denominations themselves—at the structural level—are apostate.
What Is the Reconquista Movement?
The term “Reconquista” is borrowed from the history of the Iberian Peninsula, where Christian kingdoms gradually reclaimed territory from Islamic rule between the 8th and 15th centuries. Applied to the church, the idea is simple but controversial: reclaim the Seven Sisters from within by infiltrating apostate denominations with sound theology, biblical preaching, and strong leadership.
Advocates believe that the conservative exodus from mainline churches has left a vacuum now filled with heresy—and that orthodox believers have a duty to reclaim these once-faithful institutions rather than “retreat” to echo chambers. Some argue that the abandonment of these churches was cowardly and short-sighted.
Common Arguments in Favor of the Reconquista:
- Historical Significance – These churches have long histories, grand architecture, cultural prestige, and financial resources.
- Institutional Leverage – Taking over dying churches can be more efficient than starting from scratch.
- Moral Imperative – Abandoning these churches is viewed as surrendering God’s territory to the enemy.
- Apostolic Parallel – Christ sent His apostles into synagogues and hostile environments; so too, we must go into apostate churches.
Richard Ackerman and the Reconquista Movement
Perhaps the most visible online proponent of the Reconquista is Richard Ackerman, better known as the “Redeemed Zoomer.”
A twenty-something convert to Christianity, Ackerman has built a substantial following by calling young Christian men to reclaim apostate churches and reject evangelical retreatism.
His YouTube channel, podcast appearances, and social media platforms often frame this call as a masculine challenge—a spiritual battle for God’s territory.
Ackerman has argued that the Southern Baptist Convention and nondenominational churches are “middlebrow” and lack the cultural weight of old mainline institutions. He criticizes the conservative exodus from mainline denominations as a failure to fight.
While his passion is evident and he often says what many are afraid to say, his approach raises important questions.
Evaluating the Reconquista Strategy
Doctrinal Concerns with Redeemed Zoomer’s Theology
While Ackerman is rightly frustrated by the feminization of modern evangelicalism and the compromise of liberal Protestantism, his theology often lacks the clarity and depth of mature, confessional Christianity. Some of the more controversial or questionable elements in his messaging include:
- Overemphasis on Aesthetics – He places significant weight on architecture, liturgy, and institutional presence, sometimes at the expense of biblical fidelity.
- Rehabilitation of Dead Institutions – He seems to assume that cultural institutions can be retaken by force of will, without reckoning with the judgment of God on apostate churches (Rev. 2:5).
- Derision towards those of non-mainline denominations – He has insisted that mainline denominations are basically the true Christian churches of the United States, and all believers should belong to one. He has a strong dislike of John MacArthur and accuses him of heretical views like Nestorianism.
- Embrace of heterodox positions – He believes in macroevolution and other positions I would characterize as heterodox.
I like Richard Ackerman’s personality and enthusiasm for Christianity, but he is very dogmatic and prideful. I suppose that is a common failing of many young men, though, including myself in my youth (and maybe my older years, too).
Biblical Considerations: Reform or Separate?
The New Testament offers both precedent for reform and warnings about fellowship with heresy:
- Reformers within Judaism – Jesus and the apostles engaged the Jewish religious establishment before being rejected.
- Church Discipline – Churches are called to correct sin, but also to separate from unrepentant false teachers (Rom. 16:17; Titus 3:10).
- No Fellowship with Darkness – “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers… Come out from them and be separate” (2 Cor. 6:14–17).
- Warning Against False Teachers – Paul, Peter, John, and Jude all warn against accommodating heretics within the church (2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 4:1; Jude 3–4).
From these passages, it is evident that reform may be possible in some contexts, but separation is often the biblical response to entrenched apostasy. In Revelation 2, Christ threatens to remove the lampstand from churches that do not repent. If the light is gone, no amount of tactical infiltration will restore it.
Prudential and Pastoral Concerns
- The Danger to Families – Is it wise to raise young children in a congregation led by a lesbian female “pastor”? What messages are being normalized in the children’s ministry, youth group, or casual conversations in the pews?
- The Danger to Young Believers – Young believers, whether chronologically young or young in terms of their faith, need solid catechizing. Plunging themselves into a toxic spiritual environment is not good, even if their intention is to evangelize the Progressive congregation. Satan is a clever deceiver.
- Corrosive Influence – 1 Corinthians 15:33 warns, “Bad company ruins good morals.” Exposure to false teaching desensitizes consciences and confuses categories.
- Better Alternatives – Healthy, confessional churches exist and are growing. Conservative believers are planting doctrinally sound churches across the country. Why risk souls on a longshot gamble?
Is the Abandonment of Apostate Churches Cowardice?
That depends on the circumstances. In some cases, believers were forced out by hostile denominational bureaucracies. In others, they voluntarily withdrew to preserve the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
Far from cowardice, this can be an act of obedience. When a church no longer preaches the true gospel, it is no longer a true church. The Reformers understood this. Calvin and Luther did not merely try to reform Rome from within; they separated from it because Rome had fundamentally distorted the gospel.
Remaining in an apostate church may feel courageous, but if one is sitting under false teaching, participating in false worship, and calling wolves shepherds, then “reclaiming” may be nothing more than misplaced nostalgia.
What Is to Be Gained?
From a worldly standpoint, there’s much to be gained: buildings, visibility, resources. But from a spiritual standpoint, there is very little. Reclaiming a church building where heresy was normalized may give one the aesthetic satisfaction of “saving” an institution. But at what cost?
- If congregants remain unregenerate, it is no true reform.
- If the denomination excommunicates you (as some have done), it was all for naught.
- If your children absorb liberal theology before you can reverse it, you’ve risked their spiritual well-being.
Jesus asked, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matt. 16:26). The same question applies to churches.
A False Hope?
The Reconquista of liberal denominations may appear valiant, but in most cases it fails to appreciate the nature of apostasy. These denominations are not simply misguided—they are dead. Revelation 3:1 describes such churches: “You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”
True reform is possible only when there is a remnant that still honors Christ and His Word. Where there is no gospel, no repentance, and no fidelity to Scripture, there is no church to reclaim. There is only a corpse. And we do not preach to corpses—we preach to the living.
“They went out from us, but they were not of us.”
—1 John 2:19
Comparative Matrix: Doctrine and Practice
Below is a side-by-side table showing where each denomination or group stands on key points of Christian orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Use the bar at the bottom of the chart to navigate the far right columns.
| Category | Biblical Christianity | UMC | ELCA | TEC | PCUSA | ABCUSA | UCC | Disciples of Christ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View of Scripture | Inspired, inerrant, infallible, final authority | Partial inerrancy; in practice subordinate to experience | Inspired but errant and culture-bound | Subject to revision and higher criticism | Replaced by personal revelation & culture | Varied; generally weak on inerrancy | “God is still speaking”—open canon | Optional inerrancy; experience-centered |
| Jesus as Only Way | Yes (John 14:6) | Yes (officially), but widely ignored | Often denied or minimized | Often denied; pluralistic | Often denied | Not emphasized | Often denied | Wide latitude; pluralism tolerated |
| Substitutionary Atonement | Affirmed (Isaiah 53; Rom. 3:25) | Seldom preached; often spiritualized | Often rejected | Rarely affirmed | Commonly rejected | De-emphasized | Rejected | Largely rejected |
| Original Sin | Affirmed (Rom. 5:12; Ps. 51:5) | Reinterpreted as “structural” or “social” sin | Redefined | Minimized | Redefined | Ambiguous | Rejected | Rejected or redefined |
| Marriage | One man, one woman (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4–6) | Officially traditional, often defied | LGBTQ+ affirming | Same-sex marriages sanctioned | Same-sex marriages required | Congregational choice | LGBTQ+ celebrated | LGBTQ+ affirming |
| Ordination of Women | No (1 Tim. 2:12; 1 Tim. 3:1–2) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ordination of LGBTQ+ | No (1 Cor. 6:9–11; 1 Tim. 1:10) | Yes (in practice) | Yes, including trans bishops | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Transgender Affirmation | No (Gen. 1:27; Deut. 22:5) | Yes (unofficially) | Yes, openly promoted | Yes | Yes | Varies | Yes | Yes |
| Abortion | Sinful murder (Ps. 139; Ex. 20:13) | Increasingly pro-choice | Pro-choice | Pro-choice | Pro-choice | Pro-choice | Pro-choice | Pro-choice |
| Church Discipline | Practiced (Matt. 18; 1 Cor. 5) | Rarely practiced | Rejected as unloving | Nonexistent | Discouraged | Disfavored | Rejected | Largely absent |
| Worship | Regulated by Scripture | Liturgical but flexible | Liturgical, increasingly secularized | Liturgy with heterodox additions | Liturgical, often experimental | Contemporary/varied | Modern/progressive | Varied, low theology |
| Church Growth | Often slow, deep discipleship | Declining | Sharply declining | Declining | Rapid decline | Declining | Steep decline | Declining |
Summary Analysis
The contrast could not be clearer.
Biblical churches build their life around God’s Word, call sinners to repentance, guard the sanctity of marriage, and aim to preserve doctrinal purity.
The Seven Sisters, on the other hand, have embraced the world’s values under the guise of inclusion and justice—redefining sin, diluting the gospel, and celebrating what Scripture condemns.
This is not mere doctrinal drift; it is apostasy. The church is the “pillar and buttress of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15), yet these institutions have become mouthpieces for deceit. Paul warned that in the last days, people would have “a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Tim. 3:5). That is a fitting epitaph for many mainline churches.
Expanding the List: Other Apostatizing Denominations
Two “Progressive” denominations in my area are the Mennonite Church USA and the Church of the Brethren (COB).
Anabaptists frequently do not consider themselves as Protestant.
1. Church of the Brethren (COB)
Originally part of the Anabaptist tradition with an emphasis on simplicity, peace, and discipleship, the COB has experienced a sharp leftward drift in recent years. While pockets of conservative belief remain, the denomination has largely embraced woke ideology. It increasingly affirms same-sex relationships, promotes Critical Theory, and has no clear stance on abortion. Its focus on social justice has overwhelmed its former gospel-centered roots.
2. Mennonite Church USA
Like the COB, MC USA once emphasized pacifism, community, and simplicity rooted in Christ-centered ethics. Today, it has adopted many progressive positions on sexuality, gender identity, and social activism. In 2022, the denomination passed a resolution affirming LGBTQ+ inclusion and apologized for its former opposition. Though there are still faithful Anabaptist fellowships outside the denomination (e.g., Conservative Mennonite Conference), MC USA is now aligned with the broader mainline trajectory.
What Defines a True Church?
According to the Reformers, three marks define a true church:
- Faithful Preaching of the Word of God
- Right Administration of the Sacraments
- Proper Exercise of Church Discipline
If a church abandons these—especially the faithful preaching of God’s Word—it ceases to be a church, regardless of its name, history, or architecture. Calvin wrote in his Institutes:
“Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, and the sacraments administered according to Christ’s institution, there, it is not to be doubted, a church of God exists.”
By this standard, the Seven Sisters and other compromised bodies cannot rightly be called Christian churches in any full sense. They are religious institutions bearing Christian labels, but their teachings deny Christ, distort the gospel, and celebrate sin.
The Biblical Call to Separation
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:17–18:
“Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you.”
The Lord does not call His people to remain in apostasy but to separate from it. When Jesus warned the churches in Revelation, His rebuke of Thyatira was especially poignant:
“I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel… who teaches and seduces My servants to commit sexual immorality…”
—Revelation 2:20
To remain in fellowship with churches that bless immorality and heresy is to invite the judgment of God. There is no neutrality in spiritual warfare.
The Seven Sisters and their fellow travelers have exchanged biblical faith for a counterfeit gospel of affirmation, activism, and apostasy. While pockets of orthodoxy may linger in some corners, the institutions as a whole are spiritually bankrupt.
God calls His people not to rescue sinking ships that He has abandoned (Rev. 2:5), but to remain faithful, plant new works, and uphold the unchanging gospel. The hope for the future is not in “retaking” apostate institutions but in faithful churches who love God’s Word, preach repentance and faith in Christ, and raise the next generation in truth.
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting.” —2 John 1:10
The Seven Sisters of Protestantism and the Descent into Progressive Christianity
We have traced the descent of the Seven Sisters of Protestantism from historic Christian orthodoxy into the deep waters of progressive apostasy. We have compared their doctrines and ethics with those of faithful churches. We’ve examined calls to reclaim them through a “Reconquista,” and we’ve reviewed both biblical and prudential responses to that movement.
Now, as we conclude this analysis, we turn to pastoral questions. What should Christians do when they find themselves in an unfaithful church? How can families protect their children from theological confusion? Is there hope for those trapped inside apostate congregations? And what does the future look like for the faithful remnant?
What Should a Christian Do in a Liberal Church?
If you are currently attending a congregation affiliated with one of the Seven Sisters (or similarly compromised denominations like MC USA or the Church of the Brethren), you may be wrestling with several questions:
Should I stay to be a voice of truth? Should I quietly leave? What about the relationships I’ve built over the years?
Biblical Principles:
- Your Spiritual Health Comes First
- You are called to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ (2 Pet. 3:18). If your church denies or undermines the gospel, your spiritual growth is at risk.
- Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to forsake gathering—but gathering with false teachers is not what that verse commands.
- Separate from False Teaching
- “Avoid them,” Paul writes of those who teach contrary to sound doctrine (Rom. 16:17).
- Jesus warned that a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Matt. 16:6, Gal. 5:9).
- The command to “come out from among them” (2 Cor. 6:17) applies not only to pagan idolatry but also to religious systems that corrupt the truth.
- Fellowship with the Faithful
- Acts 2:42 presents a model of a faithful church: the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. These should be the non-negotiables of church life.
What About Relationships?
Leaving a church is never easy. Long-standing friendships, family connections, and emotional attachments are real. But loyalty to Christ must outweigh loyalty to institutions or relationships (Luke 14:26). Sometimes, leaving is a painful but sanctifying obedience.
What About Families with Children?
Perhaps no question is more urgent than this one.
Should families with impressionable children remain in a church where:
- LGBTQ+ lifestyles are affirmed from the pulpit?
- Scripture is treated as fallible or symbolic?
- A female or transgender pastor shepherds the flock?
- Jesus is one “option” among many spiritual paths?
The answer is an emphatic no.
Children are shaped by what they see, hear, and absorb in their earliest years. If they learn that sin is to be celebrated, Scripture is negotiable, and Christ is optional, they will be inoculated against true Christianity. Proverbs 22:6 tells us to train up a child in the way he should go—not in the way that feels tolerant or progressive.
Jesus issued a stern warning:
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
—Matthew 18:6
To keep your children under false teaching is not only dangerous—it may be deadly to their souls. There is nothing noble about staying in a spiritually toxic environment for the sake of nostalgia, convenience, or misplaced hope.
Is There Hope for the Remnant?
Yes—but it is not in the denomination. It is in the gospel.
God has always preserved a faithful remnant. In Elijah’s day, there were still 7,000 who had not bowed to Baal (1 Kings 19:18). In Sardis, there were still a few who had not soiled their garments (Rev. 3:4). So too today, there may be faithful Christians in apostate churches who are grieved, confused, or newly awakened to the truth.
To them we say: Come out and be separate (2 Cor. 6:17). Find a faithful congregation where the Word is preached without compromise, where the ordinances are rightly administered, where Christ is exalted and sin is confronted.
What Does the Future Hold?
The Seven Sisters are collapsing. Their congregations are aging, their seminaries are emptying, and their influence is evaporating. The liberalized gospel of affirmation and activism does not regenerate souls or build true churches. As Jesus said:
“Every plant that My heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.”
—Matthew 15:13
Meanwhile, faithful churches—though smaller and less visible—are thriving. Confessional Reformed Baptist congregations, conservative Presbyterian churches (PCA, OPC), and others grounded in biblical authority are experiencing a quiet revival of theological seriousness, worship reverence, and moral clarity.
Christ promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church (Matt. 16:18). That promise does not apply to apostate institutions, but to the invisible church—the elect of God, gathered around His Word and indwelt by His Spirit.
A Word of Hope and Charge to the Faithful
To those who grieve the fall of great denominations, to those who lament the loss of beautiful sanctuaries and cathedral choirs corrupted by false shepherds, to those who have family trapped in apostasy—take heart.
- You are not alone.
- You are not powerless.
- You are part of Christ’s unshakable kingdom (Heb. 12:28).
The call today is not to reclaim what God has judged, but to build what He will bless. Plant faithful churches. Support sound seminaries. Raise godly children. Speak the truth in love—but speak it without compromise.
As Jude exhorted the early church:
“Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”
—Jude 1:3
This is not a call for warlike arrogance or separatist pride. It is a call for humble courage and gospel fidelity.
Final Benediction
In closing, we echo the words of Paul to the Thessalonians:
“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.”
—2 Thessalonians 2:15
The church of Jesus Christ is not defined by cultural prestige, stained glass, or denominational lineage. It is defined by truth, holiness, and fidelity to the Word of God.
Let the Seven Sisters fall. Let the idols topple. Christ will build His church—and nothing can stop Him.
S.D.G.,
Robert Sparkman
MMXXV
rob@christiannewsjunkie.com
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