Why I Left the Episcopal Church

It would be easy to blame the rector (as they were called back then) to whom I dropped in on without an appointment one Friday afternoon. In fact, to this supposedly "shepherd, preacher, man of God, teacher of men's souls, etc.", it seemed to have been quite an awkward moment for a young man to walk in the church unexpectedly one afternoon wanting to ask him questions about the Bible and church and God and faith and why to it all. But he was cordial.....for the brief moment.

As I asked him questions relating "to it all" I noticed he began to squirm in the comfort of his cushioned chair behind his rather large desk. He was noticeably more nervous at the questions asked of him than I was at asking. It is doubtful the questions were theologically deep but he stilled seemed uncomfortable with my inquiries of what and why to God, church and believing in something. In particular to the "why" the church did this or did that, he always replied about having faith. Yet, he could never define faith.

After about fifteen minutes of unintentional torturing of this poor rector he leaned back in his chair and raised his left arm to bend at the elbow. He then looked at his watch and with sweat running down his perspiration-laced face declared, "Well, it's 5:00-- I need to go!"

He left me with no encouragement, no exhortation, no scripture to read, no Bible verses to memorize. I left him with no questions answered about the Bible or church or God or the why to it all.

The truth is: the Episcopal Church is more than this one man. It has deteriorated into an apostate church (if it even ever was a true church body) that is more concerned about ecumenical and social positioning than biblical doctrine. Although it was birthed from the Roman Catholic Church, it never truly severed the umbilical cord. It could not completely loose itself from the noose of Romanism. Granted, there is no Episcopalian pope but the hierarchy and ostentatiousness is definitely present. And, of course, false doctrine abounds. Infant baptism seems to be the primary false teaching they embrace. The reason: they hang their salvation on infant baptism and that makes it eternally errant. Sadly, once in eternity it is irreversible.

As a long-time Episcopalian and acolyte it was very obvious that the Book of Common Prayer superseded the Holy Bible in use and for authoritative reference. Genuflecting to an altar was also part of the service which is no different than bowing down to idols in the Roman Catholic Church. As the man who taught me, the Bible once said, " The Episcopal Church just plays church." And he was right. They have a "form of godliness but deny the power thereof."In reality, there was not only one reason that I left the Episcopal Church but there were many reasons why I left. Infant baptism, the false teaching on salvation, ecumenism, bowing to altars, the teaching of intercessory prayers to saints, praying for the dead, women in the pastorate.....should the list go on? More importantly, the One True and Triune God of the Bible saved me.