When you read this article, can you see that this is exactly what is happening between those who want to serve the "master" of homosexual behavior acceptance rather than serve the true, Righteous Master, Jesus Christ, Lord of the universe and His revealed Word in the Bible?
We can see and compare the difference between the "revisionist bishops" that refuse to acknowledge what the Bible has always called homosexual behavior; namely - sin; and the orthodox bishops and priests who hold to God's unchanging, infallible and righteous Word. Notice in the article how one side is being "despised" by the other. Notice how serving that one secular humanist mindset of homosexual behavior acceptance is ripping the church apart, causing some orthodox priests to renounce their orders, and ultimately sending them away.
Woe to those who would call evil 'good' and good, 'evil'!
As if this and my former post weren't enough, add to it all the fact that these "leaders" also want to change the verses in the Bible that they believe "oppresses" certain 'groups' (a.k.a. homosexuals). When you read the article, you will find the last sentence makes the most sense.
The truth is, sinners do and should feel oppressed by the Bible, it is precisely why we need the salvation God offers.
What 'master' are the revisionist bishops truly following? Who is the Master that they are hating, despising, and rejecting?
Jesus fully warned us of the attempt to serve two masters. The conclusion? It doesn't work!
Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luke 16:13 - No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Let's make a list of what the revisionist bishops in the Episcopal church are now rejecting.
1. They reject Jesus' Great Commission command to spread the gospel to all men.
2. They reject some portions of the Bible because it is deemed (in their eyes) "repressive to some groups."
3. They reject the message of what constitutes proper sexual relations that is clearly taught in the Scriptures, and attach a humanistic sexual agenda to church teaching.
4. They inadvertently (or possibly, do so on purpose) reject the orthodox priests adherance to Biblical morals and values and are driving them away in droves because of this one issue.
5. They are trying a new tactic to get orthodox priests to renounce their orders and get them to remove themselves so that the revisionist "bishops" don't have to.
6. They are putting their perceived "human needs" ahead of the spiritual needs of the lay people.
What is happening here is very clear. As the article stated:
He concluded by saying that God does not ask to be successful but faithful, but that he hoped that "the ears of the global community will hear our cry and act."
Selling the humanistic gay agenda is more important to these "revisionists" than the direct call of being faithful to God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit's indwelling and leading; following and obeying the revealed Word of God, the Bible.
The Rev. Don Perschall, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and deputy from the Diocese of Springfield, said that he was "very alarmed" and "disturbed" by language about the Bible oppressing groups of people. "We do in fact have a theology and it's enshrined in our Book of Common Prayer. What this in effect does is it changes what's in our Book of Common Prayer."
Perschall referred specifically to the second chapter of the Book of the Common Prayer which explains how Christians can recognize the truths of the Holy Spirit. The answer: "We are measured by Scripture. We don't measure. We are held up to the light of Scripture in everything we do and say, not the other way around...The impact of what you're saying here is we're going to rewrite our theology, our understanding of God. And we don't have that right."
No matter what these "revisionists" do, there is a remnant of the faithful within that denomination who are holding fast to the truth. The fact remains that the truth of God's Word will still be here and will always and eternally prevail!
Luke 16:15-17 (Jesus speaking)
15 And He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
16 "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
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2 comments:
Problem is left to just "the Bible and Me" mentality, there is risk for any group of Christians to run into heresy. Everyone thinks they have their "handle "on interpretation. Clearly the scriptures are not for private interpretation as 1 peter says and truth is found in the Church, the pillar and foundation of truth as Paul said to timothy. Even Luther tried to get James taken out of the Bible along with the other old testament books he axed because he didnt agree with the doctrine. that is why we need the authority passed on from Jesus to Peter to bin, loose and guide his church.
Hi tiber jumper,
Welcome to the blog! I can appreciate what you are saying. As a former Catholic myself, I have a warm place in my heart for that particular branch of Christianity. over the years, I have seen that Catholics and Evangelicals are coming closer and closer in agreement on many important issues which may have formerly caused division because of competing church traditions. IMHO, we have more in common than topics with which we differ. I like to focus on what we have in common. Many of my friends and family members are Catholic.
I disagree that studying the Bible (your "the Bible and me" mentality comment) would lead to heresy. I think that it is often the lack of private study that leads many into heretical ideas. In my experience, those who have read and studied the Bible diligently find themselves agreeing with other Bible readers on the subject of interpretation. How would this be so if they were "privately interpreting" the Scriptures for themselves? There are many checks and balances (i.e. Sola Scriptura; hermenuetics; exegesis; the Holy Spirit's leading) that do not allow heretical interpretation to trump the original meaning of the Scriptural text.
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