With less than a month before the upcoming Sept. 30 deadline handed to The Episcopal Church to make an unequivocal pledge not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or bless same-sex unions, this commentary is being republished by request. It was originally published Monday, November 3, 2003.
The consecration of Reverend V. Gene Robinson as the Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire will long be remembered in the history of the church as a craven act of moral rebellion and the rejection of Holy Scripture. November 2, 2003 is a day that will live in biblical infamy.
In the days leading up to his consecration, Bishop Robinson had rejected calls by Anglican leaders in the worldwide communion to stand down from his election. Similarly, presiding Bishop Frank Griswold deflected the calls from his fellow primates around the world to avoid schism in the church through the election of an openly homosexual man as bishop of the church.
Robinson, always ready to play the martyr, said just before his consecration: "If in my own prayer life I were to discern that God were asking me to stop, then I would do so. But I must say I've been praying about this long and hard, and where my mind and heart are at the moment is that God wants me to move forward with this."
Robinson declared that he is "extremely at peace about this decision." Not to appear callous, he also insisted that he constantly worries about "the fact that this is causing so much pain and difficulty for some people. I don't relish that at all, and yet I believe that out of that pain the church is going to be a better place."
Here we have a classic expression of an individual asserting his own autonomy over biblical authority. Gene Robinson does not really care what the Bible has to say about his homosexuality. Indeed, he has conceded that the Bible condemns homosexual activity, but also asserts that the Bible should not have the last word in the matter. To the contrary, Robinson and his allies package his election and consecration as bishop as a great moral advance as the Episcopal Church (USA) leaves the dark ages of sexual repression and enters the brave new world of celebrated homosexuality.
This brazen act by the Episcopal Church (USA) effectively removes any real communion from the Anglican Communion. Clear and eloquent calls to avoid the inevitable schism that would follow his election were presented to Robinson and the Episcopal Church by Anglican leaders from the "Global South" as well as conservative Episcopalians in the United States. In a pattern now familiar, Anglican leaders from Africa, Asia, and other southern hemisphere regions have been overwhelmingly opposed to the election of a homosexual bishop, even as bishops from the decadent and secularized North have failed to prevent his election.
The reality is even worse than first appears. The pastor of St. Alban's Church in Washington, D.C. told National Public Radio that if Anglicans in the Global South broke communion with the Episcopal Church (USA), this would not be so bad after all. As this pastor asserted, "it's not unlike never speaking to your second cousin who lives in Nevada. It's too bad you never speak, but it really doesn't matter that much."
This statement shows clearly that it is the radical revisionists on the left who are breaking faith with their orthodox brothers and sisters in the Anglican Communion. It is the orthodox Anglicans who are standing on the tradition of their church as well as the clear authority of Scripture. In the upside-down world of postmodern America, the moral revolutionaries often claim that it is the traditionalists who are radical. The actions of the American church show the hollowness of that charge. Continue >>
RSS
is it not curious that Dr. Mohler, who belongs to a church that rejects apostolic succession, inveighs with such passion against another church's choice of bishop?
Christian confusion? Surely NOT! (Quiz) The way for man to be made “right” with God is:
A. Be a nice person.
B. Turn from sin and make Jesus the Lord of his life.
C. Seek atonement by the divine lineage of Joseph Smith.
D. God has already predestined who will (and won’t) be saved.
E. God loves everybody so nothing is required of him.
F. Attain atonement by a blessing from the priest.
G. Rely entirely upon Jesus’ sacrifice and righteousness.
H. Assure his “good” deeds outnumber his “bad” deeds.
F. There is no trinity so he must appease “Jesus only.”
G. Keep the law of Moses.
H. Keep only some of the law of Moses. (water baptism, tithe and repent often)
I. Keep the law of Moses and sacrifice an unblemished animal annually.
J. Ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (he will begin speaking in an “unknown” language.
K. Pray to the saints to intercede for him to be accepted by God.
L. Ask for forgiveness, be water baptized and sealed by the Holy Spirit.
M. Ask for forgiveness, be water baptized and strive earnestly to live the “Christian Life” that he doesn’t fall from grace.
N. Ask for forgiveness, be water baptized and strive earnestly to live the “Christian Life” seeking that he might receive the “2nd Work of Grace to become perfect.
O. Pray the “Prayer of Faith” that whatsoever he asks in the name of Jesus be granted.
P. Follow his conscience and attend church regularly.
Q. Follow his conscience and express remorse for any transgressions.
R. Find a professional “holy man” to guide him into righteousness with God.
S. Come forward at a Billy Graham (or similar) crusade and receive prayer.
T. Express remorse and ask Jesus to come into his heart.
U. Work out his salvation with God by making a “deal” that is mutually acceptable.
V. Follow his conscience, do good deeds and hope that it was enough in the end.
W. Attend church on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas and don’t kill anybody.
X. Attend “church” by placing hands on his TV and asking to be blessed.
Y. Ask at least 3 “Christians” to lay hands on him and ask God to receive him.
Z. (He can place his own salvation requirements here _______________)
Instructions: Pick one (or any combination) of the requirements listed above.
Now, just enjoy peace, knowing God will honor the church you chose. What could be simpler?
Beware young man, the “Christian” preachers.
“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
“Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (II Corinthians 11:13-15).
It's interesting that Robinson says ""If in my own prayer life I were to discern...". Sounds a lot like what seemed like a good idea at the time from Luther: "unless I am convinced..." What history has indicated is that what we have made the ultimate authority is not God or the Bible, but "I" and Robinson is just using what we've accepted for 500 years. Why should it surprise us, then?