The Problem in the Episcopal Church
Christianity Today has an article describing the most recent events in the Anglican Church over the issue of homosexuality. The article reports how six conservative priests in Connecticut are facing possible suspension from their pulpits for refusing to submit to the authority of their bishop. Their bishop, Andrew Smith, in 2003 approved the consecration of an openly homosexual priest. This possible suspension is just the latest example of the waywardness of the leadership of the Episcopal Church in America.
The church is comprised of 2.3 million members, many of whom are ready to break from the church altogether. Already about a dozen or so churches have already split from the denomination, and more are sure to go. This raises an interesting question concerning the fragmentation of a denomination. The Church today already has enough fragmentation. The Western Church is estranged from the Eastern Church. Protestants are estranged from Catholics. Within Protestantism there exists an array of denominations, many of whom will not fellowship with other denominations. As the physical Body of Christ on this earth, at what point must we say enough is enough and stop the further division within the body?
But the other side of the coin is equally as perilous. How should the church respond to obvious unorthodoxy, such as the case in the Episcopal Church? The ordination of a practicing homosexual is wrong on so many levels. But even worse, this acceptance, and even celebration of, an abomination to God (Leviticus 18:22) is symptomatic of a deeper issue: The authority of God's Word. This is ultimately not about whether or not one is or is not born gay (although there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that one is). This issue always boils down to whether or not God's Word is supremely authoritative. Those who would seek to place homosexuals into the pulpit will invariably argue that God's Word is prone to change, or may just not be inspired. They would suggest that there are "nuggets" of truth to be found within its pages. I have two e-mails written from a pastor of a church that openly supports homosexuality. These are some of his words:
"I guess the bottom line for me on this and some other issues is to consider whether the revelation of God's will we know from the Bible is final or whether God may still be revealing truth to us. It's clear (at least to me) that the Bible, while fully inspired by God, has come to us through the particular people, times and cultures that produced the scripture as we know it. That being the case, it's also clear (at least to me) that some of what God had to say to us in scripture may have been "muddied" a bit as it came through those people and societies. So, for those of us on the other side of the issue on homosexuality, we wonder whether God might not be speaking a new word to us in this age."
This statement is really nothing but a faith statement - not a faith statement on the Bible, but a faith statement in God. I guess the real question in this larger issue is whether or not God is capable of revealing truth to us. And if so, what is His method of doing so? Conservative Christians need to reevaluate our faith in who God is, because once we throw a blanket over the light that has been given we leave ourselves vulnerable to all sorts of error.
But back to the original question. Should the Episcopal Church risk further fragmentation, or do they separate for the sake of truth? I suppose this is a catch 22 - they will lose either way. We can help by praying for this situation and ask that the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth to the glory of Jesus Christ.
The church is comprised of 2.3 million members, many of whom are ready to break from the church altogether. Already about a dozen or so churches have already split from the denomination, and more are sure to go. This raises an interesting question concerning the fragmentation of a denomination. The Church today already has enough fragmentation. The Western Church is estranged from the Eastern Church. Protestants are estranged from Catholics. Within Protestantism there exists an array of denominations, many of whom will not fellowship with other denominations. As the physical Body of Christ on this earth, at what point must we say enough is enough and stop the further division within the body?
But the other side of the coin is equally as perilous. How should the church respond to obvious unorthodoxy, such as the case in the Episcopal Church? The ordination of a practicing homosexual is wrong on so many levels. But even worse, this acceptance, and even celebration of, an abomination to God (Leviticus 18:22) is symptomatic of a deeper issue: The authority of God's Word. This is ultimately not about whether or not one is or is not born gay (although there is no scientific evidence to support the claim that one is). This issue always boils down to whether or not God's Word is supremely authoritative. Those who would seek to place homosexuals into the pulpit will invariably argue that God's Word is prone to change, or may just not be inspired. They would suggest that there are "nuggets" of truth to be found within its pages. I have two e-mails written from a pastor of a church that openly supports homosexuality. These are some of his words:
"I guess the bottom line for me on this and some other issues is to consider whether the revelation of God's will we know from the Bible is final or whether God may still be revealing truth to us. It's clear (at least to me) that the Bible, while fully inspired by God, has come to us through the particular people, times and cultures that produced the scripture as we know it. That being the case, it's also clear (at least to me) that some of what God had to say to us in scripture may have been "muddied" a bit as it came through those people and societies. So, for those of us on the other side of the issue on homosexuality, we wonder whether God might not be speaking a new word to us in this age."
This statement is really nothing but a faith statement - not a faith statement on the Bible, but a faith statement in God. I guess the real question in this larger issue is whether or not God is capable of revealing truth to us. And if so, what is His method of doing so? Conservative Christians need to reevaluate our faith in who God is, because once we throw a blanket over the light that has been given we leave ourselves vulnerable to all sorts of error.
But back to the original question. Should the Episcopal Church risk further fragmentation, or do they separate for the sake of truth? I suppose this is a catch 22 - they will lose either way. We can help by praying for this situation and ask that the Holy Spirit would guide us into all truth to the glory of Jesus Christ.
2 Comments:
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Sean,
I guess I should have read further. The comment I made in your post today, "CNS STORY: People wearing rainbow sashes denied Communion in St. Paul, Chicago" would have been better suited in this blog.
I will merely refer people to that comment, and sum it up here by saying,
"Any person in an authoritative position of the Church that preaches acceptance of homosexuality should be treat as any other false teacher or antichrist.”
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