How Could a “Christian” Church Body Vote to Approve of Homosexual Clergy?

The Episcopal Church has cast its vote and its vote is to lift the ban on homosexual clergy.

This news is baffling, saddening and perplexing to those who hold to and maintain Jesus Christ’s view of the scripture. Yet the questions abound. How Could a “Christian” Church Body Vote to Approve of Homosexual Bishops? What is this so-called “Christian” church body thinking? Who do they think they are?

The answer is actually very simple. The Episcopal Church in the United States rather than bend the need to Christ and His Word have made themselves “lords” of the scriptures and “lords” of doctrine. This is 180 degrees out of phase and backwards to the reality of the true relationship that the church has to Christ and His scriptures.

The truth is the Christian Church is not the lord of God’s Doctrine, but only its servant. It does not exist to create new doctrines but instead to preach and proclaim the doctrines which it’s Great God and Savior has revealed in His sufficient and inerrant word.

Or as Martin Luther put it,

“The Church of God has no authority to establish any article of faith, just as it never has established any nor ever will establish any.” (Ecclesia Dei non habet potestatem condendi ullum articulum fidei, sicut nec ullum unquam condidit, nec condet in perpetuum.)

“The Church, indeed, teaches, confesses, and approves the articles of faith or the Scriptures, not as lord and judge, as though she had authority over Scripture (more majoris sive auctoritate iudiciali); she does it in subjection to Scripture (more minoris)—just as the servant acknowledges the seal of his lord. (St. L. XIX:958.)

The problem with the Episcopal Church in the United States is that they have rejected Jesus as their Lord and the doctrines He has revealed to us in His Word. The Episcopal Church has led a rebellion against Christ and for the time being have usurped Christ’s throne and exalted themselves and their perverse satanic doctrines over Christ’s. However, their rebellion has not gone unnoticed by the King of Heaven. The creed correctly states that Christ “will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead”. Even now Jesus Christ offers mercy and forgiveness to the usurpers in the Episcopal Church and will grant them a full and complete pardon of their sins. His call them is the same call that has been announced to the world since the inauguration of His Kingdom, “Repent of your wickeded and rebellious ways, lay down your weapons and trust in the forgiveness and mercy of the true and living King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

Those who repent and trust this good news, sent from the only true Lord, will enjoy His mercy and favor for all eternity.

Those who persist in their wickedness and rebellion to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word there awaits Hell and eternal torment.

Comments

[Paul L.]

The Episcopal Church, like most mainline denominations, does not view revelation as God breaking into our world in time and space with his Divine Word. Rather, they see revelation as an ongoing dialog--either between God and man (excuse me, "people" gotta be inclusive) or among human beings--about what God would want or should want. Therefore the Bible to them is a record of how certain peoples in a particular times and places envisioned God. Although we should take the Bible into consideration, we are free to "grow" and "progress" and come to our own conclusions as to what God really wants.

That view of revelation has always struck me as being close to worthless (even when I was an agnostic).

[Steve Newell]

The Roman Church is also subject to "on going revelation". Many of their teachings on the Pope, Purgatory, etc are not based on Scripture. Likewise, many of those in the Charismatic movement also believe in this with wanting to "re-establish" apostles in the Church.

Many times, those how claim that "God is doing a new thing" will point to something that runs counter to Scripture. If their are correct, then it makes God either to look like a liar at worst and double minded as best.

[Michael J. Bridge]

As an Orthodox and extremely conservative Episcopal priest (I refer to myself as a missionary to the Episcopal Church), I want to make two points.

First, the Episcopal Church, as a whole, is no longer a Christian body. They have embraced liberalism in place of gospel truth. But, it is worth noting that much of what is going on in the homosexual movement in the church didn't start in the Episcopal Church. If you were to attend the General Convention that happens every 3 years (as I did 3 years ago as a delegate), you would see that all of these delegates are new Episcopalians who came to this church because they found it to be a church that would allow their agenda. There are all these lesbian priests who have only been in the ministry a few years, and only been Episcopalians that long, who are using this church as a tool because this church is willing to be used that way. It is a shame, and it has led to the inevitable death of the Episcopal Church. Those of us who are still gospel believers have just had to align ourselves with the orthodoxy of the Anglican Church.

Second point, virtually every mainline denomination is going through this... and arguably the Episcopalians aren't the worst. Lutherans, Presbyterians, and especially Methodists have all bought into this liberal heresy. While the Episcopal Church was voting on gay bishops 3 years ago, the Presbyterian Church (USA) was voting on renaming the trinity. But the Episcopal Church gets all the blame as though they are the only ones dealing with this. Just stay away from those crazy Episcopalians and you will be fine...

I get tired of it. I read this site regularly, and I think you are dead on with most things. But your pronouncement on the Episcopal Church (while accurate) really paints it as though the rest of Christianity in this country is just fine. And that isn't the case.

We have a major problem in Christianity in the West. Europe is all but lost and Canada isn't far off from that. Here in America, mainline churches are dropping like flies to the sweet calls of liberalism. We need to spend less time telling people how bad the Episcopal Church is (as opposed to all the others doing the same crazy stuff) and wake America up from this lazy and comfortable pseudo-Christianity that is being pawned off on people of all denominations. American Christianity has grown lifeless and cold. We can't offend people with truth. We want to be inclusive and tolerant (of course meaning that everyone is ok no matter what they are doing; as opposed to everyone is able to be forgiven despite what they have done).

In my town, the alternative has been several Pentecostal churches who are (and I am not speaking for all Pentecostal churches, just the ones in my town) either all prosperity theology or are teaching that if you still sin, you aren't saved. So that creates its own problem. It leaves few churches left as safe-havens for believers.

Sites like this are a key part in getting the real gospel message out there... you know, the one actually in the bible. But we need people in the ministry across all denominations standing up for the gospel and not tolerating the encroachment of liberalism. You can't just say, "Stop going to the Episcopal Church," because you have to add several others to the list as well. And even then, some churches are good and others bad. I don't know what the future holds for Christianity in America, but those of us who are believers need to lift our voices and make sure the gospel message is heard.

[Frank Gant]

The Episcopal denomination is not the only group of so-called Christians to stray from God's Word, how many denominations allow women to preach and teach and be leaders over men? This is just as wrong as allowing homosexuals to be leaders but you don't hear many people calling this out.

It's all signs of the times, Jesus is returning soon!

[Steve]

Michael,
I agree with your comments. You are right. Many people have used the the problems with the Episcopal church as an excuse to wrap themselves up in their own self-righteousness. But as an ELCA pastor, I can tell you we're starting to get more attention ourselves; and not in a good way. One good thing of this is that, because I am daily considering options outside of the ELCA, I have forced myself to take a harder look at some of the positions that other Lutheran bodies have. As such I have come to understand and even agree with the LCMS position on women's ordination and to a certain extent closed communion.

However, while I have many colleagues and friends in the LCMS whom I repect greatly, I get frustrated with some LCMS folks who will just have this attitude of "Why don't you just leave??" As if it's that easy. Not to mention their own church-body is far from perfect.

But you are right. The challenges that Christianity is facing in the post-modern, secularist, pluralist culture we live in extend way beyond the problems in the episcopal church, the ELCA or even mainline churches altogether. And sitting around and simply condemning other church-bodies does nothing.