Shortly after he was asked to deliver a prayer at President Barack Obama's inaugural festivities, Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson proudly announced it wouldn't be a Christian one. He had been "horrified" at how "specifically and aggressively Christian" previous inaugural prayers were. Robinson, whose elevation as his church's first gay bishop has been a major factor in bringing the Anglican Communion to the brink of schism, ended up addressing his prayer to the "God of our many understandings." (see article here)
Now I have no idea about the inner workings of Gene Robinson's mind or heart. However, if that statement is a reflection of his heart, then my opinion is he does not know Jesus. But aside from that, it's interesting how when a person wants to justify something, like their feelings of homosexuality, as being ok. And when they have to use bad interpretation methods in order to justify their behaviour (as you have to do to make the bible say being gay is ok). It's interesting how this can then lead to statements which are complete wrong. In fact, perhaps they only way they can justify that their sinful behaviour is ok is by essentially writing off everything that Jesus said, leaving them with nothing but hopelessness.
For the record, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Eph 4:4-6) and, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them." (John 3:36). It's pretty clear and simple, one God and one way to get to know Him.
I really hope these people meet the Lord Jesus and repent. I hope they use their positions to call others to do likewise. Rather than leading many astray. These words come to mind...
Luke 17:1-3
1Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. 2It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 3So watch yourselves.
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.
Yo. I thought I'd throw a couple of questions your way, because I'd like to hear more from you on this stuff.
ReplyDeleteI'm just trying to figure out what the point of this post is -- what you're getting at.
Despite having done it myself, I don't really see the point of questioning someone's Christianity, whether or not they're a false teacher. What I mean is, I'm not concerned about whether Gene Robinson knows Jesus, I'm just concerned about the health of the sheep. *Baa* Why does Gene Robinson matter?
Also, if American Anglicanism is just a 'church' -- by which I assume you mean it's gone to the dogs in some way -- why should we bother with what they're up to?
Arthur
Early stages of trying to express something that I've been thinking about for a while... that is, it seems to me that sometimes we let things go because they are not 'core gospel issues' which is definitely a good thing. However, I've noticed over the years with friends, or youth leaders, who have some wacky theology on some 'non-core' issues have ended up becoming unashamed homosexuals or giving up on church altogether for a live of drunkenness and casual encounters.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess what I'm trying to say/wondering about is how we think about God, or about his standards across all areas of life might be more important than we think. Hmm, maybe I'm not being as clear as I could be... but hopefully you're getting my drift.
As for questioning Gene Robinson' Christianity, I think I was trying to be as respectful as possible for someone claiming to be a church leader and living the way he does and saying the things he says. I don't know his heart, but his fruit gives me a clear picture. I don't think I'm being unreasonable.
The American Anglican church matters because even if we think little of them, they actually still represent the church and therefore Jesus in the eyes of much of the secular world. That's why it matters what they think and do.
So 'minor' issues in the church may be evidence of deeper failings, or may eventually lead to deeper failings? Fair enough.
ReplyDeleteI think that talking about slippery slopes is slippery.
So I figure that the best way to respond to any non-core issue (even if it doesn't appear to be a slippery slope) is to talk up the core issues.
And it's not enough to believe or assume the core issues -- we need to live, eat and breathe Jesus, making him front and centre in our church life, making him more awe-inspiring and life-changing and world-turning than anything else. This is something that we (evangelicals) are not always good at.
Am enjoying hearing from you -- keep writing about this stuff. :)
Arthur
Chris, to be fair the Bible doesn't speak about sexual orientation, probably at all. You're studying Greek so you might already know this but the word translated "homosexual" is arsenokoites. Every scholar I've read on the word admits that they don't know what this word means and that it gets translated homosexual because it is paired with the word "malakos" which means soft of effeminate. The word itself is the plural of men, aresno, and the word for sex, koites - which could just as easily mean male prostitution. And considering there are no biblical or extra-biblical records of an understanding or concept of sexual orientation, "being gay" isn't explicitly addressed in scripture.
ReplyDeleteWhat is explicit is that sexual acts between people of the same sex is severely looked down upon, especially in Leviticus but also a few times in the New Testament (see Romans 2).
If Bishop Robinson has never gone through the painful task of reconciling his sexuality with God, he probably isn't fit to be a Bishop. I doubt though, that many straight Bishops have gone through that hard process either. We are all sexual and we are all broken and only God can reconcile our sexuality, otherwise it ends up being selfish and sinful whether you're gay or your straight.