Received this from Crosswalk the other day:

 

ECUSA's Incoming Leader: Homosexuality Not a Choice, Jesus Not the Only Way

She says she doesn't consider Jesus Christ to be the only way to God. She says she believes God makes some people "gay." And, reports AgapePress, she's soon to be the leader of a mainline Protestant denomination in America. In an interview this week with Associated Press, Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori -- who is to be installed on Saturday as the first female presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church USA -- stated that Christians should not say that Jesus is the only way to God. "If we insist we know the one way to God," she said, "we've put God in a very small box." Jefferts-Schori says she disagrees with the idea that salvation comes only through trusting in Jesus Christ, but instead salvation comes as the healing of all Creation through holy living. On the issue of homosexuality, the Episcopal Church has been embroiled for years in a debate over the ordination of homosexual clergy and "blessing" ceremonies for same-sex couples. Jefferts-Schori supports both, and told AP that she does not believe the Bible condemns "committed" homosexual relationships. God, she says, made some people "gay."

 

Okay.  Where do I begin?  This is the new leader of the Episcopal Church; the woman who was voted in and is causing such a split in that denomination.

Let me start by saying this is the result of years of watered-down theology and powder-puff translations of the bible.  This generation likes to say there are no absolutes.  There is no absolute truth, no absolute right or wrong; it's all gray and relational.  It all depends on you and your situation as to what is right or wrong for you.  They lie and tell you the inherent goodness in people will always cause them to choose that which is right for them and they really don't need a list of rules to go by.

Now I know that was a very broad sweeping statement that positions a large group of people into a small section of thought.  Yet, I have experienced so much of this mindset in my day to day dealings with students and professors here, not to mention employees and professionals just here in the area I live in.  I am also very well-read and attempt to keep up with religious and secular news daily.  I do my best to apply what I read and hear to what the bible tell us to expect and I am not overly shocked by what comes out of so many people's mouths.

Take a look at 2Peter2:1-2  " But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  (2)  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of."  And also 1John1Jo 4:1 " Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

Let me stop and say this; I believe there is an absolute truth that applies to all humanity at all times.  I take the bible literally.  I study only from literal translations and believe every word that comes from the mouth of God.  I believe the bible is God inspired and that translations taken literally from the ancient writings are protected by God.  Once you begin picking and choosing those things you believe and don't believe from God's word, you begin to sow doubt over all of God's word.  How is it possible to have faith in that which you have doubt?  You either believe or you don't.  I know that's very black or white, but that is what I believe.

Back to the subject:  Bishop Jefferts-Schori states that Christians should not say that Jesus is the only way to God.  Why is that, Bishop?  Jesus said it Himself in John 14:6 when speaking with Thomas, He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  Sounds pretty plain to me.  Open to interpretation?  Okay, how would you interpret something so plain?

Then she went on to say, “If we insist we know the one way to God, we’ve put God in a very small box."  No, Bishop.  Remember the "narrow way?"  Here in Matthew7, Jesus is once again speaking, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."  No, Bishop, God created the box we all live in and He made it VERY simple for us to find our way to Him. 

Then she said she disagrees with the idea that salvation comes only through trusting in Jesus Christ, but instead salvation comes as the healing of all Creation through holy living.  Through holy living, huh?  Sounds like works to me.  Look, Bishop, if there was anything we could do to earn our salvation, then what Jesus went through was for nothing.  You know, we had a chance to earn our way into heaven.  Ever read the Old Testament?  Ever read all 614 commandments of the law?  The law you would have to observe every moment of every day.  We had that opportunity and couldn't do it.  THAT'S why Jesus had to die on that cross.  HE was our sacrifice because He was the only man who could live by the law for His entire life.  My savior sits at the right hand of the Father.  Bishop, do you know why He sits?  Because His holy work is done, there is nothing more that has to be done.

Let me sidetrack here for just a minute and give the Bishop a break:  My Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life.  He went to the cross a perfect sacrifice.  If he had sinned just one time, then he went through all of the pain and suffering and death for nothing.  He had to be perfect for His death to bring us life.  I say this because not too long ago, someone said to me that she knew Jesus had experienced sex.  When I asked where she found that, she talked about some of the things she had heard in "The Da Vinci Code" and that it said in the bible that Jesus experienced everything we have, that way He knows what we go through and can be our perfect intercessor.  Well, I've done some research and can't find in the bible where it says He experienced everything we have.  I DID find where He endured every TEMPTATION we have; Hebrews 4:15 states, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."  2Corinthians 5:21, also says, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."  Both of those verses reaffirm that Jesus was without sin.  For Jesus to have experienced sex outside of marriage would have been fornication.  A sin abhorred by God the Father.  Never happened.  Was Jesus married?  No.  How can I be so sure?  Something as momentous as that wedding would have been noted in the bible.  It's not, so as far as I'm concerned, it never happened.  And of course, all of the speculation about Mary Magdalene; all of the scholars I respect agree that she was a prostitute.  While she WAS forgiven of her sin, it still would have been a sin for Jesus to have married her.  Another strike against that ever happening.

Now, back to the Bishop: Jefferts-Schori supports both the ordination of homosexual clergy and "blessing" ceremonies for same-sex couples. She also said she does not believe the Bible condemns "committed" homosexual relationships. God, she says, made some people "gay."

Let's see what the bible says:

Lev 18:22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." 

Hmm, that sounds pretty clear.  Hard to confuse the meaning of that commandment.  Do we need a definition of "abomination"?  Dictionary.com gives 3:

1.	anything abominable; anything greatly disliked or abhorred.

 

2.	intense aversion or loathing; detestation

 

3.	a vile, shameful, or detestable action, condition, habit, etc.:

Let's see what else the bible says:

Leviticus 20:13  If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

1Corinthians 6:9   Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind

Romans 1:24-27   Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:  (25)  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  (26)  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  (27)  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

These are three other places the sin of homosexual sex is mentioned.  I'm sorry, but I just can't find anywhere in the bible where it says that a man laying with another man is okay as long as it is a committed relationship.  Can you?

God made people, people choose the sin they commit.  Clearly, homosexual sex is a sin.  Just like an adulterer chooses to be unfaithful to his wife, which is also an abomination, a homosexual chooses his sin, too.

Until next time, I remain in Christ's service.

Rev T

Question: "Is there any truth to The Da Vinci Code?"

Answer: Is there such a thing as Da Vinci Code truth? It is important to remember that The Da Vinci Code is entirely fictional. As much as author Dan Brown would like you to believe, The Da Vinci Code has no solid basis historically, Biblically, or theologically. The Da Vinci Code is essentially an attempt to "humanize" Jesus Christ by inventing a story of how His true identity was distorted and hidden for nearly two thousand years.

In The Da Vinci Code, Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and had children. Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ descendants were the “holy grail” that carries the blood of Christ. The Da Vinci Code states that these facts about Jesus Christ were covered up by the early church in order to protect the idea of Jesus’ divinity. All the Christian books which told of Jesus’ relationship with Mary Magdalene were destroyed. Any evidence of such a relationship was covered up.

Again, The Da Vinci Code is fiction. It has no basis in reality. It is a well-written, entertaining book – but that is it. Dan Brown, the author, is of the persuasion that these ideas about Jesus are true. Since there is no historical, Biblical, or theological basis for his beliefs, Dan Brown presented them in a fictional account. Jesus was not married to Mary Magdalene or anyone else. Jesus did not have any children. Yes, the early church attempted to destroy many “gospels” about Jesus, but they did so because they were almost universally recognized as heretical, not to cover anything up. Even these “gospels” only give hints of a relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. The church did not cover up the truth about Jesus being married to Mary Magdalene. Rather, the church protected the truth about Jesus being God in the flesh (John 1:1,14).

The Da Vinci Code is in reality an attack on the Person of Jesus Christ. People do not want to believe that Jesus is God, that Jesus is the Savior – so they make up false beliefs about Him in order to create a false Jesus that they can believe in. That is what The Da Vinci Code is all about – presenting a false view of who Jesus Christ truly was…and then explaining why this “truth” has been "hidden" for nearly 2000 years.
Recommended Resource: Breaking the Da Vinci Code: Answers to the Questions Everybody's Asking by Darrell Bock.

I found an interesting article while going through the news. From Canada’s National Post I read where three scientists from Florida State University have explained how Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee. Seems the professor of physical oceanography, and some of his colleagues, used several statistical models and records of the Mediterranean Sea’s surface temperature to conclude that “a rare combination of water conditions and a cold snap could have caused ‘springs ice’ to form on the sea’s surface”.

They went on to say that since this ice is rather small, from some distance away it would appear that someone is walking on water. This professor did happen to admit that this was only a probability and that they don’t know for sure what really happened. Yet, after such a startling admission, he went on to say that “most likely, that ice was there during that period”.

Two of this same group, in 1992, used mathematics to conclude that if a steady northeast wind blew at 64 kilometers an hour for 10 hours, the parting of the Red Sea during the Exodus could be explained. This coming from a group who says it’s not their job to prove or disprove biblical accounts.

Isn’t it amazing how things like this are always cropping up? Consider the uproar over Dan Brown’s book, The Da’Vinci Code. How many times do you think I’ve wanted to shout to these people, IT’S A WORK OF FICTION! And yet things like the above article is presented as learned truth and you rarely hear anyone say anything about it! The statements by these people of “higher learning” seem to be above reproach. I guess we’re afraid of being labeled ignorant and narrow-minded if we attempt to counter their research.

The God that I serve is the God of creation. He spoke the Earth and the stars into existence. At the sound of His voice, light leapt into being from nothingness. I accept that the Bible is His Truth in a form that I can hold, read, and understand. Is it a stretch of my imagination to believe God parted the Red Sea and Jesus did walk on the water? With all of their “probability” and “most likely” and “could haves”, I have to ask; how much more faith do they have to have in what they believe than do I have in God’s Word? A dear Pastor friend of mine said it best, “God said it, and I believe it, which settles it.”

I hear you out there saying, “That’s very narrow-minded.” And to that I say, thank you! Why, you ask? Listen to God’s Words, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Mat 7:13-14 KJV)

You picked up on the “narrow” up there, right? As a Christian, I have a very clear-cut path that I follow. There IS an absolute right and wrong and it applies to everyone. Now, being open-minded can be a wonderful thing but it also leaves you wide-open for seeds of doubt to be planted in your mind, too. Consider this; “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Jos 1:8 KJV) What was God telling Joshua here after Moses had died? In all he did, keep God’s Word foremost in his every thought and deed. This instruction applies to us, too.

When was the last time you read and meditated with your Bible? I didn’t say just read. It’s a great thing to read through the Bible in a year but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about seriously studying God’s Word, thinking about it, thinking about how it applies to you, and how you’re going to apply what you’ve learned to your life. If it’s been a while, let me urge you to get back into His Word. Don’t let these seeds of doubt start taking root in your mind.

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:1-6 KJV)

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom 12:2 KJV)


Until next time, I remain in Christ’s service,

Rev T

Thought you might be interested in the reults of this latest study.


Da Vinci Code Confirms Rather Than Changes People's Religious Views

The Barna Group released the results of a new study this week. It indicates that the book The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown is not likely to change one's religious views, as much as it is likely to reinforce one's preexisting beliefs. The study produced other fascinating statistics on the impact of The Da Vinci Code: The book has been read (cover to cover) by 45 million people, that means one out of every five adults in the country. Catholics are more likely to read the book than Protestants. Twenty-four percent of those who read the book deemed it at least somewhat helpful to "personal spiritual growth or understanding." Thirty percent of those polled said they were like to see The Da Vinci Code film in the theater. Among the 45 million who have read The Da Vinci Code, only five percent - which represents about two million adults - said that they changed any of the beliefs or religious perspectives because of the book's content.

Food for thought.

In Christ's service,

Rev T

I am working diligently to get this site up and running. I’m kind of surprised it’s taking me as long as it has been, though. I guess I shouldn’t be. I already know that when you follow the Lord’s leading; so many things will suddenly appear to keep you from it.
 
Oh. You thought it was easy being a follower of Christ? That all you had to do was narrow your view of the world and become perfect and everything would become easy?
 
Dear friend, how sadly you are mistaken. The battle just begins when you accept the sacrifice Jesus made for you on the cross. When you finally can confess your sinful nature, ask for Jesus’ cleansing blood, and the Spirit fills you to overflowing; that’s when the adversary really takes notice of you.
In all truth, I am far from perfect. I sin everyday. I am just perfectly forgiven. And you can be, too. The Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Rom 3:23 KJV)
 
See that ALL up there? ALL have sinned…ALL of us! There is only one man who has walked this Earth that never sinned. He was perfect in His thoughts, heart, and deeds. And when His time came, He let them put Him on a cross so that YOU would not have to pay the price for your sins. Who was that, you say? Why, Jesus Christ, the son of man and The Only Begotten Son of God.
 
Want to get to know this man who died for you? Pick up His Father’s word. Start reading anywhere in that blessed book and God will reveal His perfect Son to you.

Be at Peace and Pray for God’s will and direction on your life. Until next time, I remain;

In Christ’s Service,
Rev T