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
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