Many conservatives in the Episcopal Church USA seemed to think September 30th would be a time where a real decision would be made by the Primates of the Anglican Communion regarding the apostasy of the Episcopal Church. But those of us wise enough to know the tactics of the enemy saw through it all. Of course the ECUSA House of Bishops met on September 30th and was expected to respond to the call of the primates of the Global South and Asia to promise not to ordain more openly gay priests or consecrate more gay bishops.
But knowing that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, is himself a theological liberal who has ordained an openly homosexual priest and privately agrees with the homosexual agenda, why would we be surprised that the ultimatum issued by the primates is really not an ultimatum at all?
Furthermore, promising not to ordain more gay priests or consecrate more gay bishops does not go far enough. The conservative primates ought to demand that the ECUSA House of Bishops should remove the homosexual bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson. The visible church should as much as possible seek to establish born again, Bible believing ministers as its leaders. To know that a minister is a theological liberal, or even worse, openly gay and living a sexually immoral lifestyle is beyond comprehension.
What is more, the so-called Conservatives who are part of the continuing Anglican movement here in the USA are no better than the liberals they are criticizing. The Anglo-Catholics twist and distort Scripture and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion to justify their Romish doctrines, which no self-respecting Reformed person would ever tolerate given the historical, cultural, and Scriptural foundations of the English and Continental Protestant Reformation. Anglo-Catholics in the continuing movement and in the common cause against the homosexual agenda and theological liberalism are just as lost, just as much part of the satanic attack against the true universal church of Jesus Christ as any liberal in the Episcopal Church.
Why? Simply because they reject outright the Scriptural doctrines established by the Bible from the beginning. Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, Sola Gratia, and Soli Gloria Deo. Scripture alone is the final authority in matters of doctrine, not bishops or churches. If the current situation in the Anglican Communion doesn't convince you, take a long look at church history. At one point, most of the bishops of the Catholic Church of fourth and fifth centuries were Arian rather than trinitarian and saw Jesus as an angelic being slightly lower than God.
Moreover, both the Eastern Orthodox churches and the Western Roman Catholic Church accept icons, veneration of the saints, real presence of Christ in the eucharist and a host of other departures from the apostolic doctrine given by Christ Himself. I can further add that both the East and the West deny justification by faith alone and make faith plus good works a condign merit that can earn one's salvation. Such views make slight of the perfect life of Jesus Christ who never sinned in thought, word, or deed. Such views make slight of the cross of Jesus Christ where He died a sinner's death in our place to purchase once and for all His elect from their sins past, present and future.
Not only do the liberals not get it but the conservatives in the Anglican communion don't get it either. They somehow think that conservative Anglo-Catholics are preaching the "Gospel" when what they are actually doing is preaching a counterfeit gospel of works righteousness. Salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned or merited or deserved.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [1]
To compromise with the House of Bishops and allow the homosexuals in office to remain there is tantamount to letting the devil have his way in the visible church. To compromise with the partners in common cause, like the American Anglican Council and the Anglican Communion Network, is no better option since they are in common cause with Anglo-Catholics who preach another gospel:
Galatians 1:6-12 (KJV)
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. [2]
The warning in 2 Corinthians is relevant as well:
2 Corinthians 11:1-8 (KJV)
1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. 7 † Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. [3]
Unfortunately, the theological liberals in ECUSA will continue to lie and to stall to get their way. They will continue to preach a false gospel which allows for homosexual immorality and other sexual immorality. They will continue to deny the resurrection of Christ, the miracles of the Bible and the authority of Scripture. Reformed and Evangelical Anglicans ought to be looking for the exit door.
Even more unfortunately, the Anglican Communion Network and the American Anglican Council are not preaching the Gospel either. What they are preaching is Anglo-Catholic doctrine or charismatic/pentecostal doctrine. Both either outright lie or secretly distort the doctrines of grace to the point that the Gospel no longer exists.
It is time for Bible believing Protestant and Evangelical Anglicans to form their own communions apart from compromisers with the devil. Only a few of these denominations exist. However, I think I can safely recommend the Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church and the Church of England Continuing.
May the peace of God be with you!
Charlie
For a better understanding of the context of my remarks see:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/digest/index.cfm
and
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/septemberweb-only/139-21.0.html
Also,see this article at the Sydney Anglican Church League site:
Thursday 27th September 2007
“Episcopal Bishops Reject Anglican Church’s Orders”
“Bishops of the Episcopal Church on Tuesday rejected demands by leaders of the worldwide Anglican Communion to roll back the church’s liberal stance on homosexuality, increasing the possibility of fracture within the communion and the Episcopal Church itself.After nearly a week of talks at their semiannual meeting in New Orleans, the House of Bishops adopted a resolution that defied a directive by the Anglican Communion’s regional leaders, or primates, to change several church policies regarding the place of gay men and lesbians in their church. But the bishops also expressed a desire to remain part of the communion, and they appeared to be trying to stake out a middle ground that would allow them to do so....
”A comprehensive report from The New York Times.
http://www.acl.asn.au/
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/us/26episcopal.html?_r=1&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/B/Banerjee,%20Neela&oref=slogin
For information about the liberal position of the Archbishop of Canterbury see:
http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2007/09/rowan-williams-.html
[1] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid. † A Greek word occurs that is not directly translated in the King James Version. Greek Strongs: 2228
But knowing that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, is himself a theological liberal who has ordained an openly homosexual priest and privately agrees with the homosexual agenda, why would we be surprised that the ultimatum issued by the primates is really not an ultimatum at all?
Furthermore, promising not to ordain more gay priests or consecrate more gay bishops does not go far enough. The conservative primates ought to demand that the ECUSA House of Bishops should remove the homosexual bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson. The visible church should as much as possible seek to establish born again, Bible believing ministers as its leaders. To know that a minister is a theological liberal, or even worse, openly gay and living a sexually immoral lifestyle is beyond comprehension.
What is more, the so-called Conservatives who are part of the continuing Anglican movement here in the USA are no better than the liberals they are criticizing. The Anglo-Catholics twist and distort Scripture and the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion to justify their Romish doctrines, which no self-respecting Reformed person would ever tolerate given the historical, cultural, and Scriptural foundations of the English and Continental Protestant Reformation. Anglo-Catholics in the continuing movement and in the common cause against the homosexual agenda and theological liberalism are just as lost, just as much part of the satanic attack against the true universal church of Jesus Christ as any liberal in the Episcopal Church.
Why? Simply because they reject outright the Scriptural doctrines established by the Bible from the beginning. Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Solus Christus, Sola Gratia, and Soli Gloria Deo. Scripture alone is the final authority in matters of doctrine, not bishops or churches. If the current situation in the Anglican Communion doesn't convince you, take a long look at church history. At one point, most of the bishops of the Catholic Church of fourth and fifth centuries were Arian rather than trinitarian and saw Jesus as an angelic being slightly lower than God.
Moreover, both the Eastern Orthodox churches and the Western Roman Catholic Church accept icons, veneration of the saints, real presence of Christ in the eucharist and a host of other departures from the apostolic doctrine given by Christ Himself. I can further add that both the East and the West deny justification by faith alone and make faith plus good works a condign merit that can earn one's salvation. Such views make slight of the perfect life of Jesus Christ who never sinned in thought, word, or deed. Such views make slight of the cross of Jesus Christ where He died a sinner's death in our place to purchase once and for all His elect from their sins past, present and future.
Not only do the liberals not get it but the conservatives in the Anglican communion don't get it either. They somehow think that conservative Anglo-Catholics are preaching the "Gospel" when what they are actually doing is preaching a counterfeit gospel of works righteousness. Salvation is a free gift that cannot be earned or merited or deserved.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [1]
To compromise with the House of Bishops and allow the homosexuals in office to remain there is tantamount to letting the devil have his way in the visible church. To compromise with the partners in common cause, like the American Anglican Council and the Anglican Communion Network, is no better option since they are in common cause with Anglo-Catholics who preach another gospel:
Galatians 1:6-12 (KJV)
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. [2]
The warning in 2 Corinthians is relevant as well:
2 Corinthians 11:1-8 (KJV)
1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. 7 † Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. [3]
Unfortunately, the theological liberals in ECUSA will continue to lie and to stall to get their way. They will continue to preach a false gospel which allows for homosexual immorality and other sexual immorality. They will continue to deny the resurrection of Christ, the miracles of the Bible and the authority of Scripture. Reformed and Evangelical Anglicans ought to be looking for the exit door.
Even more unfortunately, the Anglican Communion Network and the American Anglican Council are not preaching the Gospel either. What they are preaching is Anglo-Catholic doctrine or charismatic/pentecostal doctrine. Both either outright lie or secretly distort the doctrines of grace to the point that the Gospel no longer exists.
It is time for Bible believing Protestant and Evangelical Anglicans to form their own communions apart from compromisers with the devil. Only a few of these denominations exist. However, I think I can safely recommend the Traditional Protestant Episcopal Church and the Church of England Continuing.
May the peace of God be with you!
Charlie
For a better understanding of the context of my remarks see:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/digest/index.cfm
and
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/septemberweb-only/139-21.0.html
Also,see this article at the Sydney Anglican Church League site:
Thursday 27th September 2007
“Episcopal Bishops Reject Anglican Church’s Orders”
“Bishops of the Episcopal Church on Tuesday rejected demands by leaders of the worldwide Anglican Communion to roll back the church’s liberal stance on homosexuality, increasing the possibility of fracture within the communion and the Episcopal Church itself.After nearly a week of talks at their semiannual meeting in New Orleans, the House of Bishops adopted a resolution that defied a directive by the Anglican Communion’s regional leaders, or primates, to change several church policies regarding the place of gay men and lesbians in their church. But the bishops also expressed a desire to remain part of the communion, and they appeared to be trying to stake out a middle ground that would allow them to do so....
”A comprehensive report from The New York Times.
http://www.acl.asn.au/
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/us/26episcopal.html?_r=1&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/B/Banerjee,%20Neela&oref=slogin
For information about the liberal position of the Archbishop of Canterbury see:
http://timescolumns.typepad.com/gledhill/2007/09/rowan-williams-.html
[1] The Holy Bible : King James Version. electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version. Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid. † A Greek word occurs that is not directly translated in the King James Version. Greek Strongs: 2228
Spot on, Bro. Charles! And thank you for recommending the Church of England (Continuing).
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