FRESNO, Calif., Dec. 8 — The Diocese of San Joaquin voted on Saturday to cut ties with the Episcopal Church, the first time in the church’s history a diocese has done so over theological issues and the biggest leap so far by dissident Episcopalians hoping to form a rival national church in the United States.
Fissures have moved through the Episcopal Church, the American arm of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which has 77 million members, and through the Communion itself since the church ordained V. Gene Robinson, a gay man in a long-term relationship, as bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.
In the last four years, the Anglican Communion, the world’s third-largest Christian body, has edged closer to fracture over the issue. In the United States, several dozen individual congregations out of nearly 7,700 have split with the Episcopal Church. But Saturday’s vote was the first time an entire diocese has chosen to secede.
The reason why this is a good idea goes beyond the simple acceptance of homosexuality and is illustrated perfectly in this comment:
“The church will inevitably leave the Bible behind at point after point,” said Bishop John David Schofield of San Joaquin to the diocesan convention on Friday, “but since on this view the Bible is the word of fallible men rather than of the infallible God, leaving it behind is no great loss.”
By what authority does Bishop Schofield decide what parts of the Bible are the words of "fallible men" rather than "infallible God"? It would seem that the test of which parts of the Bible are true or not is whether they offend Mr. Schofield and his progressive friends or not. In claiming the power to judge what parts of the Bible are true or false Mr. Schofield is attempting to establish his own judgement as the final guide to faith and practice. This attempts to take God off the throne and elevate Mr. Schofield to His place.
Some time back another person had a similar plan. It went like this:
"But you said in your heart,
'I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God,
And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north.
'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.'
[Isaiah 14:13-14 NASB]
How did it turn out?
"Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit. . . " [Isaiah 14:15 NASB]
Not the course I would recommend.
Other Episcopal authorities are weighing in with their own opinions, some of which give good reason to question their judgement and understanding of scripture:
“It will be a huge, huge legal battle,” said the Rev. Ephraim Radner, a leading Episcopal conservative and professor of historical theology at Wycliffe College in Toronto. “The costs involved will bleed the Diocese of San Joaquin and the Episcopal Church, and it will lead only to bad press. You have to wonder why people are wasting money doing this and yet claiming to be Christians.”
Rev. Radner the reason they are doing this is precisely because they are Christians! As Martin Luther said, "If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages there the loyalty of the soldier is proved. And to be steady on all the battle fields besides is merely flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point."
A true Christian places fealty to God's word above every other consideration. I can't believe a man who calls himself a Christian teacher is bleating about "bad press". Doesn't he know that the ancient Hebrews said exactly the same thing in response to the prophet's warnings that they were heading for God's judgement for their idolatry?
Some people in the Episcopal Church value keeping their organization value keeping their organization in the Body of Christ more than they value the convenience of going along to get along.
God bless them.
Explore Christian Blogosphere
|