In a Washington Times article this morning, entitled Gay bishop dismisses Anglican report, , New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, the first open and active homosexual Episcopal priest elected and consecrated a Bishop, predicted at a service yesterday in Washington D.C. that the upcoming Eames report, due out October 18, would not lead to a split in Anglicanism. Robinson stated:
I think the communion will be a stronger place for having had this conversation.
I have a hard time restraining myself when I read this sort of flesh-pedaling apostasy. I guess this is the sort of thing that Judas might of been thinking when he agreed to assist Jesus in having a conversation with the Jewish chief priests and leaders. Then, like now, God will not be mocked. Within a generation of Jesuss crucifixion, the Jewish War beginning in 66 A.D., destroyed Jerusalem, razed the Temple, and caused Israel to cease to exist as a semi-autonomous nation under Rome. Isreal was effectively destroyed, though the last gasp did not come until 135 A.D. when the failed second revolt resulted in the remaining Jews, who had not been killed or sold into slavery, being exiled from Judea. The Romans changed the name of the area to the Latin Palaestina, where we get the name Palestine.
Robinson further said that the debate over his sexuality is a mere difference of opinion.
I dont think this is all about the authority of Scripture, he said. Its all on our interpretation of Scripture.
A person holding to the historic Christian faith might well ask how it is possible for over 1900 years of interpretation by the Christian Church to be turned on its head. Another of Robinsons statements explains how this new interpretation of scripture has been justified.
We believe God didnt stop revealing Gods self when the canon of Scripture was closed, he said. We worship a living God, not one who checked out 2,000 years ago.
Leaving aside the question of whether Gods revelation continues or could resume again, the larger of issue of this new interpretation being at conflict with both Testaments and the historic Jewish and Christian interpretation of scripture is facilely dismissed with
The Bible has been hijacked by the religious right, he said. That is our Bible. Its time we take it back. He continued, I keep on saying to gay and lesbian people: Lets reclaim this book. It is our story.
So, with a sweep of the Great Right Wing Christian Conspiracy brush, he sweeps aside all interpretation denying his homoerotic approach to scriptures. If that were not bad enough, Robinson then takes the same tack that recent homosexual advocates have taken in identifying the struggle of the homosexuals to free themselves from the taint of deviancy by identifying themselves with the Civil Rights struggle against slavery, adopting the language and imagery of the Civil Rights movement. Only in this case, its the Jewish Civil Rights movement of 1200 B.C.
For instance, the Old Testament book of Exodus is the greatest coming-out story in the history of the world, he said at a Sunday school forum. Gay and lesbian people know what its like to be slaves in Egypt, he said. We know what its like to hear of the promise of freedom in the Promised Land; we know how scary it is to step out and leave Egypt [by] leaving the closet; and we know what its like to wander in the wilderness for 40 years and wonder why its taking so long. We know what its like to depend on God every day and we know what its like to depend on other people to get to the Promised Land. Thats our story. But you cant claim it as your story when you dont know it.
Black is white, up is down, in is out. Scripture and both Church and Jewish history is turned on its head. 2 Timothy 4:3 is made real.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. [emphasis added]
At this point, I cannot enter into conversation with V. Gene Robinson and those who espouse the same views. I instead react like Paul who told the Galations in 1:6-8
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
So be it. Against the spiritual darkness swirling around this heresy I try to hold fast to Jude 16-19, remembering what the Lords brothers said of these perverters of the Gospel of Christ, the faith once delivered unto the saints.
These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
And I pray: Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.