People seem to be surprised by the mass exodus of members of the Episcopal Church in recent months but it really shouldn't be surprising since those who are leaving the church are those who read and believe their Bible. Of course, I find the recent developments in the Episcopal Church by welcoming the homosexual community to live as they do of no real surprise since the Episcopal Church was founded on one man's desire to thumb his nose at God.
For those who don't know this, the Episcopal Church was founded because Henry the 8th wanted to marry Ann Boleyn and the Roman Catholic Church wouldn't give him an annulment from his first wife to marry his mistress. So, basically, the Episcopal Church was founded on one man's desire to sin and now it should be of no surprise that it is breaking apart because of other men and women who desire to break God's laws.
I applaud the men and women who have chosen to stand up for God's Word and leave a church bent on disobeying God. God has said that homosexuality is an abomination. The Bible says God does not change so He hasn't changed His mind on that no matter what anyone tries to say.
It's very easy to rationalize sin away. People do it every day and assume they are "getting away" with it. No one gets away with sin and there will always be a price to pay for it even if it takes awhile. Look at OJ Simpson. He thought he'd gotten away with Nicole's and Ron's killings until he did a stupid thing and now he's going to be in jail for at least 9 years.
The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. That doesn't mean physical death. It means spiritual death. That means that if it is unrepentant sin and you haven't received Jesus as your Savior as the One Who paid the price for your sin, your sin isn't covered and you will spend eternity with your god, the devil, in hell. People think that if they don't believe that whole thing that it won't impact them. They are wrong. God is still God whether or not you choose to believe in Him and His plan will still be carried out regardless of what you or others choose to believe.
The best way I know to give you an example of this reality is from a scene in the movie, The King and I. In the film, Anna was teaching the children and told them about snow. The eldest prince stood up and said he didn't believe in snow and then the other children followed suit. Well, just because those children chose not to believe snow exists did not in any way change the existence of snow and its effects.
In the same way, just because someone says there is no God does not make it so. And, just because someone says that the Bible isn't God's Word does not make that so either. You can believe whatever you want. God gave you free will to choose Him or a life of sin. However, that does not change His existence, Jesus' sacrifice or the reality that those who deny Him will go to hell and those who do receive Jesus' sacrifice will go to Heaven.
Fortunately, a lot of people in the Episcopal Church are beginning to see the truth of what they face by staying in a church that stands against the Word of God and are standing up for God and His way of doing and being right and I salute and honor them.
by
Kimberly L.
Member since:
October 29, 2006 The Rise and Fall of the Episcopal Church
December 08, 2008 03:32 PM EST
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Comments: 16
The rest of the Episcopal Church closed down for awhile, then reopened with supposedly new leaders and the "new" direction............the membership is now much, much, much lower but then it was to be expected.......this is happening all over.
I am just stating what has been happening around here.......I am not giving my opinion, one way or the other, just telling what's going on in my area!!!
It's interesting, though!
When I complete my current series, I'm thinking of posting a discussion on the very subject. We need to try to sort it out.
Kimberly, you are taking the stand you believe God wants you to take in spite of the fact that you know it will cause you to be rejected by many. Others show compassion and maybe even acceptance for the same reason.
I did a series on 'Hearing' a short time ago. Hearing God on this subject is so necessary and I'm not sure I do yet. But I have a list of things 'I don't know' :) At least I can get that list posted and see what others are hearing or not hearing.
Thanks for your courage Kimberly, and for the others on here that also exercised courage in posting their thoughts for tolerance or acceptance. I've been in on some other Gather members discussions. I don't want to over talk a subject. But ... I think you all have reinforced my desire to also have a discussion about sexual sin in general.
I get the feeling that you are not Episcopalian. You may be unfamiliar with the depth of piety, prayerfulness and love for God at the level of the ordinary parishioners.
I have left the Episcopal church with a heavy heart. I miss the glory of the music, the worship, the Eucharist every Sunday and the option for daily Eucharist if I go to church. I miss a church service that has readings from each of the 4 sections of the Bible every time, and that has a program in place for centuries that over the course of 3 years has a person read the whole Bible, some parts, such as the Gospels and Psalms, more than once. Other churches seem to have only 2 readings during service, or maybe 3 on a good day.
Just as the Episcopal Church has a few bishops with unscriptural ideas, big mouths, and too much power, OTOH it has ordinary parish priests who love God's Word and are men and women of prayer, who are committed to the Incarnate Lord who died and rose again for our sins.
A couple of years ago a separatist Baptist whom I know commented to me that for decades he had condemned those who stayed in the Southern Baptist Convention when it was "turnong apostate", but now he understands that they had courage in staying, and now they are turning it around. You may want to consider that there are Episcopalians and worldwide Anglicans who have the same desire, to turn around rather than leave the church they love. And don't forget the genuine love of God and His Word of the bishops throughout the third world and many developed but not English speaking countries.
Just because the church got off to a less than wonderful stat with Henry VIII does not mean that through the centuries it has been a truly Christian church formed by the godly hearts of bishops, priests and parishioners by the thousands who have shaped its development.
Prt of my leaving was because I movd to another state and needed to look around anyway. I may end up back in the Episcopal Church--a high church parish--if I find one with a heart for evengelism. Even a broad church parish would do... but a low church parish isn't any different from other Protestant churches in the most significant ways, especially the worship and celebration of the Eucharist.
Put your energy into praying for the worldwide Anglican Communion and for the faithfulness of the leaders so that the flocks are fed well on God's Word. Pray ith a loving heart for all your brothers and sisters in Christ who are Episcopalians or Anglicans.
I do not think that this is to say that homosexuals are not welcome in the church; on the contrary, I believe homosexuals should come to church and be saved and turn away from that lifestyle. Church is a safe place, a place where SINNERS go to be saved and learn about the grace of Christ and how to live a Godly lifestyle. No human is perfect; of course there are going to be churchgoers who are hypocritical, and this is part of trying to learn to be like Christ. Remember: no one but Christ walked this earth and lived a perfect life. The rest of us can only try and fail. Christians KNOW what we need to do to be like Christ; but as the saying goes, knowing and doing are doing different thing - doing is a lot harder. This is where grace comes in. When you are saved, you are under Christ's grace.
All sins are equal to God, showing disobedience. When I fail to honor the Sabbath, I am sinning as much as a thief. The man or woman who cheats on the spouse is sinning as much as a gay person committing sodomy. Jesus showed us His example of socializing with the biggest perceived sinners of his time, but he did ask them to repent.
All that said, the church is supposed to help us stay in God's Will. A church staff should try to be the best Christians possible. A staff member who openly flaunts disobedience is failing to uphold the mission of the church. Whether it's homosexuality, adultery, profanity, coveting, whatever, it influences the ministry. It becomes the stumbling block.
There probably isn't a denomination anywhere that doesn't have at least one church falling into the error zone. That's humanity for you. But I would hate to live in a world that didn't have churches. We all need a little support in trying to live the most obedient life possible.