"For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions"

This Sunday the fellow that preaches at our little church will be headed for Africa, so I will be filling the pulpit. About the middle of last week, I started to feel drawn to a particular text in Romans. Didn't know why.

Now I know why (From Christian News Wire, via Slice of Laodicea):

In a lopsided vote, deputies to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church have effectively repealed a moratorium on the consecration of further gay bishops.

Following initial votes in the church's House of Deputies on Sunday and House of Bishops on Monday, the House of Deputies gave final passage with 72 percent of the vote to an amended version of resolution D025 on Tuesday afternoon. The resolution affirms "that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church."

The newly-adopted resolution essentially counters another resolution passed three years ago, in which dioceses were urged to "exercise restraint" in the consecration of practicing homosexuals as bishops. The effect of that resolution was to tenuously keep the Episcopal Church connected to the broader Anglican Communion for the intervening three years.

The Anglican Communion is divided over hot button issues like homosexuality and scriptural authority, with U.S. Episcopal church leaders being more theologically and politically liberal than their overseas counterparts. IRD supports a conservative perspective that affirms traditional church teachings.

Romans 1:26-27, 32--For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting...knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Fake Translation of the Week--Genesis 1:26-27

Real translation here

In light of the fact that the (abominable) Church of England has gone full circle around the bend and set fire to their Bibles, and will now be preaching from "The Origin of Species," I thought it fitting to take a fine-point black Sharpie™ and scriible through what the first chapter of Genesis says about God creating man, and revise it to fit the heresy and blasphemy that is coming from Rowan Willams (altered text in bold italics):

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; but first, let's make some monkeys, that we will let go through many changes over billions of years. Yeah, I know, we won't actually be creating man, but we don't have to tell anybody. That smart-apple Darwin guy's gonna come along and show people, so let's just keep it our little secret for now, M'k?”

27 So God created monkeys in His own image; in the image of God He created monkeys; ape and chimpanzee He created them.

Robinson excluded from Lambeth Conference

V. Gene Robinson, the biblically-unqualified bishop of the New Hampshire Episcopal diocese, was given an invitation to not attend the once-every-ten-years Lambeth Conference. Or, rather, he was given a ticket that said, "Redeemable for entrance into one event." From the UK Guardian:

Gene Robinson, the Bishop of New Hampshire, made the remarks after declining to attend the Lambeth conference, the 10-yearly gathering of the world's bishops, because his invitation was a "non-offer".

He told a spring gathering of the US Episcopal Church House of Bishops: "It has been a very difficult 48 hours sitting here and hearing your plans for Lambeth.

"In my most difficult moments it feels as if, instead of leaving the 99 sheep in search of the one, my chief pastor and shepherd, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has cut me out of the herd."

Conservatives and liberals have accused Dr Rowan Williams of being indecisive on the issue of homosexuality and the church. He has also been under fire, from both sides, about the extent of Robinson's participation at Lambeth.

One problem there, Gene. If you are continually living in a homosexual relationship, that is sin, and unless you repent, you cannot be one of Christ's sheep. Now, I am not proclaiming final judgment on the man. And I do not mean to sound like homosexuality is worse than any other sin. But, according to the word of God (the final authority on such things), this man is living a habitually sinful life, and is in danger of incurring God's judgment. And unless Rowan Williams grows a backbone and starts making his decisions according to God's word instead of his mushy-squishy feelings, he will face severe punishment from God for leading his flock astray.

Now, I have what may be, in my humble opinion, a solution for this whole debacle. Let's see what this old, dusty book that some of us call "The Holy Bible" has to say about homosexuality (I know, how dare I use such an archaic manual in this age of unbridled inclusivity!)--

• Leviticus 18:22--You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
• Romans 1:27--Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
• 1st Corinthians 6:9-10--Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

If you're reading this, and you don't like what I've written, and it makes you angry--then your problem is not with me, but with the word of God. I am not one of those people who just skips along with the tide of the times and allows myself to be carried away by everyone who thinks that the Bible doesn't say what it really says.

And when it comes to Gene Robinson, he is not qualified to be a bishop, and I applaud the Nigerian diocese for having the sense to break off from the Anglican Communion, lest they too should be caught up in their sinful deeds.

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The Episcopal Church--Spiralling down, down, down

Not only do they condone women preaching in the pulpit. Not only do the consecrate an openly practicing homosexual as a priest. Now, thay don't have a problem with a woman being a priest...AND A MUSLIM!!! From the files of "I am NOT making this up!!" (from Seattle Times):

Shortly after noon on Fridays, the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding ties on a black headscarf, preparing to pray with her Muslim group on First Hill.

On Sunday mornings, Redding puts on the white collar of an Episcopal priest.

She does both, she says, because she's Christian and Muslim.

Redding, who until recently was director of faith formation at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, has been a priest for more than 20 years. Now she's ready to tell people that, for the last 15 months, she's also been a Muslim — drawn to the faith after an introduction to Islamic prayers left her profoundly moved.

OK, so she's confused. She's working through some "issues", or she's having a "crisis", or...whatever. It would be one thing if this was her own private thing. But it's not. Read on:

Redding's situation is highly unusual. Officials at the national Episcopal Church headquarters said they are not aware of any other instance in which a priest has also been a believer in another faith. They said it's up to the local bishop to decide whether such a priest could continue in that role.

Redding's bishop, the Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner, says he accepts Redding as an Episcopal priest and a Muslim, and that he finds the interfaith possibilities exciting. Her announcement, first made through a story in her diocese's newspaper, hasn't caused much controversy yet, he said.

Nah, why should it? As long as you're using the Bible for a martini coaster, why not just rip out the pages and use them in the...um...lavatory? I man come on folks! If the Episcopal Organization (I will NOT call them a "church") is going to piddle away Biblical authority on Christ, why not just lump yourselves with one of the biggest evils facing the world today (Islam)?

You know, if there is one person whose readings you should know, it is the apostle John. And in 2nd John 9-11, he warns us--"Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds." Well, Ms. Redding's church decided that was one passage that they needed to cut out of their Bibles and throw away because it just wasn't, you know, relevant today. So, this is what you get:

Ironically, it was at St. Mark's that she first became drawn to Islam.

In fall 2005, a local Muslim leader gave a talk at the cathedral, then prayed before those attending. Redding was moved. As he dropped to his knees and stretched forward against the floor, it seemed to her that his whole body was involved in surrendering to God.

Then in the spring, at a St. Mark's interfaith class, another Muslim leader taught a chanted prayer and led a meditation on opening one's heart. The chanting appealed to the singer in Redding; the meditation spoke to her heart. She began saying the prayer daily.

Around that time, her mother died, and then "I was in a situation that I could not handle by any other means, other than a total surrender to God," she said.

She still doesn't know why that meant she had to become a Muslim. All she knows is "when God gives you an invitation, you don't turn it down."

In March 2006, she said her shahada — the profession of faith — testifying that there is only one God and that Mohammed is his messenger. She became a Muslim.

To me, that passage in 2nd John seems to be relevant right here. But don't tell Episcopals that. They might call you a "bigot", or some other such nonsense. This, folks, is why, when someone comes to your house (the original intent here is your church), and they do not have the truth of Christ, tell them to "Buzz off!" Don't even greet them! The King James says, "Neither bid him Godspeed." In other words, don't even say, "Have a safe trip!"

Well, you had to know this was coming:

Aside from the established sets of prayers she recites in Arabic fives times each day, Redding says her prayers are neither uniquely Islamic nor Christian. They're simply her private talks with God or Allah — she uses both names interchangeably. "It's the same person, praying to the same God."

May I take this opportunity to say...NO THEY'RE NOT!!!

Allah is a pagan moon god, who is dead, and couldn't hear you if he wanted to. Almighty GOD--YHWH, Elohim, El Shaddai, El Elyon, Jehovah--is GOD. There is none other! I've had it about up to here with these "tolerant" types who want to go around saying that the GOD of Christians and the god of Muslims are the same. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!!!!!!!

Folks, this situation is exactly what happens when a group that calls themselves a "church" decides to throw the truth of GOD's word out the window, and embrace the world's view of "tolerance". When we want so bad for people to like us that we'll accept any whacky notion of GOD that comes along. When we allow people who are diametrically opposed to the deity of Christ, and the worship of the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to come into our church and spout their beliefs. How many more Ann Holmes Reddings are out there?

FURTHERMORE: If this woman ever claimed to be a Christian, she SHOULD have already been fully submitted unto YHWH. If not...well, just read this staement again:

Around that time, her mother died, and then "I was in a situation that I could not handle by any other means, other than a total surrender to God," she said.

Well, if that's the case, you surrender to YHWH, not some Arabic pagan moon god. Or, as Pamela over at Atlas Shrugs says,

"...[a] religion that denies the divinity of Jesus, that persecutes Christians and that punishes apostasy to Christianity by death wherever it exerts temporal power."

That pretty much sums up Islam. Think Victoria's Secret will come out with a line of Burkas?