Friends?

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. Hebrews 13:8,9 NIV

Then there is the other old saying: “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer”. (From Machiavelli in "The Prince" which is the definitive primer for how to be a dictator.... hmmmm)

The Church of the Nazarene holds its General Assembly in Indianapolis in June, and I am hoping that there are no surprises for me to digest. I say this for two reasons, firstly, we live in a democracy and that includes church, and secondly the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has been convening in Edinburgh this past week. In that particular gathering, they came up with two surprises (at least for me!).  Now before I say what they are, a word for my regular reader and welcome contributor ‘Anon’. What I say will be observations only, and not judgements, so please don’t start jumping up and down and getting your blood pressure in the red zone! Of course if you still want to comment, you are welcome to do so!

The CoS has been in the news recently as it tried to distance itself from the nation state of Israel, saying that the Jewish people had ‘no divine right to the land of Israel’. If they were on Facebook the church would have ‘unfriended and blocked’ the Nation State of Israel. If you are interested and want to know more, the following link might help: http://www.scojec.org/news/2013/13v_cos/cos_4.html

The same church delegates also agreed to welcome homosexual men and women into their family of ministers to preach and spread the Word of God. To continue with the Facebook analogy, that’s a bit like not only adding the LGBT community as friends, but also as a close family member.

I once heard a friend (not a Facebook friend, a real one!) say that we get the church we deserve, and maybe there is an element of truth in that. Of course it is also true to say that because there is an earthly church, it doesn’t mean they are automatically part of the true church of God, the one that ultimately matters. Let me leave you with some other Bible quotes which are directed at the church, not the faith-less or unchurched:

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21 NIV

I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:18 NIV

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:15,16 NIV

Stonewalled!

It is happening right under our noses, and we are all complicit in its success. As a Christian, yes even moral, nation we are sleepwalking into a dark eternity. That's just a cosy way of describing hell! There are many things in western 'civilised' society which go against the fundamental and basic teaching of the Bible, but for the most part we can rise above them by maintaining our own Christian walk, and belonging to a church which espouses Christ's teachings. Hence the name 'Christian'.

In Scotland we are all aware of the ongoing debate inside and outwith the national Church of Scotland to allow homosexually practising men to be ministers, and therefore by definition hold any position of leadership and authority in that Church body. Now, the background rumblings within the Church of England about homosexual bishops has been raised for discussion. We have the two biggest Churches in the UK which comprise well over half of Church membership and attendance, discussing the acceptance of homosexuality within its leadership.

Of course there is a debate. Have you followed any of the discussions? The CoS has centred around the teachings of it trying to be 'inclusive'. Take note of that word when you hear the subject being debated. On the other hand, the CoE has centred its talk around the word 'celibate' for homosexual bishops in a long term civil partnership. The word I would use is 'semantics'. That's playing with words, usually to make your own point.

Make no mistake, both of these churches WILL allow and embrace homosexuality in their ministers and bishops. There are some very basic and human reasons for this. The law of the land favours equality, and this is a well tried legal definition. To go against the law opens you and the church to litigation. The church would lose! Also, many ministers know only one vocation, and their church buildings and manses are owned by the 'general church'. To separate themselves from that body may make them jobless and homeless. This is no small problem for a young 'normal' minister with a small family.

While all this 'debate' is going on in our mainstream churches, with much navel gazing and hand wringing, the homosexual activist group, Stonewall is dancing, punching the air, and shouting 'result'!

So, what to do for the Christian person and church who want to follow the way as described within scripture, and see homosexuality as a clear sin? At the risk of making some good people angry, here are my suggestions, based on the familiar text:

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor 6:17-18 (KJV)

Leave the church, either now, or later when the decision is formally made. Make it clear by 'telling the truth in love', why. Trouble is that even churches will play the waiting game, and play footsie with the devil, just to keep its business going. That is already in evidence.

Don't have your church government body unaware of your strongly held views. If they don't know directly from you (not through your minister only) they will be happy to assume you are 'with the program'. Take a stand. Your own stand.

Find another, maybe smaller church, which has not been sucked into the secular argument. This may be an independent church or mission, which still believes and practices the Bible as much as they can.

Contact your government representatives, MP, MSP (or country equivalent) to let them know they have a bad law. We, that's you and I, let it get this far, and it will not change overnight if at all, but that is not a reason for doing nothing.

Too strong? Oh sorry, I didn't mean to offend, just bring the whole discussion back to the place it belongs... the Bible. In the meantime, make no mistake, we (Christians) have been Stonewalled!

A Personal Insight

The following article was written by a family member and good friend, who has personal insight into the Church now at the centre of the 'gay minister' (can those two words go together?) debate. His thoughts are worth digesting, and well written. I have replicated it here with his permission. My thanks to Norman Graham for nailing the issue, and addressing the core of the problem.

“Gilcomston South Church of Scotland in Aberdeen has become the first Church of Scotland to move towards holding a vote on whether to leave the mainstream Church. This is after the General Assembly voted to allow the ordination of gay ministers.

Before his death, Gilcomston South was the Church where Rev William Still ministered for 52 years before his death. I heard him preach there myself and was touched by his grace and care to steadfastly and carefully preach the Word of God consistently and faithfully. He knew how much rested on it not only being taught from the pulpit, but on a life lived expressing its truths, didn't shirk away from the 'tough passages' and diligently practised the prayer life, both personally and with his congregation, which he knew was utterly critical to both personal and communal growth as a Church, and in reaching out to those in Aberdeen and further afield who did not yet know God's love in their lives.

The love he had for his congregation, and their respect for him was obvious. His Church was one of the stalwarts, maintaining Biblical roots at a time when liberalism and its danger was rife throughout the Church of Scotland and that influence still causes it to wander far from its roots. Christianity does not have 'love' per se, at its core, but 'God's love'. Those are two very different concepts and only one sets us free to live as God intended us to, whilst the other sounds impressive but, having no moral core to anchor it, shifts with the winds of change blowing through each society, meaning different things at different times with no steadfast moral compass.

"Love" means whatever we want it to mean. "God's love" is rooted in His Word, displayed definitively through His character, revealed to us in Christ and practised, admittedly frequently imperfectly, by His people. The errant ways of God's Church will always be counteracted by looking, not necessarily to those who make decisions apparently in His name (feet of clay), but through the clear means whereby God has communicated to us, His Word, the Bible, interpreted prayerfully and wisely. Where this world and elements of the Church depart from God's Word as their moral compass and source for life and living, we respectfully depart from their association. We do so explaining carefully and in a respectful manner why it is necessary. God will honour those who honour Him and God will continue to reach out to those who reject Him with love and mercy. When I despair of the Church, I remember my own relatives and loved ones who now rest in Christ's presence and take courage in the fact that they watch over us encouraging us to continue in the same pathway they walked, ever looking to God's love and direction.”