WILL THIS BE A HOLY CONVOCATION, or a rather UNHOLY huddle of Anglican Bishops?
Hard to tell from a photo like his one. There will be Bishops from Kenya attending this year's Conference in Lambeth Palace in London. Bishops from all over the World who belong to the Anglican Communion of Christians.
Reading in this week's Daily Nation, here in Kenya, I found it interesting to read the comment included, relative to this 'Bench' or 'Psalter' of Bishops! They are the Leaders, the Shepherds of their Flocks; those looked upon as the Guides and Teachers that hold up the Word of God, rightly dividing and defining that WORD as the ONLY Truth and Way of Life that will bring a Believer to GOD, and to the Kingdom of God. Millions look to them for the correct 'example' and advice on how to respond to the 'Darkness' of this World.
BUT being a follower of Jesus Christ in this present world is no Fancy Dress affair. It is not partying and revelling but a rather challenging and awesome affair. For more than two thousand years it has needed that 'believers' COME OUT of the World; out from AGREEMENT with what the world holds to be righteousness. A Believer is separate from the unbeliever, and does not accept what the world accepts. And although he lives IN the world, it becomes clear that he cannot identify with it, its ambitions or its pleasures.
SEVENTY years ago in England, there were still fewer Believing Christians than unbelieving sinners - yet generally the population, like the little demons, accepted the FACT of God, and 'trusted' in the Bible that it WAS God's Word. Even today they Swear by Almighty God in the Law Courts, holding the Bible in their Hand as confirmation that they will 'Tell the Truth'. BUT there IS a change sweeping through the land. Perhaps in Kenya also? LESS are READING the Bible, and even LESS are BELIEVING in what it actually SAYS. The majority never open it, and its importance and relevance - even as literature - is fading fast. We cannot today rely upon the uplifted hand declaring THE TRUTH, even with the Bible held up firmly with it! AND IF, the BIBLE can be put aside, even ridiculed; if it can be re-interpreted, and even scorned, how should we be surprised that the world is seeing the disintegration of Christian Opinion and religious thought and morals universally? YES the world is moving on, and perhaps in this age, it is actually leaving the spiritual knowledge and respect and belief in ANY God BEHIND it. It this is so then indeed we all together face a depth and quality of DARKNESS worse than the Dark Ages; A darkness more totally terrifying than the darkness within the stomach of Jonah's Whale, or the thick, powerful, blackness of the stalking Panther. The WORLD has always lain in 'darkness' since the beginning, and its government is still -for the moment- in the hands of a Dark Lord, even Satan, but not for long.
The BIBLE says Satan, through his governance and evil influence, has deceived, and will continue to DECEIVE the world, and the people of the world in particular! We are likely all being led in the direction that will find WHITE is believed to be BLACK and vice verce. In the days of Jesus, his Roman Judge, Pilate, asked the question 'What IS Truth!' Today it is billions of times more difficult to find the answer - especially if you cannot accept God's answer which He gave through Christ 'I AM the Truth, the Way and the LIFE.'
There IS no other truth - everything can only be measured up against Jesus, His Words, His Life.
Well in the Nation article in this Tuesday's addition page 6 the writer says -
A SHARP division of the ONE Christian denomination could spell even great disaster for the whole of the Christian World. The argument above is not merely one of moral opinion and interpretation, it is one which willfully holds the BIBLE, God's WORD, open to new values and understanding.
All men and women, gays and others, are free to choose their way, and to expound upon it. Thus also those who may disagree are free to say so, and give a reason why. I value, myself, all men and women just as they are. In my heart I may be cast down because their lives seem to court the judgment of God, finally, at their end, but I cannot find it in my heart, either, to judge 'them' but to still reach out to those who are ready to be my friend - just as I am - and just as they are. WHY all this LOUD, despicable and self righteous clamour. Love each other; do good to each other; forgive each other - pray for each other - and take care of each other. Remembering, as a duty, to warn one another, and to exhort rebuke and encourage one another away from spiritual death,,,,,,,to Eternal Live and the commendation of God. Recently I lost an employee of many years. He came to me confessing he was Gay, and I took him on. He did his work well and honestly, never showing any sign of trying to encourage others in his lifestyle. He was a friend - a good friend - to all, and will be greatly missed. He knew how I felt and never showed resentment for it; we were also good workers together. He will be missed. I am glad I let him in. But I do still think his choice was a wrong one, and it would be tragic for him to find himself in front of God, only to hear he missed his way in life - missed the TRUTH about himself. And I pray for him that he will one day, before it is too late, come to know it.
In allowing this freedom I have myself been blessed. But I could not have done any of it without knowing and trusting in God's Word - a Word of Love, but also a Word of Justice.
When God says something is wrong, nothing and no one can change it. It IS wrong.
How we deal with this wrong, how we permit Mercy, Compassion to work with Justice, Forgiveness, will depend largely on our own spiritual disposition. What a man SOWS in his life and body he WILL reap the reward from - good or bad. The fact remains God will not LIVE with in Eternity, what he has declared on earth He cannot accept or approve of. Our decisions in life in regard to everything will evolve on who we want please and to put first - ourselves, people we live with, or GOD.
God Bless the bishops! God help them with strength and courage to stand for HIM, and for HIS declared and revealed Will through His written, and LIVING Word.
Reading in this week's Daily Nation, here in Kenya, I found it interesting to read the comment included, relative to this 'Bench' or 'Psalter' of Bishops! They are the Leaders, the Shepherds of their Flocks; those looked upon as the Guides and Teachers that hold up the Word of God, rightly dividing and defining that WORD as the ONLY Truth and Way of Life that will bring a Believer to GOD, and to the Kingdom of God. Millions look to them for the correct 'example' and advice on how to respond to the 'Darkness' of this World.
BUT being a follower of Jesus Christ in this present world is no Fancy Dress affair. It is not partying and revelling but a rather challenging and awesome affair. For more than two thousand years it has needed that 'believers' COME OUT of the World; out from AGREEMENT with what the world holds to be righteousness. A Believer is separate from the unbeliever, and does not accept what the world accepts. And although he lives IN the world, it becomes clear that he cannot identify with it, its ambitions or its pleasures.
SEVENTY years ago in England, there were still fewer Believing Christians than unbelieving sinners - yet generally the population, like the little demons, accepted the FACT of God, and 'trusted' in the Bible that it WAS God's Word. Even today they Swear by Almighty God in the Law Courts, holding the Bible in their Hand as confirmation that they will 'Tell the Truth'. BUT there IS a change sweeping through the land. Perhaps in Kenya also? LESS are READING the Bible, and even LESS are BELIEVING in what it actually SAYS. The majority never open it, and its importance and relevance - even as literature - is fading fast. We cannot today rely upon the uplifted hand declaring THE TRUTH, even with the Bible held up firmly with it! AND IF, the BIBLE can be put aside, even ridiculed; if it can be re-interpreted, and even scorned, how should we be surprised that the world is seeing the disintegration of Christian Opinion and religious thought and morals universally? YES the world is moving on, and perhaps in this age, it is actually leaving the spiritual knowledge and respect and belief in ANY God BEHIND it. It this is so then indeed we all together face a depth and quality of DARKNESS worse than the Dark Ages; A darkness more totally terrifying than the darkness within the stomach of Jonah's Whale, or the thick, powerful, blackness of the stalking Panther. The WORLD has always lain in 'darkness' since the beginning, and its government is still -for the moment- in the hands of a Dark Lord, even Satan, but not for long.
The BIBLE says Satan, through his governance and evil influence, has deceived, and will continue to DECEIVE the world, and the people of the world in particular! We are likely all being led in the direction that will find WHITE is believed to be BLACK and vice verce. In the days of Jesus, his Roman Judge, Pilate, asked the question 'What IS Truth!' Today it is billions of times more difficult to find the answer - especially if you cannot accept God's answer which He gave through Christ 'I AM the Truth, the Way and the LIFE.'
There IS no other truth - everything can only be measured up against Jesus, His Words, His Life.
Well in the Nation article in this Tuesday's addition page 6 the writer says -
'Sensitive issues like gay rights and same sex marriages
are expected to dominate discussion in the meeting
convened by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
He, Welby 'said a split in the communion over homosexuality
would not be disaster but a failure'
''These disagreements over sexuality could lead to a walkout
by conservative bishops'.
The thing that seems to offend is the idea that Gays should be held to be wrong in the eyes of God, as far as their style of living is concerned. The Bible clearly states that those who are practising Homosexuals will not be able to enter the Kingdom of God on their death. They can sit in Christian Churches but they will not be able to become priests or bishops as long as their life style remains unchanged. It is the outworking of having to be BORN AGAIN. After all, would it be right to put a murderer who was unrepentant and likely to murder again into the church leadership?
It is sad when people seem to be, and sometimes are shut out or shunned in society. We should accept ALL as men and women worthy of our compassion and consideration, but even if we do so, we still have an obligation, if we are Believing in the Word of God, not to encourage or accept what others do or say, if it might hurt society or confuse, and also may be prevent them from pleasing the God who is our Final Judge.
St. Paul says of himself that he was 'not a man pleaser'. He did not live to please MEN, but GOD.
In this corrupt and self pleasing world society, his testimony would be a little, if not completely, considered foolishness. BECAUSE of this corruption flourishes. Because there is not a hard and fast bottom line - to base our life upon - firmly in place, we can all exchange and barter away our morals and integrity in a bid to grab whatever we can in whatever way we can from this deceitful world.
All men and women, gays and others, are free to choose their way, and to expound upon it. Thus also those who may disagree are free to say so, and give a reason why. I value, myself, all men and women just as they are. In my heart I may be cast down because their lives seem to court the judgment of God, finally, at their end, but I cannot find it in my heart, either, to judge 'them' but to still reach out to those who are ready to be my friend - just as I am - and just as they are. WHY all this LOUD, despicable and self righteous clamour. Love each other; do good to each other; forgive each other - pray for each other - and take care of each other. Remembering, as a duty, to warn one another, and to exhort rebuke and encourage one another away from spiritual death,,,,,,,to Eternal Live and the commendation of God. Recently I lost an employee of many years. He came to me confessing he was Gay, and I took him on. He did his work well and honestly, never showing any sign of trying to encourage others in his lifestyle. He was a friend - a good friend - to all, and will be greatly missed. He knew how I felt and never showed resentment for it; we were also good workers together. He will be missed. I am glad I let him in. But I do still think his choice was a wrong one, and it would be tragic for him to find himself in front of God, only to hear he missed his way in life - missed the TRUTH about himself. And I pray for him that he will one day, before it is too late, come to know it. In allowing this freedom I have myself been blessed. But I could not have done any of it without knowing and trusting in God's Word - a Word of Love, but also a Word of Justice.
When God says something is wrong, nothing and no one can change it. It IS wrong.
How we deal with this wrong, how we permit Mercy, Compassion to work with Justice, Forgiveness, will depend largely on our own spiritual disposition. What a man SOWS in his life and body he WILL reap the reward from - good or bad. The fact remains God will not LIVE with in Eternity, what he has declared on earth He cannot accept or approve of. Our decisions in life in regard to everything will evolve on who we want please and to put first - ourselves, people we live with, or GOD.
God Bless the bishops! God help them with strength and courage to stand for HIM, and for HIS declared and revealed Will through His written, and LIVING Word.
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