We wonder. Certainly things don't seem to be happy in Whoville. We remember that it was Louie Crew who was at the mic on the floor of the House of Deputies urging his fellow deputies to vote down B033 in the closing hours of General Convention last summer in Columbus. As he finished speaking, newly-elected Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, in an unprecedented move, walked into the House and took the podium, persuading the deputies to support her and support B033. Louie's back at the mic - only this time the Presiding Bishop is sequestered with the Executive Council on her "home" turf in Oregon and he's back in Newark. We wonder, are they listening to Louie this time - or to Katharine? The Episcopal Church is at the crossroads - who will carry the day?
5 comments:
Archbishop of Wales: Anglican Communion in crisis http://www.sbpost.ie/post/pages/p/story.aspx-qqqt=IRELAND-qqqm=news-qqqid=21574-qqqx=1.asp
What many in the TEC leadership don't understand is THEIR context is wrong. We get a lot of "judge not lest you be judged," which is perfectly correct for the context of Christians looking at the world.
But does that apply with in the context of the Church and upholding Christian discipline?
"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked man from among you.'"
1 Corinthians 5:12 & 13
Yes & let us not forget how we are to judge:
"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.[Mathew 12:33-37]"
However, less we be TOO excited, Scripture is a two edged sword and verses 36 & 37 can cut into us as well, so we must guard our our hearts in the heat of the battle.
Agreed.
That's not a call to go about in judgment of certain viewpoints w/out any examination of our own. Rather, we need to understand that there is a Biblical case and a real duty to protect and defend the doctrine of the church. One wonders if diligence in this areas thirty years ago would have saved us from the current crisis.
RE: One wonders if diligence in this areas thirty years ago would have saved us from the current crisis.
YES!!!!!!
Basically, none of this has to be. In a little personal situation, intervention four years ago would be like a small leak in a radiator, it'd probably take more time to break out the wielder than do the repair, but as the problems were ignored things grow worse till an engine can blow.
If thirty years ago, people took the risk, we'd not be here. No discipline in either sense of that word is why we're here today! The first form is that like an army, doing drills, the second are the push ups for when breaking the first, but all to keep unit ready and ultimately saves lives.
So often the "easy" path ends up being the hardest! Intervention is risky and just about every time I feel like Wild E Coyote after the dynamite explodes in his hands and is all blacken. I know why people avoid it, but more I look, the more I think it's the most loving thing to do it take the risk for the sake of the Gospel, but also for the sake of the person.
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