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Well, the Episcopalians Did It Again
Townhall.com ^ | July 15, 2012 | Michael Youssef

Posted on 07/15/2012 6:27:06 AM PDT by Kaslin

Episcopalian leaders continue to guide their denomination into the abyss—and no doubt, the Presbyterians (PCUSA) will soon follow.

As reported in the Huffington Post, the Episcopal denomination’s General Convention voted this week to make it illegal to “discriminate against anyone.” Specifically, that means it is now illegal to “. . . bar from the priesthood people who were born into one gender and live as another or who do not identify themselves as male or female.”

Readers of my columns and other pieces may remember my prediction that this fast train into the pit would not stop just with practicing homosexuals. It will inevitably lead all the way to pedophilia.

I cannot help but think of Jesus’ words: “Wide is the gate that leads to destruction.” Those words became poignant when I read the jubilant quote, from one of the Episcopal leaders:

It is not just a good day for transgender Episcopalians and their friends, families and allies. It is a good day for all of us who are part of a church willing to take the risk to continue to draw the circle wider as we work to live out our call to make God's inclusive love known to the whole human family," the Rev. Susan Russell, a deputy from the Diocese of Los Angeles and an activist who supported the legislation, said in a statement.

That wide “circle” is certainly the wide gate that Jesus talked about. It is the place where people can enter with all their baggage, but then they proceed to go over the cliff of eternal destruction. If this decision doesn’t cause Bible-believing Anglicans (who represent 90 percent of Anglicans worldwide) to sever ties with the Episcopal Church, I don’t know what will.

For years, some of us have said that the Episcopal Church has ceased to be the Church of Jesus Christ. But if you’re no longer the Church of Jesus Christ, then whose church are you?

There are only two ways—God’s and Satan’s. There are only two kingdom’s—God’s and Satan’s. And there are only two churches—God’s and Satan’s. For any faithful worshipper of Jesus Christ, there can be no doubt as to which camp the Episcopal Church now belongs.

I know, I know . . . many of the church’s remaining members will call me narrow-minded, homophobic, ignorant, and hateful. But I want them to know several things.

First, God knows, as do many of those church members, that I don’t possess a hateful bone in my body.

Second, as long as I’m pleasing God and obeying His Word, it makes no difference to me what people call me.

Third, and most important, I wear their words of attack and insult as a badge of honor. For Jesus Himself said, “Woe unto you when all men speak well of you.”

I may not possess a hateful bone, but I do possess a broken heart—not only for my former church, but also for the very few (and I do mean very few) remaining faithful believers in the Episcopal Church who misguidedly think they can stay and be a light.

Tragically, they have become an ember. The Episcopal fire has gone out, and I pray that those remaining believers will get out before their fire is extinguished also.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: ecusa; homosexualagenda; religiousleft; youssef
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1 posted on 07/15/2012 6:27:07 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
What does the Bible say?

After all, this church is based upon the Bible in it's teachings.

2 posted on 07/15/2012 6:34:10 AM PDT by EGPWS (Trust in God, question everyone else)
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To: Kaslin

There is a chasm of difference between belonging to the church of Jesus on earth, and living the life that Jesus asks of us.

So much of this “wider” circle is nothing more than saying “bring in your sins and live them as you want.”


3 posted on 07/15/2012 6:37:51 AM PDT by plangent
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To: Kaslin

At least, pedophiles will have some place to go.


4 posted on 07/15/2012 6:40:45 AM PDT by depressed in 06 (6 November, 2012, the day our embarrassment is sent back to Kenya.)
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To: EGPWS

“What does the Bible say? After all, this church is based upon the Bible in it’s teachings.”


More and more it seems to be a question of “what does liberal orthodoxy say?” It has become too politicized.


5 posted on 07/15/2012 6:43:25 AM PDT by Starboard
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To: Kaslin
Seriously now, just how many different ways do they need to divide the homosexual lifestyle pie for everybody else to understand what they are telling us!

Not going to their church ~ NO WAY!~

6 posted on 07/15/2012 6:46:04 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: muawiyah

It is only a matter of time before things get even more bizarre, but it’s Sunday morning so we won’t explore the potential further expansion of deviancies for a “wider circle” of inclusion.


7 posted on 07/15/2012 6:53:51 AM PDT by Starboard
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To: muawiyah

Does this mean that they will not discriminate against followers of satan?


8 posted on 07/15/2012 6:53:51 AM PDT by american_ranger
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To: Kaslin

Once more to the breech,
Dear friends, I beseech!
The Episcopal Bishop harangued.
For heaven awaits,
Who opens these gates,
And all Biblical scruples be hanged!


9 posted on 07/15/2012 6:53:51 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham (Laws against sodomy are honored in the breech.)
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To: Kaslin

There are only two ways—God’s and Satan’s. There are only two kingdom’s—God’s and Satan’s. And there are only two churches—God’s and Satan’s. For any faithful worshipper of Jesus Christ, there can be no doubt as to which camp the Episcopal Church now belongs.

10 posted on 07/15/2012 7:00:01 AM PDT by Zakeet (Like Barack said, "We can't be broke cause we still have checks in the checkbook.")
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To: Kaslin

Once the church leadership dismissed the Christians and they left the church, it’s now on the fast track down the toilet. Not that there is anything wrong with pretending God resides in a toilet. /s/


11 posted on 07/15/2012 7:12:19 AM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: Zakeet

Exactly.

Excellent article by Michael Youseff.


12 posted on 07/15/2012 7:18:43 AM PDT by TurkeyLurkey
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To: SaraJohnson

Everytime something like this happens, more people leave their Church. Some join other Christian churches. Many just drift away.


13 posted on 07/15/2012 7:25:08 AM PDT by svxdave (Life is too short to wear a fake Rolex.)
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To: SaraJohnson

Everytime something like this happens, more people leave their Church. Some join other Christian churches. Many just drift away.


14 posted on 07/15/2012 7:48:54 AM PDT by svxdave (Life is too short to wear a fake Rolex.)
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To: Kaslin

Discrimination is the essence of humanity. To live one must make decisions on a constant basis. The ability and necessity to decide what action one must take is the basis for self preservation and survival.

The church has made a decision. The Church has ruled that you may not think for your self and thus not decide, that is discriminate between available choices. The decision is made and is put in a can on the shelf, never more to be decided.

In the long run of humanity the decision was made. Now that decision is reversed based not on long term but on short term politically correct and very shallow analysis.

Humanity will survive but the church will be consumed in irrelevancy.


15 posted on 07/15/2012 7:57:26 AM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... Present failure and impending death yield irrational action))
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To: Kaslin

Discrimination is the essence of humanity. To live one must make decisions on a constant basis. The ability and necessity to decide what action one must take is the basis for self preservation and survival.

The church has made a decision. The Church has ruled that you may not think for your self and thus not decide, that is discriminate between available choices. The decision is made and is put in a can on the shelf, never more to be decided.

In the long run of humanity the decision was made. Now that decision is reversed based not on long term but on short term politically correct and very shallow analysis.

Humanity will survive but the church will be consumed in irrelevancy.


16 posted on 07/15/2012 7:57:53 AM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... Present failure and impending death yield irrational action))
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To: Zakeet
Tetris is a religion now???
17 posted on 07/15/2012 8:10:08 AM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Kaslin
"It is not just a good day for transgender Episcopalians and their friends, families and allies. It is a good day for all of us who are part of a church cult of Satan willing to take the risk to continue to draw the circle wider as we work to live out our call to make God's inclusive love known to the whole human family," the Rev. Susan Russell, a deputy from the Diocese of Los Angeles and an activist who supported the legislation, said in a statement."

Whew, all fixed now!

18 posted on 07/15/2012 8:10:14 AM PDT by NoGrayZone (For evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.)
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To: Kaslin
"It is not just a good day for transgender Episcopalians and their friends, families and allies. It is a good day for all of us who are part of a church cult of Satan willing to take the risk to continue to draw the circle wider as we work to live out our call to make God's inclusive love known to the whole human family," the Rev. Susan Russell, a deputy from the Diocese of Los Angeles and an activist who supported the legislation, said in a statement."

Whew, all fixed now!

19 posted on 07/15/2012 8:10:14 AM PDT by NoGrayZone (For evil to triumph it is only necessary for good men to do nothing.)
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To: Zakeet

The same can be said of the ELCA now if they would stop calling themselves Lutherans, or those of us left in the real Lutheran church could find a way to distinguish ourselves. I get tired of saying “I’m Lutheran, but let me explain”


20 posted on 07/15/2012 8:16:16 AM PDT by Mom MD (T he country needs Obamacare like Nancy Pelosi needs a Halloween mask)
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