Posted on 07/02/2005 9:46:13 AM PDT by sionnsar
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church (USA) told the Anglican Consultative Council that "God is doing a new thing," thereby justifying his support for redefining Christian sexual ethics. How he knows that God is doing a new thing is precarious. Appealing to the consensus of the Diocese of New Hampshire on to General Convention 2003 fails, since the next, logical expanse in Anglican conciliarism is the worldwide Communion, which has rejected the new teaching.
Appealing to other "new things," such as the abolition of slavery and the ordination of women also fails. These changes in practice did not require the church to ignore the vocabulary of sin--such as 'abomination' and 'detestable'--found on the pages of scripture and on the lips of sacred tradition. While very specific details in the Scriptures, such as Paul's thinly veiled appeal concerning Onesimus and the role of early leaders such as Mary Magdalene and Priscilla, played a major role concerning the issues of slavery and patriarchy, there is no provision in the Scriptures for calling righteous what was first designated as sinful.
Is there any evidence that "God is doing a new thing?" There is, indeed, reason to think so, although the identity of that new thing is not what the Presiding Bishop and his supporters wish it to be. Whenever God does "a new thing," it always has an uncanny resemblance with the way God has always done "a new thing."
God seems to be "doing a new thing" by shifting the strength of the Communion from the liberal West to the nonliberal Global South. This has strong affinities with Paul's mission to the gentiles (cf. Acts 28:17-28). Western liberationists should be pleased by this, but instead, they are resentful.
God seems to be "doing a new thing" by holding western arrogance accountable to the rest of the Communion. The Blessed Virgin Mary announced in the Magnificat that God works this way.
God seems to be "doing a new thing" by cleaning house in the Anglican Communion. The Apostle Peter stated that judgment begins with the household of God (I Peter 4:17), which should know better than to endorse what the scriptures call sin, "yet they not only do these things but even applaud others who practice them" (Romans 1:32).
God seems to be "doing a new thing" by mobilizing orthodox Anglicans on a global scale. This is the most significant period in our history since the English Reformation. Might God have a plan for orthodox Anglicanism? May we, as undeserving as we are, as many times as we have broken God's heart and made converts twice as much children of hell as we have become ourselves, be part of a bigger plan? If we, the orthodox, truly repent of our indifference, divisiveness within our own ranks, and worldliness, may God yet have pliable clay with which he can work?
The Parable of the Canine and the Carpet
Once a brother and sister were playing in the parlor. The sister noticed a foul odor coming from the livingroom.
"There's a foul odor coming from the livingroom," she said.
"We should look into this," the brother said. "After all, we do live here."
So, together they left the parlor and entered the livingroom. The foul odor was even more powerful. Their eyes began to water and they both had to plug their noses with their fingers.
With her free hand, the sister pointed across the room. There stood their dog, named Fido. Their parents gave them the dog as a guardian and playmate. To the brother and sister, the dog was part of the family.
Now, however, the dog stood over a pile of his own feces, which he had dropped in the middle of the nice, clean rug. The dog smiled triumphantly over his accomplishment, until he saw the looks of disgust on the faces of the brother and sister. Then he heard the thud of car doors closing outside. The parents were home.
The dog's smile became a frown as he stared at the brother and sister. "This room stinks!" the dog said. "And it's your fault!"
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. God does not do new things. (that's a period at the end)
I don't think I would want to put my salvation in with a "go with the flow" god. I'll stick to the tennants of the one true God.
Since the Presiding Bish so openly and clearly states that he is starting a new religion, then to the extent that he believes in the right of the individual to worship freely as he chooses, he should recognize the rights of those Anglicans who do not embrace his new religion to continue to worship and believe as they have always done.
God's not, but Griswold is: he's now grasping at straws.
Maybe God can do a "new thing" to the Good Bishop. Zotting would be a nice touch.
Zotting apostates is an Old Thing.
Explain something to me. Is the Presiding Bishop claiming to have received new revelation from God on this?
When God wanted the early Apostles to do "a new thing" and take the gospel to the Gentiles, he revealed his will to Peter in a vision (Acts Chapter 10). Is the bishop saying that he or the Consultive Council have received such a vsision from God?
"The Parable of the Canine and the Carpet"
Priceless! Did you write this? And, if so, may I have permission to use it?
Oops. I should have read more carefully. Anyway, one of us should have written it. Thanks for posting it.
LOL, you're welcome!
Old thing, new person.
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