Episcopal Trials - Brothers in Conflict
I continue to read (and weep a little) at the trials and tribulations within the Episcopal Communion of the United States. It is a little like watching good friends argue or a husband and wife in conflict. You want to reach out and bring them together in a peaceful solution.
Believing as I do that God is Lord of His church no matter how much humans mess it up, I ask what is God going to accomplish by this tragedy?
The Church of Jesus Christ has encountered controversy, division, heresy, false doctrine and false teachers since the very beginning. And, of course, it depends on where you stand as to how one defines false doctrine. (The Gnostics believed the "orthodox" churches were wrong.) But if we return to the Biblical base for things we believe, perhaps we can learn how good can come from this, and understand that in the midst of it all, the goal is always the same, to lift up and proclaim the name of Jesus Christ and His gospel to the world.
While the issue out front is homosexuality, and in particular, homosexual persons serving as priests and bishops, there is obviously a deeper and more basic dissatisfaction between members of the Episcopal communion. Sometimes it is too easy to make the specific "injury" the "cause," while the deeper wound/sickness remains unhealed. So I suspect that underneath the bluster about homosexuality, these churches in question really have a deeper problem. As one in the Church of Christ who has seen churches divide and animosities expressed over unimportant things, I know the Episcopal church needs to look deeper.
Don't many of our "divisive issues" really come down to a fear of being wrong? If what I believe (and maybe have believed my whole life) is shown to be in error, my ego and sense of self-worth may be challenged. I may have to examine everything. I may have to say that my past teachers and leaders were wrong as well. How can I handle that? You see where I am going with this? It all comes down to ME! What I believe. What I think is true! Me! Me! Me!
Maybe I need to learn humility. Maybe I am not always right. Maybe God has things to teach me yet.
It may also mean I need to take another hard look at scripture. Am I, are we, being so influenced by the secular thoughts of the day that in order to be relevant and accepting we fail to examine worldly ideas as over against the scripture.
Brothers and sisters in the Episcopal Church. We will pray for you, that you may humble yourself before the hand of God and seek His direction. And I would also say, even if the division must occur for conscience sake, please, for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ accept one another as brothers/sisters and let love continue to prevail. (Did you hear that, Church of Christ?)
Charlie
I continue to read (and weep a little) at the trials and tribulations within the Episcopal Communion of the United States. It is a little like watching good friends argue or a husband and wife in conflict. You want to reach out and bring them together in a peaceful solution.
Believing as I do that God is Lord of His church no matter how much humans mess it up, I ask what is God going to accomplish by this tragedy?
The Church of Jesus Christ has encountered controversy, division, heresy, false doctrine and false teachers since the very beginning. And, of course, it depends on where you stand as to how one defines false doctrine. (The Gnostics believed the "orthodox" churches were wrong.) But if we return to the Biblical base for things we believe, perhaps we can learn how good can come from this, and understand that in the midst of it all, the goal is always the same, to lift up and proclaim the name of Jesus Christ and His gospel to the world.
While the issue out front is homosexuality, and in particular, homosexual persons serving as priests and bishops, there is obviously a deeper and more basic dissatisfaction between members of the Episcopal communion. Sometimes it is too easy to make the specific "injury" the "cause," while the deeper wound/sickness remains unhealed. So I suspect that underneath the bluster about homosexuality, these churches in question really have a deeper problem. As one in the Church of Christ who has seen churches divide and animosities expressed over unimportant things, I know the Episcopal church needs to look deeper.
Don't many of our "divisive issues" really come down to a fear of being wrong? If what I believe (and maybe have believed my whole life) is shown to be in error, my ego and sense of self-worth may be challenged. I may have to examine everything. I may have to say that my past teachers and leaders were wrong as well. How can I handle that? You see where I am going with this? It all comes down to ME! What I believe. What I think is true! Me! Me! Me!
Maybe I need to learn humility. Maybe I am not always right. Maybe God has things to teach me yet.
It may also mean I need to take another hard look at scripture. Am I, are we, being so influenced by the secular thoughts of the day that in order to be relevant and accepting we fail to examine worldly ideas as over against the scripture.
Brothers and sisters in the Episcopal Church. We will pray for you, that you may humble yourself before the hand of God and seek His direction. And I would also say, even if the division must occur for conscience sake, please, for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ accept one another as brothers/sisters and let love continue to prevail. (Did you hear that, Church of Christ?)
Charlie
posted by Charlie | 7:56 AM
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