The Episcopal Church has once again committed heresy. Not only have they named a woman as bishop, but she is a lesbian. What does the Bible teach on such things? “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;” 1 Timothy 3:2. Blameless means that a bishop must be without reproach and living a godly lifestyle to the best of his ability.

 

We read throughout scripture that homosexuality is condemned by God, so a homosexual is not without reproach. They are making no attempt to live a godly life. According to Paul, when held to just the first adjective in the above verse a homosexual/lesbian would be automatically disqualified from such a position as bishop in the church.

 

The next qualification for a bishop is he must be the husband of one wife. This is something that is impossible for a woman and not likely in a homosexual.

Let’s look at what it means to be vigilant and sober. From the Greek words we get the following definitions. “of a sound mind, sane, in one's senses, curbing one's desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate”. Hmm, sound mind, sane, curbing one’s desires and impulses, need I go on? This description just doesn’t fit as we observe the lifestyle of a homosexual. Anyone living such a lifestyle certainly is not of a sound mind.

How about of good behaviour? God refers to homosexuality as an abomination. If they are involved in that abomination their behavior is anything but good. I’m sure Homosexuals can be hospitable; hospitality isn’t difficult, anyone can do it. But would you want to be invited to the home of a homosexual knowing that in their home they practice what God explicitly abhors?

Apt to teach? My last question concerning the above verse is, what are homosexual Bishops going to teach? Are they apt to teach their flocks that their lifestyle is perfectly normal and that it should be condoned as such? Are they going to explain away the verses in the Bible which teach against homosexuality as nonsensical, out dated, unreliable, or maybe they’ll just exclaim that that was then and this is now. 

 

We can see by the above verse that placing a homosexual in the position of a Bishop is not acceptable to God. It is doubly wrong for a lesbian woman since a Bishop needs to be a man. In Leviticus 18 God admonishes His people “the Hebrews” to abstain from all forms of evil. This whole chapter is devoted to sexual perversions that God considers abominations. He continues to explain that even the land, in which He was giving to the Hebrews, was defiled because of the evil sexual practices of the previous inhabitants. “Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled...” Leviticus 18:24, 25. God tells His people that even the land where these abominable sexual practices were taking place was defiled. Another word for defiled is ruined.

 

Many unbelievers, as well as folks who only profess to be Christian, remain unopposed to homosexuality. They believe the lie that homosexuality is a normal lifestyle and that people are born that way. But God says differently, thus, the land is becoming more and more defiled.  

I realize that many Christian Churches have minor to extreme doctrinal problems, but to place a homosexual in the position of Bishop is way beyond potentially problematic. Many in the Episcopal Church exited after a homosexual man was appointed as Bishop, but now they’ve only added to their own perversions by placing a lesbian in the same capacity. Man condones what God abhors.

This is clearly an act of rebellion against God. For the life of me I will never understand how people who claim to follow Jesus and revere Him as Messiah and Savior of the world could purposely turn against God’s inerrant word and promote such a completely heretical doctrine as this organization has done. When God in His word speaks of apostasy, this is exactly what He’s talking about. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”  2 Corinthians 13:5. Where we see God rejecting people become the elders of the church apostasy abounds.

As believers we are told to abstain from all appearances of evil. Homosexuality, to the sane mind, is inherently evil. It is clearly a satanic seduced lie. Satan has convinced many in the church that homosexuality can be practiced and even condoned as a perfectly normal lifestyle. God would never condone homosexuality as such. This, folks is pure insanity, it’s not natural yet now we see that man has changed this abomination into a completely normal “alternative lifestyle”.

How can God’s word be so ignored even in the Anglican Church? The very fact that people are leaving this church in droves must tell them something. The people don’t agree with the foolishness of the hierarchy of this Church, and it’s not bigotry, the abandonment of this rogue church by their body is simply Christians standing on God’s inerrant word.

Can a homosexual be a believer? Can they live this God professed abdominal lifestyle all their adult lives and actually claim to know Jesus intimately? How can they live a life as a homosexual, which is in direct opposition to God, and still claim to be one of His children? Is it because Leviticus is in the Old Testament and thus it can be ignored? Okay take the Old Testament and toss it out the window if you wish. Now all we have is the New Testament.

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, (homosexuals) nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God,” 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10. 

That’s in the New Testament? Yeah, and so is this, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.” Romans 1:25-27. These verses are referred to by Barack H. Obama as obscure. Obscure means difficult to understand. Wow, and that man was elected our president?

God’s word is God’s word Old Testament or New and we either believe it or we don’t, but why claim a relationship with God if you don’t agree with what He’s given us as guidelines to live by? In the above verses as well as others in chapter 1 of Romans Paul is telling us that God is giving these people who have ignored Him over to this vile lifestyle. How do we ignore God? By reinterpreting the Bible to fit our on sinful lifestyle. People do this because they would rather live in their sins than to live as God says.

No people, God is not happy with homosexuality or any other sin for that matter. And He certainly doesn’t want people who are blatantly and openly claiming to live such a lifestyle as the abomination of homosexuality to be in a position as a teaching authority in His Church. 

As born again believers we are to leave our old sinful lifestyle behind and strive to do God’s will. It will never be His will to remain in our previous state of rebellion. Homosexuality is a state of rebellion. Born again believers in Christ would certainly leave that lifestyle behind. Those who refuse to leave that lifestyle should re-examine their salvation position.  

Here’s an example of how foolish it would be to place such a person who is the antithesis of a person God would want in a position of leadership in a Christian Church. Let’s say the Southern Baptist Association of America placed an atheist in the position of president over their whole organization. What could the Church be taught by an atheist? How much damage would be done by such a person while being seated in that high official capacity? Don’t tell me that he/she might become a believer while in that position. The damage, exacted by such a person, on the brethren, would be catastrophic. It just can’t happen, not that it shouldn’t happen, but it can’t.

“But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray...” 2 Peter 2:12-15.

The Apostle Peter is speaking about people who live in direct opposition to God and bask in their rebellious corrupted lives. Their minds are only on evil continually. Is this the person you want as the leader of your Christian Church? These people have no understanding of God’s word they are wholly following Satan not Christ. And this enemy of Christianity (Satan) has thoroughly seared the senses of these deceived and foolish souls.

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:25. Peter tells us that Jesus our Messiah and Savior is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, are we to place a homosexually deviant person in a position where he/she will assume the posture of a shepherd of a flock? A flock that supposedly belongs to Christ? What truths will they teach their flocks? Or should I say, what lies will they teach their flock as they stand in defiance to their Messiah? How can a homosexual uphold the whole counsel of God and blatantly live a life that is contrary to God’s word? A person such as this can do nothing but lead others astray.

If you’re a Christian believer reading this commentary and you approve of homosexuality as a normal lifestyle then you are apostate. If your church condones this activity as normal your church is apostate. Either way you’re outside of God’s precepts and commandments.

“All scripture is God breathed...” 2 Timothy 3:16a. So where in God’s word does He condone sin? Any sin? He doesn’t and that’s why the Bible is disparaged when it comes to homosexuality. That’s why many countries, including the United States of America, have enacted legislation that prohibits preaching homosexuality as a sin. And that depraved mind is what has caused God to abandon those individuals to that lifestyle. Don’t believe me, do the research for yourself. 

“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:” Romans 1:24. God not only doesn’t condone the sin of homosexuality but He actually uses it as a judgment on those who’ve turned what they once knew as the truth into a lie. This is exactly the position of the current Episcopal Church of the United States. God, because of their Bible knowledge and because of their arrogance in ignoring His commandments, has given them up to uncleanness and He’s allowed them to dishonour their own bodies with the vilest of affections. In other words while they remain in their disobedience they will continue to be judged, and homosexuality will abound.

As we read the news, almost every day there’s another article about another Christian organization going apostate. Brethren be ever so watchful that these abominations don’t take root in your Church lest ye to are judged. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.” Romans 1:18, 19. God is the revealer of truth. He doesn’t change, He can’t learn, it’s against His own nature to lie, and He can’t defy His own laws. From eternity past to eternity future God will never condone such an abomination as homosexuality. That’s a promise.

The Anglican Church will be held responsible by God for their condoning of such behavior. “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Romans 1:32. Condoning this insanity is no different in God’s eye than participating in the abomination itself. All believers should give that serious thought.

God bless you all,

Ron Graham
twotug@embarqmail.com
All scripture is from the KJV