Posted on 04/29/2008 7:35:23 PM PDT by Huber
I can't decide if Gene Robinson should be made an honorary member of Herman's Hermits (second verse same as the first) or just be named Crybaby of the Decade. Sure does a lot of book tours for someone who wants to just be a simple country bishop. Can't you just hear the heavy sigh?
Robinson is in London to promote his new book, In The Eye of the Storm. It is a spiritual memoir aimed, he says, at showing that he is more than "a one issue guy".
The last of its five sections, however, sets a course for the Lambeth Conference and beyond. It is, in one way, Robinson having his say, even though he's not going to be at the event itself.
Or, at least not at the gatherings of the bishops. "I'm going to be there, in the market place," he says, "making myself available to anyone who wants to talk."
He won't, as many Anglicans seem to hope, be allowing the whole issue to go away. It is in this refusal to be silent that I finally begin to see in this otherwise gentle and genial prelate that flash of steely resolve that drives all implacable dissenters forward.
"Jesus never says anything about homosexuality," he says, the light tone in his nasal voice suddenly darkening, "but he says a lot about treating every person with dignity and respect. All the biblical appeals for a particular attitude to homosexuality can never quote Jesus."
What, though, of Old Testament condemnations of "men who lay with men"?
"The Church isn't the same yesterday, today and tomorrow," he says.
"Only God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The Church has always been changing. The Holy Spirit is leading us into truth. And I believe we have learnt that about people of colour, about women, about those who are disabled and now about lesbian and gay people."
He would, I can see, be impressive in a pulpit. Perhaps it was his oratory that caused the Anglican electors of New Hampshire to vote decisively for him in 2003, and his fellow American bishops to give him their backing.
But, whatever their motives, their decision has had the effect of bringing to a head Anglicanism's muddled attitude to sexuality.
"As Anglicans we agree about so many things," Robinson concedes. "We are not arguing over the divinity of Christ, the Trinity or the Resurrection. We are arguing about a non-essential thing."
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. “he is more than “a one issue guy”
hmmm,...I wonder where he is on issues such as abortion?
Where, exactly, does Jesus say that in the Bible???
On the contrary, Jesus was NOT a "respecter of persons," and He said whatever needed to be said (to spread the Word and demonstrate the power of God), to whomever needed to hear it said.
Seems that some one does not believe that the head of the Church is Jesus and that since he never changes neither does the church.
“Only God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. “
That’s right, Gene. And God is the author of those verses in Leviticus and Deuteronomy that condemn your lifestyle.
And in no uncertain, unambiguous terms either. Take it up with Him.
“Jesus never says anything about homosexuality,”
Jesus did say ,”Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil” and if I remember correctly, the Law had a lot to say about homosexuality.
1 Corinthians 6:8-10
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
All people should be treated with compassion, but that does not obligate others to give them a position of spiritual authority over them.
Notice that the good bishop said only that Jesus said nothing about homosexuality. Maybe true, but if he doesn't believe the rest of the NT, why is he a Christian at all? Besides, Jesus said noting about cigareetes, cocaine or heroin, either. Although, I don't think of cigarettes as a moral issue at all.
Augsburg Confession
Article VI: Of New Obedience.
1] Also they teach that this faith is bound to bring forth good fruits, and that it is necessary to do good works commanded by God, because of God's will, but that we should not rely on those works to merit justification 2] before God. For remission of sins and justification is apprehended by faith, as also the voice of Christ attests: When ye shall have done all these things, say: We are unprofitable servants. Luke 17, 10. The same is also taught by 3] the Fathers. For Ambrose says: It is ordained of God that he who believes in Christ is saved, freely receiving remission of sins, without works, by faith alone.
Article XII: Of Repentance.
1] Of Repentance they teach that for those who have fallen after Baptism there is remission of sins whenever they are converted 2] and that the Church ought to impart absolution to those thus returning to repentance. Now, repentance consists properly of these 3] two parts: One is contrition, that is, 4] terrors smiting the conscience through the knowledge of sin; the other is faith, which is born of 5] the Gospel, or of absolution, and believes that for Christ's sake, sins are forgiven, comforts 6] the conscience, and delivers it from terrors. Then good works are bound to follow, which are the fruits of repentance.
“As Anglicans we agree about so many things,” Robinson concedes. “We are not arguing over the divinity of Christ, the Trinity or the Resurrection. We are arguing about a non-essential thing.”
I can think of many prominent Anglicans who do not believe in those things, like former Archbishop Spondge. (sp?)
Lets Pray for Rev Robinson..
He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Plain and simple.
In the NT Paul discusses homosexuality. And not in a favorable light. In fact, Paul’s discussion of it supports the OT’s admonishing view of it.
Jesus DOES say something about MARRIAGE. And it is NOT that a man should leave his father and mother and cleave to his “husband.” And it is NOT that a man should leave his wife and children to lie with another man. From the Beginning it was not so. Read your Bible, Gene.
You all are taking this thread way too seriously. Robinson’s “theological” flaws are so self evident that he presents little more than a train wreck easily discernible by anyone of serious Christian faith.
Robinson is in London to promote his new book, In The Eye of the Storm.
We get the same train wreck. Does Gene "I just want to be the Bishop of New Hampshire" Robinson ever spend any time in New Hampshire? As Dale Price recently remarked in a comment on MCJ, "I'm beginning to think the best place to be if you want to avoid V. Gene is the Granite State."
Now to be fair, the "June bride" will soon be taking a break from his globetrotting to tend to his see... well, at least long enough to celebrate his own self-approved "civil union" ceremony: "It is up to the bishop of each diocese to decide whether to permit such blessings. Bishop Robinson, after consulting with a council in his diocese, has approved his own ceremony."
But then duty calls, so it's back to the (to quote Christopher Johnson) "Please Just Let Me Be The Episcopal Bishop Of New Hampshire" World Tour!
The Ecclesiastical Circus rolls on...
He would, I can see, be impressive in a pulpit on a soapbox.
There, fixed it. You're right, Huber, this is way too easy.
Is it “marketplace” or “meat market?”
Paul's target audience were the gentiles who engaged more openly in above written vices.
An elementary analysis but when you try to justify your sins you will try and read into God anyway you can.
“Rule One...”
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