Around a century ago, renowned biblical scholar J. Gresham Machen was alarmed by the creeping secular humanism he saw invading institutional Christian spaces, which prompted him to issue this sharp rebuke via his book Christianity and Liberalism:
“[W]hat the liberal theologian has retained after abandoning to the enemy one Christian doctrine after another is not Christianity at all, but a religion which is so entirely different from Christianity as to belong in a distinct category.”
Unfortunately for us, Machen didn’t know how right he was. This brings us to the latest development shaking up the Church of England. For background, the Church of England is enormous, boasting a whopping 85 million members located in 165 countries. As you may have heard, they have been in the news recently for charting a course that can only be described as consciously divorcing themselves from the historic teachings of the Christian faith.
Of course, their governing body, or “synod,” would deny such a characterization, but what other conclusion can one come to after reading this statement? “For the first time, the Church of England will publicly, unreservedly and joyfully welcome same-sex couples in church.”
That’s how the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, reacted once their “synod” voted to endorse same-sex unions.
To remove any doubt, this move wasn’t a clarification that the Church’s doors are open to everyone because we all fall short of the glory of God, but an assertion that same-sex couples attending their parishes can now “dedicate their relationship to God and receive God’s blessing.”
The vote was 250-181, and in many ways wasn’t that surprising, especially considering the Church of England ordains homosexual priests under the promise that they remain “celibate.” Right.
In any event, Sarah Mullally, the “bishop” of London, called the measure a “moment of hope for the church,” adding, “I know that what we have proposed as a way forward does not go nearly far enough for many, but too far for others. It is my prayer that what has been agreed today will represent a step forward for all of us within the Church — including LGBTQI+ people — as we remain committed to walking together.”
What Mullally means by not going far enough is that their “Anglican Communion” will still not perform same-sex marriages. Just give them a few years, though. It’ll happen, probably around the same time that Mullally opens up a transgender clinic adjacent to her diocese.
Another supporter, Vicky Brett, a lay member of the “synod,” argued in favor of the motion by chiding her conservative colleagues with this rhetorical question: “Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list, or interfering with God’s welcome?”
You see what I mean about these people starting their own religion? Church leaders do desire a very large guest list … so that they can introduce as many folks as possible to the saving power of the Cross. No matter. (READ MORE)
