This BBC news report below tells of the Church of England engaging in further wicked ‘semantics’!
It says that “its position on gay marriage will not change and same-sex couples will still be unable to marry in church” but it will bless couples who enter into a union with someone of the same gender!
That is a ludicrous position to adopt. To bless indicates an ‘agreement with and support for’ such a union and also implies deviously that God is pleased with it, since His ‘so-called servants’ pronounce His blessing upon it!
It is to be noted that it states at the end of this news report, that the ‘new prayers’ of blessing have their origins with man and not of God!
It is the Church of England, under the leadership of that ‘arch apostate’, Justin Welby, descending further toward eternal perdition!
To him, he says, disagreement with this plan is ‘painful’!
Believe me, the pain has not yet begun for him and his fellow rebels who reject the teaching of God’s Word!
This decision embraces the Royal Family since the King is the figurative head of the Church of England. Thus we are seeing a repeat of history, especially the history in the years before the fall of Jerusalem, under God’s judgment, at the hands of the Babylonians in BC 588. (Jeremiah 52)
The wrath of God, provoked by the wickedness of the people who would not heed the warnings of Jeremiah and other prophets, is today in like fashion being provoked by the rebellion of the nations, encouraged on this path by today’s ecumenical false prophets, and it will result in a world-wide visitation of God’s judgment.
“Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; and to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day,” 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10.
Perhaps I might add a comment on the latest wicked outburst from newspaper columnist, Gareth Hanna. He writes for a newspaper that has long defied the Bible and sought to undermine it with its ecumenical propaganda, the ‘Belfast Telegraph’.
Hanna writes: “Why shouldn’t God be a woman? Even the Bible concedes He’s not a he…”
He is blatantly defying how the Lord would have us address God.
“And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. . . .” Luke 11:2.
This facetious treatment of the name of God displays an ignorance of the One Whose name he thus treats so lightly, that is frightening. It reminds me of the horrified reaction of godly Hezekiah to the evil and blasphemous brazenness of Rabshakeh. “And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD,” 2 Kings 19:1.
Gareth Hanna would do well to think upon the consequences of the mocking of God that Rabshakeh’s word wrought.
God has not changed and will visit such men still in His anger.
“And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead,” 2 Kings 19:35-37.
We have publicly chided this man for his folly in the recent past but now I feel the power of the Saviour’s command: “But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone (leave, forsake): they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch,” Matthew 15:13-14.
These words of the Saviour are but a repeat of the sentiments expressed by Hosea. “Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone (leave, withdraw),” Hosea 4:17.
I have rebuked Gareth Hanna twice, now it is time to ‘let him alone’!
Sincerely in Christ’s name,
Ivan Foster.
Church of England backs plans to bless gay couples
By Harry Farley
BBC religious affairs journalist
The Church of England has backed proposals to allow prayers of blessing for same sex couples.
Its position on gay marriage will not change and same-sex couples will still be unable to marry in church.
The plans, set out by bishops last month, have been criticised from those who think they go too far and those who think they don’t go far enough.
The motion was passed in all three of synod’s ‘houses’.
The Archbishop of York, the Most Revd Stephen Cottrell, said priests would have the option to bless gay couples, but could choose not to.
“No-one has to offer these services and no one will be disadvantaged if they don’t,” he told the Synod.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev’d Justin Welby, said there was “painful” disagreement within the church but he supported the proposals.
“I am supporting these resources, not I think because I’m controlled by culture, but because of scripture, tradition and reason evidenced in the vast work done over the last six years so ably by so many. I may be wrong. Of course I may.
“But I cannot duck the issue any more than anyone else here.”
In more than eight hours of debate there were 18 votes on attempted amendments, both from conservatives and liberals.
An amendment to force a vote on changing the Church’s teaching and allowing gay couples to marry in Church was rejected.
The only amendment that passed was from conservatives, reinstating that the new prayers of blessing “should not be contrary to or indicative of a departure from the doctrine of the Church of England” which does not allow same-sex marriage.
Immediately before the vote a minute of silence was observed followed by a prayer said by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Approval of the motion allows same-sex couples to go to Anglican churches after a legal marriage ceremony for services including prayers of dedication, thanksgiving and God’s blessing.
The motion had been brought by the Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, and was the result of six years of work on questions of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage known as Living In Love And Faith.
The final motion was passed across the synod’s three ‘houses’. The House of Bishops voted 36 in favour, four against with two abstentions. The House of Clergy voted 111 in favour, 85 against and 3 abstentions. The House of Laity voted 103 in favour, 92 against, and 5 abstentions.
The bishops will now finalise the wording of the new prayers and also issue new guidance on whether gay clergy must remain celibate before the synod meets again in July.