THE MORONIC DESMOND TUTU STATES THAT HE WOULD RATHER GO TO HELL THAN WORSHIP A HOMOPHOBIC GOD!! I THINK THE LORD MIGHT GRANT HIM HIS REQUEST!!!

"Desmond Tutu has said he would rather go to hell than worship a homophobic god. The retired archbishop was speaking at the United Nations' launch of its gay-rights program in Cape Town, South Africa, a country where there is still much prejudice against gay people. He said: "I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place. "I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this. "I am as passionate about this campaign as I ever was about apartheid. For me, it is at the same level." (source)

On another topic, the blogger Ecclesiophilist wrote,

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols (Acts 17:16, NASB)

In describing Paul’s reaction, Luke uses a Greek word which means “to be irritated or provoked to wrath.” John Stott says that this word “originally had medical associations and was used to describe a seizure or an epileptic fit (Stott, The Spirit, the Church, and the World, IVP, p. 278).” As Paul closely observed the city of Athens, he found it overwhelmed by idolatry. One ancient source sarcastically said it was easier to find a god in Athens than a man. Such idolatry moved Paul to the core. He was provoked in his spirit by the situation.

Henry Martyn, the 19th century missionary to India and Persia, understood quite well the response of Paul to idolatry. When Martyn saw a picture of Jesus bowing down and grasping the robes of Mohammed, he responded, “I could not endure existence if Jesus was not glorified. It would be hell to me if He were always thus to be dishonored.” Martyn was provoked in his spirit by idolatry. His heart burned with the desire to see the preeminence and glory of Christ understood and embraced by all peoples.

It certainly resonates when we read of the saints in their torment in seeing Jesus besmirched. I am tormented by this unholy world. TOrmented daily, I often cry out in my praer closet for the Day to come when all will recognize Jesus is His perfectness and glory. O, what a day! But that day is not yet and we swim through the filth of a world that is piling up with sin, even my own.

Desmond Tutu is a South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop. He is allegedly a religious man, but he has created a god in his own image. A.W. Tozer said, "Grace will save a man... but it will not save him and his idol." Tutu has remade God into a person who represents Tutu's own thoughts and evil desires, and openly and flatly rejects the Holy God of Israel, Yahweh, the great Ancient of Days. I AM.

It is a hard thing to watch the world crumble. It is harder to watch men crumble. Tutu's destiny is all but certain, and having had to watch this dreadful state these terrible declarations that consign men to a hell they know not how terrible, is is agony.

However, I love my Christ and I worship Him. I do not worship my own philosophies and I do not reject His clear word and plan as shown to us by the holy writ of the bible. It is an agony these days to see Jesus so dishonored.


What a day when all peoples will bow to Him, and the ones whom He has chosen to be His elect, standing before Him, no, falling down to worship, will be all the more glorious. This Jesus whom Tutu rejects is this Jesus:

"The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. " (Mark 6:30-34.)

He loves His sheep!

But make no mistake: God is not to be trifled with. He demands holy living through Christ, and He will exact vengeance for all unholy acts, for they are a blot on His name.

"when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (2 Thessalonians 1:7b-8)

It is a serious thing to wantonly seek hell, and not heaven. God in His just mercy, will grant it.

A LOVELY LITTLE TRUE STORY TO BRING A TEAR TO YOUR EYE!

Please take a minute to read this beautiful story.  You'll be glad you did.

When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighbourhood .... I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbour. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy. I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlour and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear."Information, please" I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.

A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear. "Information." "I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily enough now that I had an audience. "Isn't your mother home?" came the question. "Nobody's home but me," I blubbered. "Are you bleeding?" the voice asked. "No," I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts." "Can you open the icebox?" she asked. I said I could."Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my maths. She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before, would eat fruit and nuts.Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, "Information Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?" She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, " Wayne, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please." "Information," said in the now familiar voice. "How do I spell fix?" I asked. All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston. I missed my friend very much. "Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me.

Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy. A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said,"Information Please."

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well. "Information." I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now." I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?" I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your calls meant to me. I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls." I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister."Please do", she said. "Just ask for Sally."

Three months later I was back in Seattle. A different voice answered,"Information." I asked for Sally."Are you a friend?" she said."Yes, a very old friend," I answered."I'm sorry to have to tell you this,"She said. "Sally had been working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."Before I could hang up, she said, "Wait a minute, did you say your name was Wayne ?" "Yes." I answered. "Well, Sally left a message for you.  She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you." The note said, "Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean." I thanked her and hung up.I knew what Sally meant.

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others. Whose life have you touched today?Why not pass this on? I just did. Lifting you on eagle's wings. May you find the joy and peace you long for. Life is a journey, NOT a guided tour. I loved this story and just had to pass it on. I hope you enjoy it too.

VOICE OF THE PERSECUTED WITH A RECENT TESTIMONY FROM A NIGERIAN CHRISTIAN SUFFERING TRIBULATION!

Testimony from Nigerian Christian: Modern-day Christian Persecution

Posted by: Voice of the Persecuted on July 20th 

The testimony you are about to read comes from Yobe State in Northern Nigeria. It is one brothers’ story about the Christian persecution and stress they continue to be burdened with, even today.

Due to security risks and safety purposes, his identity has been withheld.

I am from Nangir LGA of Yobe State and reside in Potiskum. I would like to give you some background and tell what is happening in Yobe. In the year of 1997, Muslim jihadists killed my father. Just before his demise, my father travelled to a theological school in Kaduna. When he came back to Yobe, he went to church for Holy Communion.

After some time I went to find my father. As I approached, I saw smoke coming from our church. Muslims were burning our church! For about 3 hours they carried out attacks on the churches and Christians. While carrying out the attacks, they killed my father. His grave is in an ECWA church in Potiskum.

After losing my father, I picked up the challenge to care for myself and my family. I sponsored myself to school and grew up with my mum.

After Goodluck Jonathan won the 2011 elections, Buhari supporters launched attacks on Christians and churches. They killed many of us. It has been estimated that Christians in Yobe State numbers about 10,000. The whole population of Yobe state is about 2.5 million.

When the elections were over, they attacked on a Friday. Many lives and properties of Christians were lost as a result of the post-election violence.

Last year there was a time when we were on our way from Damaturu to Potiskum. Boko Haram militants wore soldier uniforms and went to a roundabout and started attacking people. They targeted and killed policemen. They killed a migration officer in front of people.

‘It was God who saved us.’

There was also a period in which we were always hearing gunshots. Hearing gunfire became normal to us. One night we heard rumors that Boko Haram members would attack us. Later that evening, the militants moved from house to house with aim of ransacking and searching for Christians to kill. The Boko Haram members entered houses of Christians and asked them if they would convert to Islam, or remain being a Christian. They mercilessly killed Christians who refused to become Muslims.

This testimony is a true reflection of the persecution Christians face in Northern Nigeria. We need to stand for our brethren in Nigeria and ask God to remember them in our prayers!

Seven parallel translations from the Quran 8:39:

Sahih International: And fight them until there is no fitnah and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah. And if they cease – then indeed, Allah is Seeing of what they do.

Pickthall: And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah. But if they cease, then lo! Allah is Seer of what they do.

Yusuf Ali: And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.

Shakir: And fight with them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah; but if they desist, then surely Allah sees what they do.

Muhammad Sarwar: Fight them so that idolatry will not exist any more and God’s religion will stand supreme. If theygive up the idols), God will be Well Aware of what they do.

Mohsin Khan: And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism: i.e. worshipping others besides Allah) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allah Alone [in the whole of the world]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allah), then certainly, Allah is All-Seer of what they do.

Arberry: Fight them, till there is no persecution and the religion is God’s entirely; then if they give over, surely God sees the things they do;

Many Christians have fled the area due to fear and because they have been the target of the attacks. The situation is pathetic because of the large numbers of Igbos and Christians that have been killed. About 30 churches in Potiskum have been burnt down. Many of us have relocated to Taraba and Jos.”

Matthew 5:3-30 (NASB)

When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.  For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

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RAY COMFORT'S NEW "EVOLUTION VERSUS GOD" MOVIE IS MAKING WAVES RIGHT ACROSS THE CHRISTIAN AND THE SCIENTIFIC CIRCLES!!

‘Evolution vs. God’ Movie So Popular It Crashes Evangelical Leader’s Website: ‘It’s Going to Take Down Evolution’

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Evangelical leader Ray Comfort is making waves in both Christian and science circles with his new “Evolution vs. God” movie. After releasing the 38-minute short film online on Tuesday, Comfort said that downloads were so rampant that his website crashed.

“It began slowly and built to over 1,000 people. That’s a huge amount of people to be downloading an entire movie, and it proved to be too much for our site. It crashed,” he told TheBlaze in an e-mail interview.

While tech problems are never welcome, in this case, Comfort said that the demand for “Evolution vs. God” was encouraging, as it showed just how interested people are in the subject. In the end, the faith leader believes that the movie will have monumental impact.

“I believe it’s going to take down evolution. It exposes it at bogus science,” Comfort said. “That sounds like a bold claim, but it’s true. The movie delivers, and it’s not just our claim.”

Comfort said that prominent Christians have viewed the movie and given it their seal of approval. Dr. Randy J. Guliuzza, P.E., M.D. from the Institute for Creation Research and Ken Ham of the group Answers in Genesis have both endorsed the film. General viewers, too, have expressed excitement over its contents as well.

But not everyone is happy about the film, of course. Atheists, in particular, have taken to Comfort’s social media profiles to voice their angst. He said that he has more than 240,000 followers on Facebook and that many who are responding to “Evolution vs. God” are non-believers who “are getting very nervous” over the movie’s contents.

“Some are angry because evolution is their doorway to all sorts of sinful delights — because if there’s no God and no moral accountability, anything goes,” he told TheBlaze. “So this movie is a huge threat to them.”

Comfort said that Christians are often mocked by atheists for being weak-minded and for not having evidence that God exists, yet the faith leader said that “Evolution vs. God” shows that the “bogus science of evolution has no evidence and rests on nothing but blind faith.”

While an MP4 download of the movie is available on Comfort’s website, additional outreach plans are in the works (Christians groups plan to offer downloads and DVDs). TheBlaze already covered that the evangelical leader plans to give away one million DVDs on university campuses .

With the project sparking outrage among atheists and non-believers, Comfort is expecting that he’ll be painted as a villainous character — a prediction that is already proving to be accurate.

“I’m no prophet, but I will predict is that there are going to be full-scale attacks on my character, because atheists want to stop this movie from being seen,” he explained. “Many of them are very angry. But for me, this is a hill to die on, and I’m ready for battle and for whatever that brings with it.”

“Evolution vs. God” will world premiere on July 22 in Sevierville, Tennessee.

To download this important new mini movie, please go to Ray Comfort's "Living Waters" website where you will see it listed. The link is: http://www.livingwaters.com/

THE GREAT COUNTERFEIT REVIVAL - SATAN'S TROJAN HORSE- A SUPERB SHORT VIDEO BY "WATCHMAN4WALES".

THE CHURCH IS BLISSFULLY UNAWARE OF HOW MUCH THEY ARE BEING MANIPULATED BY LEADERS WHO FOLLOW A HIDDEN AGENDA!!

BLISSFUL IGNORANCE

June 26, 2013 · by Eileen Thompson · in Christian Testimony, Defending The Faith, The Bible

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you ….. faithful is He that calls you.  1 Thess 5:17,18,24

        There are many Christians –  sometimes it seems like the majority – who are blissfully unaware of how and how much they are being manipulated by Leaders who follow a hidden agenda.

        The sheep are being ‘sheepled’ to trust them without question as they follow the deviant  path away from Bible TRUTH. The old ways are abandoned while this new way of thinking, this new vision takes hold.

         Instead of knowing exactly where a church stands doctrinally in the spectrum, denominations no longer separate , but are joined together in following teachings and management courses with a common aim [vision] to change their local area and more ambitiously, the world.

         Whatever their original denominational background – even their names no longer indicate that –  they have been seduced into buying into programmes such as Purpose Driven, Alpha Courses and the like , to supposedly bring success to the church and glory to God. This manufactured  ’unity’ is justified by the Lord Jesus’ prayer ‘that they may be one’ …. John 17:21   – a typical example of truth which is taken out of context and not rightly divided with other scriptures.

          Teachings once regarded and rejected as heresy [eg Word of Faith, Kingdom Now, Dominionism and Latter Rain] have been tolerated, assimilated, and eventually promoted in this noble cause of Unity, because the aim is to build a church without spot or blemish. The end justifies the means, and the Lord CANNOT return until this has been done.  I’m just staggered at the pride !

          Have the sheep been taught to question, exercise caution discern Bible truth or warned of wolves in their midst?  Obviously not – no dissent allowed.  Besides – they are kept happy with a diet of exciting preaching, beautiful worship, ‘anointed’ ministries, and a God who continually keeps them updated on what New Thing He is doing. If doubts do arise the believer is casually advised to ‘spit out the bones’ or ‘discard the rubbish’  !  What could be wrong?

         Well, for starters, where is the Bible, the word of God in all this?  Scripture is paid lip-service to in many cases simply to bolster support for false teaching as prophecies, visions and dreams are placed on a par with or even supersede Scripture.

          The sheep must submit to an authoritarian Leadership – in some churches having decisions made for them in their personal lives. This results in either a happy, but false humility or a fearful bondage to man. Your thinking has been done for you. This is cult behaviour and no true Christian should allow themselves to be trapped in it.

          Much of what is happening to the church at large [and the world in general]  is the result of Humanistic ‘transformation’ programmes – a dialectic process, which used to be called by it’s proper name of Brainwashing. Once you understand it, it explains such a lot of puzzling things that are going on these days.  Many Christians have fallen for it out of ignorance and naivety.  It shows itself in Management systems, political correctness, educational changes, health policies, church outreach and growth and buzz words.

           There are lots of revealing articles to be found on some really useful discernment web sites …. a google search should easily find them. Here are a few good ones:  ’ The Agenda & Teaching of the New Apostolic Reformation’  which is on the Apologetics Co-Ordination site,   ‘Creating Community’  on Crossroad site and ‘Are You in the Throes of Transformation?’ on Discernment Ministries international.

            There are two opposing views of the church in our day  - one sees an exciting revival around the corner as God ‘restores’  it to transform the world , the other sees a church becoming increasingly apostate in fulfillment of Bible prophecy for the last days. Which is correct?

  Well, I think Rev 3:17  and the many warnings by the Lord and His Apostles indicate the latter, don’t you?

           I am a natural coward and weak in myself  - especially as End Time believers are not promised an easy time, but it drives me to the Lord’s arms for refuge and reliance upon His word. He is faithful, merciful and our strength, for He cannot deny Himself. Who else can we go to?

For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall he hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.   Psalm 27:5

…. when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.    Psalm 61:2

My soul, wait only upon God, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my Rock and my salvation He is my defense, I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the Rock of my strength and my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times you people, pour out your heart before Him – God is a refuge for us.  Psalm 62: 5-8

THE VATICAN IS NOT THE HARLOT OF BABYLON IN REVELATION. GOOD ARTICLE HERE BY THEODORE SHOEBAT.

Vatican as the Harlot of Babylon: Debunked

By Theodore Shoebat

Is the Vatican the Hatlot of Babylon? Where did this idea originate from? Most will be shocked to find that some of the greatest enemies of Christianity were the ones who developed or supported this idea: Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism; Muhammad, founder of Islam; John Huss, founder of the Hussites; and many of the most depraved heretics in Church history.

So why do many Evangelicals believe them? The shocking truth from history should help us rethink one of the most tainted ideas in Protestant theology. Many Protestant and Evangelicals think that it was first said by the Protestant Reformers, such as Luther or Zwingli. But this is false. This idea actually can be traced all the way back to the Middle Ages, from a gnostic sect in southern France called the Albigensians. These held a doctrine first contrived by one heretic from the third century, named Mani. He lived in Mesopotamia and started a cult called Manichaeism, which held–amongst numerous beliefs–that they were two gods, one of evil and one of good; that Christ never came in the flesh and that the crucifixion was a fantasy.

In other words, they were an antichrist, and so dangerous were they that St. John warned:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (I John 4:3)

They also believed that the Incarnation of Christ never occurred; the sufferings of Christ and the Eucharist were an illusion, and even life itself was considered by Mani to be an abomination from which all of humanity should seek to be free.

This antihuman doctrine spread to Armenia where its subscribers called themselves Paulicians, and then this sect made its way to the Balkans where it influenced a man in Bulgaria named Bogomil, who would start his own cult in his country. Though Bogomilism went underground, it continued to grow like bacteria growing stronger in static murky water in the summer heat. It spread to Italy and by the twelfth century it made its way to France where its followers would call themselves Cathars, from the Greek word “pure.”

In a council conducted in Toulouse in 1119, presided by pope Calixtus II, the Cathars were anathematized as heretics. By 1165 the Cathars had become so numerous that they began to preach in the open, with the Catholic bishops too fearful to protest. They soon commenced to form their own church separate from Roman Catholicism, establishing as their own bishop one Barthelemy in their city of Albi, where they built the Cathar community–the strongest in southern France. It was because of this community in Abli that these heretics were called Albigensians. (1)

It was these Albigensians who affirmed the belief that the Roman Church was the Harlot of Babylon spoken of in the Book of Revelation. Because of this belief, the Albigensians sought out ways to utterly uproot Christianity from Europe. But for the sake of brevity I cannot describe all of their crimes, so I will mention one of the most significant. The head of this heretical group, Raymond of Toulouse, wanted the Muslims to destroy all of Christendom, and so sent his emissaries to the king of Morocco to give this request. (2)

We have heard many a time that it was the Catholic Church who collaborated with Muhammad, but the reality is that it was the Catholics who combated Islam while the heretics worked with the Muslims.

Who else taught that the Harlot of Babylon is the Catholic Church? There was another sect that came about in Bohemia in the 15th century called the Hussites, or followers of John Huss.

To read this in-depth article in full, please go to:
http://shoebat.com/2013/06/25/vatican-as-the-harlot-of-babylon-debunked/

OUR VERY OWN PAUL WILKINSON OF THE PWMI BEING INTERVIEWED LAST WEEK ON GARY STEARMAN'S "PROPHECY IN THE NEWS" TELEVISION PROGRAMME IN THE USA.

THE HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL "WHAT SIN" BY MORGAN CRYER. IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SIN IN YOUR LIFE, THEN PLEASE WATCH THIS!

CHRISTIAN CONCERN ON "CHURCH OF ENGLAND GIVES UP FIGHT OVER MARRIAGE"!!

Church of England gives up fight over marriage Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby   Bishop of Leicester, Timothy Stevens The Church of England has announced that it will no longer fight the same sex 'marriage' Bill. Statement from the Bishop of Leicester The statement was made by the Bishop of Leicester, who is the Convenor of the Lords Spiritual. He said: “Both Houses of Parliament have now expressed a clear view by large majorities on the principle that there should be legislation to enable same-sex marriages to take place in England and Wales. “It is now the duty and responsibility of the Bishops who sit in the House of Lords to recognise the implications of this decision and to join with other members in the task of considering how this legislation can be put into better shape...   “If this bill is to become law, it is crucial that marriage as newly defined is equipped to carry within it as many as possible of the virtues of the understanding of marriage it will replace.   “Our focus during committee and report stages in the coming weeks and months will be to address those points in a spirit of constructive engagement." You can read the full statement here > or the report in the Telegraph here > This effectively signals the end of the Church of England's official opposition to the Bill. Archbishop of Canterbury's speech Despite voting against the Bill (by voting for Lord Dear's "fatal motion") the Archbishop's position was unclear until he made his speech in the House of Lords. However, in his speech the Archbishop referred to "the strong and welcome contribution by the Bishop of Salisbury." This is a reference to the Bishop of Salisbury's letter to Lord Alli, in which he explains why he is sympathetic to "equal marriage." (See the letter here.) It is extremely disappointing that Archbishop Welby commended him for this contribution rather than rebuking him for advocating a position contrary to Scripture and the Church's teaching. The Archbishop also approved of the idea of same sex relationships in his speech, contrary to the Bible's teaching on homosexuality. He said: "It is clearly essential that stable and faithful same sex relationships should, where those involved want it, be recognised and supported with as much dignity and the same legal effect as marriage". A full transcript of the Archbishop's speech is available here > Please contact the Bishops Although ministers of the Church England, Bishops are uniquely placed to speak on behalf of all Christians. The Bible is clear that the Church does not exist to exercise the will of the State but the will of God. If there is a discrepancy between the two, the Church must follow the teaching of the Bible (Acts 5:29). At its best, the Church holds the State to account and promotes just laws in accordance with God's Word. Please contact the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Bishop of Leicester (Convenor of the Bishops in the House of Lords) to express your disappointment. Please call, write and email (contact details below). Here are a few of the points you can make: The Church does not exist to exercise the will of the State but the will of God. Where the two are at odds, the Church must follow the teaching of the Bible. (Acts 5:29) The Bible and the Church of England's own canons are clear in their position on marriage. This teaching should be preserved and protected by the Church's ministers. Many Christians look to the Bishops of the Church of England for guidance and direction. The lack of clarity and leadership on this issue from the Church of England has been very disappointing. The Church's engagement with the secular world should never become a capitulation to it. This is what appears to be happening with the Church of England's new position on this Bill.  Contact details Archbishop of Canterbury (The Most Rev and Rt Hon Justin Welby)   Telephone: Address: email: 020 7898 1200 Lambeth Palace, London, SE1 7JU   pa.archbishop@lambethpalace.org.uk Bishop of Leicester (The Rt Rev Timothy Stevens)   Telephone: Address: email: 011 6270 8985 Bishop's Lodge, 10 Springfield Road, Leicester, LE2 3BD bishop.tim@leccofe.org

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