A Homosexual Bishop? Are We Overlooking the Obvious?

Warm greetings to you all!

How many of us sometimes "overlook the obvious"? A case in point is the unbiblical reasoning that led the Episcopal Church in the USA to elect an openly homosexual priest as a bishop. The Episcopal General Convention recently voted by a two-thirds majority to approve this appointment.

Many convention delegates were saddened and shocked by the decision. As the Associated Press reported, "Immediately after results were announced, more than a dozen conservative bishops walked to the podium of the House of Bishops, surrounding Pittsburgh Bishop Robert Duncan who read a statement saying he and the others felt 'grief too deep for words… This body willfully confirming the election of a person sexually active outside of holy matrimony has departed from the historic faith and order of the Church of Jesus Christ,' Duncan said."

The newly elected bishop said that "his opponents were right that the decision was contrary to the church's traditional teaching against homosexuality. 'Just simply to say that it goes against tradition and the teaching of the church and Scripture does not necessarily make it wrong,' he said. 'We worship a living God, and that living God leads us into truth.'" (The Charlotte Observer, "Episcopal vote OKs 1st openly gay bishop," p. 9A, August 6, 2003).

But is the new bishop overlooking an obvious truth? Read Romans 1:24-26. The Apostle Paul plainly labels homosexuality and its practice as "vile passions" and further states that those who "dishonor their bodies among themselves… exchanged the truth of God for the lie." How can any Christian who believes the Bible support a "lie"? Yet, that is exactly what is happening! A church is supporting a "lie" by calling it a new truth! Incredible!

My friends, the Bible plainly teaches that homosexuality is sin. By supporting homosexuality as "truth" these people are admitting that they do not accept the Bible—Old Testament or New Testament—as the authoritative Word of the Creator God. The Apostle Peter wrote of Paul's epistles, "which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures" (2 Peter 3:16). Homosexual clerics and their followers are overlooking the obvious, by twisting and even rejecting Scripture "to their own destruction."

I saw a television interview of a conservative theologian who was attending the Episcopal convention. A broadcast journalist asked him, "If the Bible so plainly teaches that homosexuality is a sin, how do you explain this liberal trend in the church?" He answered that the seminaries are falsely teaching that the Bible is not divinely inspired and authoritative. Thus, many clerics feel free to establish their own interpretations, contradicting plain biblical teachings. It is no wonder, then, that millions are overlooking the obvious!

Some critics have referred to such seminaries as cemeteries, where clerics try to bury the truth. Even Jesus condemned the religious leaders of His day for leading the people into massive error. He exclaimed, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matthew 23:27-29).

How many are teaching lawlessness, or teaching lifestyles that transgress the divine law of God? My friends, God gives us fundamental, easy-to-understand moral laws, including the Ten Commandments. Although current liberal theology falsely labels the Ten Commandments as "out of date," they are just as current as the law of gravity!

Why do so many supposed religious leaders reject the Ten Commandments? Are they influenced by a "spirit of error"? Let us understand. There are unseen forces persuading millions of professing Christians to sin. As the Apostle Paul wrote concerning those who allow themselves to be blinded spiritually: "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them" (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

Those who want to do evil, and yet be thought of as "good" Christians, are overlooking the obvious. Their minds have become "blinded" to what a true Christian, with the help of God's Holy Spirit, will recognize as the obvious truth of God and His Word.

The "god of this age" is Satan the devil "who deceives the whole world" (Revelation 12:9). The Bible reveals that Satan has ministers who appear as "enlightened" theologians. The Apostle Paul states: "For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works" (2 Corinthians 11:14-15).

Sexual immorality is increasing in our Western world as media broadcasts the false doctrine that society is free to follow unbridled passions. Willing millions become slaves to sin, and seek to justify their own wickedness. Hoping to rationalize their licentious behaviors as "righteousness," gullible people follow false ministers in the name of Christianity. As the prophet Jeremiah wrote: "An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power; and My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?" (Jeremiah 5:30-31). God will judge those who overlook the obvious teachings of His Word. Jeremiah records God's judgment: "'Shall I not punish them for these things?' says the LORD. 'Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?'" (v. 29).

God plainly states that homosexual behaviors are an "abomination" (Leviticus 18:22). Nations such as the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands, whose people are encouraging religious and legal approval of homosexual unions, will pay the penalty for transgressing the laws of Heaven. May our peoples wake up to the truth. May they reject the smooth persuasions of religious leaders and others who turn light into darkness. As the prophet Isaiah declared: "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).

Many "conservative" church groups around the world do recognize the plain and obvious biblical teaching on homosexuality. But many have overlooked other vital aspects of the obvious and fundamental faith "once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). Let us pray that as individuals and churches turn to the Bible for instruction, their blindness may be removed and that they all – and that we all – may return fully to the true Christianity of Jesus Christ!

God's judgment is coming! Do not be deceived by false doctrines that call sexual perversion "God's gift." Rather, seek God's truth – in this matter as in all matters — and you will find true freedom (John 8:32, 31)! My friends, do not overlook the obvious!

This is Richard Ames, with commentary for the Living Church of God.