The Anglican Church and Necessary Apologies?

An MSN article just came out regarding the Anglican Church of Wales and their apparent apology to homosexual/LGBT members. What exactly is going on? Were they correct to make such an apology, or are they just pandering to those members? There are a couple things I want to look at regarding what happened, because we need a Biblical perspective.

There were several things that the Anglican Church of Wales felt compelled to confess, the most obvious being a perceived (or real) un-Christian attitude that certain members of the church leadership had displayed toward homosexuals and LGBT members. The open letter stated that certain Christians (in general) and Anglican leaders (in particular) had acted unfairly and inappropriately.

“The Christian Church, including Anglicans, has often acted in a way towards people on the basis of their sexual orientation that has caused deep hurt.”

Unfortunately that kind of animosity, coming from those who profess a relationship to Christ (and have been forgiven themselves) is rampant within the church. I am ashamed at some of the repulsive and hateful things that have been hurled at those who are under the burden of sexual deviancy, or any other sin for that matter, all “in the name of Jesus.” Call it what you want, but that is hatred.

Point well made.

“The letter conveyed the decision of a meeting of Anglican leaders, the Primates of the Anglican Communion. It said the Primates “condemned homophobic prejudice and violence…”

While I get tired of hearing the same, lame term ‘homophobic’ (not a real word, BTW) employed so much, I understand what they mean. No disciple of Jesus should ever feel comfortable verbalizing animosity toward sinners. And as far as violence is concerned, who in their right mind would think that Christ approves of any type of vigilante ‘justice’ in the Kingdom of God?

If the Primates (those in leadership positions within the Anglican church) had been hostile or violent toward anyone, then an apology is the least that they should offer! Those who have such positions in the church – Anglican or any other denomination – are directly responsible to Christ for the way they treat the people of God;

Heb 13:17

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

It may be that leadership within the Anglican Church of Wales knowingly belittled or were hostile toward church members who are practicing homosexuals/LGBT. If that was the case then an apology is appropriate. Was their action wrong in apologizing? No, it wasn’t.

In trying to rectify the damage done, the letter stated that these Primates;

“…affirmed their commitment again to offer pastoral care and loving service irrespective of sexual orientation.”

So far this all sounds appropriately Scriptural to me.

The letter went on to state that they (the Primates);

“…expressed their profound sorrow and affirmed again that God’s love for every human being is the same, regardless of their sexuality, and that the Church should never by its actions give any other impression.”

Up until this point it seems that the leadership of the Anglican Church of Wales is trying to right an obvious wrong. Good for them! Of course homosexuals should be treated with respect, just as much as anyone should be treated respectfully by Christians. But that, I suspect,  isn’t the issue at all.

What then IS the real issue? It seems to me that there are, apparently,  people within the Anglican church (and everywhere else, too) who are comfortable with their sin. They have not repented.

Instead of turning from a lifestyle that leads to destruction they insist that others in the church condone their actions. They don’t want to hear that homosexuality is wrong (or whatever other pet sin they entertain), and they are offended when pastors tell them so. That is a dangerous, perilous place to be when you claim to follow Christ.

In attempting to placate those same people, the Primates offered ‘prayers’ that church members can say in place of an actual, official and sanctifying ceremony of marriage. It seems that the Primates want to keep people within the church at the expense of watering down the truth.

To apologize for committing error is one thing (and completely appropriate), but to apologize for stating what is clearly revealed in the Word of God is an affront to all that Christ has done for us. After all, He came to save us from sin, not to make allowances for indulging in it.

The Word of God has some stern warnings regarding those who want to hear what they prefer, rather than hearing the truth;

2 Tim 4:1-4

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

The Word also has some stern warnings given to those who, once they have heard the truth of God’s Word, refuse to change their practices;

Rom 1:28-32

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Gal 5:19-21

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Homosexuality , just as are other sexually deviant behaviors, is sin. The whole point of Christ’s life death and resurrection is that He offers sinners, meaning ALL of us, the opportunity to live His life;

Rom 6:1-4

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

It is NOT hatred to tell someone that what they are doing will bring them harm, regardless of whether the person receives the message or not. This is especially true of those who confess that they know Christ and have been Born Again!

And no, there is no such thing as a “homosexual Christian.” Just as there is no such thing as a Murdering Christian, a Pedophile Christian, a Thieving Christian or anything else like that.

It doesn’t mean that we are perfect once we come to Christ, it simply means that we realize we are far from it. We invite Jesus to lead His life through us, and share the offer of that life with others we meet.

No apologies needed.