Episcopal ‘Dissidents’

I heard about this on the radio this morning–yes I said radio, they do still work–and had to look it up. I found this article entitled Episcopal Diocese Wants ‘Abandoned’ Churches Back

Here’s a quote that troubles me:

“Because we believe that God’s promises to his people continue to be reliable, we will seek the return of the churches of the Diocese of Virginia that are occupied by dissidents,” Virginia Bishop Peter Lee said in a letter to the diocese on Thursday.

Here’s another one from the Washington Post:

The dispute is part of a much broader, years-long conflict between a minority group of conservatives and the Episcopal Church, which is the U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion. The congregations think church leadership does not follow a proper reading of Scripture, particularly on the issue of homosexuality.

There are several things I see here that really bother me.

1. The use of the word ‘dissident’
The last time I heard that word it was in reference to guys like Sakarov and Alexander Solzehynitzen–you know, by the KGB of the USSR (READ large Athiest nation with nuclear weapons.) I know that now its just plain old Russia but the conotations are still the same. A dissident isn’t just someone who bucks the status quo, they are people who stand for something that goes completely against what the group in power represents. I was under the impression that the ‘dissidents’ broke away because the others elected a gay bishop in addition to some other very liberal takes on things like the Bible.

2. Litigation among church members is shameful.
I mean these folks still call themselves Christians but one group (the liberals) are suing the other group (the conservatives) to regain the properties where the breakaway churches meet. One of the quotes that explains why they are doing this: “In the structure of the Episcopal Church, individuals may come and go but parishes continue.” I have to say that I can appreiate this in that it is their polity. Thats how they do things, apparently. Some do not seem to agree with it.

3. The SBC could be next
What really bothers me about all this is that the ‘conservative’ group are being demonized for standing up for Biblical principles. Brace yourself folks, its going to happen more and more. I’ve read articles about Baptists having the same issues in churches that have gone to the Purpose Driven ‘model’ or whatever. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure that trouble is brewing. And while I realize that there is a ‘conservative’ group in control of the SBC right now, there still seems to be are great number of folks who are making a lot noise along the lines of how wide the tent is and things like that. I don’t know how its going to work out.

I think that all these Southern Baptists in the SBC who are blowing the separation trumpet should realize that this is the sort of thing that we are facing should there be a major split in the SBC. Seminaries, church property, Convention properties are all going to be in question. Church properties not so much as they are, for the most part, owned by the local congregations. However, there are a whole bunch of church plants that receive funding for rental fees or who rely on local Association or NAMB funding to pay for their meeting places.

If it goes past the bombastic rhetoric stage that we saw last year I think it’s going to get ugly.

4. Go figure
I still can’t figure out where they get anything remotely accepting of homosexuality out of any portion of the Bible. Hey I’ve read the thing too.

Unbound

I was reading this when I came across this link to the ESV blog. (The ESV is probably the best translation I’ve ever read so go get one if you don’t have one.

The post is at least as convicting as anything else I have read about our blogger attitudes. It’s important to realize, as I have noted in a few places, that we should watch what we post and for what reason.

Trust me, if we don’t watch, the world is.

Thats why whenever I come across a post like this one: I am humbled and grateful for the reminder that our actions are to be humble and child-like and they are to reflect Christ–not the argument of the week. Thats a tall order. It’s also one that we fail at miserably on a regular basis.

I read the article by Challies quoted by the ESV Blog when it was published and agreed with it. That was one of the reasons I stopped reading most of the more polemic SBC blogs I was combing through at the time. I am further convicted–though I’m not sure how this is going to play out day to day–about my own blogging tendencies.

I just hope the rest of the SBC community gets the point.

I still agree with Luther that there is a point where you have to assert yourself. There is a point where disagreement must be made. He first used the quill against Rome–and then the hammer.

Pray through these things brothers and sisters and see if they match up with God’s Word–then post. I think thats the only way to do it.

The Asking

I’m in Mark 9 right now in my reading. I try to cycle through the New Testament as often as I can, stopping and trying to understand particular verses when they get my attention. These verses here in verses 33-50 of chapter 9 certainly did that.

There was an argument among the disciples. They were discussing who was the greatest among them. When Jesus caught them they weren’t surprised (I mean we’re talking about Jesus here, they probably didn’t get away with much) but they were embarrassed. Or so it seems when I read it. Verse 35 tells us that Jesus sat down with them, the twelve, and said: “If anyone would be first he must be last of all and servant of all,” and then he does something that seems out of place. He takes a child into his arms and says to them that if they really want to be great in the way God measures greatness they should be like this child.

Now before I go any further here let me say that I don’t think Jesus is talking about innocence, which seems to be the standard Baptist interpretation. He was talking to grown men full of faults and fully conscious of their own sin. Abram, Moses, David and Ruth all murders of one sort or the other—yet used by God and ‘In the kingdom of heaven.’ Matthew 18:1-3 says “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

My personal opinion is that children are just the best. As long as their needs are met and they’re not pushed too far beyond their limits they will—for the most part—behave well if they know what’s expected of them. Good, bad, or wild—a child can steal your heart in a moment by the very fact that they must be humble on occasion. There are things they are incapable of doing on their own and they know it. If they need help sometimes the sneaky ones will cajole and manipulate but for the most part, they just ask.

This is probably the most important aspect of this sort of humbleness: the asking. So many times we come to an event or a decision bare handed and just plow right in. We’re adults though, not children, and its been awhile since we had trouble getting our own shoes tied. Children ask for help and when confronted with something they most do but are incapable of doing they will ask long and loud and fervently. Grown-ups are about doing. They’re about commanding and taking and getting. They don’t ask, they get! No humbleness, no prayerful requests. “Lord, give us this and that. Look at us. We’re praising you. We’re worshipping you. Give us our way!” Many a spiritual temper tantrum has been thrown in the pulpit because of some perceived need or want or emergency ministry opportunity that’s gone unfulfilled as if God is suddenly surprised by anything that happens.

Another thing about children is that they are generally content. Children will play anywhere. They will frolic in the face of disaster, they will make toys out of shell casings in a war zone. They are content—especially when they have their parents. It’s always amazed me how a child can be embroiled in a crisis but be still and calm if they know someone else is taking care of the things they can’t. They are not ashamed of what they are. They’ll crawl up in your lap and pop a thumb in their mouth and just be with you while the world rolls up around you and jumps in a hand basket.

Humble, content, and, lastly, eager to please—they want to do good things that please their parents. With our own children we accept what they do and correct them on the really bad things and cherish all of it. While there are obvious similarities here between the life of a child and the spiritual life of an adult, sooner or later the analogy breaks down. Paul reminds us that that there is a time to put down ‘childish things’. The time for sitting content passes by and we reach the point in our lives where we must pray…and then do. We must sit for a while with the Father…then stand up to ‘Go’.

I think there are at least two more posts on this passage for this week and maybe another next week.

Edit: That just shows what I know. *chuckle

Other Posts In This Series:

1. The Asking
2. Good ol’ Gamaliel
3. You Just Thought I Missed It
4. Millstones Don’t Float
5. Preparation
6. The Salt of the Earth
7. Lazy Boy