Back almost two years ago when the Rev. Gene Robinson was confirmed as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church's history, it sent a shock wave through the entire Conservative Christian community. While it had been know for years that openly homosexual men were operating as priests throughout several Protestant denominations, never before had any been elevated to this rank. Although homosexuals have a long history of involvement in the Christian ministry, it hasn?t been until just recently that they?ve been emerging from their closets and voicing pride over their deviant sexuality orientation. To the best of my knowledge it has only been the Roman Catholic Church that continues to maintain a ?don?t ask ? don?t tell? policy with respect to its homosexual clergy. According to Latin Rite, any one entering the priesthood must swear an oath of celibacy regardless of sexual orientation. As described in the encyclical, "Sacerdotalis Caelibatus" by Pope Paul VI in 1967, celibacy in the priesthood is an act of imitating Christ, who Himself was celibate. Doing so is an act of sacrificial love where the priest gives himself totally to the service of God and the Church in preparation for the coming Kingdom of God, where Christ said, "In the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven" (Mt 22:30).
Personally speaking, I feel it?s bad enough that this Christian ?Bishop? Robinson proclaims himself an openly professed homosexual which directly contradicts nature and the teachings of the Holy Bible in the first place, but now he?s got the chutzpah to be giving words of praise to Planned Parenthood - an organization responsible for the murder of millions of unborn children! How is it that a respected denomination of Christianity chose to elevate this kind of a man to such a high position of theological authority? Being an old school Catholic who?s lived with religious discrimination throughout most of my life - due in part to the many historical misgivings of my own church - I believe I?m the last person who should be criticizing other forms of Christian worship, but am I the only one here that notices the rapid decline in the moral message coming from those claiming to be authorities on the subject?
What troubles me so is the fact that so many out there have become so desensitized to evil representing itself in shades of grey that they just go about their lives indifferent to the fact that the walls of morality are crumbling around them. Sadly, we live in a world filled with moral relativism which is tearing at the very fabric of our decent society. So many things that used to be considered wrong are now being portrayed as liberating or acceptable. I could be mistaken here, but I tend to think that most people have got to be getting sick and tired of waking up every morning and seeing the lines that once distinguished the difference between good and evil keep getting more and more blurred every day. I mean, look at what?s being spewed across our TV sets and making news in the tabloids. Without a doubt, we are living in an age were confusion reigns supreme and make no mistake about it folks; confusion only comes from the devil.
I firmly believe that those who choose to preach about the goodness of the Lord should do so without changing the rules as they go along. Be mindful that the true heart of a man shows in the example they set for others. Simply put, if you are out there abusing your church given authority by teaching others that evil is good you are clearly in opposition to God?s plan and have no business ministering biblical truth to others.
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. - 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
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