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The General Synod of the Church of England has officially passed a motion welcoming and affirming transgender people to the church.
Top bishops have declared that being LGBT is "not a sin."
Will Church of England's American sibling---the Episcopal Church, and others, soon do the same?
Yesterday, the day after this action, church activists in America were using the "courage" of the Church of England as a rally cry to follow their brothers and sisters in this new truth.
Sunday, the official church of the United Kingdom voted 4-1 in favor among Clergy, and 2-1 in favor among Laity to adopt the following statement:
"That this Synod, recognising the need for transgender people to be welcomed and affirmed in their parish church, call on the House of Bishops to consider whether some nationally commended liturgical materials might be prepared to mark a person's gender transition."
The church has voted to "welcome transgender people" by considering preparing a church service as a way to "mark a person's gender transition."
Arch Bishop of York, Dr. John Sentamu, said there was a need for vicars "to welcome and affirm, in their parish, transgendered people," adding that "the theology has to be done" by the House of Bishops, and "can be done very quickly."
On Saturday, the General Synod backed the ban on conversion therapy for Christians struggling with their sexuality, setting up this action on Sunday.
Arch Bishop Dr. Sentamu added, "LGBT orientation and identity is not a sickness. And LGBT orientation and identity is not a sin."
Bishop of Liverpool Paul Bayes repeated and affirmed Sentamu's words.
Vicar of Lancaster Priory Church, Chris Newlands, said, "I hope we can make a powerful statement that we believe trans people are cherished and loved by God, who created them."
This is a snapshot of deception. People who claim to represent God, openly disagreeing with God.
The Bible--- God's Word---is very clear that our Creator created 2 kinds of humans---male and female.
These statements further disagree with God's plan of redemption for fallen mankind.
The deception is put forth as a half truth. Certainly God loves us---all of us--- in our sin and accepts us just as we are. That is God's Truth. John 3:16 affirms that Truth.
However, to suggest that God's Word is somehow evolving, and that now by edict of church leadership what was once sin is no longer sin, is the heart of deception.
It says we no longer need His redemption through His only begotten Son, because we have declared we are not sinful.
John is clear on that kind of thinking (I John 1:8), "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." John continues in verse 9: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
The narrative of deception is always a half truth. This deception would parallel that recorded in Genesis 3.
The deceiver says, "Has God indeed said," the woman answers, "yes, God has said" ...more conversation... the deceiver says, "You will surely not die"...in fact, if you eat the fruit, you will become "like God, your eyes will be opened."
This is the problem in the modern, liberal church today---leadership is trying to become "like God," revising God's Word to "relate" to a culture that is more and more turning away from their churches.
The homosexual community seeks the welcome, but rejects the redemption and forgiveness of sin, rather demanding "affirmation" of the sin.
And the liberal church is so weakened from "a form of godliness, but denying the power of the gospel" that it rushes to accommodate the sin, to gain another member for an empty pew.
This is done under the guise of loving and accepting and welcoming all people.
If church leaders really "loved" people they would share the true message of God's love and His power to transform and deliver us all---because all of us have sinned and come short, and are in need of redemption deliverance and restoration.
Thankfully, not all Anglican leaders are falling to deception.
The Archbishop of Canterbury says he is holding to biblical teaching on human sexuality, including the biblical definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.
The Global Anglican Future Conference has taken steps to stand against the deception .
The GAFCON says the Western World is "abandoning Christian heritage," and are warning that a number of UK churches are "under pressure to compromise clear Christian teaching in the face of secular humanist philosophy."
They say, "Even faithful clergy do not feel free to give clear teaching on key topics such as sexual ethics or the uniqueness of Christ."
The Archbishop of Nigeria, Nicholas Okoh, seems to be leading the resistance to redefining Scripture, human sexuality and marriage.
He told Christian Post, "This attempt to redefine marriage is not a secondary issue about which we can agree to disagree and continue to walk together. It means that Jesus was mistaken when He taught that marriage was between a man and a woman and that sex outside of such a marriage is a sin."
He said, "It is a radical rejection of the authority of Scripture. The Church claims that it can consecrate behavior that God's Word clearly teaches to be sinful. According to the Bible, this behavior, without repentance, separates those who practice it from His Kingdom."
Straight talk.
I would add for those clergy of any Christian group or denomination who also do not feel free to give clear teaching on these issues--- Silence is also sin, particularly when you are "called" to speak for God.
Be Informed. Be Faithful. Be Bold.