Ndayisenga breaks with African bishops

Commentary by Robin G. Jordan

Archbishop of Barundi Samuel Ndayisenga has adopted a conciliatory tone toward the revisionist Episcopal Church USA, pleading the extreme poverty of his people and the great need for the American Church's financial assistance. The Christian Post has hailed this move as a break-through in the growing rift between the Episcopal Church USA and the global South Anglican provinces. How this can be viewed as a break-through boggles the mind. Archbishop Ndayisenga has chosen to place money before principles and is making the right noises so that the American Church will extend to his province its largess. Simply put, Ndayisenga has been bought off.

Archbishop Ndayisenga should remember that there is "good money" and "bad money". The money he is accepting is "bad money". Ndayisenga needs to remember what happened to Israel when Israel chose to seek the help of idolatrous Egypt instead of trusting in the one true living God. The idolaters failed Israel and God permitted Israel's enemies to defeat her. The Episcopal Church USA is an idolatrous church. Instead of worshiping the Holy One of Israel and following His Son, the American Church worships an idol shaped by a particular life style, a life style that is sexually immoral and gravely sinful, and follows a false Christ of its own making. Members of the American Church have also turned to pagan gods whose worship God has forbidden. Ndayisenga would do well to remember what the Bible says about walking with evil men. In allying himself with the American Church he has sold his soul to the devil.

We must not forget that this rift is not just a conflict over beliefs and values, a clash of world views. It is a spiritual conflict. Those who hold to a Biblical worldview know that behind this conflict is the ruler of this present world--Satan himself. It is he who spies out men's weaknesses and tempts them. He well knows how to use money to cause men - especially those in positions of leadership - to compromise their principles. No good will come from Archbishop Ndayisenga's decision to not stand firm with his fellow African bishops.