Gospel outweighs staying Anglican

https://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2007/03/05/0305edepiscopal.html

[ajc.com] 5 Mar 2007--I believe the Episcopal Church is playing a prophetic role in its movement to full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the life of the church. For many Episcopalians, this is an issue of both love and justice.

There are those who say the Episcopal Church is disregarding the authority of Scripture. I respond that we are being led by the Holy Spirit into a fuller understanding of the Gospel.

I am constantly amazed at the self-deception of liberal Episcopalians.

The Gospel as taught in the New Testament is that God was in Jesus Christ, reconciling the world to himself. Humankind is in a state of rebellion against God who created us and therefore under God's wrath. God is holy, indeed He is the source of all holiness, and God's wrath is the only possible reaction of a holy God to our rebellion. In order to bring about this reconciliation, Jesus bore our sins. He died in our place on the cross and made full atonement for the sins of the whole world. His sacrifice was perfect and once for all time. Those who believe in Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, and submit to Christ's rule over their lives receive forgiveness of their sins and eternal life. They enjoy a restored relationship with God. Those who do not remain under God's wrath.

Patricia Templeton's understanding of the Gospel strays far from what the Scriptures teach. Since the Holy Spirit is ultimately the author of the New Testament, how can Patricia Templeton claim that The Episcopal Church is being led by the Holy Spirit into a "fuller understanding" of the Gospel? God does not contradict Himself. What Patricia Templeton is rejecting is the Anglican insistance that any claims of special inspiration by the Holy Spirit should be tested against what the Scriptures teach. The Episcopal Church is making such claims. These claims, however, do not pass this critical test. The Episcopal Church may choose to leave the Anglican Communion but it is disengenous to claim that The Episcopal Church should leave for the sake of the Gospel. The true Gospel is not being served here but a false Gospel that The Episcopal Church has substituted for the real Gospel. The New Testament condemns as accursed those who would preach any Gospel other than the true Gospel. The Episcopal Church needs to repent and to repent soon lest its members perish in their sins and face a godless eternity.