Sunday, November 2, 2003 was a tragic day for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in America. It was the day that the Reverend V. Gene Robinson was consecrated to be the Episcopal Bishop of New Hamphire. Gene Robinson is a practicing homosexual who was given the highest position in the Episcopal Church in New Hampshire. The Episcopal church has been divided by this act of rebellion, but it continues to move forward.

V. Gene Robinson was the Canon to the Ordinary for the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire since 1988, where he coordinated the diocesan staff and ministry of the Office of the Bishop. Since 1983 he has served as Executive Secretary of the Episcopal Province of New England, and since 2001 on the Board of Trustees, General Theological Seminary.

On the Diocese of New Hampshire web site you can find the convictions of Gene Robinson.

He says in one section, "Because we live in a complex world, and because we don't ask our members to check their minds at the door, faithful Episcopalians will continue to disagree on whether abortion is a moral choice, whether dioceses should be forced to open their ordination processes to women, or whether faithful gay and lesbian relationships should be celebrated and not just tolerated. The particular answer to any of these questions is less important to me than how we as a Church deliberate about them. Are we prayerful about them, listening for God's voice instead of our own egos? Do we truly value the people who hold an opposing view, while disagreeing with their position? And most of all, can we continue to come to the communion rail, humbly receive the Body and Blood of Christ, respecting the dignity of those who disagree with us. I believe we can. And must."

Notice some of his statements:
1. The particular answer to any of these questions is less important to me than how we as a Church deliberate about them.
2. Are we prayer about them, listening for God's voice instead of our own egos?
3. Can we continue to come to the communion rail, humbly receive the Body and blood of Christ?

His statements have a ring of truth. But a false teacher will always carry much truth with error. I agree with Gene that it is important how we discuss the questions of our faith. But it is also critical to know that there are answers to the questions. And the answers are important because truth is truth. It does not change. Gene Robinson would like to ignore the answers to the questions, so that he can continue in his rebellion against the Lord.

The Word of God is clear on the subject of homosexuality. Romans 1:26 says For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

Paul declares that the "gay life style" is one of degrading passions, a lifestyle that is unnatural, and one of indecents acts. Common sense alone would tell us that the lifestyle is wrong. But we have clear indication from God's Word that it wrong. In fact Paul concludes his statement by saying a time would come when this lifestyle would receive the due penalty of their error. God would bring judgment upon them for their rebellion.

Gene Robinson statement that we need to listen to God's voice immediately leads to the question, "Where do we receive truth from God?" Is it through impressions, feelings, dreams, or just the reasoning of man himself? There is not one of us who has not made decisions in life based on impressions, feelings, dreams, or our own reasoning. But the guide is not our impression, our feelings, or etc. Our guide is the sure Word of God. When our impressions and our feelings go against the revealed Word of God, then our impressions or feelings are wrong. No matter how strongly we may feel about something, Truth from God's Word is still truth. In fact Gene Robinson has stated that the Bible say that homosexuality is wrong. Gene just doesn't want to follow the Word of God.

Gene statement about coming to the Lord Supper table while engaged in a lifestyle of rebellion against God allows people to come. But Scripture is clear about the real and present danger of taking the Lord's Supper while in open rebellion. Paul calls us to examine our lives before we partake of the bread and the cup. Many in Corinth were sick and or had died because they came to the table of our Lord while in open rebellion. Gene Robinson is leading people to face the judgment of God.

In fact we have in Gene Robinson a classic example of false teacher. Peter says of the false teacher, "Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep." (2 Peter 2:2-3).

The tragedy of all of this is that the Episcopal Church approved him. The downward spiral of the church in America grows stronger each day. How do we stem the tide that moves us to an abyss from which there is no recovery? Some will say do not worry about it, it will go away. No it will not!

This is just another step on the slippery slope to the destruction of the life that we know in America. the homosexual advance in the Episcopal Church will not be limited to the election of Bishop Robinson. The October 29, 2003 edition of The Washington Times reveals that the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C. plans to develop rites for homosexual "marriages" for his diocese. Bishop John B. Chane claims that a resolution passed during the recent Episcopal General Convention gives him permission to move in this direction.

We are called to take a stand. As Martin Luther, there are times that we say, "Here I stand, I can do no other." We are people of God's Word. May we proclaim it boldly with love, as we work to be salt and light in America and in the world.