EPISCOPAL BISHOP EXALTS HOMOSEXUALITY TO CIVIL RIGHTS STATUS

EPISCOPAL PLAN TO EXALT HOMOSEXUALITY TO CIVIL RIGHTS STATUS

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October 27, 1999 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - An Episcopalian bishop has proposed a plan that gives homosexuals civil rights status. The plan, called The Cambridge Accord, was authored by Bishop Steven Charleston, president of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It has been sent to the 800 Anglican bishops around the world, and 35 of them have already expressed support. These include bishops from the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, Honduras, and Brazil. Frank Griswold, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA, while not specifically signing on to the Cambridge Accord, stated recently that "there should be no debate among us about human rights for all people…" He was referring to homosexuals (Ecumenical News International, Oct. 11, 1999).

The following are the three statements from the Cambridge Accord:

*That no homosexual person should ever be deprived of liberty, personal property, or CIVIL RIGHTS because of his or her sexual orientation.

*That all acts of violence, oppression, and DEGRADATION against homosexual persons are wrong and cannot be sanctioned by an appeal to the Christian faith.

* That every human being is created equal in the eyes of God and therefore DESERVES TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. "We appeal to people of good conscience from every nation and religious creed to join us in embracing this simple Accord as our global claim to human rights not only for homosexual men and women, but for all God’s people."

Though this plan has the appearance of compassion, it is a very dangerous and unscriptural plan. Whenever the above language becomes public policy backed by penalty of law, the rights of Bible-believing Christians will be infringed and churches will be persecuted. It is impossible for a Bible-believing Christian to treat the unrepentant homosexual with "dignity and respect" in the manner which the latter demands, because the Bible condemns homosexuality as wickedness. The Bible does not dignify sodomy. In Romans chapter one, homosexuality is called "vile affections" (v. 26), "against nature" (v. 26), "unseemly" (v. 27), "a reprobate mind" (v. 28), "not convenient" (v. 28).

The Christian is thus under obligation before God to condemn homosexuality and to call upon the homosexual to repent of his sin. Note the following Scripture:

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret" (Ephesians 5:11,12).

The Cambridge Accord calls upon Christians to avoid anything that would DEGRADE the homosexual, but the homosexual has already degraded himself or herself by vile immoral acts.

The Bible says homosexuality is a very grave sin. While it is true that there are many sins other than homosexuality and all sin is wicked before God, and while it is true that any sin can be forgiven through the blood of Jesus Christ, the Bible does not say that all sin is the same in its effect in this world. God did not pour out fire and brimstone upon Sodom because of its jealousy or covetousness or lack of hospitality. He did not pour out fire and brimstone upon Sodom even because of its adultery. It was specifically because of its homosexuality (Genesis 19; Jude 7). Though all moral sins are evil in God’s eye, homosexuality is especially corrupt because it is a sin against nature itself. It destroys the very fabric of society, which is the family as defined biblically--a man and a woman united in holy matrimony rearing children to fear God and to be productive citizens. Homosexuality is to "change the natural use into that which is against nature" (Romans 1:26).

Homosexuals and fornicators and drunkards and all other sinners are invited to come to Jesus Christ and be saved from their sin, but the grace of God does not lead people to continue in their sin.

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:9-11).

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY, AND PURIFY UNTO HIMSELF A PECULIAR PEOPLE, ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee" (Titus 2:11-15).