Bible Belief Makes a Difference

by T.C. Pinckney                                                                                                  Vol. IV, No. 4, May 1991

The Washington Post reports that Episcopal bishop John S. Spong in a book published recently speculates that the Apostle Paul was a secret homosexual. "Nothing else," wrote Spong, "could account for Paul's self-judging rhetoric, his negative feeling toward his own body, and his sense of being controlled by something he had no power to change."

Bishop Spong apparently has no understanding of man's carnal sin-nature. Nothing else could account for his other-judging rhetoric, his negative feeling toward God's holy Word, and his sense of himself controlling that which only God has the power to change.

In a similar vein, The Washington Times reports that by a 9-6 vote a Presbyterian panel recommends that the Presbyterian Church (USA) should adopt a new sexual ethic that "will not condemn, out of hand, any sexual relations in which there is genuine equality and mutual respect." The Times writes, "The report condemns ‘heterosexism,' and said, ‘Homosexual love, no less and no more than heterosexual love, is right and good."' The church's general assembly will consider the report in June.

The Times notes, "Robert Campbell, president of the conservative Presbyterian Lay Committee in Springfield, PA, said the denomination's leadership ‘stacked' the task force with radical feminists and advocates of the homosexual lifestyle.” The report endorses homosexual sex, adolescent sex, and extramarital sex.

It is noteworthy that both Bishop Spong's pronouncements and the Presbyterian panel's report arrive at their conclusion through men's reasoning, not through seeking God's will in His Word. Where the Bible is not the guide for life's decisions, men will move further and further away from God until they are led to endorse that which He has said He hates, such as homosexuality.

It is generally observed that the sideline denominations have drifted further in that direction than has the SBC, as the above two reports show. However, until the conservative resurgence the SBC was on the same path. We can thank God that He has pulled the SBC back from the brink and that now our denomination is turning around. We should pray for the conservative groups in each of these other denominations, groups such as the Presbyterian Lay Committee mentioned above, who are working to redeem their denominations.