wu4.25.08

So many have asked for a copy of last week's sermon, that I'm re-printing it here in leui of a weekly article. The second part of this series will be delivered on Sunday. Hope to see you there.

This Sunday is different from other Sundays. Threats and challenges to this body have arisen in recent days that are too great to simply pass over or ignore. And so I've set aside the Sunday lectionary in order to deal as carefully as possible with them. If you're a guest this morning or missed out on Christian education or missed the newspaper on Friday you may not have heard, but the Diocese of Central New York has filed a lawsuit against this parish. If successful, they'll gain control of our property, the rectory and this church building, our financial assets including: endowments, bequests, and bank accounts, and everything movable within the church building itself: the vestments, altar, lectern, organ, piano, prayerbooks, bibles, pews, computers, sound equipment, everything.

The days and months ahead promise to be difficult.

I think it vital that we step back and review what brought us to this point. Beginning this morning and continuing for the next two weeks, we'll answer three questions: First; why we must do what we are doing. Second: what consequences do we face; third: why God allows suffering and what he accomplishes through it.

So: why we must do what we're doing. In 2003, the Episcopal Church voted, as a body, to allow same sex blessings on a local basis, to let bishops permit blessings in their dioceses as they saw fit. That same convention gave corporate consent to the election of Canon Gene Robinson, a divorced man, living in a non-celibate same sex relationship with another man, to the office of bishop. The effect of both actions was to officially declare that homosexual behavior ought no longer to be considered sinful.

At first glance this may not seem like a big deal. If you keep up with the news, after all, then you know that "science" has proven that some people are born with internal predispositions toward homosexual behavior. This "advance" in scientific knowledge, in fact, is often cited by the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church as the principle justification for the contemporary decision to bless sexual behavior that the bible condemns.

And, indeed, there is some evidence that many argue points to that conclusion.

At the same time, and we mustn't forget this, there is also evidence that male promiscuity, alcoholism, and kleptomania among other desires and impulses may arise from genetic or biological "predispositions" as well.

And so to say that some human beings may be born with an inclination to behave in a certain way says very little about whether it is right to act on the basis of that inclination.

Christians especially must be wary of that kind of argument because the bible teaches us that human nature is fallen; that humanity as a whole has turned away from God and as a result humans are born with orientations or impulses that turn us away from God and toward ourselves. In his letter to the believers in Ephesus chapter 2 Paul writes this:

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” ( Ephesians 2:1-4 )

There is this inborn, natural pull toward sin that effects us all. For that reason we cannot uncritically embrace our natural desires and say that they are good just because they're there.

We must measure our impulses and desires by the light of a standard that itself is not subject to our fallen weaknesses. That means the standard cannot be one that finds its origin with humanity. That's why Paul says later in Ephesians 2 , that scripture, the word of the prophets and apostles, is the foundation of the Church, Jesus Christ being her chief Cornerstone. Though written by humans, scripture originated and was inspired by God and through it God shines his light into our darkness so that we can see Truth. Otherwise we would remain blinded sin.

Well what do the scriptures say about homosexual behavior?

The first direct command is found in the book of Leviticus 18:22 , “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.”

Now, why would God care what two consenting adults choose to do? When you study Old Testament law you discover that together, if followed perfectly, the levitical laws serve to undo the effects of the fall, to restore a state of being like that which existed in the Garden of Eden prior to the first sin. The precincts of the tabernacle, in fact, recreate the Garden, the place where God and man enjoyed sweet communion and fellowship. In the garden God created man and woman and he brought them together in marriage for three purposes: 1. for the purpose of having children. When the love between a man and a woman bears fruit in children it reflects the overflow of divine love in creation. God created. Like him, we "pro" create. 2. for companionship, and 3. to reflect God's own love for his people. Throughout the Old Testament the covenant between a man and a woman in marriage is used as an illustration of the covenant between God and the people he loves. That imagery continues in the New Testament where the Church is called the bride of Christ and Christ, the bridegroom of the Church. God intended marriage, from the beginning, to be a living vibrant reflection and witness of his own creative, unfailing love for his people.

The OT laws regarding human sexuality and you can see a whole host of them there in Leviticus 18 , were given to restore that broken image. Homosexual behavior, incest, beastiality and other sexual behaviors that depart from the created norm of heterosexual marriage are proscribed and condemned.

But, some will say, that's the Old Testament and we're New Testament people. And, to a certain extent, they're right. Jesus, in Matthew 5 , said that not a jot or a tittle of the levitical law would pass away until it had been fulfilled and it is clear that in the New Testament some levitical laws are fulfilled; the laws having to do with the ceremonial function of the temple and ritual sacrifice for example. Christ, in the New Testament, replaces the tabernacle and temple of the Old. He becomes the location of our one true sacrifice. His blood alone cleanses and purifies. There is, therefore, no more need to stay away from things the law says are unclean. Christ's blood makes all things clean for us.

Now, it is vital to note, that this fulfillment of the ceremonial law is not something that the church simply decided and declared on her own. The church recognized that the ceremonial law had been fulfilled because the Word of God reveals it to be so. In Mark 7:18-19 , Jesus says:

“Nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'? For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean."

That point is reiterated to Peter in a vision recorded in Acts 9:9-15 . Peter sees a vision of unclean animals and hears Jesus say,

"Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

The ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant have clearly been fulfilled by Jesus Christ in the New.

Now the question is: was the command in Leviticus 18:22 proscribing homosexual behavior among those levitical laws fulfilled by Jesus in the New Testament? Does that law still apply today? There's only one way to answer. If the New Testament repeats and reiterates the Old Testament command, we can be certain that it has not been fulfilled. Turn if you will to Romans 1:25-27 . Here Paul is describing the effects of humanity's turning away from God, the results of the fall:

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator…Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.”

Homosexual behavior both between men and between women is here, in the New Testament , characterized as a “perversion,” as an impulse that resulted directly from human rebellion. And it is shown here, like all sin, to be dangerous both to body and soul.

If there is any doubt you can turn to 1st Corinthians 6:9-10 where you will read the following:

“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God ? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God .”

Homosexual behavior is considered so offensive to God that those who engage in it and do not repent cannot enter his kingdom. Well, you might say, what about the other sins listed here, slander, greed, thievery, drunkenness, why do we focus exclusively on homosexuality? Trust me. I'd rather focus on anything else. The reason we focus on this particular sin is because it is the one sin that the Episcopal Church has presumed to bless. If the Episcopal Church would've passed a resolution blessing thievery or drunkenness or greed, then our response would have to be the very same. If, before every robbery, a thief were given the invitation to attend his or her local Episcopal parish to receive a rite of blessing for holy thievery, or before every drink an alcoholic might receive the rite of Holy Inebriation from his resident Episcopal priest, then you can bet that our focus would shift because sin, whether sexual or otherwise, is deadly to body and soul.

In Roman 6:23, we're told that the wages of sin is death. So when the church tells people who are looking for salvation, looking for forgiveness, seeking healing, seeking the love and solace of Christ, that homosexual behavior is not a sin, she blocks the way; she encourages behavior that the scriptures say leads to spiritual death.

It is not loving or tolerant to do that. The promise of God is that “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” ( 1st John 1:8-9 )

How can we be complicit, how can we participate in the act of denying this this forgiveness and this purifying love to our friends and neighbors who are gay? Those of you here, and there are several of you, who struggle with homosexuality, imagine if you had been told that it was good and right and your way to Christ barred and shut. I can't think of a more hateful thing to do.

When the Episcopal Church passed resolutions doing just that in 2003 and confirmed them in 2006, we were faced with a choice. Could we continue to participate in Church that actively leads people away from Jesus Christ and toward the darkness of eternal death? As long as we remained Episcopalian we were bound to continue supporting the Episcopal Church financially through assessments and, if he should choose to force the issue, permitting the bishop to come and preach from this pulpit.

It is at this point that we need to turn to 2nd John 9-11

Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.”

Do you see that last line? Anyone who supports and welcomes a teacher who is leading people astray is a party, is a participant, in that teacher's work. By maintaining our participation in and support of the Episcopal Church we were, according to this text and others, participating in the work of leading souls away from Christ.

I can't do that. I just can't. The message I'm responsible to preach and proclaim is not mine. It's his. I do not have the authority to depart from it. But that responsibility is not just mine. By virtue of your baptismal vows, it is yours as well.

Your vestry recognized that. You recognized that. After a series of parish meetings, the vestry voted disassociate from the Episcopal Church.

This morning we are facing the consequences of that decision. Every time you take a stand for the gospel there will be consequences. Jesus said,

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” ( John 15:20 )

Personally, I want nothing more than to go back to the days when my biggest concern was crafting an effective bible study or fitting hospital visits in around my sermon study time. I desperately wanted to preach a regular sermon about the Good Shepherd and his sheep this morning. I love this church. I love you. But if we compromise on this matter, I think we also compromise our integrity, our faith, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. These things are far more important than buildings or assets or furniture.

The call is then is to stand firm. To love our enemies; to pray for those who persecute us; but for the sake of Jesus Christ, for the sake of those he loves and died to save, to never compromise, never back down, never surrender the truth of the gospel.

Amen

GOAL #1:100% Participation in Bible Study and Christian Ed, in keeping with Average Sunday Attendance. The very first goal for this year is to have 100% parish commitment to Bible Study and/or Christian ed. What that means is that we hope that by the end of the year every member of Good Shepherd will also be committed either to one of the 5 weekly bible studies at Good Shepherd or to Christian education on Sunday morning. Both would be perfect, but one is the minimum commitment we seek.

Why is 100% participation one of our goals? I've used this analogy before but I think it still works. Let's say you are enjoying dinner with a new friend. He asks about your life and you tell him about your family, your job, the things you love to do. By the time you're finished he knows a great deal more about you. Then he sits quietly. You go on eating your dinner. He seems to be waiting for you to say something. You don't. You just keep eating. By the end of the evening, you are quite sure that you've been able to share enough with your new friend that he knows who you are, but you feel, for some reason, that you don't really know him.

What's the problem?

The problem is that you've told your friend all about you but you've made no effort to get to know him. You have no idea who your new friend truly is beyond your own surface impressions. The friendship will never progress until you sit down and listen to him speak.

Jesus speaks through the scriptures and through the fellowship of his body, the church. Your spiritual growth and maturity is vital, not only to your own relationship with Jesus Christ but to the spiritual growth of Good Shepherd as a body. In order to grow in Christ, it is necessary to know who he is and what he is like. A twenty minute sermon on Sunday morning is not enough, even if you come every week, to provide you with that grounding although it certainly helps. Your own personal study is very important and necessary but it can also leave you confused. Studying the bible and the core doctrines of the faith together with other Christians and Christian teachers in the church deepens your relationship with Jesus Christ, broadens your understanding of God's nature and character, and enables you to understand what Jesus would have you be and do. The same is true for the church as a corporate body. The more people in a given body, studying the scriptures and core doctrine together, the more the church matures and strengthens.

If you have not yet joined a bible study, I encourage you to commit to one and do so. If you cannot make it to a bible study during the week, come to Christian education between services at 9:15am on Sunday mornings. You will not regret it.

GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY: Thank you to Carmen Swafford-Penna and Don Dean for organizing the Good Shepherd day breakfast last week. The Food was delicious and the time of fellowship was much needed and refreshing. Thank you also to Kay Seaman and others who helped clean up afterwards. That is, and I didn't even know this, the vestry's job but not knowing that we all ducked out. Thank you for stepping up. Next time we'll be there to clean.

LEGAL DEFENSE FUND: Some parishioners were asking how they might contribute specifically to the legal defense of the parish.

The Anglican Communion Network, of which we have been a member since 2004, has established a legal defense fund to help beleaguered parishes like ours pay legal costs that, in a protracted battle, can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The high price tag attached to litigation often means that smaller, poorer, parishes have no choice but to surrender their property even when they have a fighting chance of victory.

If you would like to donate money for the defense of Good Shepherd please follow this link

Be sure to indicate that your donation is specifically for Church of the Good Shepherd, Binghamton

You may donate through paypal at the link above or by credit card over the phone or by check through the mail. Here is that information:

Anglican Communion Network
535 Smithfield Street, Suite 910
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

LIFE CHOICES BABY SHOWER: ACW with Father Matt and Father Anne's guidance and help has been planning a baby shower for the Life Choice Baby Boutique! The client's earn points to "purchase" items in the Boutique. Points are earned in various ways, such as, church attendance, be involved in a discussion of a Christian book, or attend classes sponsored by the Life Choices. How can you help? The half sheet in the pews has some suggested items that Center needs! There is a basket at the back of the Church to put new or slightly used baby items in!

VOLUNTEERS: For several weeks now we have been asking for volunteers to help clean the church and to help out with the Shepherd's Bowl. This need has not yet been met. Here is the problem. There are about three senior ladies who clean this church every single day. There are a large number of able bodied young people and middle aged people who enjoy the fruits of their labors but do not contribute.

This is not right. I am more than happy to have people putting bible study and Christian education and worship first. That is where they belong. At the same time our sisters are burdened by the messes we leave and the fact that many do not clean up after themselves. Please clean up after yourself and I encourage you to consider committing to a cleaning team to help clean the church. If you would like to volunteer, please call the church office 723-8032 or email me at lambeth@flash.net

TWO COMMITTEES: I am looking to form three new committees to help the vestry lead and organize the work of the parish.

The first committee will be the "missions committee". It is important to support the work of Christians who are spreading the saving gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. But we are often unaware of their ministries and too busy to look into it. It would be the task of the missions committee to look for worthy missionary efforts and bring these to the attention of the parish as a whole and the vestry. It would also be withing their purview to invite missionaries to speak or give presentations to the parish in consultation with the rector.

The Evangelism committee would be tasked with thinking through and devising plans for sharing the gospel specifically in Binghamton. How can we be more effective evangelists as individuals and as a church. The evangelism committee would organize events and local missions in consultation with the rector and vestry and communicate evangelism strategies to the parish.

If you are interested in taking part in either of these committee please contact me or Anne. I do have some ideas about people I hope to nominate.

WEDNESDAY NOON EUCHARIST STARTS IN MAY: Beginning in May, Anne will celebrate communion every Wednesday at noon. Thank you for your positive feedback.

SUFFERING LONG FOR UNITY: If you have been following the Christian education series on Unity and Division in the Church, this lecture, Suffering Long for Unity, by the Rev. Dr. RC Sproul is very helpful:

SERMON & PODCASTING INFORMATION: NOTE: I STILL CANNOT seem to find my digital recorder. If you've seen it, please let me know. I need to get FOUR sermons up on the pod-site. Until I find it there will only be the texts availible. All other recent sermons may be downloaded at the Good Shepherd podcast site

THINGS TO PRAY FOR: 1. God will protect and guide us. 2. That we as a body will be prepared to go wherever God leads. 3. That we will not compromise biblical principles for the sake of ease, convenience, or gain. 4. That we will not compromise the love of Christ for hatred, bitterness and anger. 5. That we will know what to do when the time comes to do it. 6. For the Lord to change the bishop's heart.

SERMON INFORMATION: This Sunday we'll continue our series discussing the present threat to Good Shepherd in light of biblical principles. This Sunday's sermon is entitled simply "Consequences." If you would like to Study in advace, take a look at Luke 14:25-33

YOUTH INFORMATION FROM MICAH: Jr. High Youth group will be meeting on regular schedule from 2-4. Be sure to help your friends who are interested in coming to get a ride if they need one.

Sr. High Youth group meeting time might be changing this Sunday. We might be meeting an hour early and having a game night. But the details are still being worked out. Please listen in church for the final details.

One last item for both Sr. and Jr. High parents/kids. Start thinking about this summer. Look at your schedule and see if there are different times during the week that would work better than Sunday. Also, if your family is going on vacation, please let me know the time so that I can schedule any youth outings accordingly.

CONFIRMATIONS: Several of you have asked about confirmations. We have a large number of people who are ready for confirmation classes but Bishop Atwood's schedule is still unknown. When we know his schedule then we can begin to plan classes. Thanks for asking.

ADULT EDUCATION SERIES: DOCTRINE AND DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH WE return to our series this Sunday, moving from the conversion of the Roman Empire to the first major split in the Church called the Great Schism. The Great Schism took place between the western Church based in Rome and the eastern Church based in Constantinople. For background reading on the causes and sources of the schism, read this article.

Ask yourself: Was this split necessary? Why or why not? Does the Great Schism have any bearing on our present circumstances?

HAVE YOU…. shared your faith with a friend? The vestry has challenged all of us to share our faith in Jesus Christ with at least one non-believer each month.

Good News for the Week

“For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,' when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the Lord. Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it (Jeremiah 6:13-16)

Don't forget to....BRING A FRIEND TO CHURCH
Daily Schedule for the week of Sunday March 27th, 2008

Monday:
pastor's day off

Tuesday
8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:00 a.m. Tuesday Morning Bible Study

10:00a.m.-1:00 p.m. Pastor's Open Door Hours
6:00 p.m. First Light Bible Study

Wednesday