Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of homosexuality, 9/11 was the result of homosexuality, and if a reporter talked about the issue, he risked physical violence in a cathederal. This is the degree to which these bshops have inflamed their flocks: they are so worked up that even to ask about, much less debate, their views is putting one'sself at risk for assault. How would they react to a gay man in their midst? Anyone want to explain to me why this should not make me, a gay man, very afraid? This is the Gospel?

From Schmitz Blitz: schmitzblitz.wordpress.com

“Homosexuality and lesbianism are inhuman. Those who practice them are insane, satanic and are not fit to live because they are rebels to God’s purpose for man.”

That quotation comes from Rt. Rev. Isaac Orama, Anglican Bishop of Uyo, Nigeria in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

Sadly, in Nigeria, gays actually do face the death penalty.

It’s a shame that more and more American Episcopals prefer the hatred of the Anglican African Bishops as exemplified by Orama and Archbishop Akinola to accepting gay clergy in America.

“Homosexuality and lesbianism are inhuman. Those who practice them are insane, satanic and are not fit to live because they are rebels to God’s purpose for man.” Bishop Orama, Anglican Church of Nigeria

Toxic waste.

It seems to me that a basic ethical stance is flying out of the window to satisfy some dogmatic religious urges. It is more than disgusting.

It is amusing how they claim to be restoring the faith of those who first brought Christianity to them. Yet in other presentations, it is claimed that they have the pre-eminent ownership of the gospel as it was an African who helped carry Jesus' cross.

If they were there first, they should have been teaching us. If we had to teach them, it begs the question: "How did they lose the gospel in the first place"?

Was it because there was too much devotion to accusations and scapegoating that they became blinded to their interdependence and need of each other, including the aliens in their midst? Or did their attempts to become safe from poverty, famine, plague and war make them embrace a desire to create enclaves of purity; even if that meant being silent or consorting with tyranny?

The bible lists God's complaints against Sodom e.g. in Isaiah 1: "Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." Or "Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts." Or 3:8-18 "…their words and deeds are against the LORD, defying his glorious presence... The LORD enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?”..."

Then there is Ezekiel 16: "‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me...." Yet in this passage, we see that God considers the priests building a high mound for themselves even more detestable that Sodom and even worse if they do both.

Despite this, God promises to atone and reinstate the everlasting covenant made in Jerusalem's youth. That was a covenant of everlasting peace, free from tyranny and accusations. At that time all will be ashamed, and all will cast aside their detestable practices like spent menstrual clothes. ALL does not GLBTs alone, it also means holy priests as well as the general masses.

"Ezekiel 16"

Cheryl, isn't it amazing how even Ezekiel got it wrong? I mean, we all know the sin of Sodom was the love that will not shut its mouth. NP and co. are quite clear on that point. Too bad they weren't around to set Ezekiel straight, no pun intended.

Ford

I know, I wish souls read Ezekiel more often, so much of his texts seem so appropriate for these times.

I love the principles of Ezekiel 18 e.g. 18:20 "The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him." and 18:29-32 "Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my ways unjust, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust? “Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!"

Of course, the puritans will say that God calls us to repent and live, and if we don't we will die. But as God points out in this passage, we each live and die according to our own righteousness or otherwise, we do not live and die according to our neighbors' or our parents', or our children's, or our spouses' sins. We are each weighed on our own merits and not another's. Not penal substitutionary theology in this passage.

That's why the puritans don't teach it and try to dismiss it. If you take it back to basic principles, their enslavement and high mounds above others are based on a flawed premise relying on the sword and burning others to justify their paradigm. Such theological stones are unfit for the temple.