“Two-track” Anglican Church?

The archbishop of Canterbury has stated that the world’s 77 million Anglicans are divided over gay clergy and same-sex unions. The church leader said that the controversy could divide their denomination into a “two-track model” yielding “two styles of being Anglican.”

The differences have centered around the Episcopal Church’s consent in 2003 to the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, the church’s first openly gay bishop. The Episcopal Church is the official branch of the Anglican Communion in the United States and boasts a membership of 2.3 million.

The church of Christ is, in many ways, about sin. The true church is comprised of sinners who have been freed by trusting in the finished work of God’s Son on the cross. He sacrificed Himself in order to turn lost sinners into found saints. Paul shared this truth with young Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:15. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” The church is all about dealing with the effects of human sin. And those who do, through saving faith in Christ, are spiritually re-born and become instant and permanent members of His true universal church.

In the eyes of a holy God, all sin is unacceptable. The Bible teaches that all have sinned and that all are in need of redemption. (Romans 3:23) And along with that, there is no biblical permission to make exceptions to allow any sin to exist, or linger, in the church for any reason – especially for those in positions of spiritual leadership. The Apostle Paul spoke to this issue repeatedly in his letter to the church at Rome. In Romans 6:1-2 he wrote, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

Back in Romans chapter one Paul dealt with the issue of sexual sins and touched specifically on homosexuality. Beginning in verse 26 he wrote, “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” This activity in this portion of Scripture is defined using terms like vile passions, against nature, lust, penalty, and error – all rather vivid descriptions in little need of very much clarification or theological insight. Then too in verses 28 –31 Paul outlined a variety of other sinful activities, all of which are likewise unacceptable for any believer or Christian leader.

But interestingly, the rather grim chapter concludes by also indicting those who promote and approve the godless behavior exposed in the final verses of the passage. Verse 32 says of this bunch, “Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”

The Anglican and Episcopal church may well divide their denomination into a “two-track model” yielding “two styles of being Anglican.” But those who allow, support, and promote this will be held accountable for willingly disregarding a clear mandate of biblical truth. And they should be honest enough to admit that their desire to normalize, and make acceptable, blatant sin - any sin - goes against God’s will and is simply wrong for any Christian layman or leader.

Hopefully there will come a time when those Anglicans in favor of a "second track" will seriously, and prayerfully, re-evaluate the Holy Spirit's inspired words in Romans 6:20-23.

“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. “

Bill Breckenridge