Various News Items

News stories have been piling up on my desk for the past few months one of them merits an entire article, but several of them are interesting in one way or another; so several will be mentioned, along with a few comments from a spiritual perspective.

Old News: "But We Prayed\July July 2, 2015 is the notice from the Orlando Sentinel that Episcopalians voted to allow homosexual marriages in their churches. Is that really a surprise to anyone? Neither they nor their "House of Bishops" which voted in favor of the action (129 to 26) is authorized by the New Testament to even exist. It is therefore hardly surprising that they would authorize an unscriptural action which strikes at the heart of God's purpose for marriage (Gen. 2:18-25) and Jesus' teaching on the subject (Matt. 19:3-9). These kinds of actions are becoming predictable from liberal religious groups. The Episcopalians left the Word of God long ago\when Henry VIII decided to proclaim himself the head of the Church of England (from which they are spiritually descended). Even though a Catholic pope (whose position is also unauthorized in the Bible) had bestowed upon Henry the title of "Defender of the Faith," he would not grant him a divorce. Henry became so upset that he decided he could be head of the church in England. Many (even in the Lord's church) have reacted bitterly when told they have no Scriptural reason for divorce and marrying again. They will do it anyway and ignore what God says on the matter.

The Episcopalians arrived at their decision in a way that they probably think that no one will criticize. It too has become predictable:

Some people disagreed, some people disagreed deeply, but we prayed and we listened and we came up with compromises that we believe make room and leave no one behind (A-3).

Is this a church policy or a political educational philosophy? They prayed and listened. To whom? Not to God, Who defines homosexuality itself as a sin\never mind stomping all over God's holy ordinance. Their prayers never rose above the ceiling. Those people are just like those who asked Jeremiah to pray to God, vowing they would do whatever He said. They had already made up their minds, however, and when Jeremiah gave them an answer they disliked, they told him, "You speak falsely!" (Jer. 43:2) They insisted the Lord did not give him that message.

The Episcopalians could have prayed all day and all night, but they already knew what they were going to do\defy God's institution of marriage. Their attempt to be religious is a farce\not to mention blasphemous. Why anyone would want to be a member of this immoral and apostate group is a mystery.

More Old News: Female Priests

Usually the Episcopalians are the ones dealing with this practice, but this time it involves the Catholic Church. According to an article from September 25th of this year, the World Meeting of Families met in Philadelphia. Apparently, outside the meeting "women in priest's collars" were holding up a banner that said: "Support Roman Catholic Women Priests" (A10). Some of the reactions were interesting.

One woman passing by uttered the words, "Amen!" Another nodded approval but commented, "Maybe in heaven, but not here." Still another woman said, "That's just wrong!" But the award for the best comment goes to a young priest, who scolded: "Shame on you for dividing the body of Christ. Read your Bible, madam!" (LOL).

The young "priest" apparently does not know that the Catholic Church is not interested in the body of Christ being united. If they were, they would not exist. Has he never read Matthew 28:18? Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth, and He (not an earthly man) is the Head of His body, the church (Eph. 1:22-23). But even funnier and more ironic than that was his encouragement of a Catholic to read the Bible. Now that's just flat-out dangerous!

If a Catholic read the Bible studiously, he (or she) would discover that the Catholic Church is not mentioned there. Neither could a Catholic find a pope, cardinal, or archbishop; there is no such hierarchy in the church established by Jesus. Furthermore, there is no separate priesthood to mediate between God and man except for Jesus. All Christians (male and female) are priests, according to the apostle Peter (1 Peter 2:5, 9). All Christians comprise a royal and holy priesthood, and Jesus is the high priest (Heb. 3:1).

A Catholic reading the Bible might be surprised to come across Matthew 23:9, where Jesus commands, "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven." This is in a passage that forbids spiritual leaders from exalting themselves. Additional Bible study would show that saints are not a special class of dead servants but rather living Christians (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2, et al.).

Neither would a Catholic be able to find the words mass, Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Lent, confirmation, or vicar. In the New Testament, no one brought babies for a "priest" to sprinkle water upon, and there was no such thing as "holy" water, relics, indulgences, or such like. A Catholic could discover New Testament Christianity the way it was instituted by Jesus and the apostles, including the way one becomes a Christian. So, by all means, "Read your Bible, madam!"

Is the Catholic Church Changing?

Although women will not be allowed to be priests, the Catholic Church is going to allow some divorcees now to participate in Communion. A recent synod, according to the Orlando Sentinel, found no foundation at all for homosexual marriage, but those who violate Catholic teaching regarding divorce and remarriage will be considered on a case by case basis (A8). The article does not state whether the reason for the divorce is a crucial factor.

In the Scriptures, one can only divorce a mate for the reason of adultery (Matt. 19:9). The church presented in the New Testament would have to withdraw fellowship from someone who ignored or defied Jesus' teaching on this subject. However the Catholic Church looks at this issue as irrelevant; the Scriptures teach that one who unlawfully divorces and remarries does choose to live in sin (commits adultery) as long as that illicit relationship lasts.

Since so many Catholics are divorced and remarried, this softening of their stance indicates they want these people back despite their sin. True followers of Jesus always stand firm on the truth. Christians want straying members back, too\but only if they are willing to repent, which means the two living in sin must part from each other.

Jewish Battle

A man's family went to Israel's Supreme Court to have him buried rather than cremated (which is against Jewish law), as he requested, according to Tia Goldenberg's article, writing for Associated Press (November 25, 2015). He committed suicide. He also made the request as a woman, even though he had fathered two children, but he decided he was a woman and was "a prominent LGBT activist in Israel."

One wonders how Solomon would have handled this case. To the parents who wanted a Jewish burial, he might have said, "You come from a conservative ultra-Orthodox community which shuns transgenders, and you were estranged from your son. Why do you care what happens to his body now?"

To those representing his wishes, he might have said, "He was unhappy with his gender and unhappy with his life; this court is not disposed to giving any special consideration to this individual. He will be buried in an unmarked grave. You may all grieve however you wish."

After the court sided with the friends of the dead man (which is the way he will face the Lord in Judgment), they rejoiced, saying: "Human dignity prevailed. The LGBT community prevailed." Exactly what is dignified about trying to change the sex that one entered the world with? Furthermore, what is dignified about a 31-year-old taking his own life? Solomon may have never heard this word, but it's appropriate\Hogwash!

Good News

In the article titled, "Where's the Protest?" which appeared on November 22 in Spiritual Perspectives, the shooting death of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee in Chicago was lamented. At that time, no one had come forward with any information, and prospects of obtaining any justice for the lad were slim. However, the Orlando Sentinel reported on November 28, 2015 that a 27-year-old male with an extensive criminal history had been arrested. Two other men are also suspects. It would certainly be a good thing if all of those who were in any way involved in the shooting could be convicted of taking the life of a defenseless youth.

But what is disturbing is that so many "suspects" have such a long criminal "history." Why do we have a revolving-door justice system? If someone has been a drug user, has an assault charge, and other crimes on his record, what is he doing walking around in public? How many strikes does it take to be out? When innocent civilians are killed by illegal aliens who have been deported five times or thugs who have been arrested numerous times, something needs to be fixed. And those who voted against Kate's Law should be voted out of office. Lawmakers need to have the best interests of the country at heart.

"Bible Found With Bogus Checks"

How can you not read a story like this one\especially when it involves a Greenacres' man? Nobody could make this up. According to a November 27, 2015 Orlando Sentinel news blurb, a local area male was arrested after trying to get a refund for an item he bought with a fraudulent check in a CVS pharmacy (B2). Really? He paid for it with a bogus check and then wanted a refund? This procedure must be a way of turning worthless paper into cash. Apparently, he did not think about the store discovering the check was phony.

But when arrested, he had 37 counterfeit checks in a Bible. What was he doing\using them as bookmarks so that he could find the right passages for his next sermon? Apparently, he couldn't find an appropriate novel, such as Wall Street or The Bernie Madoff Story. One wonders if he stole the Bible from a hotel room.

Church Leader Jailed

A church leader was sentenced to serve eight years by a court in Singapore. No, it has nothing to do with religious persecution. Kong Lee, the founder and "senior pastor of City Harvest Church," was shown to have misappropriated a rather exorbitant $35 million dollars from the church's funds. The church has 17,500 members. Why did he steal it? The explanation is that he was trying to help his wife's singing career. Wow! If he had to spend that much green, she probably can't sing. For that amount of dough, he could have bribed a radio station to play her song and bought several hundred thousand copies of it! The "church" should wonder how that much money could be filched in the first place.