A couple of months ago I read the announcement that the Episcopal Sect of Brazil had voted to permit same-sex marriages, and I noted the use of the "Holy Spirit Excuse". This is where almost any innovation can be justified because it is supposedly endorsed by a movement of the Holy Spirit on the issue.
This was the same excuse that was used when Gene Robinson was elected, the same excuse when same sex marriage blessings were approved, and I am sure that it will be used with whatever comes up next.
Whenever someone pulls out the Holy Spirit excuse, stop and test it against scripture and tradition before you accept it as a real possibility.
"The General Synod of the Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil – the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (IEAB) has approved changes to its canons to permit same-sex marriages. Civil same-sex marriages have been legal in Brazil since 2012.
The decision would not require liturgical changes, the IEAB said in a statement, because gender neutral language had already been introduced into its service for the solemnization of marriage in the 2015 Book of Common Prayer.
The move was overwhelmingly carried by the Synod members with 57 voting in favour and three against; there were two abstentions.
'Canonical changes were approved in an environment filled by the Holy Spirit and with mutual love and respect,' the IEAB said in a statement. 'It was preceded by long, deep and spiritual dialogue. This dialogue formally started in 1997, but had been going on much earlier, and reached the whole Province since then through indabas, conferences, consultations, prayers, biblical and theological publications.'”I am sorry, but the Holy Spirit does not act to contradict God's word no matter how long and deep and spiritual you think you have indaba-ed about an innovation.
This was the same excuse that was used when Gene Robinson was elected, the same excuse when same sex marriage blessings were approved, and I am sure that it will be used with whatever comes up next.
Whenever someone pulls out the Holy Spirit excuse, stop and test it against scripture and tradition before you accept it as a real possibility.
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I think this is an important point Pewster. I believe TEC and their ilk have now made the "Holy Spirit" the preeminent measure of truth over Tradition, Scripture and Reason. This is an addition and replaces Scripture as preeminent. So, why even call themselves "Anglican" any longer? Or, for that matter Christian because another spirit has given them another gospel.
ReplyDeleteMcMillan : "as the spirit moves them"
DeleteSynonyms and related words
In an uncontrolled way:wildly, madly, wild..
Exactly right, Fr. Dale! Jesus Christ, the Word, came to us in person, and the Scripture and Tradition are the reliable preaching of the Apostles who knew Him and witnessed His resurrection.
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