Recently the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. decided to perform same-sex marriages. While this decision is an affront to God and worthy of comment, instead I must address something more important… mainly HOW the minister came to the decision to perform these ceremonies. This person came to the conclusion… if you can believe this… by reading Scripture!
For years I’ve heard people say… “This is what Scripture means to me,” or ask… “What does the Scripture mean to you?” THIS is how heresy gets a toehold in people’s lives… by coming to THEIR OWN conclusion about the meaning of Scripture. Consider this quote from an article about the National Cathedrel’s decision…
The Very Rev. Gary Hall, the cathedral’s dean, said performing same-sex marriages is an opportunity to break down barriers and build a more inclusive community “that reflects the diversity of God’s world.”
Really? God isn’t seeking diversity… He wants ONE kind of person… those who believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ… those who are conformed to the image of HIS Son… those who are holy because HE is holy. God does NOT desire diversity!
“I read the Bible as seriously as fundamentalists do,” Hall told the AP. “And my reading of the Bible leads me to want to do this because I think it’s being faithful to the kind of community that Jesus would have us be.” (Emphasis mine)
The question to ask is NOT “What does the Bible mean to you?” but rather… “What does the Bible mean?” The way to find out is, 1) By revelation from God’s Spirit, 2) Diligent study, 3) Prayer. Consider 2 Peter 1:20-21
(Know) this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Rev. Hall came to his conclusion by reading the Scripture and interpreting it the way HE wanted to. Rather than following The Spirit, he chose his own interpretation over The Spirit’s interpretation. What Rev Hall believes about the meaning of the Scripture does not negate what it really does mean (Same sex marriage is an abomination to God {Like fornication, adultery, drunkenness, lying, etc}).
TEST. The times you run into Scripture and it contradicts what you like or prefer or want it to say is probably a strong indication God is pushing His truth into your life. In those instances prayerfully and humbly seek God asking His Spirit to enlighten you to His truth. Sadly I’ve known many Christians who would NOT believe the plain reading of God’s Word. I’ve heard more than one say… “This is what I believe regardless of what you show me in the Bible.”
This is really, really good. Definitely has left me thinking.
Another example of the direction our country is heading.