While God is still God, there is hope
Sunday 12th February
Streams of tears flow from my eyes because my people are destroyed.
My eyes will flow unceasingly, without relief,
until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.
Lamentations 3:48-50 (NIV)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
No doubt you will have heard the news that this week the General Synod of the Church of England agreed to the proposals of the Bishops to introduce prayers which could be used to bless same-sex couples in the church.
This is very serious indeed. For one thing, these proposals came from the bishops themselves, whose responsibility it is to teach the truth and refute error – and they are the ones introducing the error. One can only feel a sense of betrayal.
For another thing, they are being deceitful in claiming that this does not represent a change to the Church of England’s doctrine of marriage as being between a man and a woman. They have failed us grievously.
Anyone and everyone is welcome to come to church, but we are not able to call good what God has said is not good – whatever the bishops tell us – and so we will not be using such prayers at St Stephen’s and St Wulstan’s. To do so would actually be unloving as it would confirm people in a way of life God is not pleased with.
What will the decision of General Synod mean for us as a church? We will need to see, but it does mean that the bishops have broken partnership with us and have really failed to be bishops. The PCC (Parochial Church Council) wrote to the Acting Bishop of Birmingham in December to express our profound disquiet over these proposals.
You can read here the response from the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) to the decision of General Synod:
https://ceec.info/ceec-responds-on-the-back-of-general-synod-vote/
Which brings us to Lamentations! What General Synod has decided is reason to lament. True, it is not in the same league as the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians, which was the reason for their lament. The Church of England does not (thankfully) represent the whole people of God. And yet is it really going too far to say that at least some of God’s people may be “destroyed” by this decision? That is cause for weeping.
And yet we can, and must, still be people of hope. The Lord is still in his heaven, and he still reigns, and he is still Lord of his church. And so we wait for him to look down, to see… and to act. While God is still God, there is hope. Our job is to remain faithful: in prayer, in obedience, and in witness.
Lord, have mercy on us and all your people, that we may love what you love, turn from what displeases you, and trust what you say. Amen.
Yours warmly, in Christ,
Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)