God's plan for the Church of England

I kind-of expected the appointment of Sarah Mullally or someone like her to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury. The trajectory over the past 20 years of the institution has been to slowly accrete more and more revisionist ideas and revisionist clergy into its soul. The same thing happened here in the U.S.A. with the Episcopal organization. 

So what's wrong with Sarah Mullally as Archbishop? She is,

1) Pro-abortion according to LifeNews,

"In interviews and public comments, Mullally has explicitly stated, 'I would suspect that I would describe my approach to this issue as pro-choice rather than pro-life.'

During her tenure as Chief Nursing Officer for England (1999–2004), when she advocated for NHS provision of abortion – where the British government was literally killing babies at taxpayer expense in hospitals and clinics."

2) Pro same-sex blessings according to The Gospel Coalition,

"...she voted for the introduction of same-sex blessings (liturgical blessings for same-sex couples) into the Church of England and 'has repeatedly promoted unbiblical and revisionist teachings regarding marriage and sexual morality.'  Mullally led the Living in Love and Faith project, a dialogue process on sexuality questions that created havoc in the English church."

 3) Not in line with the Apostolic faith according to 1Timothy 3.

"The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,  not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,  for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?  He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.  Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil."

Is Sarah Mullally part of God's plan for this what is now called, "That Organization in England"?

Probably so if His plan is to let it go its own way.

And the Bible tells us over and over again what happens when we go our own way.

Nothing good.

The bright side may be that many orthodox clergy and lay people won't follow this new leader. That may mean leaving their historic church buildings, their pensions, and the graveyards that contain the bones and ashes of their ancestors just like we had to do here in the States. Let all those things go, shake the dust from your feet, and follow Jesus. 

He will guide you into greener pastures.

Going above and beyond

 This Sunday's reading from Luke 17:5-10 might be a tough pill to swallow.

 The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ The Lord replied, ‘If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.

‘Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from ploughing or tending sheep in the field, “Come here at once and take your place at the table”? Would you not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink”? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!” ’

I don't remember any of the apostles uprooting a mulberry tree using their faith, but I do recall that after they received the Holy Spirit following Jesus' post resurrection appearances, they went above and beyond what they ought to have done, and that cost most of them their lives. 

We are called to do more than just the bare minimum.

We are called to go above and beyond the call of duty. 

Antisemitism on the rise in Europe

 From The European Conservative,

"What do the numbers show now? A record number of 144 antisemitic incidents were reported in Belgium in 2023, the highest since monitoring began in 2001, according to data from antisemitisme.be. But this isn’t a unique Belgian phenomenon. Dutch Jews said they had documented 421 antisemitic incidents last year, a record tally that surpassed the previous all-time high, reported in 2023, by 11%. The number of antisemitic incidents in Germany almost doubled last year, reported the semi-official German body that tracks antisemitism. The Federal Research and Information Point for Antisemitism (RIAS) said it had registered 8,627 incidents of violence, vandalism, and threats against Jews in Germany last year, almost twice the 4,886 recorded in 2023, and far ahead of 2020’s 1,957. France saw nearly 1,600 anti-Semitic acts in 2024, perhaps a slight dip from the year before, but still at levels unseen in recent years, the country’s main Jewish organization said. Britain suffered its second-worst year for antisemitism in 2024, with more than 3,500 incidents being recorded, the Jewish body advising communities on security reported in February."

Why the rise you ask? The article focuses on the answer: Islam. 

Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli believes that Jews have no future in Belgium. In a tweet, Chikli “highly recommended” that “the Jewish community in Belgium” leave the country, declaring that it “has been seized by Islamist mobs chanting for Hamas and Hezbollah.” He added, “Re-enactments of October 7 horrors and open death threats to Jewish leaders go unanswered. Hezbollah operatives operate in the country with complete impunity.” Concluding his message, Chikli wrote, “Belgium has surrendered!” and reiterated his warning: “I highly recommend the Jewish community in Belgium to leave—this country has lost its sovereignty and can no longer protect its Jews.” 

 Governments must crack down on antisemitism so that people do not have to leave their countries to the mobs, and if that means cracking down on Islamist mobs, then so be it.

"A great chasm has been fixed"

 In this Sunday's reading from Luke 16:19-31 we get an ominous warning in the form of a parable,

 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

The great fixed chasm between heaven and hell cannot be crossed by anyone except Jesus. 

If you are in a hell hole right now, believe in the One who rose from the dead because He is the only one who can pull you out of that hole. 

England: "...Policing our tweets at the expense of policing our streets."

 From the "Get rid of hate speech laws" files comes yet another example. This time reported at Fox News.

The co-creator of the U.K. sitcom "Father Ted" was arrested at London Heathrow Airport on Monday allegedly over several social media posts criticizing transgender activists. 

Graham Linehan recounted the ordeal on his Substack, saying there were signs of something strange happening before he landed in London. 

According to the former comedy writer, a gate agent in the U.S. said he did not have a seat on his flight back home and needed to be issued a new ticket – something he didn’t think much of at the time. However, since the arrest, Linehan wrote on Substack that he believes he was flagged because "someone, somewhere, probably wearing unconvincing make-up" made a call.

When he got off the plane at Heathrow, Linehan was met by five armed officers, who told him he was being arrested over three posts on X.

"In a country where pedophiles escape sentencing, where knife crime is out of control, where women are assaulted and harassed every time they gather to speak, the state had mobilized five armed officers to arrest a comedy writer for this tweet (and no, I promise you, I am not making this up)," Linehan wrote.

In one of the posts, Linehan wrote that "if a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act." He then said those encountering such a scenario should make a scene, call police or even "punch" the offender.

He said officers questioned him about the post, and he explained it was a serious point expressed with humor...

Linehan said the only restriction on his bail was that he was banned from using X...

The former comedy writer added that the ordeal confirmed to him that "the U.K. has become a country that is hostile to freedom of speech, hostile to women, and far too accommodating to the demands of violent, entitled, abusive men who have turned the police into their personal goon squad."

"Harry Potter" creator J.K. Rowling, who has also been an outspoken critic of trans activism, slammed the arrest, writing "What the f--- has the U.K. become? This is totalitarianism. Utterly deplorable."

...Lord Toby Young of Acton confirmed to Fox News Digital that the Free Speech Union would be paying for Linehan's legal team.

"The over-zealous policing of social media posts by the British police is turning the country into an international laughingstock," Young told Fox News Digital. "It’s particularly egregious, given that the police only respond to one in five shoplifting offenses and 75% of burglaries went unsolved last year. They are policing our tweets at the expense of policing our streets."

Five armed officers to arrest one 50 year old unarmed comedian! Five officers who should be out on the streets fighting serious crimes.

That's a crime.

 

Healing for the sin-sick soul

This Sunday marks the end of summer which for some churches means that tomorrow they will celebrate the equinox with some sort of pagan ritual. Not in my church I assure you. We shall make the transition to fall by hearing the lament of Jeremiah in chapter 8:18-9:1,

 My joy is gone, grief is upon me,

   my heart is sick.

 Hark, the cry of my poor people

   from far and wide in the land:

‘Is the Lord not in Zion?

   Is her King not in her?’

(‘Why have they provoked me to anger with their images,

   with their foreign idols?’)

‘The harvest is past, the summer is ended,

   and we are not saved.’

 For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt,

   I mourn, and dismay has taken hold of me.

 Is there no balm in Gilead?

   Is there no physician there?

Why then has the health of my poor people

   not been restored?

O that my head were a spring of water,

   and my eyes a fountain of tears,

so that I might weep day and night

   for the slain of my poor people!

Poor Jeremiah. I hope he is listening now to this beautiful rendition of "There is a balm in Gilead" in the knowledge that Jesus came to be that healing balm.

 Refrain:

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead

To heal the sin-sick soul.

1. Sometimes I feel discouraged,

And think my work's in vain,

But then the Holy Spirit

Revives my soul again.

(Refrain)

2. If you can't preach like Peter,

If you can't pray like Paul,

Just tell the love of Jesus,

And say He died for all.

(Refrain)

The Costs of Discipleship

If we bear witness to the saving grace of our Lord and defend the truths found in the Gospels, we will undoubtedly face persecution, even to the point of death as evidenced by the deaths of thousands of Christians yearly worldwide. Most of these persecutions and deaths go unreported here in the United States. When it happens here we get biased reporting such as CNN constantly labelling Charlie Kirk as a "conservative activist" and completely ignoring his Christian worldview. Just as certain, you can rest assured that no mention of the powers of darkness playing a role in Christian persecution and murder will be coming from CBS, NBC, ABC, NPR, etc.

As Christians, we know what we shall face and how to face it.

“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” – 2 Timothy 3:12

 

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” – Romans 5:3-4

 

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him.” – Philippians 1:29

 

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” – 1 Peter 4:12-13

 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” – James 1:2-4

 

“Remember what I told you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” – John 15:20

 

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” – Matthew 5:10-12

 

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

 

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” – Romans 8:18

 

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” – Revelation 2:10

 

“Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:4

If the death of one man leads more to follow Jesus, to publicly defend the Good News that he came to save sinners, and to not be shy about naming the sins that offend God, and those things for which we are taught to repent, then let them know also the true costs of discipleship.