A new leader of the U.S. Episcopal Church says that homosexuality isn’t a sin and that God created them to love people of the same gender.  She went on to say that "The Bible tells us about how to treat other human beings, and that's certainly the great message of Jesus -- to include the unincluded (sic)." The Bible does indeed tell us how to treat others, but to say categorically that we are to include the unincluded (sic) and not qualify how they shall be included isn’t teaching the truth and amounts to twisting the words of Jesus to fit personal beliefs and agendas. In a previous paragraph she said, “...  there are rules in the Bible about those that we don't observe today," There are but the requirements for being included in God’s family aren’t among those we don’t observe.

What did Jesus say about inclusion? He began with the word repent: [Mat 4:17] From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Repent is the act that must come before obedience to the gospel. The word means to change ones mind, to change how one views sin, and to show that change by a new direction of life to better from worse. Again Jesus said: Mark 1:14] Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, [Mark 1:15] And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.  Kingdom means reign or rule through the realm of a spiritual kingdom, not a literal kingdom, and is linked to repentance. Repent and believe the gospel, the good news of salvation from sin. Could all be included in the message of Jesus? Yes, if they repented first.

When Paul preached the gospel at Mars’ Hill he said: [Acts 17:30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: [Acts 17:31] Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. There is that word repent which begins the step into obedience to Christ who is the standard for righteousness. Would these men be included in the family of God? Yes, if they repented and obeyed the gospel.

When God began the process of announcing that his Son would enter the world to bring salvation, the Gentiles weren’t included in the Old Testament message. After the Day of Pentecost, the Gentiles were included in the gospel at the household of Cornelius. The word repentance doesn’t appear in that account but not every part of the message is always repeated in every instance. It is reasonable to say that Luke didn’t include it for whatever reason he had for not doing it. We find in Acts 2:39: For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. The words to all that are afar off referred to the Gentiles, (Eph 2:17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.) because they were not included in the law given to the Jews. When Paul was before Agrippa Luke wrote the following: Acts 26:19] Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: [Acts 26:20] But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Paul said that the Gentiles should repent and turn to God. Repentance was to be the first step, and since Gentiles were told to repent, it is reasonable to believe that Peter included repentance in his message to Cornelius given that Cornelius was a Gentile.

To be included in the family of God, the church, the assembly of the saved, repentance is a requirement. Those who don’t preach the whole counsel of God are grievous wolves. Paul said: [Acts 20:27] For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. [Acts 20:28] Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. [Acts 20:29] For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. [Acts 20:30] Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  

Who is included? Those who repent and obey the gospel are the ones. The lady as reported in the article is wrong.

© 06-22-2006 DEC

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