“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad,” Matthew 12:30.
Over the last few days a conference of Episcopalian bishops has been taking place in Canterbury, in England. One matter that was before them for consideration was whether or not their churches should accept same-sex marriages and sodomy.
A headline in a press report on the BBC website yesterday read: “Lambeth Conference: Welby unites bishops with compromise on sexuality”.
The report states that: “A mood of unity and self-satisfaction is prevalent at the end of this rare gathering of more than 650 Anglican bishops - they had come from all over the world, many from Africa where Anglican Christianity is growing at its fastest.”
The ‘mood of unity and self-satisfaction’ sprang from the speech of Archbishop Welby. The report continued: “But if the ambition had been to hold things together among those who did attend, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, appears to have found the formula for now.”
Welby “reaffirmed a resolution passed by the Lambeth Conference in 1998 which said same sex marriage was wrong and ‘homosexual practices’ are incompatible with scripture. On the other hand, churches which moved away from that historical teaching, would not be sanctioned or condemned.” In other words it is alright to defy God and sin!!
Such wicked duplicity was rapturously received amongst the bishops. “Liberal and conservative bishops came together to give Archbishop Welby a standing ovation and a crisis seemed to have been averted.”
How wrong they are!!!
The report also stated: “The archbishops of Nigeria, Rwanda and Uganda boycotted this Lambeth Conference over the issue, protesting that any ‘recognition of homosexual relations’ was biblical revisionism.”
That is to be welcomed BUT if they stay in then they will share in the judgment that WILL fall on apostate Episcopalianism! Revelation 18:1-5.
Lambeth may be far from Kilskeery but the ramification of that decision will impact upon folk here who are attached to the Church of Ireland, for it is part of that world-wide amalgam!
I say that solemnly for I know and care for many so attached.
That conference in Lambeth may be of little interest to many across the world, even those who are part of this organisation, but believe me the Lord took note of that decision. Consider Genesis 13:13. “But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” “And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know,” Genesis 18:20-21. The Lord SAW and took note of their sin which they committed daringly in defiance of Him.
We all know the fate of Sodom!
Please consider our text:
The likes and dislikes of a person declares who and what they are. As my Granny Prentice used to say: ‘Show me your company and I will tell you who you are!’
Your attitude to Christ and His Word will declare your character and where it is you are heading. Note that our text tells us that:
I. THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING AGAINST CHRIST
YOU are against Christ:
1. When you reject His words in the gospel. How can anyone think that they can reject the gospel and yet be on good terms with God? Many will learn their folly on that great day. Matthew 7:21-24.
2. When you rejoice in the overthrow of the witness of Christians. Men welcome every apparently useful invention with all its limitations yet hate to see the cause of Christ advance!
3. Christ tell us who is on His side. “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you,” John 15:14. That leaves no room for mistakes.
II. THE PERVERSITY OF BEING AGAINST CHRIST
1. It is the height of perversity to be against someone so good as Christ. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him,” Acts 10:38. What animosity and rage is manifested when you oppose sodomites and perverts yet very FEW object to opposition to Christ. Amongst the ungodly, none will use ‘Allah’ as a curse but will use Christ’s dear name!
2. It is the height of perversity to be against someone so innocent as Christ. “Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. . . . “And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go,” Luke 23:4, 22. All who spoke against Him were liars. “Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none,” Matthew 26:59-60. Men were ready to slander Christ, but none could honestly fault Him.
3. It is the height of perversity to be against someone Who seeks your good only. “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many,” Matthew 20:28.
III. THE PRICE OF BEING AGAINST CHRIST
1. He will be against you one day. Rev 6:15-17. That day draws on swiftly!
2. Can you possibly endure the hand of God against you? “Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it,” Ezekiel 22:14.
3. Can you possibly escape His judgment? “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation,” Hebrews 2:3. Amos 9:1-4.