Thoughts for My Church of England Friends

I'm guessing that for many evangelical friends in the Church of England, the news from the Bishops, first leaked, then press-released and then finally fully released on Friday, has been a hammer blow. I'm sure you knew something like this was coming, perhaps you feared worse, or hoped for better, but you knew that something like this was on the cards.

You can read a brief summary of the what the Bishops have decided at the end of the Living in Love and Faith process from Lee Gatiss, as well as some of his analysis. In short, while claiming not to change the doctrine of marriage, they have caved completely on the issue of same-sex relationships including allowing for blessings.

We prayed for evangelicals in the Church of England at our little church plant this Sunday and it seems important to emphasize that we love you and we are praying for you. The next few weeks and months are going to be tough.

Here's a few thoughts from someone who has moved out of Church of England ministry in the relatively recent past.

This is a red line

From what I've seen on social media, you already know that this is a red line. This is a gospel issue. It would appear that all your Bishops have crossed the line. You know that the doctrine of the Church of England is to be changed and, because it is about re-defining sin as something to be blessed, that it is gospel-central doctrine.

One of the features of evangelicals in the Church of England has been the ability to redefine the lines when they are crossed. This might be understandable of the ordination of women, or the consecration of women bishops. Those are important issues, but they would, generally, be accepted as secondary to gospel issues. But can I really encourage you not to do that this time. If it's a gospel issue then to compromise would be disastrous.

You are in danger

Let me spell that out a little more carefully. The temptation for you to stay in a situation that is unfaithful will be very great. I don't know what options will be on the table for you in the coming weeks, but the option of least resistance, which will be to do nothing or nearly nothing, is always tempting. Faithful alternatives will be costly and potentially painful.

None of us wants it to be like this, but it's true. Another gospel is being formalised in your church, when that happens and you go along with it, you're a hypocrite and (if you're a leader) you lead others into your hypocrisy (Galatians 2:13). Neither Jesus nor Paul  are encouraging about such hypocrisy!

If you fail to act now it is spiritually serious, both for yourselves and any that you lead. I think we tend to think we're immune from failure until we fail. That's 1 Corinthians 10:12 stuff. So please don't be that person.

They are not your brothers

Please stop (or don't start) saying these false teachers are your brothers. Two high profile conservative evangelicals have described this as a discussion between Christians. I think most of you know that is not true. You know that the bishops and those who follow their views should be under church discipline, which by definition is because their life or beliefs are not in line with the gospel (i.e. we think they may not be believers). For those who are settled in these beliefs (i.e. are unrepentant), then they should be excommunicated. That is, we would be saying that, as far as we can see, they are not believers. Let's not pretend that these are people who haven't had the biblical view explained to them nor can they claim lack of time to repent.

I've stood in front of my archdeacon who wanted to discuss these issues as "Christians" and had to say I didn't think we could because we believed a different gospel. It's not easy, but if you have any love for them, you must tell them the truth. To suggest that believers in a different gospel are fellow-Christians is simply to allow for plural truth and that, in itself, is a false gospel. It means you believe the true gospel is optional.

The future is, necessarily, separation

I think you know that there is no alternative but separation in the future. You can't accept being under a leadership of false teachers or being in a church whose gospel is now a false gospel. You need serious distance between you and them.

I think this will be hard for you. I'm not sure there can be anything but a messy divorce now. I don't know how issues of buildings and homes and money can be sorted out, but I would guess you're the ones who will lose out.

I can imagine that some churches, where the vicar and the church are united and where they are relatively financially secure might attempt some kind of forced separation with seprate synods, alternative oversight and the like (see Matthew Roberts suggestion for example).

Some of you, if you're honest, are in churches that are not with you, and you face the choice of resigning or compromising, because where you need to go they won't follow. And if they won't follow you can't go.

I know people will give you plenty of compelling reasons to compromise. They'll tell you that you are the shepherd and you mustn't leave your flock or you'll be a hired hand. They'll tell you that you're breaking your ordination vows. They'll tell you that you must stay and contend or you're being a coward. Let's be clear, all of these are lies. If you stay and compromise your faith you have shipwrecked your own faith and you are leading your congregation down the same route.

None of this is nice. That's the problem when the wolves run the church. I'm so sorry and I am praying for you. I'm praying most of all for that gospel boldness and power that the early church prayed for in the face of trouble (Acts 4:29-30). And I'm praying that you would have the same confidence they had in the "Sovereign Lord." (Acts 4:24).