A conservative Christian's, unChristian, reaction to Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 7:24PM He was hailed as a mighty prophet when he spoke for the dispossessed. Now, however, those who are facing his critical insight have turned against him with the kind of ferocity that is uncharacteristic of those who are followers of the Prince of Peace.
As many of you know Archbishop Desmond Tutu has been outspoken about his affirmation and acceptance of Christians who have a same sex orientation. This last week has been a particularly difficult time for the Bishop since many conservative Christians have taken great offense to some of what he has had to say.
It does not surprise me that many have turned against him. All of us like to point fingers at others when 'they are wrong'... We will take the moral high ground and easily show them their error. However, when we ourselves are the subject of scrutiny we often become quite defensive. Soon our prophets become our enemies, and those who so clearly spoke on behalf of God are labeled as misguided and delusional... I can write easily of this because sadly I have done it, and just as sadly I have often been treated this way...
Here is the scathing comment that Dr Michael L Ford lashed at Bishop Tutu:
And then there is this press release from the conservative Anglican publication 'Anglican Mainstream':
God Is a Righteous GodDr. Michael L. Ford
19 November 2007
For quite a long time I have been suspicious Archbishop Desmond Tutu was serving a different God than the one I serve. The reason I have thought this is because of the multitude of times he has made pronouncements and taken positions contrary to those consistent with what one should expect from a man who is representative of and has a calling from the Most High. As a matter of fact my file of his deviations from the way of truth has now grown quite thick.
The world of course applauds him, which should be a warning to any Bible reader (Luke 6:26) for this is the way of the world with false prophets. But who can fail to remember Tutu’s 1999 appearance on the Larry King show in front of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.? It was there he endorsed Mormonism as being Christian. He said he was there…to celebrate the coming of God into a world where God is saying, "I love you...I believe in you." It was plain he was observing a different reason for God coming into the world than I was, not the love part, but He came to redeem sinful men who need to believe in God not have God believe in them.
Now Archbishop Tutu has said, "If God, as they say, is homophobic I wouldn't worship that God." Well I have news for Tutu. God has no fear of homosexuals or any other man including him, and He is not concerned about Tutu’s attitude toward His position on sodomy. It is not Tutu’s prerogative to pass judgment on God but God will ultimately exercise His option to pass judgment on him. God is not constrained to have his approval but he should rather be concerned with God’s approval of himself.
Archbishop Tutu is not the only man possessing credentials from some denomination who has forgotten that Jesus Christ is LORD, not they themselves. If a person does not submit to Jesus Lordship willingly He is not their Savior even though at the Great White Throne Judgment they will bow and confess His Lordship before Him as The Righteous Judge. At that time I suspect a good many men wearing collars or robes will go into eternal condemnation because they were religious but not saved.
Both posts are kindly reposted from ContactOnline (Fr David MacGregor)Disappointed by Desmond Tutu
Anglican Mainstream SA Press Release: Disappointed by Desmond TutuNovember 20th, 2007
Anglican Mainstream Southern Africa wishes to put on record its disappointment with recent statements reportedly made by the retired Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu. The statements indicates a failure to understand the nature of the crisis, which faces the Anglican Communion, a crisis that is inhibiting our ability to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to all.
The present crisis in the Anglican Church is about the centrality of the Bible to what members of our church believe (our doctrine) and how we live out that belief in our daily lives (our moral standards). Sexuality is merely the presenting issue. In fact the decisions by Anglicans in the USA to distance themselves from the official province of that country has to do with the conscious vote at the convention of 2003 not to affirm basic Anglican Articles of religion. One of which states: “However, it is not lawful for the church to order anything contrary to God’s written Word.” This Resolution B001 was defeated 84 to 66 at the 2003 convention. In addition its liturgical practice, sacramental discipline and doctrine of God have also departed from Anglican teaching and formularies.
Many faithful people feel that they can no longer continue living and worshipping in a church that has departed in such a major way from the historic faith. The question of Bishop Robinson could really only have come up once that motion was defeated.
Archbishop Tutu claims that the Church has appeared homophobic. That claim cannot be substantiated. As Anglicans we believe that the God we worship loves every human being, that that according to the scripture, he makes the same demands of all those who love him: that we should “keep my commandments” Jn 14:15. In Anglican Mainstream SA we seek to encourage ministry that welcomes all, while upholding the revealed truth of scripture in a “grace filled” way.
The particular issue around Gene Robinson hinges on what the Bible teaches as the standards to be demanded of leaders in the church. These include holiness of life, and either celibacy or faithfulness in marriage between husband and one wife.
Finally, it saddens us that the questions of racial genetics and sexual orientation are being equated. Such an equation is at best spurious and indeed offensive. The origins and development of homosexuality are complex and our concern is with holiness of life and therefore behaviour, whatever its origins. Bp Bethlehem Nopece of Port Elizabeth sates: ” I am offended at the equating of being born black and being born homosexual, there is no scientific evidence for the genetic origin of homosexuality at this time.”
Monday, November 19, 2007
Revd Gavin Mitchell
Convenor Anglican Mainstream Southern Africa.
Technorati tags: Anglican, same sex, homosexual, Desmond Tutu, Prophet
Reader Comments (4)
Joy magazine has a big headline: "Tutu compromises the gospel."
I thought he had fulfilled it a bit, by bringing the Kingdom and proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ - that God loves us all.
I wonder how it will be possible to have unity in a diverse church?
I guess the issue that concern me most is the continual mud slinging within the church.
It's not to underplay the important of understanding God's Word and living a life that is slowly edging toward holiness, but so many of our theological "debates" are happening in public forum.
There will certainly be no unity is this is how the church chooses to handle conflict.
Desmond Tutu has made some very inflamatory comments - if I understand the article correctly. I just work out whether he is attacking God or the church.
I have followed Tutu's career for a long time, and to be honest i dont agree with everything he says.
However, he always remains true to what he believes, and says so, without concern of what people may say.
The "gay question" is a loaded one, but as soon as people are attacked for saying what they think, i disregard the "finger pointers" immediately.
Tutu di much for freedom, because he said what he believed. If the rest did the same, instead of pointing fingers, we'd get somewhere a lot faster, and with less bloodshed.
God does love us, even while we continue to sin, but He died so we would turn, repent and change from who we are. Of course, God loves us, whatever our given orientation, but let us not make the leap that He does not, to claim that He would love for people to continue in a given course of action, a behavior, that He does not love.