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Editorial Comment:
There is a side issue relating to the homosexual debate that is raging within historic Christendom and that has also surfaced within the more recently established Pentecostal group called AoG – Assemblies of God. My background is AoG and quite frankly I never ever expected to read an article such as that by Scott Stephens in The Courier-Mail Monday June 9, 2003 (page 13 — reprinted page 19) from a minister within my former denomination.
Amazingly Mr Stephens is touted in that article as “a theologian at Garden City College of Ministries, Mt Gravatt.” This college is linked to one of the largest AoG churches in Australia, called Garden City Christian Church, Mt Gravatt in the city of Brisbane. The major leaders of Assemblies of God in Australia have been contacted about this aberration. So far there has been no comment or action by them as far as we know.
The issue that I refer to is one that CWM has been addressing in our publications since our formation in 1994. Is it time for genuine Christians – leaders and followers – to respond to the trumpet call of Scripture?
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate, saith the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”
— 2 Corinthians 6:17
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you do not partake of her sins, and that you do not receive her plagues.”
— Revelation 18:4
The question is not a new one. Doctors Martyn Lloyd-Jones and John Stott faced it in Britain in 1966. The former as preacher famously issued a call at a large united churches’ event for evangelicals to “come out” from their liberal churches. John Stott, who was the chairman stood up and contradicted him.
In what follows two good men, who are both fighting this different issue of homosexuality on a common biblical basis are doing so from opposite perspectives. Dr Peter Barnes says that the Uniting Church (UCA) is a spent force due to its compromised foundation and its widespread liberalisation.
Dr Gordon Moyes believes the evangelicals within the Uniting Church will win and with this in mind he is staying on the inside notwithstanding his strong disagreement with the Church’s current position on homosexuality.
At least they are both fighting — but AoG — well they appear to have already succumbed, if Scott Stephen’s article Gay row obscures point of Jesus’ life — see below — and the non response of the hierarchical leaders is anything to go by.
Fred Nile the member for the Christian Democratic Party in the NSW Legislative Council (upper house) and a former minister of UCA has resigned over the issue. He remains a Member of Parliament.
What do you think?
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Appeared in Issue 27 Volume 9.2 December 2003
"...contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" -- Jude v3
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