RESOLUTION 73:06 - Another Blast of the Trumpet
Tragically, it is time again to give a “blast of the trumpet against the monstrous regiment of unbelieving women.” Rising to prominent positions within dozens of denominations they are spouting forth a message that is contrary to the Word of God, destructive to the church and undermining society in general.
The Rev. [sic] Katherine Ragsdale, newly appointed president of the Episcopal Divinity School, has
declared:
“When a woman wants a child but can’t afford one because she hasn’t the education necessary for a sustainable job, or access to health care, or day care, or adequate food, it is the abysmal priorities of our nation, the lack of social supports, the absence of justice that are the tragedies; the abortion is a blessing.
“And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe, affordable abortion — there is not a tragedy in sight — only blessing. The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing.
“These are the two things I want you, please, to remember — abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it: abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done.”
For a woman to stand up, in Christ’s name and insist that abortion is a blessing from God is diabolical and cruel. Merely saying that something is a blessing does not make it so and the continuing ministry among those women who are dealing with guilt and sorrow as a result of this matter demonstrates the tragic character of Ragdale’s message.
God says in Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for
darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katherine Jefferts Schori, recently called “the evangelical notion that individuals can be right with God a ‘great Western heresy’ that is behind many problems facing the church and the wider society.” She made this contention at the church’s triennial meeting in Ahaheim, California.
The report on her message further states:
“It’s caricatured in some quarters by insisting that salvation depends on reciting a specific verbal formula about Jesus,” Jefferts Schori, the first woman to be elected as a primate in the worldwide Anglican Communion three years ago, said. “That individualist focus is a form of idolatry, for it puts me and my words in the place that only God can occupy, at the center of existence, as the ground of being.”
Jefferts Schori said “heretical and individualistic understanding” contributes to problems like neglect for the environment and the current worldwide economic recession.”
To claim, in Christ’s name, that the doctrine of individual salvation is heresy is itself heresy.
God says in Psalm 32:1-2 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
God says in Galatians 1:6-9 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than whatyou have received, let him be accursed.
In Seattle, the Rev. [sic] Ann Holmes Redding has stated:
“I am both Muslim and Christian, just like I’m both an American of African descent and a woman. I’m 100 percent both.”
“At the most basic level, I understand the two religions to be compatible. That’s all I need.”
“It wasn’t about intellect,” she said. “All I know is the calling of my heart to Islam was very much something about my identity and who I am supposed to be.”
“I could not not be a Muslim.”
God says in 2 Cor 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
These women are representative of a growing loud and public army that is defying the Word of God and distorting truth. The Bible requires us to “earnestly contend for the truth.” We believe that part of our duty to obey that Scriptural command is to call attention to the purveyors of error and their deceptive messages.
Therefore, we, the 73rd General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church meeting in Bristol, Virginia August 6-11, 2009, call upon all those who willfully misrepresent the Word of God and orthodox Christianity to either cease and desist, or confess publicly their departure from the orthodox faith and their determination to teach another Gospel.
We also call upon those who sit under the ministries of these false prophetesses to emulate the Bereans and search the Word looking to find God’s will, that they will discover the true message of the Gospel and the diabolical source of these attempts to lead men and women away from the truth.
73rd General Synod of the Bible Presbyterian Church
R E S O L U T I O N
Bristol, VA • August 6-11, 2009
bpcadminjd @ August 18, 2009
