Who controls your life?

The film "Girl Friend" was opposed by many sections of the society. While the accompanied violence from certain sections cannot be condoned the film nevertheless raises an important question. Can the same-sex marriages be blessed? In June 2002, the synod of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster authorized its bishop to produce a service for blessing same-sex unions, to be used in any parish of the diocese that requests it. A number of synod members walked out to protest the decision. The world renowned Anglican theologian J. I. Packer was one of those who walked out.

Why can't the church bless same -sex marriages? Because this decision as J. I. Packer clearly states "falsifies the gospel of Christ, abandons the authority of Scripture, jeopardizes the salvation of fellow human beings, and betrays the church in its God-appointed role as the bastion and bulwark of divine truth."

In 1 Corinthians Paul addresses the advocates of lawless spirituality. This is what he writes inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (I Cor. 6:9-10).

When Paul presents a list of vices he speaks of lifestyles, recurring behaviour types, habits of mind and deeds. Paul is not speaking of single lapses followed by repentance, forgiveness, and better alertness against repetition, but ways of life in which some of his readers were establish, believing that for Christians there was no harm in them. Paul clearly warns that these habits are sinful and if not repented of and forsaken, will keep people out of God's kingdom of salvation. Undoubtedly lack of moral discernment lies at the heart of self indulgence and free from self discipline and self-denial. Those who claim to be Christ's should avoid the practice of same -sex physical connection for heterosexual intercourse. Christians need to resist these urges, since acting them out cannot please God. In Romans 1:26 Paul spokes similarly about lesbian behaviour.

The good news is that those who as lost sinners, cast themselves in genuine faith on Christ and so receive the Holy Spirit, as all Christians do find transformation of their lives. They gain cleansing of conscience, acceptance with God, and strength to resist and not act out the particular temptations they experience. As a preacher once declared to his congregation, "I want you to know that I am a non-practicing adulterer." Thus he testified to receiving strength from God. We are all sexually tempted, one way or another, yet we may all tread the path of chastity through the Spirit's enablement, and thereby please God.

The historic Christian faith has upheld that through the prophets, the incarnate Son of God Jesus Christ, the apostles, and the writers of books of the Scripture as a body, God has used human language to tell us definitively and trans-culturally about his ways, his works, his will, and his worship. This truth of the scripture can be understood by letting the Bible interpret itself to us from within. The Holy Spirit who inspired the writers teaches the church.

Asking God to bless same -sex marriages is to ask God to sanctify sin by blessing what he condemns. This is irresponsible, disrespectful and undoubtedly blasphemous, and completely unacceptable as church policy. How can it be?

There is a burning need to rekindle a passion for Scripture among Christians of all denominations, especially among mainline Protestants where one encounters Scripture-fatigue and illiteracy. Love for the scriptures must begin with the family prayer but most parents leave their children to be educated once a week in Sunday school of the Church. Some churches don't even have Sunday school classes.

The preacher's pulpit must certainly be a visible reminder that the Bible has authority, and a preacher testifies to that authority when he preaches. Luther's response at Worms when he was asked to recant all his writings is still worthy of our remembrance. 'Unless you prove to me by Scripture and plain reason that I am wrong, I cannot and will not recant. My conscience is captive to the Word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe [it endangers the soul]. Here I stand. There is nothing else I can do. God help me. Amen.'

Conscience is not an infallible guide. Yet conscience is that power of the mind over which we have no power, which binds us to believe what we see to be true and do what we see to be right. If our conscience becomes under the captivity of the Word of God; that is, to the absolutes of God's authoritative teaching in the Bible, is essential to authentic Christianity.

We must intentionally resist the temptation to brandish Scripture as a weapon and lift it up and wave it at our opponents. Rather we must deliberately learn how to open Scripture with the anticipation of hearing God's voice. The authority of the scriptures can't just be advocate by writing more books rather by submitting to the authority of the scripture and allowing God of the Bible to control our life. Who guides you?