The liberal ecclesiastical leaders of the American Episcopal Church have now ratified V. Gene Robinson as the New Hampshire Bishop of their denomination. By this action, they have expressed endorsement of the sin of homosexuality. They have chosen to follow their own fallible, human preferences rather than be bound by the God who created them and has the right to say how sexuality must be expressed.

Four points may be mentioned to show the inconsistency and hypocrisy of this shameful denominational decision. First, the Bible clearly says that the only honorable use of sex is between a husband and a wife within a Scriptural and moral marriage (Matthew 19:4-9). The new bishop formerly renounced his normal marriage and is now involved in a sexual relationship with one of his own gender. The Bible calls this a perversion.

Second, the Scriptures also say that those who indulge in homosexual acts and relationships will not enter the kingdom of heaven, unless they repent of this sin (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Homosexuality is a form of fornication (pornea), and the Bible plainly says that no fornicator will enter God’s presence (Galatians 5:19-21), but will be consigned to the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8; Ephesians 5:3-6).

Third, true Christians must have no Christian fellowship or even eat with practicing fornicators or homosexuals (1 Corinthians 5:11). This often-overlooked command shows the seriousness of the offense.

Fourth, the Bible says that “an overseer [bishop], then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2). As long as Robinson practices the sin of homosexuality, he definitely is not above reproach. Furthermore, he refuses to be the husband of one wife. Therefore, he is not qualified to be an overseer or bishop.

Do we now see the problem that Episcopalians have created for themselves? Since the Bible says that legitimate marriage (or celibacy) is the only sexual option, since it says that all who are sexually immoral (including homosexuals) will be forbidden to enter heaven, since it states that Christians must not have fellowship with fellow-Christians who live in deliberate and unrepentant sin, and since Robinson does not meet the Biblical qualifications to be a bishop, how will the Episcopal leaders and members deal with these plain and far-reaching truths?

For those who would be true to the word of the living God, the answer should be obvious!

Richard Hollerman