Same sex unions & a deeper understanding

[Etienne]

The Times, London, dated 24 June, 2004 reports on the blessing of a same sex union by Episcopalian bishop, Dr John Chane. In the article Dr Chane is reported as writing the following:-

"In all things it is time now for us to re-examine the nature of Old and New Testament covenants between God and humankind, and to understand in a far deeper way what it means to be in Baptismal Covenant with Jesus Christ. Faithful relationships with God and each other, imbued with the Divine gift of inclusive love, are at the very heart of defining who we are as God's children."

For me, the chasm between someone who thinks and expresses themselves in this way and a faithful and traditional Christianity seems immense. Is this the wisdom of Christian ascetic struggle and knowledge or something else? Maybe someone else may be able to make sense of this for me?

[尼古拉前执事]

Canterbury backs updated Bible

A new translation of the Bible which seems to contradict traditional Christian beliefs on sex has been backed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The book, entitled "Good as New", is aimed at refreshing the language and themes of the Bible for modern readers.

In the new version, St Paul's advice that men and women should marry is replaced with they should have a "regular partner".

Dr Rowan Williams says it is a book of "extraordinary power".

But the Church of England leader admitted many readers would be startled by its content.

The words of St Paul are likely to cause most controversy.

A passage from the standard version of his Letters to the Corinthians reads: "It is well for a man not to touch a woman.

"But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband."

In the Good As New version the same passage reads: "Some of you think the best way to cope with sex is for men and women to keep right away from each other.

"That is more likely to lead to sexual offences. My advice is for everyone to have a regular partner."

'Epidemic profusion'

St Paul gives stronger advice in another section of the Corinthians.

"There's nothing wrong with remaining single, like me. But if you know you have strong needs, get yourself a partner. Better than being frustrated," he says in the new version.

John Benson, the former Baptist minister who translated the new book, made terminology changes throughout the book, such as replacing "demon possession" with "mental illness".

Mr Benson also chose "God's new world" in place of "kingdom of God".

Dr Williams said he hoped the new translation would "spread in epidemic profusion through religious and irreligious alike".

"Instead of being taken into a specialised religious frame of reference... we have here a vehicle for thinking and worshiping that is fully earthed, recognisably about our humanity," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3833693.stm

[sue57]

Is it any surprising that the work of the evil one takes a seemingly benign form? It all seems so "progressive" and "friendly", but to what end?

[sue57]

Sorry, meant to say "Is it any surprise". How emabarassing.

[Lucian]

The Anglicans/Episcopalians only sink lower and lower.

Regarding the article about that new perversion of the Bible: I though the RSV was bad! That Good as New monstrosity takes the cake!

Going back to the RSV for a moment, I own a pretty nice RSV with the Deuterocanonicals. I had always used the KJV or NKJV before.

Recently I have noticed what I regard as some pretty wimpy (and potentially seriously problematic) renderings in the RSV.

In Isaiah 7:14 the RSV translates the Hebrew word almah as "young woman" rather than "virgin." Here it is:

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold a young woman will conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."

That seems to me to weaken the power and specificity of Isaiah's prophecy of the Virgin Birth of our Lord.

In 1 Corinthians 6:9 it translates the Greek word pornos (fornicators, whoremongers) as "the immoral," and the Greek words malakos (effeminate, catamites) and arsenokoites (homosexuals) as "sexual perverts."

Here is that verse:

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts . . ."

It seems to me these rather wimpy translations weaken the meaning of the respective verses in which they occur.

"The immoral" can mean almost anything, and "sexual perverts" can be a relative term that depends for its definition on the standards of a particular community.

It seems to me the original Greek words were much more specific and left their readers or auditors in no doubt as to their meanings.

The RSV translation almost seems to pave the way for stuff like what we are now seeing in Good as New.

[Seeker]

We should start an Anglican outreach program to bring Anglican into Christianity. Those people are desperate to hear the Good News.

[Etienne]

Yes, I had seen the reports of Dr Rowan Williams endorsement of the new 'paraphrase', as one correspondent to the The Times puts it, of the New Testament.

While agreeing with much, if not all, that appears in response to my question it is not just Anglicans, but people from a wide spectrum of religious affiliations. Sadly even some Orthodox Christians too. I heard of one priest reportedly responding to a penitent and referring to the love between Our Saviour and St John, by way of explaining his attraction to persons of the same sex!

There is an articulate and vociferous minority out there with a very clear 'agenda', and a majority which seems largely silent. Political activists have shown the way historically. You can achieve 'unbelieveable' change without the support of the majority.

I read Dr Chane's word's and felt that this man clearly feels his understanding supercedes that of all those who have gone before him. Inclusion is only for those who are prepared to bow down before the 'altar' of a new and superior moral code. Were this phenomena one that simply affected Anglicanism I would not take much note but it goes much, much further and is not yet satisfied with its accomplishments....