Tell Us Where Jesus Got It Wrong
Dear Sir,
Church teaching on marriage is summarised in Canon B30: “The Church of England affirms, according to our Lord’s teaching, that marriage is in its nature a union permanent and lifelong, for better for worse, till death them do part, of one man with one woman, to the exclusion of all others on either side, for the procreation and nurture of children, for the hallowing and right direction of the natural instincts and affections, and for the mutual society, help and comfort which the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity.”
This doctrine was not devised by a decree of synod, nor a whim of bishop; it is according to nothing less than our Lord’s own teaching. When Bishop Steven Croft advocates change to this doctrine, it suggests that there is something deficient in the teaching of Jesus. By stating that he does so for pastoral reasons, he thereby implies that he has a more compassionate ministry than the Lord of the Church. To present his case fully and honestly, he should clarify where Jesus got it wrong. Indeed, if the teaching of Jesus on marriage is incorrect, maybe it is wrong on other topics also.
A truly honest statement by Bishop Croft and his episcopal cheerleaders would set out a full list of areas where they disagree with Jesus, or find his teaching at fault. They could each sign it for the public record, prefacing their signatures with the sentence: “For this reason, I therefore resign as a bishop in the Church of God.”
Yours,
Michael Andrews
Shropshire
