A lesbian minister and the MCSA

NEWSFLASHES AND RHETORIC COMMENTS #2

ON Thursday June 27, 2013 an article appeared in The Witness newspaper under the title “Lesbian minister loses case against church”. This is the wicked state of man-made denominational organisations that call themselves “church.”

Firstly, we will look at the issue of a woman and her role in God’s Creation, and that God did not create a woman to be a lesbian and to have same-sex women relationships. The Holy Word of God – the Bible – says ~

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

And that they, that is the man and his wife, were to “… be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth …” (Genesis 1:28a) and further on we also read in Genesis 2:23-25 ~

Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman [Hebrew – Ishshah], because she was taken out of Man [Hebrew – Iysh].

Genesis 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

This was in the garden of Eden before the fall of man where they sinned against God by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Man + Woman in a covenant before God = Husband and Wife. We also read in Leviticus 20:13 that ~

Leviticus 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

This speaks of homosexuality, which also includes the lesbian act, for we read in Romans 1:18 ~

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

And in Romans 1 verses 24-27, we further read:

Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

God is clearly not happy with sodomites and lesbians, and although the South African government has passed a law for same-sex sexual relationships and marriages, this remains an abomination in the sight of God Almighty! It is no surprise that the marriage of Ecclesia de Lange to another woman ended in divorce. In fact, God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16) in heterosexual relationships so it is even worse for homosexual relationships which He declares as evil and wicked.

The apostle Paul writing to the Corinth Church also gives a stern warning in 1 Corinthians 6:9,10 about who would not inherit the kingdom of God, as we read ~

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

The second issue in the article to be corrected relates to this ‘woman’ being a minister. The Word of God is clear that no woman in public worship is to teach, nor to usurp authority over [i.e. dominate] the man. We can read in 1 Timothy 2:11-15 ~

1 Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

1 Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.

1 Timothy 2:13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

1 Timothy 2:14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

1 Timothy 2:15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

We also read what the apostle Paul had to say to the ekklesia (congregation, assembly, Church) that gathered at Corinth ~

1 Corinthians 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

1 Corinthians 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

Clearly women are not given the role of teaching and preaching from the pulpit in public worship. There is no command given by the Lord Jesus Christ as the Living Word of God giving another command in this regard. God has a perfect order for all things, according to His good will and purpose as we read the order ordained by God ~

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

If de Lange was ordained by the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) in 2006 to be a minister, both the MCSA and de Lange need to repent before God as they have violated God’s Holy Word in respect of who can be appointed bishops and elders (what the church calls ‘pastors’ and in the case of the MCSA ‘Reverends’). The qualifications of a bishop is recorded in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 ~

1 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1 Timothy 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

1 Timothy 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

1 Timothy 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

1 Timothy 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

1 Timothy 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

The qualifying portions of the preceding Scriptures are “man” and “husband [Greek – anēr] of one wife [Greek – gunē]”, clearly a “woman” cannot be “the husband of one wife” according to God’s Word.

The ordained qualified elders in every city should fit the following description, as recorded in Titus 1:6-9 ~

Titus 1:6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Titus 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

The same criteria applies here as that of a bishop, a “man” who is “the husband [Greek – anēr] of one wife [Greek – gunē]”, clearly a “woman” cannot be “the husband of one wife” according to God’s Word.

In conclusion, it is shameful of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa who has “been deliberating on gay marriage for 13 years and had still not taken a decision.” The MCSA and its members either believes God’s Word or they reject it, and after “13 years” it is clear that their stance is on the latter. Shame on you, for what is there to deliberate on gay marriages? [No same-sex marriage rule in church – News24] – Take a stand against the evils of this wicked and spiritual adulteress generation. This is what the ecumenical church system looks like, it is a friend of the world which is an enemy of God (see James 4:4). It goes without saying: “You might have won a battle, but you are losing the war.” Repent this day before God Almighty!

Soli Deo Gloria

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Written by an ex-methodist, called out of the MCSA by the Grace of the One True God! I wonder what John and Charles Wesley would say about the Methodist Church of today?