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GAFCON Primate says no partnership with false teachers in the Anglican Communion
Some Anglican provinces are filled with those "practicing immorality", says ACNA Archbishop
We dishonor the Body of Christ if we stay in communion with them, he said
By David W. Virtue, DD
www.virtueonline.org
February 24, 2020
The chairman of GAFCON, the Most Rev. Foley Beach railed against "false teachers" and those who "practice immorality" and partner with them, in his February newsletter to GAFCON followers.
The ACNA archbishop said Christian discipleship and leadership calls us to make disciples of all nations and requires us to protect the flock from false teachers. "Encountering false teachers is nothing new in the history of the Church. The New Testament is filled with exhortations regarding false teachers."
As the youngest born person ever to hold the two positions, the American born evangelical leader said GAFCON could not become partners with them, a reference to the Lambeth Conference, The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada. Archbishop Justin Welby has not invited Archbishop Beach to the Lambeth Conference.
"This is the real challenge for many of our brothers and sisters in the Anglican Communion who have had years of partnership and fellowship and communion with provinces who now are filled with false teachers and with those who are practicing immorality. While the Anglican Establishment argues that this does not matter -- that we can agree to disagree on issues of salvation -- the Scriptures are clear that we are dishonouring the Body of Christ and the Lord himself when we ignore false teachers and pretend everything is just fine. See 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 and 2 John 1:10-11."
Recognizing the difference between true and false teachers and true and false "togetherness" calls for discernment.
Beach praised what he called "a new tool that helps this task by recalling our recent history.
"The Anglican Reality Check (www.anglicanrealitycheck.org) is an interactive time-line which tracks key events, good and bad, in the unfolding crisis of faith which has overtaken the Anglican Communion in the twenty-first century. It is amazing how much we can forget, and in a world of instant mass communication, this is a great way of keeping perspective and not being swayed by the latest PR slogans."
Beach said the GAFCON Networks continue to work and minister to enhance the proclamation of the Gospel all around the world, especially to those in places where they have no witness or church. These Networks -- the Suffering Church, Church Planting, Theological Education, Women's Ministries, Bishop Training Institute, Youth and Children's Ministry, Global Mission Partnerships, Lawyers Task Force, Sustainable Development, and PRAYER -- are all working to help equip the Church for the work God has given us. You can find out more at www.gafcon.org/neworks.
Beach cited the Apostle Paul and his concern for the Church in Ephesus and wrote: "For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them...(Ephesians 5:5-7).
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