How will humanity escape from the birth that is subject to death, if it is not by means of a new birth, given in a wonderful and unexpected manner by God - that very regeneration that flows from the Virgin through faith? --- St. Irenaeus of Lyon, 2nd century

The evil of error. The devil disturbs the church as much by error as by evil. When he cannot entice Christian people into sin, he deceives them with false doctrine. --- From "The Message of Galatians" John R.W. Stott

The Facts of Christianity. Christianity is a religion built upon facts. Let us never lose sight of this. The first preachers did not go up and down the world, proclaiming an elaborate, artificial system of abstruse doctrines and deep principles. They made it their first business to tell men great plain facts. They went about telling a sin-laden world, that the Son of God had come down to earth, and lived for us, died for us, and risen again. The Gospel, at its first publication, was far more simple than many make it now. It was neither more nor less than the history of Christ. --- Bishop J.C. Ryle. Expository Thoughts on the Gospels

Sealed with the Spirit. A seal is a mark of ownership ... and God's seal, by which he brands us as belonging for ever to him, is the Holy Spirit himself. The Holy Spirit is the identity tag of the Christian. If the Holy Spirit dwells within you, you are a Christian. If the Holy Spirit doesn't, you are not a Christian. For God has sealed us if we believed in Jesus, with the seal of the Holy Spirit himself who dwells within us. --- From 'Christ's Portrait of a Christian: Studies in Matthew 5, 6 and 7', in "The Keswick Week 1972", ed. H. F. Stevenson

Theological devotion. It is important to note from Romans 1 - 11 that theology (our belief about God) and doxology (our worship of God) should never be separated. On the one hand, there can be no doxology without theology. It is not possible to worship an unknown god. All true worship is a response to the self-revelation of God in Christ and Scripture, and arises from our reflection on who he is and what he has done. It was the tremendous truths of Romans 1 - 11 which provoked Paul's outburst of praise in verses 33-36 of chapter 11. The worship of God is evoked, informed and inspired by the vision of God. Worship without theology is bound to degenerate into idolatry. Hence the indispensable place of Scripture in both public worship and private devotion. It is the Word of God which calls forth the worship of God. On the other hand, there should be no theology without doxology. There is something fundamentally flawed about a purely academic interest in God. God is not an appropriate object for cool, critical, detached, scientific observation and evaluation. No, the true knowledge of God will always lead us to worship, as it did Paul. Our place is on our faces before him in adoration. As I believe Bishop Handley Moule said at the end of the last century, we must 'beware equally of an undevotional theology and of an untheological devotion'. --- From "The Message of Romans" John R.W. Stott

The liberal philosophy: "You are free to say whatever I agree with"

Dear Brothers and Sisters
www.virtueonline.org
December 23, 2010

It should probably come as no surprise that The Episcopal Church has yet again appeared in the news round up of 2010 religious stories of the year. The poll was taken of Religion Newswriters Association members

The No.1 news story was the public debate and controversy over a planned Islamic community center and mosque to be built near New York's Ground Zero. This action ignited a national debate about religious freedom that kept the story in the news for months.. The center's leading proponent, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, was voted the 2010 Religion Newsmaker of the Year.

Public opinion and outcry over the mosque reached a peak when a pastor of a small Florida church threatened to burn a Qu'ran in protest, a bravado that fueled fears of international backlash against the United States until the pastor backed down.

As newsmaker of the year, Rauf beat out Pope Benedict XVI, the many faith-based workers helping victims of the Haitian government, and Sarah Palin, who devoted significant portions of her second best selling book arguing that candidates for office should take a public Christian stand.

The No. 6 story was The Episcopal Church being asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury to take a lesser role in the Anglican Communion after a lesbian assistant bishop was ordained in the Diocese of Los Angeles. Sexuality continues as a hot topic among mainline congregations. One suspects that when TEC ordains the first transgendered priest from the Diocese of Massachusetts as a Bishop of,say, California, we will have crossed the final frontier, presuming, of course that said priest had also had an incestuous relationship with his sister before his sex change operation. That should do it nicely.

*****

In a landmark decision, the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey has settled out of court with St. George's Helmetta allowing the parish to leave the Episcopal Church, keep its property and join with another Anglican jurisdiction.

A source said that a down payment of $30,000 was made by the parish with periodic payments to be made over the next several years.

NJ Bishop George Councell, a liberal, has shown himself to be gracious in demonstrating that deals can be cut without expensive litigation costs. VOL was told by a source that his chancellor and Episcopal leaders at church headquarters in New York City were not supportive of his actions, but he stood up to them and settled with the parish. You can read the full story in today's digest.

*****

After more than a century of service to their communities, three churches have shown up on the Episcopal radar screen this week as they close their doors. In the DIOCESE OF MICHIGAN membership had declined to the point to force the closing of St. Peter's Church in Tecumseh county. Members of St. Peter's Episcopal Church recently received a letter from their priest, the Rev. Robin Smith, confirming that one of the community's first churches will close following services on Christmas Eve. The church was established in 1833 and will close its doors after marking just over 177 years in the Tecumseh community. Another parish St. Andrew's, Clawson in the diocese will hold its final service on January 5 and close its doors forever.

In Yreka, California, St. Mark's Episcopal Church will close its doors Dec. 31. A VOL reader said that it was not simply a victim of the recession coupled with an aging and dwindling congregation, but pro-homosexual preaching in the church that has caused members to leave.

The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, under the Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner, aims to give the building to the Historical Association, and also to a local Evangelical church. They plan on continuing to disperse food, clothing and counseling to those in need, a source told VOL.

A long time VOL blogger, known for his statistical analysis, noted that the stats do not support the claim that the recession (which allegedly ended in 2009) was the main cause of St. Mark's demise. "Actually, it all fell apart in 2006, two years before the recession. Members fell from 140 to 30, ASA from 60 to 20, and Plate & Pledge from $75K to $30K. Furthermore, there is an ACNA mission, St. Mary Magdalene, in Yreka."

In Jamaica, New York, Grace Episcopal Church launched a campaign to persuade local members of the City Council to overturn the city Landmarks Preservation Commission's designation. The historic Jamaica church is fighting tooth-and-nail to thwart a city landmarks designation that could cost its dwindling congregation thousands of dollars in building maintenance and repairs. Ironically, not a single church member attended the commission's public hearing earlier this year to oppose the plan.

"We're going to fight the designation," said Grace Episcopal leader, the Rev. Darryl James. "It siphons off potential funding for ways in which we can really continue to do the work of Jesus Christ." Judging by the age of the congregation, they are not doing much of anything except keeping the doors open and the lights on. Young people are virtually nonexistent.

You can read stories about all three congregations in today's digest. VOL believes these parish stories only scratch the surface of what will be coming in future months and years. Massive closures will occur as aging congregations with churches that have no gospel, no money and no young people will be the norm.

*****

Episcopal Church pansexualists were crowing this week when Don't Ask Don't Tell was repealed. "DADT Repealed: Honesty Triumphs Over Homophobia", screamed a press release from Integrity, The Episcopal Church's unofficial pansexual organization. If honesty is the best policy, how about starting with our sinful natures - natures which need redeeming by the blood of Christ.

Culture warrior Pat Buchanan fired back with a response to this horrible situation. He had a few choice words to say:

Here are a few: "The least respected of American institutions, Congress, with an approval rating of 13 percent, is imposing its cultural and moral values on the most respected of American institutions, the U.S. military.

"Why are we undertaking this social experiment with the finest military on earth? Does justice demand it? Was there a national clamor for it?

"No. It is being imposed from above by people, few of whom have ever served or seen combat, but all of whom are aware of the power of the homosexual rights lobby. This is a political payoff, at the expense of our military, to a militant minority inside the Democratic Party that is demanding this as the price of that special interest's financial and political support.

"Can anyone believe that mixing small-town and rural 18-, 19- and 20-year-old Christian kids, aspiring Marines, in with men sexually attracted to them is not going to cause hellish problems?

"While this new morality may be orthodoxy among our elites in the academy, media, culture and the arts, Middle America has never signed on and still regards homosexuality as an aberrant lifestyle, both socially and spiritually ruinous."

Behind these traditionalist beliefs lie the primary sources of moral authority for traditionalist America: the Old and New Testaments, Christian doctrine, natural law. Thomas Jefferson believed homosexuality should be treated with the same severity as rape.

Let the reader decide if the direction America is headed is toward those "sunny uplands," or straight downhill. You can read what Buchannan has to say in today's digest.

*****

On a brighter note, the American Anglican Council of Washington D.C. launched a career support group for the unemployed in Accokeek, Maryland, beginning February 1, 2011.

The (AAC-W) will launch a new outreach ministry support group In partnership with the national program of the Crossroads Career Ministries Headquartered in Charlotte N.C. and the Maryland State Workforce Office in Waldorf. The initiative will provide support for the unemployed, the underemployed, veterans, students entering the workforce and retirees beginning new careers. The program is for persons of all religious denominations and the un-churched in the Southern Maryland area.

The Nation is experiencing the worst economic crisis in 80 years with more than 15 million people currently out of work. Many are unemployed for the first time in their careers through no fault of their own. They are in great need of guidance and support.

When there is a need, there is also a tremendous opportunity for Christians to step up and reach out to help others. The mission of the Career Crossroads ministry is to help people at a crossroads in their careers by providing counsel, contacts and encouragement. This, in turn, equips and supports them to hear and follow God's calling as they explore careers and look to find a job.

AAC-W is a 501-(3)-c non-profit church organization founded in 1994, and is an affiliate chapter of the national American Anglican Council in Atlanta, Georgia. The chapter is committed to upholding the Traditional Faith and assisting churches in their outreach ministries. AAC-W will be the first church organization in Maryland to use the Christ Centered Crossroads Career Ministry Resources, joining more than 100 churches of all denominations in other states enrolled in the career ministry.

AAC-W plans to expand their ministry to other Anglican Churches in the Washington Metro Area by providing startup "hands-on" support and supplying qualified volunteer career counselors and guest speakers upon request. Financial support for the ministry is anticipated to come primarily from voluntary donations and small membership fees to cover costs and expenses in conducting seminars, job fairs and workshops.

For further information contact: Bradley Hutt at 301-502-3432 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              301-502-3432      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or by email: hutt2@verizon.net

*****

Remaking the Communion in the revisionists' image. Writing on the Anglican Communion Institute website, Dr Phillip Turner discusses the strategy employed by revisionists in the US Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada to transform the Anglican Communion into something more to their liking. He concludes by calling on the Archbishop of Canterbury to withdraw his invitation to the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church to attend Lambeth Conference. Turner also requested that the archbishop to place on the agenda the matter of Communion discipline in light of TEC's flaunting of the moral authority of the Communion Instruments.

In discussing the tactics of TEC revisionists in implementing what amounts to a revolution, he lists:

1. Act in a way contrary to established canons and doctrine and then pleading immunity from consequences because the actions were "prophetic". They then plead for dialogue. "In this way, dissent expressed as disobedience is portrayed as a mere disagreement that can be sorted out by conversation."

2. Seek to escape the consequences of their actions by arguing against centralized Communion authority, saying it has no place in Anglican tradition and that provinces have unfettered autonomy.

3. Through political maneuvering, manipulate and reshape the structures of the Communion.

4. Redefine Communion, saying "...that the basis of communion is not so much common belief and practice as it is common mission understood primarily as the alleviation of human suffering and the pursuit of greater social justice... The heart of communion on this view comes down to perpetual dialogue coupled with "mutual ministry," understood largely in moral terms.

Some things should be said about Turner's thesis.

While he makes significant mention of the Covenant, he makes no mention of the Jerusalem Declaration, which is the preferred instrument of unity for the orthodox Global South archbishops.

Secondly, it presumes the Archbishop of Canterbury will uninvite Katharine Jefferts Schori from the Dublin meeting of the Primates. Not going to happen. If he uninvited her, he would have to do the same with Fred Hiltz, Canada Primate, which is also not going to happen. The 27 Primates are moderate, liberal or revisionist. They reflect Rowan's thinking in a way the Global South archbishops simply do not.

Dublin will be a cakewalk for the ABC. Whatever the Primates come up with will not affect what and how Global South Primates do their mission.

*****

Recently, VOL ran a story about how a British street preacher was arrested by the Cumbria Police and charged for preaching against sin. He did not mention homosexual behavior, but was arrested by the LGBT police squad. He filed a law suit and won. The video can be viewed here: http://www.christian.org.uk/news/cumbria-police-payout-for-arrest-of-christian/

*****

So, who and what churches are growing in the UK? According to a recent report, it is conservative congregations that are growing - Baptists, Pentecostals, house churches - as well as orthodox Anglicans. Rome is depending on immigration to keep its numbers up, despite the claim in the report. There are some 500,000 eastern Europeans from RC countries working in the UK, at the moment. Where there are dedicated Polish parishes, the congregations are overflowing. However, the number of seminarians is tiny. Rome will be forced to import priests if it wishes to keep its English parishes open. There are quite a few vacancies for Anglican priests in England, a source told VOL. There is some good news. The number of Anglican churches in Britain has risen for the first time in more than a decade.

*****

Is incest the final sexual frontier yet to be ratified? David Epstein, a Colombia university professor charged with incest with his adult daughter, is defending sex between family members by appealing to homosexual "rights" as a precedent.

Epstein's lawyer, Matthew Galluzzo, told ABC News that "It's OK for homosexuals to do whatever they want in their own home. How is this so different? We have to figure out why some behavior is tolerated and some is not.

"What goes on between consenting adults in private should not be legislated. That is not the proper domain of our law," Galluzo told the Huffington Post, which publishes Epstein's articles. "If we assume for a moment that both parties are consenting, then why are we prosecuting this?"

If homosexual sex is legal, why not this? Technically, he is correct. The sexual dam has been breached. Once you agree that sex between a man and a woman within the framework of marriage is only one of many sexual possibilities, then ultimately anything goes. And you wonder why the Global South has no interest in sitting down with the likes of Jefferts Schori? Any meeting is a waste of time and money. The Global South is too busy evangelizing the lost to sit down and talk with her about resolving the irresolvable.

*****

It is Christmas. While people are arguing over whether to say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, or whether Christmas trees should be found in public places with angels on them, some Christians are being persecuted for their faith.

An Iranian pastor has been sentenced to death for apostasy from Islam. Youcef Nadarkhani (33), a father of two, was arrested in October 2009 after he objected to the teaching of Islam to Christian children in schools. He has been held in prison ever since.

Another report reveals "unbearable conditions" of Iraqi Christians. An extract from a report received by the Barnabas Fund last week from a senior church leader reveals the bitter reality of life for Iraqi Christians amid unrelenting attacks against them.

"Their conditions are no longer bearable. The people are living behind locked doors, they are compelled to take long leaves of absence from work, in Mosul and other cities, as a result of the dangers they face...

"It is as if they are in prison: without work, without study, without Church meetings. Fear rules over all situations and in all places."

Indian Christians are being attacked during church services. Christians in the Indian state of Karnataka are living in a "climate of fear, persecution and harassment", says a senior leader after four attacks by Hindu extremists in one day.

Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, spoke out following the incidents at different churches during recent Sunday services.

*****

Thousands of Germans have quit the Catholic Church in the wake of a series of sex and corruption scandals that have left the institution reeling.

In one diocese alone, Rottenburg-Stuttgart, by mid December, 17,659 had turned their back on the Church, compared to 4,563 for the whole of 2009, according to new research by the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper and the DPA press agency.

Augsberg, reflecting a downward trend experienced by most dioceses, saw its flock decline as 11,351 left the Church in comparison to the 6,953 last year, while in Trier 7,029 people quit, a 2,500 increase on the previous year.

"I have never experienced anything like this since my ordination in 1969," said Bishop Friedhelm Hofmann of Wurzburg, adding that "every single departure is one too many".

The bishop suggested that the exodus was linked to the sex and corruption scandals that have blighted the Catholic Church this year both in Germany and abroad.

The desertion poses potential financial problems for the Church - under German law a recognized member of a church can donate some of their taxes to the institution, so if people renounce their membership, the flow of money diminishes.

It also appears that many disenchanted Catholics are turning to the Protestant church. The diocese of Badan said the number of Catholics converting grew by 20 per cent in 2010.

*****

In the UK, the Marriage law should be overhauled, says Ekklesia, a liberal religious think tank. "People should be free to...." What they really mean is that marriage, which can only exist between a man and a woman, should be redefined to mean whatever anyone thinks it might mean - and then the Church should be forced to sanctify and bless it, however repugnant to the Word of God. *****

The Pope and condoms. Clarity at last. A story circulated across the globe saying the Pope had approved of condoms. Well, not quite. Here is an accurate interpretation of what he said: "Some commentators have interpreted the words of Benedict XVI according to the so-called theory of the 'lesser evil'. This theory is, however, susceptible to proportionalistic misinterpretation (cf. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter 'Veritatis splendor', n. 75-77). An action which is objectively evil, even if a lesser evil, can never be licitly willed. The Holy Father did not say - as some people have claimed - that prostitution with the use of a condom can be chosen as a lesser evil. The Church teaches that prostitution is immoral and should be shunned. However, those involved in prostitution who are HIV positive and who seek to diminish the risk of contagion by the use of a condom may be taking the first step in respecting the life of another - even if the evil of prostitution remains in all its gravity. This understanding is in full conformity with the moral theological tradition of the Church.

"In conclusion, in the battle against AIDS, the Catholic faithful and the agencies of the Catholic Church should be close to those affected, should care for the sick and should encourage all people to live abstinence before and fidelity within marriage. In this regard it is also important to condemn any behavior which cheapens sexuality because, as the Pope says, such behaviour is the reason why so many people no longer see in sexuality an expression of their love: 'This is why the fight against the banalization of sexuality is also part of the struggle to ensure that sexuality is treated as a positive value and to enable it to have a positive effect on the whole of man's being' (Light of the World, p. 119)."

*****

In New Orleans, St. Stephen's Anglican Church now has a temporary home. Ochsner Baptist Hospital management has offered the first Anglican parish the use of their Chapel on Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. "Our prayer is that as we out grow the Chapel, we will have the means to either build or buy a permanent church building," said a spokesman for the group. Bishop John Guernsey and his wife Meg met with the new church plant recently where prayers were said after Eucharist service for the mission Church. "It seems we are being led to a healing ministry. The hospital and their Chaplaincy program are pleased with our presence," said Jim and Ribby Fergusson. Their first service is scheduled for Sunday January 2nd, 2011. http://www.ochsner.org/locations/baptist/ Interested persons can call Jim Fergusson at 504 913 1585 cellular or drop him a note at jdsferg@gmail.com

*****

The Anglican Province of Rwanda and the Anglican Mission in the Americas are calling for 40 days of Prayer and Fasting leading up to the 2011 Winter Conference. Leaders are asking members to join each other across the Mission and in Rwanda as they seek God's face for their future through a corporate fast and prayer for Winter Conference and the transition of leadership in the Province of Rwanda. The 40 days start January 1, 2011 - February 9, 2011 - the first day of January through the first day of Winter Conference.

*****

So who are America's real givers? Surprise, surprise, they are not liberals. According to a story in HUMAN EVENTS magazine by Syracuse University professor Arthur Brooks', his study of charitable giving in America found that conservatives give 30 percent more to charity than liberals do, despite the fact that liberals have higher incomes than conservatives.

In his book "Who Really Cares?" Brooks compared the charitable donations of religious conservatives, secular liberals, secular conservatives and "religious" liberals.

Religious conservatives, the largest group at about 20 percent of the population, gave the most to charity -- $2,367 per year, compared with $1,347 for the country at large.

Even when it comes to purely secular charities, religious conservatives give more than other Americans, which is surprising because liberals specialize in "charities" that give them a direct benefit, such as the ballet or their children's elite private schools.

Indeed, religious people, Brooks says, "are more charitable in every measurable nonreligious way."

Brooks found that conservatives donate more in time, services and even blood than other Americans, noting that if liberals and moderates gave as much blood as conservatives do, the blood supply would increase by about 45 percent.

On average, a person who attends religious services and does not believe in the redistribution of income will give away 100 times more -- and 50 times more to secular charities -- than a person who does not attend religious services and strongly believes in the redistribution of income.

Despite their wealth and advantages, secular liberals give to charity at a rate of 9 percent less than all Americans and 19 percent less than religious conservatives. Secular liberals are, however, 90 percent more likely to give sanctimonious Senate speeches demanding the forced redistribution of income. (That's up 7 percent from last year.)

*****

O Christ come among men as source of light,
Your ineffable birth is before the beginning of time.
You are the radiant light shining with the Father.
You irradiate lusterless matter and illumine the souls of the faithful.

You have created the world and fixed the orbit of the stars;
You sustain the axis of the earth,
You save all mankind.
You guide the sun in its course
to light up all our days and the crescent moon
which dispels the darkness of night.
You make the seed to sprout preparing food for the flocks.
From your inexhaustible fount
You pour out the splendor of life
making fruitful the whole universe.
---Synesius of Cyrene, c. 400

VIRTUEONLINE wishes all its readers in more than 160 countries a very blessed Christmas.

David