Episcoblog - The Online Journal of the Rt. Rev. Leo Michael

Unfortunately this man cannot see for himself the damage that he does while underestimating scriptures and putting forth his liberal agenda in unmistakable terms.

Growth in scripture means to be impacted by God's word in totality. He sees it otherwise as he refers to John 3:16 and says that one of his folks seemed to have picked on its meaning, piece by piece defined by a different context each time. Here is an excerpt:

When he was growing up in a hellfire church, the compelling words were may not perish. More secure in his teen years, his heart was touched by the words God so loved. In seminary his heart’s attention was the phrase that he gave, as he realized that all of life and salvation is a gift from God, freely given, unmerited. Now, he finds the most compelling words are the world. God so loves all people, all places, all conditions. The words haven’t changed, but he has. He has grown in the Spirit. So may we all of us.

Its true the Scripture has not changed but neither its meaning. We need to change our lives in accordance with God's WORD. God loves the whole world yes. He did not approve of a sinful world and that's why He sent His only Son to redeem the world. This is what you and I have learned and come to embrace. The only paradigm of this is the woman caught in adultery. Jesus is very clear in forgiving the woman and saying, "Go and SIN NO MORE". God's mercy is richly available. At the same time there is our part (response to His mercy) that we refrain from sin and embrace grace and God's love.

ROOTS AND WINGS is another example of the third stool of Anglicanism, REASONING gone haywire in Northwest Arakansas. For this priest friend of mine, everything seems to be okay, even the way one conveniently interprets scriptures. His interpretation lacks distinction between sin and grace. Does that not lead us to question the very economy of salvation - the very purpose why God sent His only son? If the world were perfect why would Jesus undergo passion and death? My friend doesn't get it.