The trouble with compromise is that it all too often pleases no-one and sounds both hypocritical and bizarre. Behind all the hullabaloo about gay priests and even possibly gay bishops, people have perhaps missed the fact that the C of E began compromising on this issue many years ago. It is quite simply untenable to allow one thing for ‘ordinary’ members of the church and another for its leaders. The church must jump one way or the other. Cultural relevance or biblical absolutes- they simply can’t have it both ways!
the Guardian states “The row may well signal an end to the unsatisfactory compromise enshrined in the 1991 House of Bishops statement, Issues in Human Sexuality – a document which stated that gay sexual relationships were allowable for the faithful laity, but wrong for the clergy. A dozen bishops are reliably reported to have persisted in appointing gay priests: the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has made plain his unhappiness with the hypocrisy and dishonesty involved in the current arrangement. “
Having admitted that Purgatory isn’t a biblically based doctrine, athanasiusstates “After seeing the problem of sin versus holiness, and considering the various alternatives offered by Protestant traditions, I’m forced to conclude that Purgatory is the best theological solution that the Church has yet to come up with.”
In my view his posts are a classic example of why ‘theological’ thinking can often go wrong. We all too often attempt to reason our way around a problem rather than see what the scripture has to say on a subject and accept it without fully understanding it if necessary.
One verse is all that is needed to debunk this idea. Jesus, on the cross speaks to the thief on and states “TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE” (Luke 23:43). He had done nothing except believe and ask Jesus to remember him. There is no mention of a period in purgatory first, rather Jesus is quite clear and emphatic about what the end of the days events will be. (By the way this also gives the lie to the idea Jesus suffered in hell after his death!)
Thats good enough for me! What about you?