Episcopal Church 'hijacked' with election of gay bishop

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The following are excerpts from a sermon given recently by the Rev. Steven R. Randall at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Catonsville, Md.

Our country was shocked and shaken down to our very core [on September 11, 2001] as terrorists who had no regard for the lives of thousands of people but served a false god of violence and blind destruction attacked our country.

Like many of you, I feel like our church has been hijacked by misguided and in some cases evil terrorists. And like those planes of [September 11], our church is being used to destroy not only those inside in the name of some false god, but to destroy the lives of others, outside the church -- people like you and me who don't yet know the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

We've all seen the headlines of papers everywhere stating that the Episcopal Church voted to ordain an openly homosexual man who left his wife and two daughters. ... After that, the Episcopal Church actively supports the blessings of same-sex "marriages" as if they were holy and good and something from God.

But today I want to speak to you from my heart in the light of Holy Scripture -- not the headlines of our newspapers.

This Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God. And though I don't claim to understand everything in it, it speaks very clearly about marriage and sex.

Psalm 18:30 says, "As for God, His way is perfect, the Word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him."

We need to consider what our church is all about. It's not the building and traditions nor even our way of life on Sundays.

The Episcopal Church is like an airplane. ... Some are trusted to pilot the plane. And in the normal course of church life we are taught to listen and follow the directives of the pilot. We depend on them not only to give us leadership, but protect and guide and find the direction and ultimate destination of that plane.

We put our lives in their hands. Those pilots are our bishops, and as long as they are sober and trained up in God's word and are obedient and disciplined we can trust that we and our families and children will be safe.

But people, our plane has been hijacked. Some of those hijackers are misled, but some are evil and though at first appearance they are flying the plane according to every rule and expectation, I tell you the flight path has been changed. A new doctrine and discipline has been introduced. The Gospel of hope and life has been replaced with a gospel of death and destruction under the guise of love.

You and I can sit and hope that all is well -- but I tell you it isn't. The rules that God has given us for our own protection have been violated. And like that fateful day of [September 11] there will be great loss and great tragedy.

There is hope. God really is in control. The Apostle Paul says, "All surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."

The Episcopal Church is no longer a worthy vessel to carry God's truth to the world. Instead, it distorts the truth. It modifies the truth to suit its fancy. It votes on the truth. What is the truth today? What is the truth tomorrow? The truth changes for the Episcopal Church. The current Episcopal Church will carry more people to hell than it will save. Our church is like a flying coffin.

I have been called and entrusted as the spiritual leader of this flock and in God's order for the Episcopal Church I have been asked to follow and obey our bishops. But now I can no longer in good conscience follow the immoral doctrine and discipline of the Episcopal Church. As your spiritual leader I cannot assure you that this plane will safely land. I know it won't. It has been hijacked. ...

When I am forced to leave this place, I look forward to planting a new church with those who choose to follow . . .

In the tradition of our church there is a time to stand, a time to sit and a time to kneel. People, this is definitely not a time to sit.

Martin Luther, when confronted by the corrupt authorities of the church in his day, gave his reasons and defense for his faith and then finally said, "Here I stand, I can do no other." That's what I do this day. May God help me. May God help us all.