A very helpful and powerful essay by the late Dr J I Packer, critiquing and exposing the mindset of the errant Church of England bishops who have acted so dishonourably and unbiblically over sexuality, has been re-issued as a free down-loadable pdf by the Latimer Trust.
In the essay, called Never mind the quality, feel the width: comprehensiveness in the Church of England which was written some time ago, Jim Packer analyses four different kinds of views about 'comprehensiveness' which Anglican leaders hold.
Only one has safe creedal and Biblical boundaries that wants to hold Bible believing Christians together on first order gospel related issues while not dividing on secondary issues.
The other three views, influenced initially by 19th century theologian F D Maurice, end up advocating an institutional loyalty - while transgressing clear and important Biblical boundaries. They dangerously lead in the direction of an apostate church which no longer holds to ‘the Faith once for all delivered to the saints’. Truth becomes provisional rather than God’s revealed Word written down for us in Holy Scripture. The Church is no longer 'built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone' - but becomes unstable, blown about by present culture and ‘by every wind of doctrine’.
Prescient
The essay is very insightful, prescient and extremely helpful in understanding the battle we are in. Anybody trying to comprehend how many bishops have got to such an unhelpful place in their thinking needs to read this essay. It is a must-read for all those who are contending for gospel truth not only in the Church of England at this critical juncture, but all who seek to remain faithful to our Lord and His Word.
The pdf is now available at latimertrust.org
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