Russians slam Archbishop: CEN 2.22.08 p 6. February 22, 2008
Posted by geoconger in Archbishop of Canterbury, Church of England Newspaper, Islam, Russian Orthodox.trackback
The Russian Orthodox Church has slammed the Archbishop of Canterbury for his remarks over Sharia law, saying the head of a Christian Church should not be promoting the tenets of non-Christian religions.
While church leaders in Britain have rallied to his defense, Orthodox, Lutheran and Roman Catholic leaders abroad have been less charitable in their remarks. The Feb 7 interview with the BBC and his subsequent speech at the Temple Church on certain aspects of Sharia law, have elicited sharp comments from overseas Anglican and Christian leaders, while Dr. Williams’ subsequent explanation, that his remarks were misunderstood, appears not to have appeased his critics.
Speaking to the opening session of the World Council of Churches’ Standing Committee meeting in Geneva on Feb 14, the Russian Orthodox’s representative to ecumenical organizations, Bishop Hilarion of Vienna and Austria said “many Christians around the world are looking up to Christian leaders with hope that they will defend Christianity against all the challenges it faces.”
“Our role is not to protect Sharia law, to glorify an alternative style of behavior or to preach secular values. Our sacred mission is to announce what Christ announced, to teach what his disciples taught,” he said.
“Politically correct Christianity will die,” said Bishop Hilarion. “We have already been watching the process of liberal Christianity’s gradual decline as newly introduced moral norms lead to splits, discrepancies and confusion in several Christian communities,” he said.
The head of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) told German radio on Feb 16 there must be a single law for all citizens, regardless of race or religion.
Dr. Wolfgang Huber, Bishop of the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia and Chairman of the Council of the EKD said the premise behind Dr. Williams’ remarks was flawed.
“Hoping to achieve integration through a dual legal system is a mistaken idea,” Dr. Huber told Deutsche Welle. “You have to ask the question as to what extent cultural characteristics have a legitimate place in a legal system. But you have to push for one country to have one system.”
Christians are commanded to take the gospel to all nations. Christianity is not politically correct; in fact Christianity is quite dogmatic and leaves no room for compromise. Christ is the only means to salvation. Paul did not compromise and we must follow his example. Christians must pray for Christ’s enemies and seek ways to bring Muslims (and all non-Christians) to know Christ. The Archbishop of Canterbury is attempting to compromise and appease and in so doing is abandoning Christ’s commandments. He and others must steadfastly stand firm in the Christian faith.
The A of C and the Bishop of Episcopal Church in USA are destroying our beloved church with their PC Liberal ideas……..what a shame……we just withdrew our 2008 pledge and will be looking for a new church, one with traditonal values and common sense.
I wonder what St Paul would say to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Archbishops defense of Sharia Law is disheartening to people who truly believe in the authority of Holy Scripture. To me he is striking Christ in the face. We are to proclaim the Gospel and the message that Jesus Christ loves all and sacrified his Life to win salvation for mankind. A so called Christian is leading others astray and away from the gospel. What is more important being tolerant of Sharia Law or suffering for the gospel? L Shockley,San Antonio, TX.
Praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
May we enlist banter and reconciliation within the bonds of the Holy Scriptures and the blessed hope of Jesus Christ
Remember 2nd Timothy 4
Yours in Christ
Worcester Massachusetts United States of America
This “new” approach to re-interpret episcopal authority is as though they are talking behind St. Paul’s back while he is out of the room. Why don’t these Humanists with their distaste of all we believe, move on to a place more suited for them and let us grow in the Christian teachings the bible has so well defined?
There is a saying among the ancient Greeks: “Anytime something was done right, it was done by the Spartans.” Ever since WW II, it has the Russians (to our astonishment) who have always flung down the gauntlet in defense of the basic Christian faith.
When I was a girl–way back in the Depression–we were told that the Mother of Our Lord Jesus had appeared and asked us to pray for Russia. (I recall being bewildered, because the obvious thing to do was pray for Germany!) So now, for the better part of acentury, all sorts of Christians have obediently prayed for Russia.
And our prayers have not come up empty. Oncse more, Russia has stood up for the Faith.
Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,
The Archbishop of Canterbury and too many other leaders within our communion in Britain and North America seem convinced that nuanced understanding and everso subtle reading betwixt the scriptural lines should lead the Church into direct contradiction of such tenets as Jesus Christ as the Way, singular. We live in times of great faith, faith in the tenets of secular humanism. It takes leaders brave in the strength of the Holy Spirit to stand firm against the convenient lies that society would extract from them, lies masquerading as “peace” and “cultural sensativity.” The leadership of our beloved Anglican Communion is not immune to a lack of submission to the Holy Spirit.