Lessons for America from Nigeria – Archbishop Stands against Homosexuality
By Michael Bresciani (01/09/07)
While America gleefully watches the antics and blatant portrayals of the
gay life in films and on TV the leader of some 17 million Anglicans in
Nigeria says, no way.
Can this nation endure or survive its ever growing dance with wholesale
immorality while not one nation in history has been able to do it? There
is little doubt that we cannot and while few are willing to listen, here
is a shining example of one brave man who says we must.
Archbishop Peter J. Akinola leader of Nigeria’s conservative Anglican
Church has taken a proactive stand against the proliferation of the gay
lifestyle that rivals that of any in the USA. He is openly and
vociferously opposed to same-sex unions and acceptance of homosexuality in
general. As head of 21 churches in Nigeria he is emerging as the only hope
of swaying the larger body of some 77 million Anglicans worldwide to
return to their original biblically based position against homosexuality.
He has stepped out against the gay agenda even in America much to the
chagrin of his churches primates and leaders. In the USA he has appealed
to Anglicans by forming a sort of missionary arm of his conservative
movement called The Convocation of Anglicans in North America.
It may be said that for the first time in American history our immorality
and general lifestyle has caused enough concern in foreign nations to send
missionaries to help us. Perhaps he is right, and Americans and the church
at large can only leave this scathing indictment un-noticed at their own
peril.
Jesus said “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou
hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them
unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.” Luke
10:21 Bishop Akinola’s argument against accepting homosexuality sounds
like something a child might say. But in the end it reflects a wisdom that
cannot be refuted and if nothing else it appeals to the common sense of
every man who has a little bit of conscience left.
The New York Times quotes Bishop Akinola on December 25, 2006 as saying,
“Why didn’t God make a lion to be man’s companion…Why didn’t he make a
tree to be mans companion? Or better still, why didn’t he make another man
to be man’s companion? So even from the creation story, you can see that
mind of God, God’s intention, is for man and woman to be together.”
Bishop Akinola also espouses and defends the literal interpretation of the
bible. He refuses the Anglican’s general admission of diverse theologies
into the church. In the biblical sense of the word he is one who is towing
the line.
Others in his church think that he is off course and should be focusing on
the problem of aids and Africa’s seething poverty. The Bishop must see the
connection between wholesale immorality and the dreadful conditions in
Africa, this is a biblical view that only a true conservative would
espouse. Akinola is among those who believe that handing out condoms and
sending over foreign aid to stave off disaster are like sweeping out the
cobweb but never doing anything about the spider. To Bishop Akinola the
spider is the immorality not the obvious side effects that are concomitant
to it.
Anglicans are tense here in America and distrustful of those who are
trying to re-write their covenants which are the basic tenants of all
their church polity. Many are opting to leave the church and seek
spiritual repose in a fully conservative setting. This will be a trend
that won’t end with Anglicans. Christians are separating themselves in
every denomination and historical church across the globe because of the
rising tide of immorality.
One can almost hear that clarion call of the Lord Jesus Christ as he
addresses the churches in the last days of time…And I heard another voice
from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers
of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Revelation 18:4
Rev Bresciani is the author of two Christian books. His articles on the
second coming of Christ, faith, politics and the American way of life are
read in every country throughout the world. Come visit
http://www.americanprophet.org/
(Printer friendly version) Email: Michael Bresciani
