The basic problem with Bishop Gene Robinson is not that he is openly and actively homosexual. The real problem is that he does not believe Christianity is a universal faith, nor does he believe that the Hebrew and Christian scriptures have a universal message. Why do I say that? Well, because of some things he said that are quoted in The New York Times. In an article about his being chosen to give a public prayer at the time of the inauguration (not at the inaugural ceremony itself), he said that he had been reading former inaugural prayers and was “horrified” at how “aggressively Christian” they are. He says that his prayer at the time of the inauguration will not be a Christian prayer at all, “and I won’t be quoting Scripture or anything like that.” He said he might offer a prayer to the “God of our many understandings” (using AA language)….
….for a Bishop of the Christian Church to say (aggressively) that he is shocked by Christian prayers offered at past inaugurations and that he will not offer a Christian prayer suggests that he does not really believe that the Christian gospel is truly universal (I do not use that wimpy word “inclusive”).
Read it all. It is about Christology and universal truth claims indeed. And Gene Robinson is just one of many TEC leaders who illustrate this central problem–KSH.
I will take comments on this submitted by email only to at KSHarmon[at]mindspring[dot]com.