(Tim w/thanks to David W.) For those concerned about the privileging of mainstream evangelical civic religion represented by President-elect Obama's invitation to Rick Warren to give the inaugural invocation, the tide's come in and you may rest easy. Bishop Gene Robinson has also been asked to pray. He'll hold forth during the Inaugural weekend at the Lincoln Memorial, and both Obama and Biden will attend.
Readers will recall that the Bad Bishop Robinson is a committed, self-affirming sodomite whose elevation to the bishopric has torn the Anglican communion asunder. Robinson is not blushing over the entire world discussing the nature of the sexual couplings he's been choosing most recently. In fact, he's quite proud to be a spokesman for the latest oppressed minority yearning to be free.
Proud of it?
Thus we get a better understanding of the Apostle Paul's comment when rebuking another ecclesiastical communion that was arrogant...
in the midst of wicked sexual perversity:
What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness? It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. (1 Corinthians 4:21-5:2)
The church that doesn't discipline men of perverse immorality will take pride in their tolerance of diversity. They will be smug in their betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ, accusing those calling them to repent of being arrogant, themselves.
Meanwhile, as the Bad Bishop prepares himself to pray, he's preening over his own meekness and humility:
...Robinson said he doesn't yet know what he'll say, but he knows he won't use a Bible.
"While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans," Robinson said. "I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation."
