If The ADV Churches Fail, We All Fail
By Jim Oakes
Christian Post Guest Contributor
Wed, Feb. 06 2008

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” – Romans 12:18

Taking Jesus’ words seriously is something we, as Christians, ask many non-Christians to do. We bristle when they disrespect Jesus, when they’re sarcastic and flippant about Him and His words.

So what message does it send when professing Christians don’t heed Christ’s words and teachings such as loving one another and being at peace with all men? The Episcopal Church’s legal assault on Anglican churches in Northern Virginia – which have chosen to remain faithful to Scripture and foundational church teachings – is 180 degrees away from Christ’s commandments.

There is something beyond unseemly about a national church taking local churches to court. Certainly it’s anything but Christian.

In spite of the Anglican District of Virginia’s (ADV) repeated outreach and attempts to settle these cases with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, the Episcopal Church forced an abrupt break-off of settlement talks and launched a legal confrontation. This has forced the orthodox Anglican churches in Northern Virginia to devote time, effort and energy to raise millions of dollars strictly for legal defense. Time, effort, energy and money that could (and should) be used for spreading the Gospel, helping to strengthen families, and making missionary outreach to the lost, poor and needy in the local community and around the world.
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