Episcopal Church likened to the Beast (Satan) Devouring Her Own

OPINION

by William A. Wheatley
Special to Virtueonline
www.virtueonline.org
March 2, 2009

Now The Diocese of Pennsylvania of The Episcopal Church has moved to seize the property and financial assets of The Church of The Good Shepherd and other parishes, having soiled and spoiled its own nest, despite the fact that Good Shepherd has taken no action to remove itself from The Diocese of Pennsylvania or the Episcopal Church.

Since the earliest days of Christianity, the Church has been called "Holy Mother Church," because she feeds, nurtures, cares for, and guides her faithful children.

An abiding Christian symbol since the earliest times, the pelican, feeding her young with blood from her own breast, has symbolized the sacrificial act of Christ continuing in the Church's feeding of her children in the Eucharist.

The substance of the Church is the very Eucharist of Christ. The Episcopal Church, once a mother to her children, has now become the Beast, killing and devouring her own, feeding herself by eating their mortal flesh, rather than sustaining them with the immortal flesh of Christ, which is also her own flesh, just as Jesus was, to Mary, "flesh of my flesh."

The Beast takes many forms. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." 1 Peter 5:8-9.

Christians in the Church are as much subject to the pain inflicted by Satan on the world as those outside the Church.

The true reward of faith is in the next world, not in this world. In this world, the reward of faith is faith.

The God of our faith will assist us in our afflictions, but the triumph over the Beast will not be until the last days.

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 5: 10-11.

Christ promises us the victory, but the complete victory will not be until the end.

Along the way will be both victories and defeats.

We are to continue to resist Satan steadfast in the faith. Like St. Paul, we must "fight the good fight," even knowing that victory will come after our time, but confident that we will see His victory in glory.

We may take comfort from the fact that we are not alone in this fight -- other parishes have undergone, are undergoing, and will undergo the same struggle.

They accompany us as we fight, but most importantly, we fight with Christ Jesus and all of his angels at our side, and in the company of all the Saints.

Ultimately, Christ Jesus will triumph. In this battle, The Church of The Good Shepherd is a foot-soldier carrying a banner for Christ.

We dare not let it fall and be trampled. Like Christian in Pilgrim's Progress, we must not turn our backs and retreat, for Christ has given us the breastplate of righteousness, but no armor for our backs.

We must always face and confront Evil, remaining the Church Militant, that we may be part of the Church Triumphant at the moment of Christ's Victory. Armageddon is not just the battle of the Last Days -- it is the war that began in Eden, that Christ won on the Cross, but that will not be ended until the Last Day. We are not alone -- we are part of a vast Legion of God. I believe that we were called by Him to be precisely where we are today.

After all, it was the Christians singing hymns to God, as they were devoured by lions in the Colosseum, who witnessed most effectively to the Gospel, not the Christian mystics safe atop their columns in the desserts of Egypt. Each must witness where he is. It is the sacrificial Church that is the Church > > Triumphant, for it was in the Sacrifice of his own Flesh and Blood that Jesus Christ triumphed over death and Satan.

Any Christian who has not yet watched Mel Gibsons "Passion of the Christ" should do so. It is difficult, painful and disturbing to watch -- as it should be. Gibson is faithful to the Gospel story, but adds a little story of his own, in order to make a theological point. He has Satan appearing to Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, tempting him once again. Then, at the time of Christ's death, we see Satan's face, writhing in dreadful rage, hatred, impotence and pain, as the maelstrom takes him to the outer darkness.

Christianity is not without its blood sacrifice. We who are saved are saved by it, and by joining ourselves to it.

May Christ strengthen us to continue to "fight the good fight," even if we, like Paul, may "lose" in this world.


----Mr. William Wheatley is an architect with an international consulting practice in problem and dispute resolution on large construction projects. He is a parishioner and a member of the Vestry at The Church of The Good Shepherd, Rosemont, PA.