The basis of the Christian faith collapses when the authority of the Bible is denied, warns the theologian and author, Rev Dr Joseph Boot, who delivered a series of lectures at the offices of Christian Concern this week.
Dr Boot was commenting on the Church of England's new "pastoral guidance" permitting churches to offer special prayers to newly 'married' same-sex couples. He highlighed that the provision of such prayers would be regarded by many believers as well as the wider community, as the church approving of same-sex ‘marriage’ and therefore a contradiction of orthodox Biblical teaching.
He added that the denial of Biblical authority resulted in morality and truth being reduced to an issue of social construction.
Watch Dr Boot speak on the issue here >
As a leading Christian apologist with a weekly broadcast on radio in Canada, Dr Boot has also been urging church leaders – from archbishops to pastors – to fulfil their pastoral role as faithful shepherds who must defend the flock from those opposed to their faith. He warns that when pastors are unfaithful shepherds the Church moves into a steep decline.