The Church of England, also known as the Anglican Church, is a historic institution that has its roots in the 16th century when King Henry VIII sought to divorce his wife Catherine of Aragon but was denied annulment by the Pope. As a result, Henry broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and established the Church of England, with himself as its head, setting the stage for centuries of close ties between the Church and the British monarchy and state.

The Church of England’s evolution towards progressivism is a part of a larger historical trend in Western Christianity, where many Christian denominations have moved away from their conservative theological roots and towards a more progressive, liberal perspective. This shift has been influenced by a number of factors, including the Enlightenment, the rise of secularism, and the influence of progressive political movements.

In the 19th century, the Church of England was at the forefront of the social justice movement, advocating for the abolition of slavery (not that this in and of itself was a bad thing) and working to improve the lives of the poor. But along with this shift came a departure from its previous conservative roots. More importantly, this shift also marked a gradual distancing from the gospel, as the Church placed greater emphasis on social activism and political engagement, rather than the proclamation of the gospel and the spiritual transformation of individuals.

In the 20th century, this trend towards progressivism continued, as the Church adopted increasingly liberal attitudes towards issues such as women’s ordination and LGBTQ rights. Despite opposition from more conservative elements within the Church, the trend towards progressivism has continued to this day, with the Church of England now being seen as a generally liberal and progressive institution.

The Church of England’s shift away from the gospel and towards progressive activism is a trend that is not unique to the Anglican Church but is being seen in many other mainline Protestant denominations. This shift is often seen as a warning sign of impending apostasy, as it represents a departure from the core teachings and values of the Christian faith.

Scripture warns about the dangers of apostasy and the importance of remaining faithful to the gospel. In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, the apostle Paul writes, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” This warning speaks to the dangers of departing from the truth of the gospel and embracing false teachings and ideologies.

Similarly, in Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus says, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” This passage reminds us that true salvation is found in following the narrow path of faithfulness to the gospel, and not in following the wide and easy path of cultural trends and worldly ideologies. This is most evident in its tolerance, embrace, and celebration of the LGBTQ movement, which is, according to biblical history, one of the last precursors to complete apostasy—in fact, it is complete and total apostasy.

Today, we now have Church of England archbishops arguing vehemently in favor of sexual immorality while trying to justify it in light of the Church’s social activism since it can’t be justified biblically. One archbishop is now arguing that gay sex is okay so long as it’s done within the context of a “stable, faithful relationship.”

The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, was interviewed by William Crawley of Christian Concern and was asked about the church’s stance on homosexual intimacy. During the interview, the Archbishop stated that physical and sexual intimacy “belongs in committed, stable, faithful relationships.”

“Well, what we are saying is that physical and sexual intimacy belongs in committed, stable, faithful relationships,” Cottrell said, “and therefore where we see a committed, stable, faithful relationship between two people of the same sex, we are now in a position where those people can be welcomed fully into the life of the Church, on their terms.”

Regarding the current rule for gay clergy to remain sexually abstinent, the Archbishop told Crawley that the previous guidance will soon be rescinded, and the church will soon issue a suite of resources, known as “prayers of love and faith,” that churches and clergy will be able to use if they wish.

While the winds of culture continue to shift, so does the Church of England. Apostasy and the gates of Hell may prevail over the false churches where Christ has completely removed its lampstand, but they shall not prevail over the true and living Church of Jesus Christ.