What is permitted and what not is permitted in Christianity has always varied from people to people, nation to nation, denominations to denominations. I live in a foreign nation since May of 1998 and have seen lots of things that Christianity in west does which we in Pakistan would not consider doing but are gradually moving towards those trend and practices. 1. Christian women covering or not covering their head in worship is debateable but again those very Pakistani Christian women when attending an Asian Church in the west will cover their heads in worship but when attending an American Church will not. 2. Those many but not all Pakistani Christians will abstain eating pork in Pakistan but at the same time when they come to the west they will eat pork for that is mostly available in parties and resturants, and also in Western Christain peoples homes. 3. Drinking Liquor is most common among Pakistani Christians in Pakistan and abroad so for me that is not that a hot issue. I would be surprised if Bishop Malik would quote that will allow Pakistani Christian women to not cover their heads in church and allow everyone to eat pork. The problem is not if we eat pork or not, or women cover their head in church or not, or drink liquor or not. The problem for every believer is that "do they experience an intimate relationship with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?" When a person has a deep passionate and intimate relationship with Jesus their lives change to a point that it is very evident of how they walk, talk, behave, react in Physical and Spiritual living. It is not about you and me. It is also not about Bishop Malik. IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM. Are we reflecting Jesus Christ from our lives. God is not a respecter of any persons. When I was immigrating to Canada my daddy told me this " Sabir remember to stay away from these things 1. Stay away from liquor, 2. Stay away from pork, and 3. stay away from physical relation with other women." In other words my dad was telling me that Sabir be a man of integrity. I praise God for my dad and I thank God for my dad's prayer support which has kept me to be man of integrity. But does that make me a better person than anyone else - NO. WHY because our righteousness is worth filthy rags. I do not advocate Bishop Malik and nor I am saying that believers become liberal and turn away from Biblical Principles. The point is that we believers are not handicapped to Biblical Principles because if we love the Lord with all our heart, mind and soul then automatically our spirit will enable our physical to desire and do all those things that will bring glory and honour to God. Where your treasure is there your heart will be also. So if my treasure is up in heaven I will desire and yearn to heavenly things. Hence, I will naturally not desire to drink liquor, not desire to eat pork, not desire to have sexual relationship outside marriage. We are no one to judge any one. We all need to practice what we preach. Smoking is equally bad for your body as drinking liquor is but Christians still smoke. I know of a Bishop in Pakistan who still smokes and also prays in tongues. There are Christian people and some churches involved in celebrating demonic festivals known as halloween and they give different name to it. So what should I do break relationship with friends, relatives who smoke, drink and celebrate hallowen - NO. I need to love them and pray for them. You come live here in the west and you will discover mind blowing kinds of Christianities. So what do we do become like them? start critizing them? Change the system. What is our vision. What is the vision of the church. King Saul was God appointed and David at one time could kill Saul but he dared not to touch God appointed one. I do not care who is a Bishop or not. I know one thing that God is in control and he had the power to keep people in position and also remove them from position. Then who are we to start critizing them. I think what we as body of Christ need to do is TO PRAY and let God fight the war for us. AS CHRISTIANS WE WAGE A SPIRITUAL WARFARE AGAINST THE PRICIPALITIES OF SIN AND DARKNESS. So I urge you all who are so very concerned about Bishop Malik regarding his gay and lesbian issue and drinking liquor issue that it is time to FAST PRAY FOR PEOPLE LIKE THEM IN AUTHORITY. So that Godliness will prevail and that God will also give us the grace to be LOVING and concerned. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PRAYER. You who want to see the Bishops changed then PRAY FOR THEM. You who want to win Pakistan for Christ then PRAY FOR PAKISTAN. Pray for those who persecute you and oppress you. REMEMBER UNITY AMONG BELIEVERS WILL YEILD POSITIVE RESULTS but disintregrated, critizing christians will only bring disunity. LET US ALL JOIN HANDS TOGETHER and be one in body and spirit. AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, God has appointed every believer to be kings and royal priesthood. Just imagine how much power God has placed at your disposal. Jesus said that I go and send you a helper - the Holy Spirit - when the Holy Spirit will come upon you, you will do greater workes than these. DONT WORRY about this bishop or that bishop. Think about the POWER that God has placed upon you and how you can use that POWER to make a difference in the life of your family, your community, your church, your city, your nation, your country and the whole world. DO NOT LET SATAN DEPRIVE US OF THE POWER THAT WE HAVE AT OUR DESPOSAL. LET NO CIRCUMSTANCES OR PERSONALITIES OVERTAKE US THE RACE THAT WE ARE TO FOCUED TO WIN. Prayerfully Yours Sabir N. Bashir Din, Dallas, TX