tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post9112478043852268609..comments2023-11-02T10:50:42.128-05:00Comments on CLOSED: Fr. Jonathan Millard of Pittsburgh offers a great summary of TEC's deepest problemsTLF+http://www.blogger.com/profile/01650010433581488888noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post-3843366994567901382007-11-20T05:48:00.000-06:002007-11-20T05:48:00.000-06:00I'm always saddened when people use the statements...I'm always saddened when people use the statements of the PB as if they define the doctrine of the Episcopal Church. One of the wonders of the Anglican tradition is that our doctrine is defined by what's in the BCP, and I believe the overwhelming majority of churches in TEC, except those on the left and right fringes, use straight BCP every Sunday (including the creed and "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit"). All the stories of "Muslim and Hindu" influences in Episcopal worship (as a bishop in England said, as if it were fact) are completely bogus, except in a very small number of notorious places. My guess is that you could walk into 95% at least of churches in TEC on a Sunday morning and not know what side they are on in the current Church Wars unless the Priest says something in the sermon or there's something in the bulletin.<BR/><BR/>You would think that church conservatives, of all people, would take the long view. There are lots of 40 year periods in church history when bad things happened, and yet the church righted herself. The best witness to faith is to sit tight and trust that the Lord will make it clear which innovations are of the Spirit and which are not. It's his ministry we're taking part in, after all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post-76863267058280137162007-11-18T08:35:00.000-06:002007-11-18T08:35:00.000-06:00David - thanks for the "props" and for noticing th...David - thanks for the "props" and for noticing the comment about TF. I appreciated the reference to "A Mighty Fortress", and note that the ELCA is only a couple of years behind TEC in jumping like lemmings off the cliff! I know many nervous Lutherans these days who are watching TEC disintegrate and seeing their own institution's future. <BR/><BR/>CP - it isn't about sex and you know it. Your comment is one of the tactics being used to further the agenda, because it counts upon unwritten rules of common acceptable public social behavior to not intrude upon individual privacy to shut up the opposition.<BR/><BR/>I could care less about what anyone does in his or her bedroom. What I care about is the message being sent by the Church to ALL people - especially me, a sinner.<BR/><BR/>No, this is about a systematic dismantling of the Faith by people who largely don't have any faith in particular (except a strong belief in self) and are using the institution for non-religious socio-political activism; who do not understand the underpinnings of the Faith nor care to understand them; who want to use the institution of TEC to put a visible and public "seal of approval" upon their own particular self-interests without regard to what that approval costs the institution itself -but especially- the cost to our own salvation.<BR/><BR/>Simply, if sin no longer exists (and if any group of humans can decided themselves what is sin and what is not), then there simply is no reason for the Church to exist. God is dead. Yes, I think that is the ultimate goal...and I'm not pinning that specifically upon the GLBT "community", but upon a great many of people with whom have aligned themselves with the GLBT movement. And, who would want God dead? To those of us who believe in "good" and "evil", the answer is clear.<BR/><BR/>With the mass exodus of Christians leaving TEC, why aren't throngs of grateful, "liberated", affirmed persons joining TEC to fill the pews and coffers? They aren't coming, because the institution has served its new purpose.<BR/><BR/>The fact that one can begin to hear a death rattle emanating from TEC is testimony that God continues running things.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post-84083621730110353102007-11-17T08:49:00.000-06:002007-11-17T08:49:00.000-06:00The idea of the Church being in constant "reformat...The idea of the Church being in constant "reformation" isn't biblical, in my view. I don't find it in either the Old or the New Testament. The Church exists because of one comprehensive Reality: the Blood of Jesus. As many as are baptized into Christ have "put on Christ" and are members of the Church. Each must live the implications of the shed blood in his and her life. This involves transformation day by day. The reformational concept is political and distracts from the Reality. In fact, this notion can contribute greatly to the fracturing of the Body of Christ.<BR/><BR/>Having said that, I rejoice that many are leaving TEC. It is very dangerous to be associated with those who reject the Veil of Jesus' Blood. Your reference to Archbishop Tutu is relevant. You wrote that you were saddened that "Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu deny the particularity of the Christian Faith, mocking the idea that Jesus could possibly be the only way to God, and declaring that all religions are worshipping the same God, just by different names. The archbishop is a great man who has done wonderful work for reconciliation and peace. I salute him for all the good he has done, but I am sad and troubled that he would be so dismissive of the supreme work of love and salvation that our Lord Jesus Christ did for us on the cross."<BR/><BR/>For more on this you might want to read my essay on "Genesis and African Bishops" here:<BR/><BR/>http://jandyongenesis.blogspot.com/2007/10/genesis-and-african-bishops.html<BR/><BR/>Best wishes, "New Reformation Advocate"Alice C. Linsleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13069827354696169270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post-66740743989056236722007-11-15T14:03:00.000-06:002007-11-15T14:03:00.000-06:00On Stand Firm and Kendall's Titus1:9 I'm now known...On Stand Firm and Kendall's Titus1:9 I'm now known under the screen name "New Reformation Advocate." So I might as well do that here too, if Fr. Tim allows the switch.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I welcome the posting here of the fine summary of the severe problems with TEC by Pittsburgh's Fr. Jonathan Millard. His top ten list of theological errors in TEC seem to me sufficient to call for that New Reformation.<BR/><BR/>For those of who who may not follow all the many conservative Anglican blogs out there, I hope you'll check out the thread on Stand Firm in Faith that is about Bishop Bruno of LA refusing to ordain an orthodox graduate of Nashotah House. Midwestnorwegian added a comment there that is priceless. He praised Tim and Melissa Fountain as a tremendous gift from LA to SD and teasingly concluded: "SEND US MORE LIKE HIM."<BR/><BR/>Amen. But this only goes to show why this drastic New Reformation is needed. It has become almost impossible for orthodox Christians to function in any leadership capacity in more and more parts of the Episcopal Church anymore.<BR/><BR/>Potent new wine often requires new wineskins (see Mark 2:22). Or to put it another way, the old corrupt form of Anglicanism in North America has to die, in order for the New Anglicanism to rise and flourish.<BR/><BR/>Since those of you in SE SD are in such a bastion of Lutheranism, perhaps you'll pardon me for reminding you of that wonderful last verse of Luther's great hymn Ein Feste Burg:<BR/>"Let goods and kindred go! This mortal life also. The body they may kill. God's truth abideth still. His Kingdom is forever!"<BR/>Amen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post-10800325612365675742007-11-15T08:33:00.000-06:002007-11-15T08:33:00.000-06:00cp - But just look at all the points Fr. Millard ...cp - But just look at all the points Fr. Millard makes before ever bringing up sexuality.<BR/><BR/>Whether you like it (intend it) or not, LGBT have become a smokescreen (willing or unwilling) for heretics. In order to win church entitlements, LGBT are in coalition with people who throw out pretty much everything distinctive about the Christian proclamation.<BR/><BR/>That's what's scary and causes consternation. Not who you sleep with affectionately, but who you sleep with theologically. Much bigger issue.TLF+https://www.blogger.com/profile/01650010433581488888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post-4998761350424993212007-11-14T22:37:00.000-06:002007-11-14T22:37:00.000-06:00This is a very accurate assessment of TEC's sickne...This is a very accurate assessment of TEC's sickness. <BR/><BR/>The answer for right-believing Anglicans is prayer and a deeper understanding of who Jesus Christ is.Alice C. Linsleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13069827354696169270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-873059253261642303.post-55586922362332148212007-11-14T22:01:00.000-06:002007-11-14T22:01:00.000-06:00I sure wish I knew what it is that is so scary abo...I sure wish I knew what it is that is so scary about gays and lesbians that causes all this consternation.cphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13163860831438587167noreply@blogger.com