dean zahl on staying

mains3 "I would say: “Stay in the Episcopal Church as long as you can, until they push you out. We have a contribution to make. It is not a contribution we will make by ‘winning,’ for I think we have lost. But the ascendant party needs us, not just to feel that they really are ‘tolerant,’ but to somehow arrive at a finally catholic expression of Christianity. If we leave, there won’t be any ‘heavy water’ for purposes of gospel fusion; there won’t be any lodestone by which, one day, a course correction could be made. I feel like we are the lead, in the sense of the comic book ‘Superman’: the lead that may still protect them from the kryptonite of the world’s ‘never-failing stores.’ Without us, in other words, they will finally choke and tremble in the deadly night air, because the whole thing was derived, was ingested, from the world’s ideas – and those ideas change, like the weather. So, dear brethren and sistren, stay in, so long as you can.


“On the other hand, if they – the regnant Episcopalians – really won’t give you a shred of space, then, sigh, you will be forced out. Like the character Ripley in the movie ‘Alien,’ slip through the airlock and tie yourself up in the escape shuttle and push off into the great unknown. And if it really comes to that, then, and then only, watch that you allow no stowaway!…”

From the interview at posted by Fr. Harmon at Titusonenine.

Dean Zahl describes exactly how I often feel, i.e. that we've lost, that its only a matter of time, that the consideration of a vocation in the Episcopal Church is rather like looking at the cross on which one knows one will shortly be crucified. I say "often feel" because I don't always feel this way. At other times, and always among some, there is real generosity, openess, and vulnerability with those on the "other side." In any case we are called to know nothing but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And if our proclamation of Christ crucified is accomplishible, by his grace, only through our superficial ruination, then so be it. I didn't make myself an Episcopalian; I have been placed here by Another. And this is where I mean to stay until I am no longer able to stay.

clarification

First of all, I am now blogging with a mac. It has made things slightly more complicated, blog-wise. For example, my profile and links and what not are now at the bottom of the blog. I don't know why, and I'm not savvy enough to fix it. Also, posting pictures is rather more complicated. I'm sure these are all work-around-ible issues.

Also: some have wondered what I meant by "therapeutic" in reference to Evangelicalism. Now, I didn't mean it in any kind of pejorative sense. I just mean that evangelicals, with their emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus have concomittant emphases on devotional EXPERIENCE. Hence, perhaps, all the closed eyes and raised hands at praise and worship events. This is mainly the sort of thing I had in mind. The experience of feeling close to God, loved, intensely devotional, etc. can all be very good (and were good for me last weekend). We just shouldn't cling to the experiences, as such. Its just like fiddleback chasubles and six candles on the altar for anglo-catholics: great stuff, but not objects of devotion in themselves.

We would all do well to remind ourselves every day that we are serving our crucified and risen Lord, and that we are preparing for his second Advent. The point of religion is not to feel this way or that way; its just to serve the one and only End, Jesus Christ.

So likewise with, e.g., Jack van Impe below. I was actually pleasantly surprised by his little talk. He spoke rather favorably of the pope and of Roman Catholicism. He kept citing Irenaus, Justin Martyr, and Origen. He referred to them as "priests of the Church." And he knew the Bible like the back of his hand. It was really amazing. I'm just not sure he's RIGHT. And even if he is right, I'm not so sure it matters.

what the prot's are up to

I spent the lion share of the evening watching Jack van Impe, Kenneth Copeland, et al. on the internet. Amazing. There's a whole 'nother world of doctrine out there.

Maybe the Lord is returning shortly. Maybe Revelation really is all about nuclear war with Russia, the state of Israel, etc. etc. I don't suppose it matters much. I mean, whether its true or not (for the record, I'm not a Premillenial Dispensationalist) wouldn't affect what we're meant to be about: proclaiming the gospel of our Lord.

I rounded off the evening by listening to a sermon by Fr. Matthew Weiler of the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham. A welcome relief after all that pre-trib, post-trib, hellfire mess.

reconciliation

It seems to me that the word "reconciliation" is one of those words that has gotten so thrown around and fetishized that it has been emptied of most of its conceptual content. Really, what does it mean anymore? I now associate it with very vague notions of generic theological liberalism. "The Church is about bringing Christ's reconciling love to the world" and such things. What? How?

Here is a letter from Bishop Griswald: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_58742_ENG_HTM.htm .

In it he says "I am grateful that bonds of understanding and affection bind us together and call us to an ever deeper and more costly living out of the reconciliation brought about by Jesus through the Cross." What does it mean????

empty church

gothic

Churches are empty, quite possibly due to lackluster and weak priests. Latitudinarianism is largely responsible. When did we get the idea that there are these three branches of Anglicanism, Catholic, Evangelical, and Liberal? There never were any liberals till Coleridge tried to turn the Church into a Quaker Meeting House.

Read this article:http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-2-1511237,00.html .

And thank you Young Fogey, et al. (http://sergesblog.blogspot.com/)

evangelicalism is therapeutic

Greetings from the Mohonk Mountain House (www.mohonk.com) in the mountains of New York state. I am on a retreat run by the New Canaan Society (newcanaansociety.com), an evangelical men's group headquartered in, that's right, New Canaan, Connecticut.

I have been introduced to something called "freestyle" praise and worship. It can be moving, though in general I think it ought to be tempered by traditional devotion, i.e. to the Blessed Virgin, and to our Lord's sacramental Presence.

So far, I've heard talks on the transforming power of mercy, and something about "windows on the soul," both of which were pretty good. Sherry after High Mass is not to be scoffed at; but good old evangelicalism can remind one of what a blessing it can be actually to let oneself go a bit and get into some of the culturally lower forms of music.

evelyn underhill

For those of you who don't know, Evelyn Underhill is great. Particularly some lecture she gave to young parochial priests about the life of prayer, the name of which I can't remember at the moment. But Dn. Nelson, at Conjectures, has posted a short little thing about how important prayer is to everything else. (Theology and Devotion for the 21st Century!) Its great. Dig it.

a little more on the primates' meeting

Quite possibly the most interesting recounting of the Primates' Meeting of yesterweek. Particularly interesting:

- In early drafts of the communique, apparently there was an expression of repentence from ECUSA.
- Global South primates were absent from the Friday Eucharist.
- The chastisement of the Global South primates after David Virtue's leaking of the communique.
- Etc.

Once again, it underscores Archbishop Williams skillful and Godly leadership. I don't mean to sound like a groupie, but he does seem to have done a great job.

Thanks to Fr. Harmon at Titusonenine.

is this man the guardian of the ark of the covenant?

Sometimes weird stuff really interests me. Today, I have been contemplating the likelihood that the Ethiopian monk in this picture is the keeper of the Ark of the Covenant. That is what he claims. Here is an interview with him.

If he's not the keeper of the Ark, then he's a liar. Or just really deluded.

byzantine roman catholicism and anglicanism

There is a very interesting apologia at Pontifications from Fr. Chrysostom Frank about the similarities between classical, high Anglicanism, and Byzantine Roman Catholicism. In addition to some of the more obvious similarities (married priests, a more collegial ecclesiology, etc.), Fr. Chrysostom also observes that there is more of an appreciation for the close connection between theology and devotion. Here is an exerpt. What do you think? Lex orandi lex credendi? Would it tempt you if the Anglican ship were definitively to sink? Is it tempting now? Has the Anglican ship sunk? Etc.?

This liturgical experience with its resultant liturgical theology, an experience common to both Anglican and Byzantine Christianity, was aptly articulated by the 1984 Anglican-Orthodox Dublin Agreed Statement: “(63) Anglicans and Orthodox hold that the liturgy and all worship are essentially for the expression, maintenance and communication of the true faith. Liturgical texts are thus fundamental doctrinal standards for both.” and “(53) Faith and worship are inseparable. Dogmas are not abstract ideas existing in and for themselves, but revealed and saving truths and realities intended to bring mankind into communion with God.”

Read the whole thing here.