Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Friday, July 12, 2013

History & Denominational Gasbags

Degassing Gasbags
 
As one might see, I’ve become increasingly annoyed—irritated--with “traditionalist hubris and parochialism.”  This is especially directed at a breed of narrow-minded, enthusiastic, and revivalistic Anglicans who think “the church” began with the Celts in England.  Then, there is this magnificent leap to other puerilities.  It seems as if every group has this sense, that is, "certain voices."  In spirit, tone and ethos, they're "American Fundies" by another name.

The church is rooted in Christ’s work in history and that’s “global,” as promised in the Abrahamic covenant.  His work goes back to Creation and the history of Israel.  The Gospel writers root their story firmly in historical notices.  One is left hanging in Acts 28…perhaps by the intent of the historian, that is, Luke wishing to inform the world that Christ’s gospel went from Jerusalem, capital of a small jurisdiction with an ancient history, “to the ends of the world” as it were, to the world’s urban capital of Rome.  All under Christ’s sovereign administration.  All with the on-going promises of Triune Presence of attendance with Christ’s Church and Churches.

The church is not just European, English, American or Canadian.  One might be surprised to find that the modern “mission churches” are quite larger than the “mother churches.”  One hears reports about the underground churches in China, for example.  Or, Africa. Canterbury has a wonderful “history,” but her influence has waned as a Biblical voice.  Or, other places. Unfortunately, our current lens colours our views of the present.  Again, Christ’s ministry is to “tribes, tongues, and nations” globally.  That is the import of St. John’s use of the term “world” in his Gospel; that word, “world,” is not minor oversight by the beloved apostle.

Even in the darkest of times, Christ was there.  Early Christians faced persecutions although few get a lot of press, aside from Eusebius.  People witnessed Christian living, read the Scriptures, heard sermons, participated in Eucharistic meals, and lived the faith.  They faced persecution, often indifference and, at other times, contempt and ridicule.  By the 4th and 5th centuries, they witnessed “demographic upheavals” by national emigrations and migrations.  St. Augustine wrote “The City of God” with invasions to Rome in view. One thinks of Imperial Rome being devastated and it’s substantial emigration to safer parts of the Empire.  By Gibbon's estimation, Imperial Rome in St. Paul's time had a teeming population of 1,000,000 but by Gregory the Great's closing days (600 AD) about 100,000 at most.
 
Given the present irritation--a grounded and growing offense--with some American Anglicans, who’ve proven themselves to be arrogant and obnoxious (and that’s been seen in the other groups too…horrors yes! Lutherans, Presbyterians, Baptists, Romanists, Tractarians, Greeks, the whole lot of many of their apologists), the time has come to review some history.  What’s irritating is that these “enthusiasts” act as if no one has surveyed, read, investigated or studied the ancient catholic church, the medieval catholic church, the Renaissance or Reformed catholic church, or the modern catholic church.  But alas, they’re the triumphant yokels.  Pompous gasbags!
 
Fortunately, due to sovereign mercies alone, there are fine men of different, more noble and humbler spirits.
 
As such, we are gathering the names for inquiry and review—once again.  It will help the enthusiasts to remember than St. Paul didn’t preach at Ephesus in chasuble and mitre, although that’s a standard for some of them.  Or, offer prayers from the Book of Common Prayer at Alexandria, Egypt.  If anything, this becomes a plea for humility, caution (just because it’s ancient doesn’t mean it’s better, unless you prefer to travel by horses or foot...or wish to transmit Scriptures by scribes, etc.). But onwards to better things.

We propose these names for review.

1.  Philo

2.  Josephus

3.  Gospel, Paul and NT

4.  Ignatius

5.  Trajan and Pliny

6.  Quadratus

7.  Aristides

8.  Papias

9.  Epicetus

10.  Didache

11.  Emperor Hadrian

12.  Papias

13.  Gnosticism and its surge

14.  Marcion

15.  Gospel of Hebrews

16.  Pseudo-Barnabas

17.  Antonius Pius

18.  Basiliedes

19.  Aristo of Pella (130)

20.  Hermas

21.  Martyrdom of Polycarp

22.  Roman Symbol

23.  Valentinus

24.  Gospel of Peter

25.  Muratorian Canon (c. 160)

26.  Montanism & Pentecostals

27.  Fronto of Cirta

28.  Epitaph of Pectorius

29.  Ascension of Isaiah

30.  Odes of Solomon

31.  Marcus Aurelius (161-180)

32.  Hegisippus (154-166)

33.  Lucian of Samosata

34.  Tatian

35.  11 Enoch

36.  Athenagoras

37.  Martrys of Gaul (177)

38.  Emperor Commodus

39.  Theophilus of Antioch

40.  Irenaeus (c. 180)

41.  Pantaneus

42.  Scillitan Martyrs

43.  Melito of Sardis (c.189)

44.  Quarto-decimian Controvery, including

English church

45.  Emperor Pertinax (193)

46.  Tertullian (195-220)

47.  Septimus Severus

48.  Minucius Felix

49.  Epitaph of Alercius

50.  Perpetua and Felix

51.  Clement of Alexandria (200-215)

52.  Varied persecutions, syncretism, including

Montanism, Marcionism, Gnosticism

53.  Origen

54.  Plotinus

55.  Manicheanism

56.  Pseudo-Clementine

57.  Cyprian of Carthage, episcopacy, persecutions

58.  Dionysius of Alexandria

59.  Eutyches

60.  Lucian of Antioch

61.  Paul of Samosata

62.  Gregory the Wonderworker

63.  Firmilian of Caesarea

64.  Gnostic papyri

65.  Gospel of Bartholomew

We shall, God willing, enlarge the list and develop reviews.
 
For the gasbags, get ahold of the confession of sins in Morning Prayer and live with this reminder:
 
1 Peter 5:
 
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Denominational gasbaggeries and blowharderies, especially from some clerics, is offensive, is noted, and shall be resisted. 

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