Reformed

My perspective right now is Christian, C of E, and, if you'll forgive me, liberal and evangelical. Deal with it.

I have been observing social media whizzing past shouting Reformation jokes out of the window in a nasty outbreak of drive-by Lutheranism today. Some have been quite good although, as ever,  Archdruid Eileen (excuse me) nailed it.

But it is worth taking a moment to ponder the appalling atrocities that were inflicted upon theological dissenters down the centuries, whatever the nature of their dissent. TV's Gunpowder (see previous post) has left the smell of burning, treasonous heretic on the breeze and, frankly, roast Christian doesn't really do it for me. My particular gift has been to be a slightly controversial minister in times when that has been a safe thing to be.

Silence and respect to all who stepped on to the gallows on matters of doctrine or ethics.

But, after centuries of conflict, Catholic and Protestant Anglicans have a gentle truce which only occasionally overspills into minor jibes at diocesan conferences. Here at ground level we rock on pretty well and all pray together nicely. Puritan abstinence and higher tracts are both under the ecumenical umbrella these days. No bad thing.

Most times we don't change the church from the top down.

My concern for the LGBT gang wasn't imposed upon us from above. I like people. Well, most of them.

My desire to occasionally not wear robes is now legal but I have been doing it for thirty years or so. All that happened was that General Synod legislated that it was OK for the ship to sail after it had voyaged a few thousand times, returned and been sold for scrap. It has a reputation for that kind of speed. I need some new not robes.

My reading of the Bible leads me to christocentricity, co-operation, conversation, broad inclusivity, welcome, hospitality and creative exploration of ways to do and demonstrate faith. One supply of  water to return to but few fences to stop me roaming.

I think that is the nature of my Christian belief 500 years on from the Wittenberg church door becoming the centre of attention for a bit. My church don't own a door.

Make or Break

Reform, the Hesbollah tendency within the Church of England, have a press release on their web-site that comes closer than anything I've seen before to saying they are off. It's not blackmail as such because by and large the threats made by blackmailers are unpopular. If you want to check the whole text of their statement please follow the link and then click on 'Latest News and Events' and then 'Press Releases' to go look for yourself.

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

I've tried not to misquote or quote out of context, but here is a selection of the things they say:

'We will support mission-shaped expressions of church through prayer, finance and personnel, even when official permission is unreasonably withheld.' In other words Reform are now the self-appointed arbiters of reasonableness and will back church-planting into parishes even where they are not welcome.

'...we can no longer be constrained by an over-centralised and increasingly ineffective control that is stifling the natural development of ministry. If the local Bishop unreasonably withholds authorisation, we will pay for, train and commission the ministers that are needed, and seek official Anglican recognition for them.' In other words if Reform-supporting/sponsored candidates are not recommended for ordination, Reform will ordain them anyway.

'Fellowship is based on the faith “once delivered to the saints”. Global Anglicans observe that the Church of England is increasingly polarizing into two churches: the one submitting to God’s revelation, Gospel-focused, Christ-centred, cross-shaped and Spirit-empowered; the other holding a progressive view of revelation, giving priority to human reason over Scripture, shaped primarily by western secular culture, and focused on church structures ... we can no longer associate with teaching that is contrary to the clear teaching of the Scriptures either doctrinally (for example, on the supremacy and uniqueness of Christ) or morally (for example, on issues of gender, sex and marriage), or church leadership which advocates such teaching.' In other words Reform is the one true catholic and apostolic church. The precise meaning of scripture is now fixed and immutable and it means what Reform theologians say it means now and nothing else. All progressive understandings of revelation up to this day are valid but none thereafter.

'...we can no longer support ministries or structures increasingly marked by the doctrinal and ethical heterodoxy outlined above.' In other words we ain't paying our parish share unless we like what the diocese does with it.

'As Anglicans, we affirm Episcopal oversight for the sake of God’s mission. But it must be ordered for the church’s well-being. This means having biblically orthodox oversight that will teach the apostolic faith, refute error and discipline the wayward. We can, therefore, no longer accept churches being denied such oversight.' In other words if you don't agree with your bishop we'll find you another one.

As a Christianlifelong seeker after truth, pilgrim, nomad, journeyer, student of the Bible, user of human reason and revealed gospel, lover of the outcast and refuser to draw horrid lines in the sand am I being a bit harsh, rude and unfair in saying good riddance?

Ugly Lumps

My 'new patient' visit to the doctors a few weeks ago revealed that a small cyst on my back should go. Today it went. The minimal nature of this intrusion is easily demonstrated by my telling you I have an appointment next week to have my stitch out. No, please don't send cards. The doctor told me I would be in discomfort later and to take paracetemol. No such tablets have been taken due to a complete absence of said discomfort apart from a brief moment this evening when I sat back on the sofa and the beading on a cushion came a bit sharp, as my Aunty Brenda would put it.

During the operation I discussed with the surgeon, a local GP and a fellow Christian, the nature of the various evangelical groupings within General Synod, which says less for my powers of concentration than it does for his. Afterwards I realised that a member of Reform had been holding a scalpel over things I value greatly, which I believe is a position a large number of members of Reform would like to be in in relation to me.

I will look marginally more rugged in swimwear next season.