The Anglican Way of Life:

Living in Christ, Living Out Christ

(Part I of II)

“Catholic we are; Protestant and Reformed we are.  Yet also the Renaissance is in our blood, and this made for a saving dose of skeptism, for an openness of mind, for a willingness to suspend judgment until we have more data . . . More important than any formal statement of that consensus of the faithful, more significant than any kind of confessional declaration, is the appearance of a type of human being the world doesn’t otherwise see.  He is an Anglican.  He creatively synthesizes within his own being the best that is in Catholicism, the best that is in Evangelicalism or Protestantism, the best that is in Liberalism” – Canon Howard Johnson, Anglican Congress, Toronto, 1963.

I.          Understanding our Identity as Human Beings

1. We are born with a need to be loved and to love
2. We are gifted by God for power (influence: we have choice, i.e. limited self-determination)
   1. Combative power with God:  Dating Jesus
   2. Cooperative power with God: Engaged to Jesus
   3. Collaborative power with God: Married to Jesus (The Bride of Christ)

“Power is good, power is evil, power needs to be redeemed” – Walter Wink

1. We are all addicted with attachments and idolatries
   1. Which often leads to consumerism
   2. Which often leads to celebrities
   3. Which often leads to individualism
   4. Which often leads to rights, instead of responsibilities
   5. Which often are driven by feelings, than duty
2. We are all spiritual beings made in the image of God (intellect, emotions, and will)
3. We all have a way of life that is consistent with our character, choices, and circumstances (we develop rituals, we live in images/symbols, and encourage relationships that are consistent with our way of life)

II.         The Reason Religion is So Confusing for Human Beings

1. There are so many (pluralism)
2. They have been so abusive (power)
3. They are so convincing (persuasion)
4. They have so many code words and rituals (perplexing)

So here we are at The Way:

*Some of us have been Anglican/Episcopalian all our lives

*Some of us have been Roman Catholic, then left to become Evangelical

*Some of us have been Protestant and married a Catholic (or vice-versa) – decided to           compromise and become an Anglican

*Some of us are non-liturgical Protestants learning about Anglicanism

*Some of us have been de-churches, re-entering Church, and don’t have a clue what an Anglican    is all about and some of us are just seeking and trying to figure it all out!

III.       The Anglican Way of Life:  Living in Christ and Living Out Christ in a World God    Loves

THE ANGLICAN WAY OF LIFE IS WORSHIP!

John 17:3

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God,

and Jesus Christ whom You have sent”

Whereas the unifying identity for the Roman Catholic is the historic Papacy and the unifying identity for the Orthodox Church is the historic Divine Liturgy; and the unifying identity for the reformational Evangelical Church is the Bible; for the Anglican, the unifying historical Celtic identity is Worship.

1. The Reductionistic View of Anglicanism (Lambeth Quadilateral, 1886, 1888) – Book of Common Prayer, 876-877
   1. Whole Bible:  Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament as the revealed Word of God and as being the rule and ultimate standard of faith (containing all things necessary for salvation)
   2. The Apostles’ Creed, as the Baptismal symbol; and the Nicene Creed, as the sufficient statement of the Christian faith
   3. The two Sacraments ordained by Christ himself – Baptism and the Lord’s Supper
   4. The Historic Episcopate, locally adapted to the varying needs of the people of God into the unity of His Church

1. The Theologians’ View of Anglicanism (James I. Packer, 2005)
   1. Anglicanism is Catholic Christianity (worldwide fellowship, fullness of the historic faith that is Bible-based, Cross-centered, Conversion-oriented, and Mission-focused)
   2. Anglicanism is Canonical Christianity (our faith and practice is based wholly on the Bible)

Bishop Stephen Neill “if you can show anything in the Bible that we do not teach, we will teach it; and if you can show that we are teaching something that is not in the Bible, we will drop it”

39 Articles of Faith, 1562 (Book of Common Prayer)

“for the avoiding of diversities of opinions, and for the establishing of consent touching true religion” and the Church as a “witness and a keeper of holy writ” and “it is not lawful for the Church to ordain anything that is contrary to God’s Word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture, that it be repugnant to another”

1. Anglicanism is Creedal Christianity (Apostles’ and Nicene Creed)

1. Anglicanism is Comprehensive Christianity (distinction is recognized between what is primary and essential, on the one hand, and what is secondary and non-essential on the other.  The former category is the ground of Anglican unity)

Next week, Fr. Tony will share with you the “Spirit of Anglicanism” as a way of life to worship God.

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