Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Time for a Prophetic Voice In the Anglican Struggle (Contribution)

It hasn’t taken that many days to realize that the once-every-ten-years Lambeth Conference is again abundant in elaborate rhetoric.

Last night’s sermon by the Bishop of Colombo, the Rt. Rev. Duleep de Chickera is a good example.

We heard from the bishop that the Anglican problem is very simple, "The church is called to be an inclusive communion,” de Chickera stated, “where there is space equally for everyone and anyone, regardless of color, gender, sexual orientation, ability.

Unity in diversity is a cherished Anglican tradition, a spirituality which we must reinforce in all humility for the sake of Christ and Christ's gospel.

"Unity in diversity is a cherished Anglican tradition a spirituality which we must reinforce in all humility for the sake of Christ and Christ's gospel."

The bishop of Colombo just wants everyone accept everyone else and find our unity in the single conviction that anything goes. To him, this is the Anglican way.

As a cradle Episcopalian and one who hung around the periphery of the Anglican way for most of my adult life, this is not the via media ideal desire by the early Anglican fathers. They saw themselves in a middle ground between the Catholic and Protestant polarities and walking the “middle road” between them. In terms of aligning with either side, Anglicans and Episcopalians could always be describe as “almost, but not quite.”

This seems to be lost in a revision of history that makes the church the middle ground in every area, where we embrace part of what we can find in paganism, hedonism, and a variety of alternative lifestyles and other religions.

In fact, after the sermon and before the Eucharist, the bishop offered a Buddhist chant, which he said “connected us to the Eucharist.” He couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Earlier in the week, Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury stated that the Anglican Church is facing “one of the most severe challenges” in its history. He went on to say that the church’s most immediate need is for "transformed relationships" that will not break apart over interpretations of the Bible, particularly regarding homosexuality.

As Dr. James W. Tonkowich, from the Institute of Religion and Democracy, pointed out, “Dr. Williams' stated goal of a Communion that will not break apart over interpretations of the Bible is laudable, but this crisis is not about conflicting interpretations, it is about longstanding church tradition and the authority of the Bible itself.”

This rhetoric all sounds so wonderful. We need to just love each other and accept each other, we can have unity in diversity. And remember, we can’t let our mere interpretations, frail as they are, stand in the way of unity.

Anglican have always been wonderful with words. Their liturgies are some of the most beautiful prose in the English language. Their turn of a phrase can melt cold stone. As a friend of mine, who was an Episcopal priest, once said, “Anglicans have raised the term ‘dialog’ to an art form and made it an end in itself rather than the means to an end.”

I have heard a lot about unity at Lambeth so far, but what about Truth. Throughout Scripture unity is celebrated but truth is mandated.

There are essential issues that must be addressed by the Anglican Church, perhaps beginning with, “who is Jesus Christ?” These core areas, which the Church calls our “kerygma,” must be re-visited and re-affirmed.

This is a time for action. Bishop de Chickera, last evening, called for a prophetic voice to arise, the voice of the voiceless. With that I would agree, but not merely the voice for those suffering political persecution. A prophetic voice must arise on behalf of those who died for the faith that “was believed by all people at all times, everywhere.”

This is a voice that must be heard on behalf of the Apostles and Martyrs, the Church Fathers, and the faithful throughout the centuries who followed Christ and His teachings devotedly in word and deed. We have the creeds, Holy Scripture, and Holy Tradition that all declare the fullness of the faith; these need to be shouted from the housetops.

The prophetic voice also needs to speak up for those who are suffering for a lack of spiritual bread and spirit-breathed water in our day. While the rhetoric continues to pour forth, people in the pew are looking for life, Christ-life, a life – as He said – that is abundant.

Unity, when orbiting around orthodox Christianity, is a wonderful thing to behold. The unity being described at Canterbury, however, is a never-ending outward spiral circling the truth at continuously greater distances. Unity may be present but truth is lost. We are unified, but toward what end?

Unity, in Christ’s Church, is truly that one found in his relationship with his father. “Ut Unum Sint” as our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, would remind us. That we all may be one as Christ is one with the Father.

This oneness, for those who follow Christ, is not found in one’s compromise of all faith and truth for relationship. Instead, it is a relationship where we are all called upward… higher into God and into participation with His glory. This is unity, in its highest form.

Ultimately, we will participate in this most fully in heaven. Yet, here and now, this unity is expressed fully and completely at the Table… the “Missa” or Mass. Here, however, Christ calls us to a unity with a cost. We come and die to ourselves that we may live for him. The table of the Eucharist is our meeting place with God, there we are unified with him and with each other in the true essence of Christianity.

A prophetic voice needs to rise up from among the Anglicans and call them back to the heart of Christ and the heart of the Church. May it be so.
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