Why Anglican? A Short Answer

In two recent conversations, the question of why I am an Anglican came up. At the time, I gave an immediate and brief answer that seemed appropriate in the social context. The other parties wondered if there was any family reason for me to be Anglican. The brief answer was that there was a family connections to the Anglican/Episcopalian tradition, and there was also Methodist influence. Growing up where there were no nearby Anglican/Episcopal churches, Methodism introduced me to basic Anglican beliefs and elements of worship passed on by the Wesleys. That seemed to be a sufficient answer in the conversations.

This brief answer was true, but it omitted a lot of history and theology. Although this is still a short answer, it seems useful (especially on the eve of a new year) to summarize why I am Anglican. As a young Methodist in the rural South, I came to appreciate the vestiges of the Prayer Book tradition and the Apostles' Creed that were used in my local parish. Later as I studied John Wesley, I looked more deeply into English Church history, the ancient Creeds, liturgy, and sacramental theology. As I considered several Christian traditions, Anglicanism seemed to combine the best of catholic heritage and Reformation renewal.

Such was the conclusion I reached in the late 1970s. In the years since then, there have been many ups and downs. There have been ordinary fluctuations in daily life and devotion. There have been convulsions and crises in varied Episcopal/Anglican jurisdictions.  There have been personal and organizational frailties. There have been issues related to the rapidly changing intellectual and social milieu of contemporary Western culture.

Through all these events, traditional Anglican worship and doctrine have sustained my mind, heart, and soul.  Anglicanism has maintained the ancient Christian Faith, and in many places, it still continues a strong witness. It has the Scriptures, the teachings of the Church Fathers and the Creeds, historic liturgy, the Sacraments as real means of grace, and more. So I have remained a Prayer Book Anglican, and I pray that this special way of being a Christian may prosper through God's grace.

The Feast of the Nativity

Finally, it's Christmas Eve, and for both secularists and traditional Christians, Christmas is at hand. Soon there will feasting and opening of packages across the land, and those who have not been saying it all month will say "Merry/Happy Christmas" (or for some the generic "Happy Holidays"). Yet that is about as far as the common elements go. Popular culture tells us that Christmas is about over. It's easy to understand why people may feel that way. Indeed, even those of us who truly appreciate Christmas can be glad that the commercial and media season is ending. A month of holiday sales, shiny packages, secular winter songs, reindeer cartoons, and so forth is too much.

However, for traditional Christians, this is not the end of Christmas. In fact, it is the beginning. The first celebrations of Christ's Birth will occur as evening comes, and the twelve days of Christmas begin. And the twelve days are not about partridges in pear trees and other strange gifts. The twelve days celebrate our Lord's Nativity, the surrounding events, and the meaning of the Nativity for our faith. We need to focus on this great and unique event. Jesus the Christ, God the Son incarnate, the eternal Word, was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem. This historical event is more than a birthday celebration. It has the greatest theological and spiritual significance. Christ has come "to save us all from Satan's power." And He can still "cast out our sin and enter in" to be born anew in our hearts, minds, and souls.

So as Christmas truly begins this evening, let us look beyond all the pleasant mundane distractions of the holidays. Let us find some times of reflection to center upon the Incarnation of the One who has come, still comes in Word and Sacrament, and will come again to save us. Gloria in excelsis Deo!

The Church Calendar- Advent

As a child, one of the things that first drew me toward the traditions of the Church was the church year. It taught me to appreciate order and beauty in the proclamation of the Christian message. Over the years, the church calendar has often led me into periods of renewal as we have moved through the ecclesiastical seasons reflecting on the different themes of the Gospel.

During Advent. we begin the cycle anew. The glimmers of light from the prophets come to us sinners in our darkness and call us to repentance and renewal. No matter where we are in our Christian journey, the darkness of the fallen world and our fallen nature threaten to hide divine truth. Yet, the light still flickers, and we anticipate even greater light as we look forward to celebrating the Incarnation of the One who is the Light of the world.

"Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light..." (Collect for Advent).

Introduction

I have considered starting this blog for some months, but various things happened along the way. In approaching All Saints Day, I have been thinking of "the faith once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). This timing has led me to focus on some Christian basics. In looking around the web, there are numerous religious sites. Some are organizational bulletin boards, some contain liturgical or devotional material, many are dedicated to religious news, and some have theological, apologetic, or even controversial elements. All those things serve a purpose, but here I am hoping to do something more personal. Although almost anything one writes can become controversial, I hope to emphasize positive comments on Scripture,  history, Anglican liturgy, and the church calendar.