From the Christian Century:
Breathing the air of Christ””Christ becoming the “atmosphere” in which we live, to borrow the language of a great New Testament scholar, C. F. D. Moule””isn’t only about being in a state of peace but about being in what some would call a “dynamic equilibrium.” Our peace is what it is because it is a flow of unbroken activity, the constant maintenance of relation and growth as we give into each other’s lives and receive from each other, so that we advance in trust and confidence with one another and God. So it is that when the creed moves us on to speak about believing in the Holy Spirit, it also moves us on to speak about our confidence, our trust in the church.
For some, this feels awkward. Surely we don’t believe in the church in the sense that we believe in God or in Christ? It’s a fair point; and in fact it’s already there in the Greek of the Nicene Creed, which says literally that we believe the church. The church is indeed not another reality on the same level as the Father, the Son and the Spirit. But it is a community we can trust.
Albert Mohler’s must read commentary on this essay is found here.
RW writes, “In the Sunday congregation Abraham, Moses, Ezekiel and the rest stand invisibly alongside us; we are part of a covenant people whose origins go right back to the invisible distance, barely known outside legend and epic, yet absolutely real and continuous.”
Really nice imagery. I have difficulty that the prophets and especially Paul would be marching along Bp Sergio Carruanza in a gay pride parade with the guys in leather with whips two floats back and the transvestite “nuns” bringing up the rear. This theologically diverse church is an offensive mockery.
right on, robroy.A “Church” so liberal as to include clergy who deny the Divinity of Our Lord or align with Islam ( with the Bishop’s blessing, no less) are an afront to the many who cling to a rational approach to theology and practice. One of the many reasons I finally took my Orders and went home to Rome.
“……isn’t only about being in a state of peace ”
Is Archbishop Williams saying that we escape the wrath of God by the blood of His One and only son’s sacrifice, somewhere in there?
DonGander
Robroy,
I don’t agree with you (OK, I’ll hold off for a period for you to recover) …
When AM writes: ‘The problem with this statement is that it wrongly divides the question. Dr. Williams argues that the Bible is the Word of God “because it is the primary witness to Jesus Christ” and not because “it is the primary and central witness in history to God.” Would it not be better to suggest that the Bible is the primary witness to Jesus Christ because it is first the Word of God?’ –
THAT gives space to readings of the NT which ‘transcend’ the NT. For (a) ‘The law killeth, but the Spirit giveth life’; (b) according to John, the Word is Jesus.
John writes, “I don’t agree with you.”…massive, crushing substernal chest pain! OK, the sublingual nitro seems to have taken care of the angina. (If you have seen enough ER reruns, you can follow me.)
I am starting to see Rowan Williams as the enemy. This is not good. First, he feigns neutrality in the essay, “The Bible Today: Reading & Hearing” on the issues of the condemnation of homosexuality in the first chapter of 1 Corinthians and the unique, salvific* nature of Jesus but lands firmly on the side of the reappraisers, basically unreservedly affirming KJS sickening wanderings into apostasy. See Robert Gagnon’s essay for a microdissection of Rowan Williams essay.
Now, this malicious and duplicitous essay. A couple of other objections in additions to Albert Mohler’s:
“You may have noticed that few churches are characterized by drab sameness; when people try to create a herd mentality in the church.” I challenge Rowan Williams to visit Albert Mohler’s church. Since he is visiting George Washington U, I imagine this could be easily arranged. Then he could compare that church service with the services in his own CoE which has embraced theological diversity and has lost its saltiness (and needs to be thrown out and trampled on). Drabness? Visit ABp Orombi’s church and compare it to the typical CoE.
“In other words, it is not a sort of magical text, supernaturally giving us guaranteed information about everything under the sun.” Basically, an offensive, poorly veiled slur on all the orthodox. The implication is that Albert Mohler, et al, preposterously advocates using the Bible to predict the stock market, switch jobs, etc.
* I cannot believe I have used the word, salvific.
BTW, if Albert Mohler reads this blog, thank you very much for the concern that you show to your Anglican brothers and sisters. I think that Dr. Mohler sees the Episcopal Church as a “Little Stone Bridge” to use Sarah Hey’s terminology (buy and read the book, everyone!). If and when the usurpers have completely taken over the TEc, they will simply walk away from the burning hulk, laughing at the naivete of the collaborateurs simples. They will then set their sights on other targets such as the Baptist church.
I learned long ago by observation that buildings are not the Church of God. Saved baptized people who knelt befor God and asked His forgiveness for their sins are the Church. In the Revelation of St John they are referred to as that great body of believers not seen by human eyes.
Honestly, Mohler is a REALLY odd choice for observations on all things Anglican. Mohler is a critic of Catholicism, saying, “it is a false church and it teaches a false gospel.” His Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has driven out any faculty or students who view liturgy as central to a church.
As for me, I was encouraged to imagine church as a place where ” everyone is working steadily to release the gifts of others”
To #9: Outside observers are critical when things get critical.
A place where “everyone is working steadily to release the gifts of others.†Sounds like the optimist club.
The church is the body of Christ, the corporate and collective gathering of individual believers who not have not only joined themselves in the atoning sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection of Jesus of Nazaraeth in baptism and the sacraments, but also rely on and follow His teachings and commandments.
believers who have not only joined themselves in the atoning, sacrificial death on the cross and resurrection of Jesus of Nazaraeth in baptism and the sacraments
There was an extra “not” in that sentence in post 11. Sorry.