(See: Robert Duncan on the Ordinal)
Robin, that was an excellent analysis of the situation. I appreciate your candor. However, in my view one of the most flawed parts of the 1979 book of alternative services--as the late Peter Toon called it--is the Catechism. The Catechism of the 1979 book is out and out pelagian and nowhere acknowledges the doctrine of original sin, actual sin, or the depravity of the human race.
One could legitimately ask, "Whatever happened to sin?"
OK, so it does mention sin but it defines sin as following the bad example of Adam for all practical purposes:
Human Nature
Human Nature
Q. What are we by nature?
A. We are part of God's creation, made in the image of God.
Q. What does it mean to be created in the image of God?
A. It means that we are free to make choices: to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with creation and with God.
Q. Why then do we live apart from God and out of harmony with creation?
A. From the beginning, human beings have misused their freedom and made wrong choices.
And: Sin and Redemption
Sin and Redemption
Q. What is sin?
A. Sin is the seeking of our own will instead of the will of God, thus distorting our relationship with God, with other people, and with all creation.
Q. How does sin have power over us?
A. Sin has power over us because we lose our liberty when our relationship with God is distorted.
You'll notice above that sin is not inborn or imputed but something we willfully do, which leads to distortion. That's Pelagianism. It's what we "do" that makes us sinful and not what Adam did that makes the human race sinful. (See: Catechism: 1979 Book of Alternative Services)
Secondly, sin has power over us after we distort the relationship by sinning. This is another direct contradiction to the 39 Articles, Article 9:
Of Original or Birth Sin
Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth God's wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea, in them that are regenerated, whereby the lust of the flesh, called in Greek phronema sarkos (which some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire of the flesh), is not subject to the law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized, yet the Apostle doth confess that concupiscence and lust hath itself the nature of sin.
As bad as the ritualism is, the Catechism of the 79 book is worse in my opinion because it teaches directly against the doctrines of salvation in Articles 9-18 of the 39 Articles of Religion. That might be why the 39 Articles are relegated to fine print in the back of the 79 book so as to be merely a history piece and not binding doctrine.
Peace!
Charlie
-- Robin, that was an excellent analysis of the situation. I appreciate your candor. However, in my view one of the most flawed parts of the 1979 book of alternative services--as the late Peter Toon called it--is the Catechism. The Catechism of the 1979 book is out and out pelagian and nowhere acknowledges the doctrine of original sin, actual sin, or the depravity of the human race.
One could legitimately ask, "Whatever happened to sin?"
OK, so it does mention sin but it defines sin as following the bad example of Adam for all practical purposes:
Human Nature
Human Nature
Q. What are we by nature?
A. We are part of God's creation, made in the image of God.
Q. What does it mean to be created in the image of God?
A. It means that we are free to make choices: to love, to create, to reason, and to live in harmony with creation and with God.
Q. Why then do we live apart from God and out of harmony with creation?
A. From the beginning, human beings have misused their freedom and made wrong choices.
And: Sin and Redemption
Sin and Redemption
Q. What is sin?
A. Sin is the seeking of our own will instead of the will of God, thus distorting our relationship with God, with other people, and with all creation.
Q. How does sin have power over us?
A. Sin has power over us because we lose our liberty when our relationship with God is distorted.
You'll notice above that sin is not inborn or imputed but something we willfully do, which leads to distortion. That's Pelagianism. It's what we "do" that makes us sinful and not what Adam did that makes the human race sinful. (See: Catechism: 1979 Book of Alternative Services)
Secondly, sin has power over us after we distort the relationship by sinning. This is another direct contradiction to the 39 Articles, Article 9:
Of Original or Birth Sin
Original sin standeth not in the following of Adam (as the Pelagians do vainly talk), but it is the fault and corruption of the nature of every man that naturally is engendered of the offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit; and therefore in every person born into this world, it deserveth God's wrath and damnation. And this infection of nature doth remain, yea, in them that are regenerated, whereby the lust of the flesh, called in Greek phronema sarkos (which some do expound the wisdom, some sensuality, some the affection, some the desire of the flesh), is not subject to the law of God. And although there is no condemnation for them that believe and are baptized, yet the Apostle doth confess that concupiscence and lust hath itself the nature of sin.
As bad as the ritualism is, the Catechism of the 79 book is worse in my opinion because it teaches directly against the doctrines of salvation in Articles 9-18 of the 39 Articles of Religion. That might be why the 39 Articles are relegated to fine print in the back of the 79 book so as to be merely a history piece and not binding doctrine.
Peace!
Charlie
Reasonable Christian Blog Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen. 1662 Book of Common Prayer
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See also: AnglicanTV
The discussion of the Ordinal occurs about 13:40 into the video at Anglican Unscripted.
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