Episcoblog - The Online Journal of the Rt. Rev. Leo Michael

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January 29, 2007

Same Tune Different Pipers

Even as some churches are seeking oversight outside the United States, one wonders what these congregations looking for? Is it orthodoxy minus the homosexual agenda? When we come to think of it, it is not the morality alone that is in question. May be you already know it. But its good to remind ourselves again. It is a new theology declaring Christ as NOT the only way, but one among the many to salvation. It is also the abdication of orthodoxy(heresy revisited). In exchange for this situation some have arrived at a compromise with the same old issues packaged under a new name- the same old wine put in new wineskins.

And so from the TEC, they move on to the next bandwagon, namely, the Anglican Communion. Many other practices of the old church are still acceptable under this new banner. Women's ordination (which is against the apostolic tradition), the revised theology and the book of common prayer(some of the anglican churches were allowed to formulate their own prayer book), the promulgation of a new lifestyle that commensurates with the way of the world, issues like abortion (recently one of the local priest said that abortion after all is the destruction of the fertilized egg that has no life - mind you he is the rector of a local TEC congregation, their stand on life at all stages (euthanesia), it is pretty much the same old tune except under a new piper. One is welcome to follow their conscience, but however let us not be duped. Discern well and look for true orthodoxy in them.

Here is a note from one of our seminarians who is a civil engineer by trade and has been studying for the ministry for more than six years.

I am beginning to understand why we resist jumping
on the bandwagons of our friends in the fight among prominent
dissenting Bishops. But I thought this might help.

I have been reading Eusebius' most famous work "The History of the
Church". He was a Bishop and friend of Constantine, and prominent at
the Council of Nicea. This voluminous work is about all we have to
describe the remarkable period from the end of Scripture to Constantine and the Council of Nicea.

It is not easy reading, Eusebius is "wordy" and often rambles. But he
describes many, many Martyrdoms and Heresies, and how these were
resisted and suffered, and also how the clerical orders existed, and
how worship, evangelism, and charity were performed. It describes the
Orthodox roots of Anglicanism, as we understand it, and it is
remarkable how similarly we practice it today. And Eusebius writes
more than a thousand years before the establishment of the "Church of
England", which many think of as our beginnings.

Our orthodox roots are NOT in Canterbury. They never have been, and
go far deeper. It now seems possible, even probable, that the Church
of England has become separated from those deeper roots, along with
TEC and a few others. It is enevitable that if Canterbury does not
hold to all that is both Orthodox and Anglican, a showdown will
eventually separate those true Orthodox Anglicans from those who
merely give Anglicanism "lip service".

That may be unfortunate, particularly for those who cling in ignorance
to the form rather than the substance of their Episcopal leaders. It
will not be the first time the Church has been divided, their have
been many such fights in the past. What is important is to choose
sides carefully, prayerfully, and continue to be what we have always
been, and what has always, with God's help, successfully resisted the
many Heresies of the past.

Perhaps we need a definition, a single word or phrase, to bring focus
to the latest Heresies being expounded by the TEC Primate and others,
and apparently accepted by Canterbury. The famous old Heresies of the
past were often defined by the names of their most prominent
proponents. But this latest heresy has developed like a cancer over a
generation in its growth and acceptance.

Perhaps, for example, "The New Gnostic Heresy", or "The Liberal
Heresy". It has too many authors and co-conspirators recruited over
the past generation to "grace" it with the name of a single
individual. Meanwhile, we continue to wrestle with the New Heretics
over cherished terms like "Episcopal", and "Anglican", much to the
confusion of the Press and general public. But we are getting Press,
because it is a Church Fight, and that is not altogether a bad thing.
Let us not be afraid of using terms like Orthodoxy and Heresy, these
are anathema to the Enemy. And the Enemy is, as always,Satan.

Let those who seek orthodoxy, seek it in terms of supremacy of scripture and its faithful interpretation, theology, liturgy, sacraments, apostolic tradition, faith and morality. If a church has compromised on any one of these and a bishop accommodates such a compromise then you are letting yourself be duped again. It's the same old tune, but a different piper.

Posted by frleo at January 29, 2007 9:32 PM

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