Cutting Edge Religion

2006-08-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

On Saturday my family went to see a historic Catholic Church in a small rural town in our state. The catholic church was truly beautiful, especially considering it was built in the 1800s by very poor people in a tiny town. Anyway, on the way there my wife saw this sign and laughed maniacly, forcing me to do a u-turn and dirve back for a picture. She suggested, tongue firmly planted in cheek, that a sign like this might help us Anglicans reach a whole new generation. What do you think?

39 Articles of Religion

2006-08-05T06:55:00.000-07:00

One of my newest freinds has a great blog where a very worthwile treatment of the Articles is underway. Please take a look. It won't take you long to notice that this guy is brilliant!
Check it out at anglicancleric.blogspot.com.

Let me introduce myself

2006-08-02T22:19:00.000-07:00

In addition to being a priest, I am also married (for 12 wonderful years as of last Sunday) and I have three lovely daughters and an awesome son. The picture says it all. There is nothing better than falling asleep in the recliner while watching "Mars movies". Life is really too wonderful to tell!

Christianity on Fire

2006-08-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

“The world around us is aflame. But there are two very different fires burning. One will consume and destroy. The other brings life and warmth, comfort and love.”

Consuming Fire

Sometimes it seems as if Christianity is burning down. Take the Episcopal Church as an example. In time past many of us called that once venerable institution our home, but this past summer, after years of smoldering, the Episcopal Church erupted in flames of self-destruction. Despite pleadings from the Anglican Communion, the General Convention of that organization refused to repent for sins committed in 2003, pressing ahead with its radical Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Feminist agenda (LGBT for short—and that is their own terminology by the way. I couldn’t make that up if I wanted.)

The Episcopalians also labeled the bible “racist” and called on their liturgists to fix it. They elected a woman in the organization, the most liberal non-believer in the slate of candidates, to be Presiding Bishop. She promptly prayed to “Mother Jesus” in her first address and then went on national television to proclaim faith in Jesus Christ unnecessary. Apparently, for the Episcopal Church faith in Jesus Christ is considered so “hateful and divisive” that the General Convention voted faith in Jesus down! Since the $9 million party that is general Convention voted to reject the Gospel some of the largest parishes in the Episcopal church have been leaving en mass (Some estimates state that TEC has lost at least 20,000 members since June and may lose 100,000 in the next year). But only seven out of 100+ Diocese have petitioned the world-wide Communion for a different –read “believing”—Primate (Archbishop who runs things).

The Episcopal Church did do one admirable thing this summer. The Episcopalians voted to eradicate hunger in the third world—a very noble goal. Yet we wonder what their voting accomplishes. After all, they voted ten years ago to grow their organization through a decade of evangelism —and then promptly denied Jesus and ran off half their members. To make a fine point, since Convention in June the Episcopal Bishop of my state showed his contempt for Christianity by approving the blessing of homosexual unions.

Then there is the Presbyterian Church, USA. When asked to consider allowing non-celebrate homosexuals to be ordained, they voted not to change anything. Then they voted to leave change up to individual presbyteries. Then they agreed not to ask any questions or enforce any rules. So, go ahead. No one is looking. Do whatever.

And so on with other denominations such as the United Methodist Church. Even the Southern Baptists elected their first “moderate” President in 30 years. (By his own admission, “moderate” means he doesn’t speak about sin and prefers the happy-clappy style of “worship”) Furthermore, venerable Baptist colleges like Wake Forrest and others are becoming so liberal that they are disassociating in droves from the Baptist church.

Yep, Sometimes Christianity seems to be on fire.

Celestial Fire

Our church is on fire, too, but with an altogether different sort of flame. We are aflame with “celestial fire.”

Just two months ago we sang the ancient song of Pentecost and we made that song our prayer:

“Come Holy Ghost our souls inspire
And lighten with celestial fire
Thou the anointing spirit art
Who dost the seven-fold gifts impart.”

We accepted a vision to be a parish set on fire by the Holy Ghost, and Jesus tells us what that means. In the Gospel according to St. John, chapter 16, Jesus said that when the Spirit comes, He brings us conviction.

1. The Burning Conviction of Sin
The Spirit convicts us of sin, and teaches us that the only way to deal with sin is through belief in Jesus. (verses 8,9)

2. The Burning Conviction of Righteousness
The Spirit convicts us that we should be holy and righteous, and that Jesus Christ is our example that we are to follow. (verses 8,10)

3. The Burning Conviction of Judgment
The Spirit convicts us that this world is judged, that Jesus Christ is the judge who has condemned it, so that we should be discerning (verses 8,11 & 13)

4. The Burning Conviction of Truth
The Spirit convicts us of the truth, guiding us into the unchanging truth of the Gospel, so that we may know and do God’s will. (verse 13)

5. The Blazing Conviction of Faith in Jesus
The Spirit convicts us of the truth of Jesus, helping us to build lives that glorify Jesus in every way. (verses 14,15)

These convictions are the flames of the Holy Ghost and this is the fire that he has kindled in us. Each week we burn brighter as we seek to deal honestly and forthrightly with our sin, to become holy in our living, to build a new culture of obedience to God, to study, know, understand, and incorporate the truth of God’s revelation, and to glorify our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

When we gather each week, as your priest I see so many wonderful people, each one positively glowing with the “celestial fire” of the Holy Ghost—bringing their gifts and talents to the worship of the great and holy Trinity. Each time I am in awe at how our honest, traditional worship and honest, Anglican and Catholic, traditional faith in Jesus has built such a warm and bright love in this parish. In the light of such a shining work of God in our midst, let’s keep praying! Come Holy Ghost!

Spreading the Celestial Flame

Finally, I ask you to pray for those who are trapped in unfaithful denominations and unhealthy churches. Many of them are hurt, frustrated, and even angry at how their churches and leaders have betrayed them—by betraying the historic faith, traditional values, the message of the Gospel, and even Jesus Christ himself. Remember how we felt when we were forced to start over? Perhaps it is time to call some of our friends and to invite them to a church which will love them, care for them, respect them—never treating their faith in Christ as unwanted, but as welcomed with unity and concord. Invite them to grow with us, to love God and each other with us, and to pray with us as we bask in the warmth of “celestial fire.”

May the grace of our lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with us all, evermore.
Fr. Brad+

Welcome To My World!

2006-06-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you for visiting me. My plan is to share my world, especially as it concerns my priesthood and all things Anglican. Enjoy - and comment away.

The English Catholic

Cutting Edge Religion

39 Articles of Religion

Let me introduce myself

Christianity on Fire

Welcome To My World!