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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 9:32 PM | Comments (0)
January 18, 2007
Listen to the voice of orthodoxy within TEC
Listen to this address of the Rt. Rev. John-David Schofield of Fresno, CA. Though late in posting this on my blog, I thought this was a wonderful recap of the TEC's abandonment of orthodoxy step by step. Watch this video posted by Dn. Pendergraft on his website. Take time and listen to all that all of us have been trying to say all this while. I listened to Bp.Schofield and wow! Their Presiding Bishop is way off when we listen to this man of God and his orthodox position.
Posted by frleo at 9:01 PM | Comments (0)
Processing a theology!!!
Somehow I could not stomach this interview which blatantly shares her heretical content: Read the interview by the Arkansas Democratic Gazzette's Laura Brown with The Presiding Bishop Jeffers Schori, of The Episcopal Church, thanks to the posting by the Bible Belt Blogger.
This has nothing to do with gender respect(I would call a spade a spade regardless of where it came from) but sheer bewilderment at the process theology that is in the making - theology that is so contrary to the basics of Christianity itself and the heresy revisited. Would the remnants realize how dangerous their leadership is given her stance on the Christology and faith. We are not making a tryst with our faith are we?
Posted by frleo at 9:36 AM | Comments (0)
Americal Idol - "What Kind of People Are We?"
As my first blog for 2007, this is a blog of concern for our culture. I don't like to begin on a negative note, but what I thought might be entertainment, perturbed me. In the name of encouraging talents and making American idols, I certainly could not watch the jingoistic attitude on the part of the judges on “American Idol,” who were very mean and uncouth to the participants. There was more focus on the contestant’s imperfections than on their talents. It was pathetic.
Given the competitive nature of a popular national TV show, screenings should have been done with dignity and the process of elimination need not have been made public at all. And those who were not admitted to the next entry level should have been able to leave with dignity, especially the teens.
It looks like “American Idol” was purposely creating and encouraging scenes to embarrass participants. The sad part is that some of them were impressionable teenagers.
Even the boss who magnanimously offered to buy the plane ticket for his employee to participate in the show was not spared. It was alluded that he was having sexual relations with the young participant even though he had traveled with his wife.
Is this show exploitation on the part of the organizers? Just watch their interviews before and after their appearance. Should this have been the focus of the show in place of their performance? Are we enjoying some sort of sadomasochism? Is this the deteriorating trend of American culture that we are permitting to happen before our eyes?
Human dignity cannot be succumbed to at any cost. If the Abu Ghraib prison treatment enraged you, then perhaps these sorts of shows make us think. Humans are purposefully paraded and stripped of their self respect and dignity. Parading such a style and behavior is a form of bullying and is masqueraded under the guise of entertainment.
Why should America watch this human savagery on the tube that undermines the potential of human nature? True not all of us are born with such great talents, at the same time every one of us is good for something. Does the freedom of expression mean doing anything to anybody under the guise of competition that certifies some are "good for nothing?"
Posted by frleo at 8:27 AM | Comments (0)