Anglican beliefs

[notsmart]

Yep…I know of St. Ann’s, though I have never been there. Since I reject Catholic doctrine where it differs from my own…I wouldn’t consider it. I was referring to those who share an evangelical view of the gospel.

Can I ask what the differences are? It seems Anglicans are closer in belief from what I read.

edit to add: closer to catholic doctrines

(I assumed that was a given) but, for clarity, I dont want to confuse anyone

 

[mozart-250]

Mozart, thank you again- I just felt the need to tell you that.

I have read the lost sheep story in the past, (cant recall the book, if in Matthew or the other gospel its mentioned in)

and I thought it meant Jesus looks for those who dont know about him, but now I am confused, because it appears that some think, he was only going after the ones who already knew him, and then strayed.

I just hope he has a plan for people like me. Because, I feel like if there is any hope, its got to be in a God who came to us, and died and rose again. The others make no sense, and are like all the others before in history.

The God Man is the only one who did this.

You are welcome.

The lost sheep parable is applicable both for those who are coming to Christ the first time and for those who have strayed from Christ and are returning.

The good Shepherd (Jesus Christ) is the one who leaves the fold, finds the sheep, and returns the sheep to safety. The sheep (being a rather stupid animal according to my understanding) just lets the good Shepherd do what He has come to do.

Does that make sense?

Oh…and Mr. TriuneUnity is correct in saying that you are a Christian at the point you (being a lost sheep) recognize Christ as the Good Shepherd and allow Him to put you in His arms. That is what we call faith.

 

[TriuneUnity]

Can I ask what the differences are? It seems Anglicans are closer in belief from what I read.

Traditional, Protestant Anglicans share the Catholic view of the Real Presence in Holy Communion, and also a view of apostolic succession (the belief that bishops must be able to trace their ordination back to the apostles). However, Anglicans also accept Protestant distinctives, such as justification by grace alone, through faith alone, on account of Christ alone. Roman Catholics deny the “alone” portions of these doctrines. In that sense, they differ greatly from Catholic theology.

 

[notsmart]

Traditional, Protestant Anglicans share the Catholic view of the Real Presence in Holy Communion, and also a view of apostolic succession (the belief that bishops must be able to trace their ordination back to the apostles). However, Anglicans also accept Protestant distinctives, such as justification by grace alone, through faith alone, on account of Christ alone. Roman Catholics deny the “alone” portions of these doctrines. In that sense, they differ greatly from Catholic theology.

That is one I read about, and dont see why there is no agreement on really. From how it was explained to me, grace is working through love. Not grace for nothing.

 

[notsmart]

You are welcome.

The lost sheep parable is applicable both for those who are coming to Christ the first time and for those who have strayed from Christ and are returning.

The good Shepherd (Jesus Christ) is the one who leaves the fold, finds the sheep, and returns the sheep to safety. The sheep (being a rather stupid animal according to my understanding) just lets the good Shepherd do what He has come to do.

Does that make sense?

Yes, it does. I agree with this view. It has to be both, or why would he bother only saving ones who rejected him rather than ones who never knew him, or saw or felt, or had example of,

I guess its a matter of if I will let him save me now.

I dont think he will take me in by force.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I am not baptised, so I cant be a Christian. I just did the golden rule.

You’re correct, at baptism you will indeed be a Christian. To call oneself a Christian before baptism is part of that “I’ve been saved” theology that places inner acceptance of Christ over the actual act of receiving the holy spirit and being born again into Christ through baptism. Your honesty and ability to recognize the importance of baptism shows you are on your way to a full and deep relationship with Christ.

 

[notsmart]

You’re correct, at baptism you will indeed be a Christian. To call oneself a Christian before baptism is part of that “I’ve been saved” theology that places inner acceptance of Christ over the actual act of receiving the holy spirit and being born again into Christ through baptism. Your honesty and ability to recognize the importance of baptism shows you are on your way to a full and deep relationship with Christ.

Well, I know its got to mean more than what could be a fleeting emotional reaction to things.

I cant get baptised, without really getting firmer about who this God Man really is. What he really wanted of us. What we did to not see him…

Things like that.

 

[TriuneUnity]

That is one I read about, and dont see why there is no agreement on really. From how it was explained to me, grace is working through love. Not grace for nothing.

Grace works through love, yes. In Christian theology this is the process of sanctification. Whereby a Christian is daily transformed more and more into the image of Christ. Justification, however, is that which declares a person to be righteous in God’s sight. Catholics hold a view (that, admittedly, is my biased opinion speaking), confuses sanctification and justification and sees our personal growth in holiness as justification.

Protestants believe that we are declared by God to be righteous in God’s sight solely due to His mercy, with no effort of our own. That our righteousness is based solely on the righteousness of Christ’s perfect life, and obedient death for the punishment of our sins. We are not declared righteous by our keeping of God’s law.

And finally, that we are brought into union with Christ and receive this gift of righteousness through faith alone.

 

[notsmart]

I cant be a protestant then. Because, this is work. And, without it, I would be no different than I was the other day. I am working at finding God. So, how can this be? Unless I am being possesed by an evil spirit? And, my child.

Grace works through love, yes. In Christian theology this is the process of sanctification. Whereby a Christian is daily transformed more and more into the image of Christ. Justification, however, is that which declares a person to be righteous in God’s sight. Catholics hold a view (that, admittedly, is my biased opinion speaking), confuses sanctification and justification and sees our personal growth in holiness as justification.

Protestants believe that we are declared by God to be righteous in God’s sight solely due to His mercy, with no effort of our own. That our righteousness is based solely on the righteousness of Christ’s perfect life, and obedient death for the punishment of our sins. We are not declared righteous by our keeping of God’s law.

And finally, that we are brought into union with Christ and receive this gift of righteousness through faith alone.

 

[TriuneUnity]

Well, I know its got to mean more than what could be a fleeting emotional reaction to things.

I cant get baptised, without really getting firmer about who this God Man really is. What he really wanted of us. What we did to not see him…

Things like that.

You should certainly receive Christian instruction before coming to the font of Baptism. You have to know what you are receiving from God. That does not mean you are not a Christian, though. You are a Christian when God grants you faith in Christ as the Savior of your soul through His life, death, and resurrection.

 

[TriuneUnity]

I cant be a protestant then. Because, this is work. And, without it, I would be no different than I was the other day. I am working at finding God. So, how can this be? Unless I am being possesed by an evil spirit? And, my child.

No one says it doesn’t take work on your part. Your own growth in knowledge, holiness of living most certainly involves you. But your salvation is entirely free…it was won for you 2000 years ago at Calvary. You did not contribute to it. You simply receive it.

As an edit addendum, the fact that you desire union with God at all, is because He has already brought you to new life. You didn’t “do” anything to have an interest in it. It may seem so from your perspective, but it is all grace, and grace alone. What you are experiencing now is the result of that grace in your heart and spirit.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Yes, it does. I agree with this view. It has to be both, or why would he bother only saving ones who rejected him rather than ones who never knew him, or saw or felt, or had example of,

I guess its a matter of if I will let him save me now.

I dont think he will take me in by force.

You need to empty out your messages, notsmart, so people can send you private messages. Your messages are overloaded and, as a result, you cannot receive messages right now.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Do you have a Catholic Church nearby? Have you considered going to Mass this weekend? You can’t take communion but you can watch a really amazing liturgy.

Catholics believe that the sacrifice of the Mass is just that…A SACRIFICE. The priest stands in persona christi****** which, in Latin, means “in the place of Christ himself!” and, through a miracle of 2,000 years, the priest, as Jesus calls the Holy Spirit down to turn the bread and wine into the Body and Blood (for real) of Christ.

What the miracle is is this…that sacrifice, that bread and wine transformed is the SAME sacrifice that occurred 2,000 years ago on the cross!

Because Jesus and His Father are outside of linear time (you and I are stuck in linear time, with past and present, God is outside of that) Jesus can make His original sacrifice on the cross happen before our eyes through the priest. So, the miracle of the crucifixion is not some mere event that we remember , it is made PRESENT to us in person at every Mass we attend.

During Mass choirs of angels, the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the thousands of saints, the apostles, and God Himself are present in that church along with the souls of every martyr in history.

That is what goes on during Mass.

You can also go to Mass during the week, tomorrow, Thursday, Friday, etc.

Have you thought about meeting with a priest and inquiring about RCIA (the process of becoming a Catholic, it’s a big group that goes through meetings, learning the catechism, Q&A, and learning about Catholicism and then on Easter, you join the Church). Talk to a priest about the annulment and joining the RCC.

Blessings!

Scott

 

[mozart-250]

I cant be a protestant then. Because, this is work. And, without it, I would be no different than I was the other day. I am working at finding God. So, how can this be? Unless I am being possesed by an evil spirit? And, my child.

Yup, it really seems that you are working at finding God. You are expending energy and effort, and on one level it is work,

But you are not alone here, working in a void.

The energy and effort that you are expending is a response to His work which He already has started as the good shepherd.

 

[notsmart]

Yup, it really seems that you are working at finding God.

But you are not alone here. You are not working in a void.

The wonderful thing is that it is really His work, and the reality is that you are just responding positively to what God is doing in your life.

This makes sense!

I feel like I am working, but would never have if he did not keep popping up everywhere in the ones I care for.

Maybe having a child helped me to see God’s care for his Son.

 

[TriuneUnity]

This makes sense!

I feel like I am working, but would never have if he did not keep popping up everywhere in the ones I care for.

Maybe having a child helped me to see God’s care for his Son.

These are the words of the most purest gospel message in all of Scripture, not…and they let you know exactly what is going in your life right now…

“By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.” Romans 5:6-9

Don’t ever think you must do something to earn God’s love. God loves you on account that Christ has lived and died in your place. The holiness before God that you bear is Christ’s own holiness. You can never, of yourself, be free from sin and that is what God demands if you want to make it to heaven by your doings.

You are saved by works, but not your own; your are saved by the works of Christ and Him crucified for you.

 

[emeraldcoast]

Hi Monica!

I found this sermon by Rev. Richter that reminded me of your post and I wanted to share it with you. I hope that you don’t mind.

God Bless!

---

“Just looking, thanks.” When a salesperson in a store approaches us to see if they can be of assistance, we may say these words to keep them at a safe distance: just looking. We’re interested, but not willing to commit; curious, but don’t want someone pressuring us into making a purchase. Just looking, thanks.

Zacchaeus was curious that day when Jesus came to Jericho. The crowd was big and he was small, so shinnied up a sycamore tree – the perfect solution. He was high above the noisy crowd and he could get a glimpse of Jesus from a safe distance. Besides, let’s admit it, he didn’t have any friends in the crowd.

Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector for the Roman government in this prosperous town, and his position may have made him the most hated man in all of Jericho. He worked for the occupying forces and was therefore a traitor to his own people. What’s more, he made money off his neighbors as part of a system primed for corruption. He was obliged to send in only what the Romans expected. Anything he took in above that, he was free to keep. “He was wealthy,” reads our text, in his case an indictment rather than a description. Who would make room for him in a crowd? Who would want to be seen with him?

One day, along comes Jesus. The word has spread about Jesus, and Zacchaeus is one of the many in Jericho who want to see him. But what does Zacchaeus expect to see? Would he like what he saw in Jesus, or not? On the one hand, maybe he has heard that Jesus was known for eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners. Maybe he has heard that in some of Jesus’ stories, it’s the tax collector who is the hero, and the Pharisee who comes across as the fool. Maybe he has heard that a man named Levi, who was a tax collector, is among Jesus’ closest followers. On the other hand, maybe Zacchaeus has heard that Jesus told the rich man to sell all that he had and follow him. Maybe he has heard Jesus’ statement that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. And after all, Levi had to leave his tax collector’s booth behind in order to follow this Jesus.

So maybe the most we can say with any confidence about Zacchaeus is that he is curious. He wants to see Jesus; he doesn’t want to meet him. He doesn’t want to touch him, or be touched by him. He certainly doesn’t come to him for healing. He wants to observe from a safe distance.

Zacchaeus thinks he is safe in the tree where he can watch, where no one will confuse him with the cheering crowd, where no one needs to know where he stands. Where he can’t touch or be touched. Where he is safe to say, “Just looking, thank you,” if anyone accidentally spies him up there. “Just looking.”

And suddenly this strange little man in a tree seems a little more familiar. Don’t we all have times when it is easier to stay in our tree, to watch the events of the world as a spectator, rather than come down and get involved? Rather than come down amongst the crowd, and the dirt, and the noise, and the needs, and the confusion, and put one foot in front of the other and follow Jesus? Isn’t it easier sometimes to say, “Just looking,” when asked to help, to give, to get involved?

There’s a different sermon for those among us who try to do everything, who need to learn to say no, who need to work on some Sabbath time. But for others of us, is it time to get involved, to stop being a spectator, and join the action? Maybe it is time to take on some ministry in the church, to get involved in the community. Maybe it’s time to vote, to serve, to say yes.

Sometimes getting involved in a church takes a leap of faith. “Church shopping” is not a bad thing – many of us “shopped” our way into the Episcopal Church, or into a particular parish church. It’s important for people to look around, to explore different faith communities, to find a place where they can worship, grow, participate, serve, be at home, and yet, be challenged too. But there can be a danger sometimes that people don’t ever come down out of the tree and say, “This is it. Here I am. I’m getting involved.”

Or in our faith lives: wanting to see Jesus is a good thing, but do we keep him at arm’s length? Do we ponder him from a distance, rather than meet him, come to know him, to love him, to serve him, to be changed by him? Rather than grow more and more into his image and likeness? Rather than discover the meaning of our lives through a deep relationship with him, empowered by prayer, nurtured by participation in the faith community, nourished by the sacraments?

That day in Jericho, Jesus looks up into the tree. He sees the little man clinging to his branch and commands him to hurry down, because Jesus needs him – his hospitality, his welcome, his company. Jesus plucks Zacchaeus out of his tree, and Zacchaeus is happy to welcome him.

Zacchaeus could have said no. It would have cost Zacchaeus less. It would have attracted less attention. It would have prevented the townspeople from having one more reason to grumble about something Zacchaeus did. We know it may seem easier to go on with our own lives and continue our preoccupation with ourselves and our own agendas rather than allow the Messiah to invite himself over to lunch and allow him to delve into our truest selves. It might be easier to say, “Just looking, thank you.”

But if we’re honest, we know from experience that it is not easier to go on with our own preoccupations, to try to take care of our worries ourselves; that actually there is a tremendous ease and grace in letting Jesus take our burdens from us, to giving ourselves over to Christ, to letting Christ set our agendas. It really is easier to stop scrambling up trees and allow ourselves to know the one who knows us completely and loves us still. Like Zacchaeus, we can take the chance, invite Jesus in, and watch the radical realigning of our lives.

Zacchaeus’ life changes greatly. Something in his encounter changed the way Zacchaeus saw the world. Now he could see people in need, whereas before he only saw people he could use.

That’s part of what happens when we come out of the tree and allow Jesus to touch us. Whereas before we might just be looking, Jesus enables us really to see. Now we see real people with real needs. We see real opportunities to get involved. We see true beauty in others. We see the astonishing array of gifts God has given us and our community.

Salvation comes to Zacchaeus’ house and he is forever changed from a taker into a giver. And Zacchaeus is not unique. We see it over and over again. When Jesus finds a home with us, the result is a generous heart. Giving is a joy, not a burden. What’s given may be money, may be time, may be some ability that can be shared. But time and time again, when Jesus plucks us out of our tree, we ripen into givers, not takers; workers, not watchers; people who serve, not observe.

Jesus isn’t just coming to our town. Jesus is already here. And he may be looking up at you, inviting you out of some safe, but lonely perch, and into the kingdom of God.

episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_91420_ENG_HTM.htm

 

[notsmart]

That is very, well- it makes me want to cry.

I dont think he will want me after all he did for me and I rejected the idea he had any authority of me, since he could not even get his believers to believe, much less agree.

I guess, I have been a part of his pain on the Cross. People like me.

Well, I am doomed then.

 

[emeraldcoast]

Christ died on the cross for all of our sins. I am a sinner and I believe that God does forgive us of our sins when we ask Him.

Grace is God’s gift freely given to us all. We just have to except the gift.

God Bless!

 

[TriuneUnity]

That is very, well- it makes me want to cry.

I dont think he will want me after all he did for me and I rejected the idea he had any authority of me, since he could not even get his believers to believe, much less agree.

I guess, I have been a part of his pain on the Cross. People like me.

Well, I am doomed then.

2 Cor. 5:21: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

That says you are not doomed, but have the righteousness of God.