Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Newman, Keble, Pusey, Martin Luther, & Oxford Martyrs' Memorial


As much as John Newman, John Keble, Edward Bouverie Pusey, agitators and extremists in the Society of the Holy Cross (SSC, Jack Iker's folks), Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament (Keith Ackerman's folks) and others who railed against the Reformers, Luther included, we feel quite free from their self-loathings, extremisms, and hostilities to the English, Swiss, French, Hungarian, German, Danish, Swedish and Dutch Reformations. We feel quite free to agree with the Teutonic Titan, Martin Luther (while kindly preserving some objections for the record, e.g. Capernaiticism, and while heartily embracing most of the old boy's agenda). Who can forget the Newman-Keble-Pusey-Tractarian axis resisting the establishment of the "Oxford Martyrs' Memorial" commemorating Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer and the some 288ish martyrs during the English Reformation?  Yes, they did and more. Who can forget Newman-Keble-Pusey objecting to a joint Church of England-German Lutheran mission effort in Cyprus? Because it would offend the Greeks? Who, by a turn, object to "justification by faith alone?" The ACNAers would and do gloss over these things.  They like the Tractarians.  Mr. (abp.) Bob Duncan can't seem to say, "justification by faith alone."  On a more narrow note and topic, which reminds us of the wider issues, here is a lovely quote from this apostolic, holy, and catholic Churchman, Bruder Martin:

"As for us, we are obliged to preach the Gospel which offers to all men liberty from the Law, sin, death, and God’s wrath. We have no right to conceal or revoke this liberty proclaimed by the Gospel. And so we cannot do anything with the swine who dive headlong into the filth of licentiousness. We do what we can, we diligently admonish them to love and to help their fellow-men. If our admonitions bear no fruit, we leave them to God, who will in His own good time take care of these disrespecters of His goodness. In the meanwhile we comfort ourselves with the thought that our labors are not lost upon the true believers. They appreciate this spiritual liberty and stand ready to serve others in love and, though their number is small, the satisfaction they give us far outweighs the discouragement which we receive at the hands of the large number of those who misuse this liberty."
-Martin Luther

 
Bruder Martin Luther


 
Oxford Martyrs' Memorial
The Tractarian-in-Chief: John Henry Newman
and Anti-Reformation Man

Or, who can forget Mr. (bp.) Jack Iker of the ACNA, after signing the GAFCON arrangement in Jerusalem, "assuring" his fellow-Tractaholics that "they'd continue reading the Thirty-nine Articles like Newman" and with Newman's interpretation? Any objections from the Misters (bishops) in the ACNA?   Nah. Or, David Virtue doing an "investigative" report?  Nah. 

Incorrigible, unchangeable, un-teachable, indifferent, contradictory, shallow, fearful, even hostile and extremist, and amnesiacal. Who wouldn't be Post-Anglican if this is Anglicanism? Who needs it? Or them?  We'll keep the baby, but drain the dirty tub of dirty water.

Due to substantial 5th amendment violations, they've compromised themselves so often, including undue harshness, often by poor examples, that their leadership cannot be trusted, honoured or respected. Or, desired. We'll just keep reading, thank you.
 
 

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