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

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Un-Reformed Anglicans & Others Get Schooled: Teachable Moments in the Reformed Standards


October 8, 2013

Schooling Un-Reformed Anglicans & Others: Teachable Moments in the Reformed standards

Forthwith, before all ye present, be it known—as of yesteryear—remove that “puerile thing” parading as a catechism" in the 1662, 1928, 1873 and the 1979 Books of Common Prayer.

Be it resolved: (1) That Un-Reformed Anglicans be ordered to grow up, (2) Replace “that thing” with Reformed standards, (3) Create a lectionary and read the Standards once per year. (3) Let the reading follow the Apostles Creed or Nicene Creed. (4) Identify, quantify (terms, times) and publish failures and successes.

Now, for Anglicans, Pentecostals and others...getting schooled:

Westminster Shorter Catechism (for the children, by the way)

Q. 82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

A. No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.[173]

Q. 83. Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?

A. Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others.[174]

Westminster Confession of Faith. This is particularly noteworthy for the "new fad" of joining "an order," an effort at superiority and hiding. More later on that story.

Chapter 22: Of Lawful Oaths and Vows

7: No man may vow to do any thing forbidden in the Word of God, or what would hinder any duty therein commanded, or which is not in his own power, and for the performance whereof he has no promise of ability from God.[458] In which respects, popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, professed poverty, and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself.[459]

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