Robin Jordan: ACNA Catechism (Pt. 4)

By Robin G. Jordan
In this eighth article in the series “The New ACNA Catechism – A Closer Look,” we continue our examination questions and answers in the section, Concerning the Sacraments, in Part II of Being a Christian; An Anglican Catechism. We will be taking a look at questions 116 - 119 and the answers to these four questions.

116. Are there other sacraments?

Other rites and institutions commonly called sacraments include confirmation, absolution, ordination, marriage, and anointing of the sick. These are sometimes called the sacraments of the Church.

In the answer to question 116 the authors of the new ACNA catechism make the claim that “confirmation, absolution, ordination, marriage, and anointing of the sick” are sacraments. In Principles of Theology: An Introduction to the Thirty-Nine Articles W. H. Griffith Thomas points out that the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, The Homily on Common Prayer and the Sacraments, and the Thirty-Nine Articles recognize only two sacraments—baptism and the Lord’s Supper. He goes on to write:

The Article speaks of five ordinances “commonly called Sacraments” which, however, “are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel”. These are said to have grown partly from corruptions of Apostolic ideas, and are partly states of life approved of in Scripture, but, nevertheless, are not to be called Sacraments. The word “allowed” means “approved” (probati), and not merely the modern idea of “permitted”. This clause was inserted in 1563, and was perhaps suggested by the Wurtemburg Confession.

The question is often raised whether it is permissible to speak of these ordinances in any sense as Sacraments. Sometimes a distinction is made between the two as “Sacraments of the Gospel” and these five as “Sacraments of the Church”. It is also urged that as the Article speaks of these five as “commonly called Sacraments” we may also use this term of them, even though they are not Sacraments of “like nature with Baptism and the Lord’s Supper”. Further, it is said that the Article is obscure because Confirmation is not a state of life, and if it is a “corrupt following of the Apostles” it ought not to be retained.

Let us consider, first, the phrase “commonly called,” which was used in 1563 as descriptive of the then usual name of these rites. The natural interpretation would seem to be that the phrase was employed for the purpose of correcting the error, and it is certainly noteworthy that wherever a similar phrase is found it indicates a current usage, and at the same time a recognition of inaccuracy. Thus, the Apostles’ Creed is “commonly called” so, and the Athanasian Confession is “commonly called”. Then, too, the Nativity of our Lord was “commonly called Christmas Day,” and Article XXXI describes certain statements about sacrifices and Masses, in which it was “commonly said,” etc. The natural and obvious meaning of such usage seems to be a discouragement of the application of the term “Sacraments” to these ordinances.

For the rest, see:
http://anglicansablaze.blogspot.com/2014/02/what-new-acna-catechism-teaches-about_22.html