Cranmer's Curate: Collect Presupposes Penal Substition

http://cranmercurate.blogspot.com/2012/03/collect-presupposing-penal-substitution.html

Sunday, 18 March 2012

COLLECT PRESUPPOSING PENAL SUBSTITUTION

Is one's theory of the atonement influenced by one's psychological profile? That it tends to be was the claim Cranmer's Curate heard at a recent theological lecture here in Sheffield.

So if one is prone to low self-esteem and guilt feelings, then one leans towards the penal subsitutionary view, the idea that Christ's death on the Cross propitiated the wrath of God that would otherwise fall on guilty sinners.

If one is an activist with a sense of social duty, then one leans towards the exemplary view of the atonement, the idea that Christ exemplified self-sacrificial love by his death.

If one is an optimistic triumphalist type, then one leans towards the Christus Victor view as the dominant theory of atonement, the idea that Christ's death decisively defeated the forces of evil.

Given that Anglicanism holds Holy Scripture to be the supreme authority, then communicant Anglicans have a moral obligation to adjust their personality type to the truth that God has revealed rather than foisting their psychological profile on the atonement.

Which leaves communicants with a choice in relation to the Book of Common Prayer. Because the Prayer Book breathes the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement, either one must see its perspective as a reflection of Thomas Cranmer's psychological profile or one must decide that it is faithfully biblical.

Whilst the BCP holds that Christ did set an example in his death (see its Collect for the Sunday Next Before Easter) and also holds that he did defeat the forces of evil (a victory the BCP attaches more to his resurrection - see for example the Collect for Easter Day), the perspective in its Holy Communion service is that atonement is centrally about the fact that Christ's propitiatory sacrifice on the Cross has satisfied the just judgement of God upon sin.

Blogging off until after Easter, Cranmer's Curate leaves the youth group with the BCP Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, a prayer that presupposes penal substitution. It presents the reality of the divine wrath that the Lord Jesus averted from us by his propitiatory death:

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Archbishop of York's Statement on Anti-Gay Bill in Uganda

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=15631

Archbishop of York's Statement on Anti-Gay Bill in Uganda
From the Office of the Archbishop of York - Dr. John Sentamu http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/news.cfm/2012/2/24/ACNS5051
February 24, 2012

The Archbishop of York has today repeated his opposition to David Bahati MP's Private Members Bill in Uganda which seeks to prosecute gay people. The Archbishop previously issued a statement in 2009 when the Bill was first brought before the Ugandan Parliament.

The Archbishop said: "The Anglican Church in Uganda submitted its views on David Bahati's Private Member's Bill formally when it was first tabled, and made clear that they were not in favour of introducing a death penalty for homosexuality. I completely support that position.

"It is important that across the world we stand in solidarity with people, flesh of our flesh, who are being in many cases victimized or demonized because of their sexual orientation.

"The Dromantine Communiqué in 2005 issued by the Primates of the Anglican Communion said that we wish to make it clear that our discussion and assessment of moral appropriateness of specific behaviours would continue unreservedly to be committed to the pastoral support and care of homosexual people.

"The victimisation or diminishment of human beings whose affections happen to be ordered towards people of the same sex is an anathema. Homosexual people are children of God, loved and valued by Him and deserving the best we can give - pastoral care and friendship. That is where the Communion stands.

"Sadly, this particular high, extreme, sentencing already exists in Uganda in relation to other practices. For example, the penal code in cases of rape (what they call "aggravated sexuality") or if you have sex with a girl under the age of 18, you are liable to suffer the death penalty. As a matter of principle, I am totally opposed to the use of the death penalty in any instance.

"No-one should have to live under the threat of violence and death, or live in fear because of the bigotry of others. Such violence has been consistently condemned by the Anglican Communion worldwide, and by myself - particularly in the Primates of the Anglican Communion statement in Dublin in 2010 issued following the murder of former York resident David Kato in Uganda.

"Every person has the right to enjoy safety and security regardless of their beliefs or sexual orientation - we are all created in God's image and likeness. That image is in all of us and not just in some of us.

"We are all created by the God of love, and are of infinite worth in his sight. Homosexual people in Uganda deserve the best we can give in pastoral care and friendship, and I am quite sure that the response the Church of Uganda will make will have to take account of all these realities."

The Dromantine Communique from 2005 can be found here - http://www.anglicannetwork.ca/dromantine.htm

The Primates of the Anglican Communion Statement from 2010 can be found here - http://www.aco.org/communion/primates/resources/downloads/prim_davidkato.pdf