I just read in a thread at Jake's place that Grace, an evangelical who persistently yet charitably debates with the liberal crowd there and at OCICBW (maybe other spots as well), is being attacked at Viagraville, being denounced as a heretic. While I disagree with her more often than not, she has never been ungracious, unloving, or intentionally hurtful. MP squabbles with her vociferously. Sometimes she makes me want to scream. Yet she comes from a loving place which tells me we disagree but are not ultimately on opposite sides.For her courage in trying to bridge a gap that most write off as unbridgeable, for her persistence when rebuffed and her loving desire to denounce no one, I salute Grace. She still comes from positions that I can no longer acknowledge but I am grieved that she is being attacked by those vicious twits (that was a rather mild term and I will let it stand). May Christ uphold all who, with charity and good will, seek to maintain communication among those who find themselves alienated from one another or hostile toward one another.
Grace, may God fill and surround you with peace, joy, and love in this difficult time.
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
--the BB
10 comments:
bless you.
Yes, and God bless Grace.
Oh. It's Grace they're picking on? That's really inexcusable; I thought they were doing MP.
I agree with your assessment, Paul; Grace has ticked me off (I was a little quick to take offense) and I rarely agree with her opinions without serious qualification, but she is patient, kind, and hopeful: not insignificant virtues.
Off/ topic, Paul, but http://dontwantadamnedblog.blogspot.com
Oh my- what is happening? I wrote about the topic of declining discourse last week. Then Matty (who is a long term friend of Padre Mickey and a fellow flag collecting blogger) wrote about it yesterday.
Prayers of light and peace be upon Grace and may this madness cease!
I read the Viagraville attacks on Grace and her responses. The thing is, she is correct; the definition of "orthodoxy" for centuries has been "adherence and acceptance of the Nicene Creed." They've decided that the Creed isn't enough and that one must believe all manner of stuff which they believe.
Grace tends to be a bit too Evangelical Protestant for my tastes, but she is correct; the Nicene Creed has been and should remain the standard for orthodoxy.
Thanks, Mickey. I just couldn't bring myself to go over there.
Grace is on solid ground.
Many years ago I preached a whole summer series on the Nicene Creed at St Aidan's, San Francisco. Folks wrestle with it, complain about, etc. My position was "you may not believe it when I get through but you will understand it."
I also remember Guy Lytle saying, in a course on Angliican theology: "You aren't biblical literalists; why are you credal literalists?"
Those who insist on a proliferation of tests for orthodoxy are creating something new, not upholding tradition. I suspect they also think Jude 3 refers to Vincent of Lerins' idea of that which is believed everywhere, always, and by everyone. Unfortunately for Vincent, such a thing has never existed. Neither has one single faith entrusted to the saints for all time. Doesn't anyone read Church history anymore?
Oh, thta's right. They only read "approved" texts. The marriage of Stalinism and Anglicanism is not pretty. I would exercise my canonical right to refuse to solemnize it.
Actually, Paul, I think it is more of the marriage of Maoism and Angicanism, just as we have seen the marriage of Maoism and Evangelical Protestantism recently.
These folks don't read Church History, and I doubt that the texts to which the author of Jude referred are on these Super-pure Angicans' list of approved texts.
Of course, those of us who studied with the Rev. Dr. William Countryman know that the epistle of Jude is all about sex with angels ;-)
Does he have any books or articles on that subject. Better yet, REALLY "graphic novels"?
I'm thinking movie deals again.
I believe L. Wm. knows that our imagination surpasses graphics. I know him as a friend, not a teacher, so never took classes with him. But I know a bit about how his mind works...
Of course, I daren't even consider how your mind, or Mickey's, might work. I'm polluted enough as it is without encouragement and bad examples.
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