#39 articles

We’ve had a look at what John Calvin has to say about desire (concupiscence).  It is worth widening out our look at the Reformed tradition.  The Westminister Confession The Westminster Confession’s 6th chapter is all about sin.  I note that in the version I’ve got in front of me, the term concupiscence doesn’t appear in the main text but only in a footnote where it is used in place of  “sinful…

The Articles of Religion :: Article Nine

That’s Article Nine of the Articles of Religion of the Anglican Church, read from the Book of Common Prayer of the Anglican Church of Canada, 1962. (My voice reading it.) Here’s the text: IX. OF ORIGINAL OR…

Me: -leading a Eucharistic procession-

39 Articles Ghost: "The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was not by Christ's ordinance reserved, carried about, lifted up, or worshiped!"

Nearby Altar Server: -angrily rings Sanctus bells in 39 articles ghost's direction-

39 Articles Ghost: BELLS! Good heavens!

-upon reading my theses' on Calvinism and predestination-

39 Articles Ghost: -rips my theses'- Thou cream-faced loon!

Me: Well, purgatory is certainly essential to the understanding of the salvation of souls who may not have...

39 Articles Ghost: "That -Romeish- doctrine concerning purgatory, pardons, worshiping and adoration, as well as teh images of relics and also invocations of saints, is a fond thing...

Me: Ah yes, I am quite fond of those things! :D

39 Articles Ghost: -death glare- VAINNNNNLY invented! And granted upon NO warranty of Scripture, but rather REPUGNANT to the Word of God!

Me: But you know, scripture isn't the only thing, we have reason and trad...

39 Articles Ghost: THOU ART AS LOATHSOME AS A TOAD!

Me: As we can see in the book of Second Maccabees....

39 Articles Ghost: "And the other books (as Hierome saith) the Church...doth not apply them to establish any doctrine!

Me: Who is Hierome?

39 Articles Ghost: The Sainte and Godlye Jerome, of course.

Me: Oh, him. He was quite Vul-ger.

39 Articles Ghost: We are not amused.

Me: -In a hospital- Oh hello Johnny, I heard you got your appendix taken out. I'm here to administer the sacrament of heal...

39 Articles Ghost: -dramatically opens hospital curtain- AWAY WITH YE PAPIST PRIEST! AWAY from this innocent and pure PROTESTANT child!

Johnny: Fr. Brown, what's going on here?

Me: Oh nothing Johnny, it's just your anesthesia wearing off, pay it no mind. I will continue now with the sacrament of...

39 Articles Ghost: "There are TWO sacraments of Christ our Lor din the gospel--Baptism and the Lord's Supper!"

Me: Yes but tradition...

39 Articles Ghost: Those five commonly called...-insert condescending tone here- "Sacraments" are not to be counted as Sacraments of the Gospel! They are the result of the corrupt following the Apostles as they have no visible sign or ceremony ordained by God!

Me: But even the Scriptures order us to anoint the sick with oil and...

39 Articles Ghost: THERE'S NO MORE FAITH IN THEE THAN IN A STEWED PRUNE!

Johnny: Father Brown, I want them to put me back to sleep for a bit.

Me: No worries Johnny, he's going to hunt down some Jesuits in a minute and be gone from here, and we can continue.

39 Articles Ghost: JESUITS!? WHERE! -runs away- TREASSONNN!

-My congregation kneels in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in a beautiful side chapel-

-Enter 39 articles ghost, disgusted at the images and saints on the wall-

39 Articles Ghost: -loudly interrupting- "THE SACRAMENTS WERE NOT ORDAINED OF CHRIST to be gazed upon, or to be carried about! They that do so purchase themselves to DAMNATION!

Pious old woman: -Gently whaps 39 articles ghost with her cane-

-during Eucharistic prayer-

Me: That it may become for us the Body and Blood of Christ

39 Articles Ghost (drowned out by Sanctus bells): "Transubstantiation can not be proved by Holy Writ, and is repugnant to the plain words of Scripture!"

-Administering communion to 39 articles Ghost-

Me: The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

39 Articles Ghost: The cup of the Lord is not to be denied to the lay people! Both parts ought to be ministered to all Christian men alike!

Me: The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation

39 Articles Ghost: Wait, you agree with me here?

Me: Of course! The cup of salvation is for all men...and -women.

39 Articles Ghost: Hrrumph. Well, I don't like your vestments...garments of Satan!

Me: Garments of satin, actually. Hail satin!

39 Articles Ghost: Bishops, Priests, and Deacons are not commanded by God's law to abstain from marriage. It is therefore lawful for them to marry to better their Godliness!

Me: I quite agree! Have you met my husband Skipper?

39 Articles Ghost: -gasps in horror- You, minion, are too saucy!

Me: Alright 39 articles ghost, a lot has changed since Elizabeth the first was queen. The Church has been ruled by a lot more queens since then, and we aren't going to take your Calvinism anymore.

39 Articles Ghost: Hrrrumph! You are repugnant to the word of scripture!

Me: Your theology is generally repugnant and has no warranty in reason!

39 Articles Ghost: Hrrrumph. I'm going to go haunt someone cool now. Someone like...Mark Driscoll

That’s Article Five of the Articles of Religion of the Anglican Church, read from the Book of Common Prayer of the Anglican Church of Canada, 1962. (My voice reading it.)

Here’s the text:

V. OF THE HOLY GHOST. THE Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father…

I tend to agree with you. Although I don’t know if they should be defrocked. BUT while the laity should be free to explore belief, I do think the ordained should pretty much hold to creedal orthodoxy(which still provides a lot of leeway IMO).

There are so many things you can have variance on even staying within the restrictions of the 39 Articles!

It's why I've got books about Christian mysticism and don't think that's an oxymoron. And why I think it makes sense that there are people who are hermits but live in the middle of cities or are married or live in faith communities.

But anyone who writes books that deny that Jesus is God should be defrocked and no longer hold their position within the Church.

Because that's kind of central to Christianity and part of the 39 Articles, which kind of DEFINE Anglicanism.

So, yah.