In the first installment of this series I discussed how the Eucharist is central to Anglican thought and worship. This second installment should naturally flow from and help to balance the first. As I explore Anglican theology and worship, I am enjoying their balance between Word and Sacrament. This balance is both hypothetical and practical, by which I simply mean that their theology intentionally strives for balance, and their worship actually accomplishes it.
Growing up as a Reformed Presbyterian, I was raised with an emphasis on the Word of God. The preaching, teaching, reading, and even singing, of the Bible was central to our Christian experience. The Reformed mindset revolves around Sola Scriptura--the other Solas all rely upon this one. As my perspective has broadened, I have retained this emphasis on the Scriptures. Even as I move towards a more traditional understanding of the Church, I am still firmly convicted that the Bible is the foundation for faith and practice. It has been a relief, then, to see that the Word is emphasized in Anglican theology, as well. Anglican documents, like the 39 Articles, the Book of Common Prayer, and various catechisms, are firmly grounded in the Word. Anglican worship, too, is absolutely replete with Scripture. From beginning to end the Eucharistic Liturgy either quotes or alludes to the Word of God. When I first met the rector of St. John's, he described Anglican worship as 85% direct quotes from Scripture and 15% allusions to Scripture. He wasn't lying.
Anglican recognize, however, that God has given us not only the written Word, but the visible Word, as well. That is, after all, what the sacraments are--the visible Word, the visible Gospel. Humanity learns and communicates through different means, and our Creator knows this. He gave us two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, which communicate the Gospel and convey grace as we utilize them faithfully. These sacraments are physical signs to which God has attached promises. When we observe this physical signs with our fellow believers, the triune God is present.
Beyond the two sacraments ordained by Jesus Christ, Anglicans recognize that other acts can be sacramental, as well. There are physical acts or rituals that have meaning when done in a spirit of faith. These sacramental acts have been passed on through the Church for generations and God has blessed them. Things like Confirmation, Marriage, and Extreme Unction, though not given by Christ as sacraments, are tangible opportunities God uses in the life of the Church to help us grow in our faith. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Protestants can argue about whether these additional practices are sacraments, sacramental acts, or blasphemous additions to God's Word, but the truth that we must all acknowledge is that we are physical creatures. We are not merely intellectual creatures, so our worship must not be a mere intellectual exercise. Our worship, which is such an integral part of our Christian expression, must be physical.
I think our culture has largely lost the beauty of the sacraments. We have lost the speechless drama of ritual acts. Many churches attach little significance to baptism and observe the Table monthly or even quarterly. Imagine if the pastor only preached a few times a year! In a post-Enlightenment world that has replaced mysticism with logic and literacy, sacrament and stained glass don't make sense anymore, but I think we suffer when we eschew the physical aspects of worship. Our faith is and must be intellectual, but it is more than that. If we would avail ourselves of the fullness of God's grace, we must strike a balance between the physical and the intellectual, the Word and the Sacrament.
I suppose it is natural to have an imbalance. Religion, like the rest of our lives, is a story of constant overreaction. In order to avoid the extremes or abuses of previous generations, we fly as far the other direction as humanly possible. The traditions that have descended from the Reformation (Presbyterian, Baptist, etc.) have rightly sought to avoid the spectator ritualism of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, but some have gone too far. Some churches are overly individualistic and emotional, while others are cold, dead, and speak only to the mind. Our theology, worship, and daily life should reflect that we are physical, spiritual, and intellectual creatures. Anglicans recognize that these different aspects of our persons intersect, so they seek to balance them in the life of the Church.
This is an issue on which one will find much variety within individual Christian traditions. I was raised with a good balance of Word and Sacrament, but I have found many Presbyterians who lack this balance. The same variety can be found amongst Anglicans. In fact, the variety is probably greater. For instance, as I have sought to find the Anglican view on the Presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper, I have found that there isn't really one to speak of. There are Anglo-Catholics who view it much the same as the Roman Catholics do, but there are also many who are Reformed in their understanding. One thing upon which they all agree, however, is that our Savior did not arbitrarily give His church physical signs. Our Creator and Redeemer gave us means of grace that are suited to our natures.
Growing up as a Reformed Presbyterian, I was raised with an emphasis on the Word of God. The preaching, teaching, reading, and even singing, of the Bible was central to our Christian experience. The Reformed mindset revolves around Sola Scriptura--the other Solas all rely upon this one. As my perspective has broadened, I have retained this emphasis on the Scriptures. Even as I move towards a more traditional understanding of the Church, I am still firmly convicted that the Bible is the foundation for faith and practice. It has been a relief, then, to see that the Word is emphasized in Anglican theology, as well. Anglican documents, like the 39 Articles, the Book of Common Prayer, and various catechisms, are firmly grounded in the Word. Anglican worship, too, is absolutely replete with Scripture. From beginning to end the Eucharistic Liturgy either quotes or alludes to the Word of God. When I first met the rector of St. John's, he described Anglican worship as 85% direct quotes from Scripture and 15% allusions to Scripture. He wasn't lying.
Anglican recognize, however, that God has given us not only the written Word, but the visible Word, as well. That is, after all, what the sacraments are--the visible Word, the visible Gospel. Humanity learns and communicates through different means, and our Creator knows this. He gave us two sacraments, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, which communicate the Gospel and convey grace as we utilize them faithfully. These sacraments are physical signs to which God has attached promises. When we observe this physical signs with our fellow believers, the triune God is present.
Beyond the two sacraments ordained by Jesus Christ, Anglicans recognize that other acts can be sacramental, as well. There are physical acts or rituals that have meaning when done in a spirit of faith. These sacramental acts have been passed on through the Church for generations and God has blessed them. Things like Confirmation, Marriage, and Extreme Unction, though not given by Christ as sacraments, are tangible opportunities God uses in the life of the Church to help us grow in our faith. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Protestants can argue about whether these additional practices are sacraments, sacramental acts, or blasphemous additions to God's Word, but the truth that we must all acknowledge is that we are physical creatures. We are not merely intellectual creatures, so our worship must not be a mere intellectual exercise. Our worship, which is such an integral part of our Christian expression, must be physical.
I think our culture has largely lost the beauty of the sacraments. We have lost the speechless drama of ritual acts. Many churches attach little significance to baptism and observe the Table monthly or even quarterly. Imagine if the pastor only preached a few times a year! In a post-Enlightenment world that has replaced mysticism with logic and literacy, sacrament and stained glass don't make sense anymore, but I think we suffer when we eschew the physical aspects of worship. Our faith is and must be intellectual, but it is more than that. If we would avail ourselves of the fullness of God's grace, we must strike a balance between the physical and the intellectual, the Word and the Sacrament.
I suppose it is natural to have an imbalance. Religion, like the rest of our lives, is a story of constant overreaction. In order to avoid the extremes or abuses of previous generations, we fly as far the other direction as humanly possible. The traditions that have descended from the Reformation (Presbyterian, Baptist, etc.) have rightly sought to avoid the spectator ritualism of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, but some have gone too far. Some churches are overly individualistic and emotional, while others are cold, dead, and speak only to the mind. Our theology, worship, and daily life should reflect that we are physical, spiritual, and intellectual creatures. Anglicans recognize that these different aspects of our persons intersect, so they seek to balance them in the life of the Church.
This is an issue on which one will find much variety within individual Christian traditions. I was raised with a good balance of Word and Sacrament, but I have found many Presbyterians who lack this balance. The same variety can be found amongst Anglicans. In fact, the variety is probably greater. For instance, as I have sought to find the Anglican view on the Presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper, I have found that there isn't really one to speak of. There are Anglo-Catholics who view it much the same as the Roman Catholics do, but there are also many who are Reformed in their understanding. One thing upon which they all agree, however, is that our Savior did not arbitrarily give His church physical signs. Our Creator and Redeemer gave us means of grace that are suited to our natures.
Comments
Post a Comment