One of the aspects of my journey to Anglicanism has been learning to view Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians as brothers in Christ. This is not to say that they don't have serious theological errors (don't worry--I'm not going back to Rome or Constantinople), but I do think we can learn from them and that we should respect them as brothers in Christ who hold to ancient Christian traditions. The Reformed tradition, of course, is novel by comparison, as much the Reformers claimed to be restoring seminal Christianity.
I know many Reformed believers who view Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy as non, or even anti, Christian. Having been raised Reformed Presbyterian, I certainly grew up with this impression. Reformed people generally desire to be as exclusive as possible. It's not their fault--it's in their blood. They have spent the past five centuries trying to maintain the truth as those around them have compromised.
My desire today, however, is to be as inclusive as possible. This doesn't mean that we sacrifice truth for unity, but it does mean that we define unifying truth by Biblical and Traditional boundaries. We must utterly reject those who cast off the ethical standards of the Scripture in an effort to be relevant, but, especially in an age dominated by so-called Progressive Christianity, we must unite with those who hold to traditional Christian dogma and ethics.
A thought occurred to me recently. How many Reformed folks would be unable to say the Nicene Creed sincerely, and yet, reject RCs and EOs as outside the pale of historic Christianity? They would themselves struggle to embrace the traditional standard of the Christian Faith, but would excommunicate the elder Christian traditions! It is conventional wisdom that, if you have a problem with everyone around you, you might actually be the problem. I humbly submit that Reformed believers need to consider that we might occasionally be the problem.
It's a shame that the legacy of the Reformation is one of continued splintering and schism. If we would truly honor the legacy and intentions of the Reformers, we must continue the Reformation and reclaim our Catholicity. To be truly Reformed is to be Catholic. We need to find a way to emphasize unity and universality without, of course, compromising the truth.
One of the first books I read when considering Anglicanism was The Anglican Way by Thomas McKenzie. It is far from perfect, but one of his emphases that stuck with me is how Anglicans view Anglicanism as one legitimate tradition among many. The Christian Faith has been present in the British Isles since the 1st Century, making Anglicanism a unique and ancient Tradition. It was brought under the purview of Rome in the 6th Century and participated in the Reformation in the 16th and 17th Centuries. Our tradition has a unique personality and a rich heritage of literature, art, music, and devotional expression. It is, perhaps more than any other tradition, both Reformed and Catholic. Still, it is one tradition among many, and no tradition is perfect. We recognize our limitations and understand that we can learn from all orthodox Christian traditions. I have found this mindset to be a blessing, and that I pray that my Reformed brethren are able to experience the peace and joy that comes with such Catholicity.
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