The Reformed Tradition vs. Roman Catholicism & Eastern Orthodoxy

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.

4 Reasons I Affirm Paedocommunion

If you have interacted with me on social media, you know that I have always been outspoken on the issue of Paedocommunion . It is a theological position and a liturgical practice about which I am passionate. Having been raised, and having raised my children, at the Table, I cannot imagine attending a church that didn't allow PC. I hope that when I am old and gray, I will still be an advocate for bringing little children to the Sacrament. Throughout the 12 years that I have had this blog, I have written scattered thoughts on the topic, but it appears that I have never written a concise summary of my reasons for affirming PC. I was thoroughly convinced that I had, but I can't seem to locate it, so I guess I never did. So, to rectify the omission, here are four reasons I hold to PC. 1) Paedocommunion is Biblical. Any discussion of the topic should start here, and I would hope that both sides of the debate would make this assertion. However, l...

1 Corinthians, the Covenant Hermeneutic, & Paedocommunion

As an adherent to Paedocommunion (hereafter PC), I have always found it painfully ironic that Credocommunionists use 1 Corinthians 11 to withhold children (among others) from the Table. One can imagine St. Paul shaking his head as he watches theologians using his discussion of unity at the Table to divide the body at the Table. You're missing the point! he would say in exasperation. Not only does 1 Corinthians 11 not forbid PC; I would go so far as to say that there is no better defense of PC in the New Testament than the epistle of 1 Corinthians. Credocommunionist logic is pretty straightforward. 1 Corinthians 11:28 says, "Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup." If, they argue, one is unable to fulfill the exhortation to examine himself, then he may not eat of the bread and drink of the cup. This is a pretty logical deduction, right? Credobaptists would adamantly agree. Acts 2:38 says, "Repe...

The Real Presence & Paedocommunion: A Deeper Rift Between Reformed Churches

You're going back to Rome! Theological disagreements within the Reformed world, especially those of the last half century, often devolve into these sorts of accusations. As controversialists like Doug Wilson and Peter Leithart began to break away from the larger conservative Presbyterian and Reformed denominations, it became clear that the rift was deeper than semantics and systematic minutiae. Much like the Reformation four centuries before, the Table was a primary point of conflict. What does it mean? Who may partake? What do we call it? These questions, along with a few more, divided Reformed brethren as the physical elements of our religion reflected deeper conflicts. Good men began to understand that the problem wasn't just in our logos, but in our pathos and ethos, as well. Paedocommunion (hereafter PC) has been one of the hottest points of contention. PC has always been normal to me as I grew up with it. I underst...

Always Reforming

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