Our friends in Reform are at it again – giving the press something to write about by denouncing the Archbishop as a prostitute; Kings College Chapel as a “Temple to Paganism”; and having the usual go at women Priests.
The problem as I see it, is not that this noisy minority go around saying this stuff, they are within their rights to spout whatever they wish, but that it seems to be taking over the headlines as anything outrageous which involves the Church of England makes entertaining copy. I’m also a member of the Church of England but I’m about as far removed from this line of thinking as I could be, and if these people are so unhappy within the Anglican church then why do they not leave.
The Church of England is made up of an incredibly diverse range of worship styles and theologies, and that is a good thing. However once one group claims they have a monopoly on being right, on speaking on behalf of God to everyone else, we will end up with division. With statements being made like the ones quoted in the article linked above I am coming to the belief that division wouldn’t be a bad thing. I do not want to be associated with these people (who I know don’t wish to be associated with those who hold the views that I do).
BigBulkyAnglican makes this point far more eloquently than I,
“… for the first time I feel quite relieved that some people are apparently seriously considering leaving. May God bless you, and may you find someone else to abuse in whatever form of Church you arrive at.”
One Comment
The surprising fact is that these people – the ones who try and bully others to their viewpoint by threatening to leave – never seem to learn from historical precedent. Like Cnut and the tides they will fail. But they will fail looking like dinosaurs if they are lucky, simple fools if not. (But yes, life would be easier if they went sooner rather than later.)
“ All truth passes through 3 stages:
First, it is ridiculed
Second, it is violently opposed
Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” Schopenhauer.