Church & Ministry - Lesson 12

OUR CHURCH AND OTHERS

2003

LESSON TWELVE

I. The Protestant Episcopal Church

A. General Description

1. A part of world wide communion known as the Anglican Church.

2. Is extremely wide in character.

3. Has elements of:

a. Roman

b. Lutheran

c. Reformed

d. Greek Orthodox

4. Today basically made up of essentially two theological bodies:

a. Traditionalists: emphasize churchly activities.

b. Modernists: stress helping people.

B. General History

1. Church of England was part of the Western Latin Church (as opposed to the Eastern Greek Church).

2. During Reformation:

a. Western Latin Church in England originally went along with the Roman Party.

b. But, in 1532, began to break away.

c. Separation completed in 1559.

3. Separation from Rome – influences.

a. Wycliffe, John (1320-1384): opposed to Pope’s meddling in English affairs of state (and other anti-Roman activities).

b. Tyndale, William (ca 1494-1536): trans. New Testament and parts of Old Testament (strangled and burned near Brussels).

c. The Renaissance (began in Italy in 14^th century).

d. The Lutheran movement on the Continent.

e. Abuses of the papacy (particularly re: English state affairs).

4. Henry VIII.

a. Would have happened with or without him.

b. Remained Roman Catholic in belief to the end.

c. Desired to be supreme ruler in his own land.

d. Occasion was:

(1) Divorce from Catherine of Aragon.

(2) Marriage to Anne Boleyn.

e. Had two acts passed in Parliament.

(1) Act of the Submission of the Clergy (1532).

(2) Act in Restraint of Appeals (1533).

(3) Two Acts began the moving away.

f. Act of Supremacy (1534)

(1) Made Henry the head of the Church in England.

(2) Pope excommunicated Henry in 1534.

5. Subsequent events:

a. Break completed in 1559 when Elizabeth made supreme head of Church in England.

b. Under Edward VI.

(1) Book of Common Prayer drawn up (1549).

(2) Thirty Nine Articles (at first, were 42) adopted.

(3) Thus, real beginning of the Church of England as a separate body is 1549-1550.

c. Under Mary Tudor, Church of England went back to Rome.

d. Under Elizabeth, with renewal of Act of Supremacy in 1559, Church of England was established.

C. Confessional or Doctrinal Standards.

1. The Three Ecumenical Creeds.

2. The Book of Common Prayer (the most important confession).

3. The Thirty-nine Articles.

D. Basis for the Confessional Standards.

1. The Bible (39 Articles claim Bible as only source of teachings).

2. The authority of the Church.

3. Human Reason (is the interpreter of the Bible).

E. Main teachings

1. Central teaching very different to ascertain with the admixture (see IA3 above).

2. Traditionally:

a. The Low Church or Evangelicals make doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ’s atoning redemptive work is central teaching.

b. The High Church makes public worship the center (like Rome’s that through public worship receive from God certain graces with which man saves himself).

c. The Broad Church has the ethical teachings of Christ which if followed save, as the center.

3. Central teaching of:

a. 39 Articles is that a sinner is saved alone by God’s grace through faith in Christ.

b. Prayer Book is sanctifying one’s life through worship and good works.

4. Today, both the modern and traditional factions tend to embrace a modified high church position.

5. However, tendency towards intellectualism and higher criticism led to blurring of the chief article and its application to the sinner.

F. Important Teachings

1. Holy Trinity.

2. Man is inherently good.

3. Sin does not make man totally corrupt and depraved and wicked before God.

4. Christ’s Lordship and Rulership is the main emphasis.

G. Sacraments – Two major and five minor.

1. Baptism: through which sinners are brought into the Kingdom of God through the forgiveness of sins (initiation).

2. Holy Communion: is rather a sign and proof of forgiveness.

3. Minor Sacraments: (or “sacred rites”).

a. Absolution.

b. Ordination.

c. Confirmation.

d. Marriage.

e. Unction

H. Distinctive Characteristics

1. Latitudinarianism.

2. The Three Theological Parties (Low, High, and Broad Church).

3. Unifying principle of apostolic succession.

4. Unifying principle of “comprehensiveness”.

II. Union Churches

A. The Church’s Oneness (Discussion Points)

1. Jesus’ prayer: Jn 17:20,21.

2. Eph 4:4-6.

3. Jn 17:17.

4. Thus, Christian church found wherever:

a. The Gospel is preached, and

b. People as baptized in name of Triune God.

c. Mt 28:19.

d. Ac 10:34-35.

e. 1Co 1:12,13.

f. Gal 3:26,27.

5. Bible condemns heretical divisions and schisms in the church.

a. 1Co 1:10,11.

b. Rom 16:17.

6. Bible demands separation, however:

a. From such as create dissensions in opposition to Christian doctrine revealed in the Scriptures.

b. Ro 16:17 (again).

7. Ideal situation: Ac 2:42.

8. Christians strive for unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: Eph 4:3.

B. Unionism (Discussion Points)

1. God’s Word set against all false doctrine.

a. Mt 7:15.

b. Ac 20:29-30.

c. Gal 1:8,9.

d. 1Ti 6:3-5.

e. 2Ti 2:15-18; 4:1-5

f. Tit 3:10,11.

g. 1Jn 4:1.

h. 2Jn 9-11.

2. Church can not dare ignore false doctrine.

a. Rev 2:14-16.

b. Rev 2:20-23.

3. “Unionism” is religious fellowship which ignores the presence of false doctrine.

4. True church union must be based on unity of doctrine.

5. Where doctrinal unity achieved, we ought to practice Christian fellowship.

6. Union for “strength” without doctrinal unity ignores:

a. Eph 6:10-17.

b. Is 66:2.

C. Ecumenical Movement

D. Mergers of Churches, e.g.

1. The United Church of Christ.

a. Negotiations began in 1944.

b. Between:

(1) The General Council of Congregational and Christian Churches.

(2) The Evangelical and Reformed Church.

c. Merger effected in 1957.

2. The General Convention of Christian Churches.

3. The Moravian Church.

III. Noncreedal Churches

A. The Disciples and the Churches of Christ.

1. Largest noncreedal group in America.

2. Do not want to be classified as denominations.

3. Repudiate use of creeds.

4. Therefore, difficult to define their doctrinal position.

5. Trace back of revivalists, early 19^th century.

B. The Community Churches.

C. Seventh-day Adventists.

1. A noncreedal church with very distinctive doctrines.

2. Teach:

a. Man totally unconscious in death.

b. Wicked totally annihilated on Judgment Day.

c. Decalog is identical with the Moral Law, including the seventh-day Sabbath.

d. Baptism

(1) Not a means of grace.

(2) Must be by immersion.

(3) Infants must not be baptized.

e. Old Testament tithe is still binding.

f. Apply Old Testament laws re: pork, etc. still apply.

g. Lord’s Supper must be preceded by foot washing.

3. In general, are Arminian rather than Calvinistic.