My next piece on Communion Without Baptism is up at the Cafe. I doubt there wil be many surprises there for those who have been following the current discussions.
My next piece on Communion Without Baptism is up at the Cafe. I doubt there wil be many surprises there for those who have been following the current discussions.
Excellent piece, Derek.
I’ll be offering an addendum on Baptism soon. I just reread Stevenson’s “The Mystery of Baptism in the Anglican Tradition”, and for all I can tell, bls, Caelius, you, and I, all are not dissimilar from the directions taken by the Divines of the 16th century…whom Stevenson terms “Reformed Patristic”, each with our own emphasis, but within a paradigm that share an overall characteristic emphasis on Baptism as the Sacrament of being brought into the life of God, multiple imagery for Baptism (not just an emphasis on one image only as we have today with the Pauline image over emphasized), distinction between ordinary and extraordinary, moral-ascetical theology or concern for discipleship, and coherence with Eucharist and an overall way of life which is in Christ.
I can’t say I’m terribly surprised by that, *Christopher. The Caroline Divines have always had a special place in my heart–and head.
I’m looking forward to your piece on Baptism.
Me, too. This is actually a really fascinating topic and is illuminating so many others at the same time. I’m glad we’re talking about it.
Thank you for your beautiful and profound essay on Communion without Baptism. I think it is the best piece on the topic I have read. And it is not only theologically coherent and convincing, but also wonderfully stirring and encouraging in reminding us what true intimacy really is, and what God offers us who through Baptism become part of a covenanted community.
Absolutely awesome. Thank you.
Karen B.
Thank you for visiting and for your kind words, Karen B!
A splendid essay. I too am a student of the Caroline Divines. It took many centuries to restore an understanding of what we used to term “Eucharistic Sacrifice”, that the Eucharist is more about offering than receiving, more about ecclesial strengthening and “communion” than about personal refreshment. We seem to be going backwards, to an emphasis on the benefit to the believer (non-believer/searcher) than to a robust doctrine of the Eucharist.
All is driven by a sentimentalism which pervades our theology and practice.
Thanks, Fr. Clavier. As I commented there in response to another person, I hear quite often a distinction between the “theological” and the “pastoral”. This way of speaking seems to reduce theology from being who and what we are in the world to merely what we think. *Both* are theological…the question is whether we are as intentional about considering just *how* our pastoral practice is theological and whether it measures up with what we say we believe.
Dear Derek,
Greetings in Christ.
A nice pleasure to discover your blog via Daily Episcopalian.
We’ve posted an excerpt from your article (as well as links to your other posts on CWOB) on TitusOneNine today. Hopefully it will promote good discussion and reflection.
Here’s the link:
http://www.kendallharmon.net/t19/index.php/t19/article/4134/
Sorry not to do a real trackback. We’ve got trackbacks turned off on T19 for the time being.
“elfgirl” (one of the TitusOneNine blog administrators)
Thanks for the comment and for the link to me. I hope the article does promote thoughtful reflection on this issue.