Doing Politics the ECUSA Way
Have you seen the State Farm commercial where the blonde (why is it always a blonde?) avers that you can’t put anything on the internet that is not true? Well, here’s proof positive that such a statement is a bald faced lie.
Despite the tiny number of Episcopalians in America - 2 percent or so of the population—more presidents, senators, and Supreme Court justices have been Episcopalian than have been identified with any other religious affiliation. That suggests that maybe Episcopalians have some gifts for politics.
Last I checked the US population was 314 million give or take. 2% of that number would be approximately 6.3 million. ECUSA can’t even scrounge up a million people to attend services on any given Sunday. Even in its heyday, the numbers never got above the 4 million mark. The majority of the presidents who were Episcopalians, I dare say they would not even recognize the modern ECUSA. As in all things, we do need to consider the source.
Greg Garrett is the author of works of fiction, criticism, and theology, including Faithful Citizenship from Patheos Press. He is Professor of English at Baylor University, and a licensed lay preacher in the Episcopal Church
At least he admits to works of fiction.
Mr. Garrett goes on to talk about the political influence of the Episcopalians and even reminds us of how edumacated they are. They are so smart, they advocate the killing of the next generation of members and call it a blessing.
The main thrust of his argument is the need for compromise and he thinks Episcopalians can lead the way in this area. Well, finally something upon which we can agree. ECUSA is truly a master at compromise. They have compromised so much, it is not even in communion with the majority of Anglicans around the world. Mr. Garrett thinks we need to get over ourselves where social issues are concerned. Live and let live - more or less. He even pulls out that Jesus never talked about it line.
It’s the kind of practice that makes Catholic bishops decree that if you don’t follow the church’s teachings on birth control, abortion, or other social issues—none of which are creedal or talked about by Jesus—you are outside the Church.
This is where the liberalism in the church jumps right off the ledge. They claim the Bible as their foundation - except all those icky parts that disagree with their current whims and desires. And should you be adverse to chipping away at your spiritual foundation - well, aren’t you just a stick in the mud – not to mention a hater. No via media for you.
Just remember that the middle way no longer leaves room for the essentials if those essentials disagree with the current fad or want. Be it the yearning to justify a sexual urge or decision to murder a child so Mom fits into that really cool prom dress – that’s the middle way for the progressives. Putting it more succulently, the middle way has become the substitution of man’s word for God’s. Compromise? Sure if we are talking about the fair linen but arguing that God sanctions the murder of the most innocent among us is not compromise. It is sin. Arguing that God blesses what He clearly does not, is not compromise. It is a stumbling block we should seek to avoid and not tie around our necks.
Is doing politics the ECUSA way a good idea? Yeah, sure, if you are the mayor of Sodom or Gomorrah.
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16 comments
TEo is quintessential 21st century Americana. If you don’t agree, they sue you.
[1] Posted by Bill2 on 8-31-2012 at 06:05 PM · [top]
Personally I don’t think it worked out too well for Sodom or Gomorrah either…
Yours in Christ,
jacob
[2] Posted by Jacobsladder on 8-31-2012 at 06:07 PM · [top]
Maybe he slipped a decimal. 0.2% or 630K is about the ASA these days. I guess doing math isn’t his thing either.
[3] Posted by Bill2 on 8-31-2012 at 08:43 PM · [top]
We may have seen a different kind of politics displayed at the Republican Convention last week. Romney gave a speech which was not only inspiring but packed with information. Just in case anyone wants to read a transcript of his message it can be found here:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/transcript-mitt-romneys-remarks-17122227
The following comment, found at the bottom of page 4 of 7 might be of particular interest to Episcopalians:
“I had thought about asking my church’s pension fund to invest, but I didn’t. I figured it was bad enough that I might lose my investors’ money, but I didn’t want to go to hell too. Shows what I know. Another of my partners got the Episcopal Church pension fund to invest. Today there are a lot of happy retired priests who should thank him.”
[4] Posted by Betty See on 8-31-2012 at 11:27 PM · [top]
Greg Garrett may be good at fiction, but he’s obviously not so good at math.
[5] Posted by the virginian on 9-1-2012 at 02:51 PM · [top]
I wrote something more lengthy over at T19’s post about Greg Garrett, but I put something brief here. Several years ago, Garrett went through a major life crisis and I believe turned to liberal Episcopalianism then. He apparently has learned very well all that they told him at the Seminary of the Southwest including the modern sexuality zeitgeist. I will say this - if you come from a strict, fundamentalist faith background (which I believe Garrett may have originally), the “via media” tale spun by ECUSA is very beguiling. After fighting over everything, it sounds like you can quit fighting. Unfortunately, most of the readers on SF know better.
[6] Posted by Reformed Wanderer on 9-1-2012 at 09:17 PM · [top]
I think we should look not at WHAT is being said, but THAT it is being said. Why inflate numbers? Why try to assert that really, really, really important people come from this church. Really.
More of a revelation about the speaker and the institution he represents than about the “facts.”
Empty bragging, with no meaning in it.
Do these people *ever* think about God?
[7] Posted by JuliaMarks on 9-1-2012 at 09:30 PM · [top]
“Spinal Tap”
[8] Posted by Jeffersonian on 9-1-2012 at 10:33 PM · [top]
I think Jackie put it just about right. Via media between Catholic and Protestant is one thing. Via media between Christianity and pagan secularism is another. The neo-pagan mindset is easy to slouch into and TEo has done just that. The only Chrristianity one is likely to get in TEo is if someone actually uses the BCP anymore in their liturgy and you fall asleep or take a pit-stop during the sermon where you’re more likely to be chastised about using plastic grocery bags or the car you drive instead of sin.
[9] Posted by Bill2 on 9-2-2012 at 07:31 AM · [top]
“a licensed lay preacher in the Episcopal Church”- I never knew of such, and am doubtful of the need.
[10] Posted by via orthodoxy on 9-2-2012 at 01:38 PM · [top]
I met with a Southern presbyterian friend last week, who mentioned that when he and his wife were traveling recently, they were invited to go to an Episcopal church in New York. He said he couldn’t believe the disconnect between the prayer book service and the rest of what went on in the sermon, etc. which he said wasn’t even remotely Christian. He said it was obvious that the ears of the people there were deafened to the message of the Gospel, and they couldn’t even recognize it even though it was being read out loud in their church. Satan must be very proud of what he has done in this denomination.
[11] Posted by Jim the Puritan on 9-2-2012 at 02:46 PM · [top]
Re [10] I would guess that there is such a thing as a licensed lay preacher in some dioceses. My diocese had two licensed lay pastors (and therefore licensed lay preachers). There have been lay vicars and lay pastors who led missions, preaching and pretty much doing everything but consecrating at the Eucharist.
[12] Posted by Don+ on 9-2-2012 at 08:51 PM · [top]
Attended service Sunday at the Cadet Chapel at the Air Force Academy. Straight-from-the-Bible preaching. Awesome service, beautiful surroundings, incredible organ and organist.
SO GLAD to see they haven’t been corrupted by the progressives…was concerned with all the stuff going on in the military. Encouraged son, son’s girlfriend and surrogate son to attend there.
[13] Posted by B. Hunter on 9-4-2012 at 10:18 AM · [top]
What is a “licensed lay preacher” in the Episcopal Church? That’s a new one. Sounds like something Sydney might have, but then again, Sydney and TEC are hardly on the same page. Those who preach in Anglican chruches, at least in the west, are priests or deacons.
[14] Posted by evan miller on 9-4-2012 at 11:43 AM · [top]
My dad, a licensed lay reader, had special permission to read pre-written sermons when he led Morning Prayer in remote missions in Hawaii. That was 40 years ago. I doubt they even have missions in Hawaii anymore—they’ve mostly sold out to the Dark Side.
[15] Posted by Cindy T. in TX on 9-7-2012 at 04:01 PM · [top]
Here are the canonical provisions on lay preachers, under Title III:
[16] Posted by A. S. Haley on 9-8-2012 at 08:03 AM · [top]
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