While Traditional Anglicans have over the years tried to come to terms with the fact that many things within the theology of the Anglican Communion as well as many of the Continuing Anglican groups are compromise to faith, leaving a dicision of whether to stay or whether to go. Some choose Rome, others head towards one of the Orthodox churches, which is steadily growing.
But the polar opposite of this, is the questions those who prfer to definethemselves as Evangelicals. But what kind of Evangelical? For some, this gets the response of, "What"?? The term "High Church" or even "Catholic" can include a variety of groups. Evangelicals are the same.On the one hand we have those who sit firm within the Charamatic Evangelical camp, which tend to be a minority with most, yet when congregations profess this,they tend to be large in number.On the otherhand, there are those, whom the term "Low Church" is better description rather than being labeled with others.The third group are the "Liberal or Open Evangelicals", of whom the majority of Evangelical Bishops proudly sit.
Many of those Anglican Evangelicals share similar theology to their non-conformist Brethran.
So what makes them evangelical in the first place? Many become Christians by their upbringing into the faith, through parents, school, friends or a personal decision, but by "Being Born Again". By coming into a personal relationship with Our Lord and saviour. Many were non-Christian prior to this personal experience. They come to this example by declaring their faith to anyone who is willing to listen, many feeling that their calling is to save souls for Christ, sensing that all that do not having this living relationship with Jesus Christ are doomed and heading for Hell! The severity of this seems to depend on what actual flavour of Evangelical you actually are.
Secondly, you accept the Bible as the Word of God, infalliable or at least "Inspired", once again depending on your flavour. The central position of all seems to the centrality of Scripture, Sola Scriptura;therefore the tradition of the church are totally disregarded. Within this criteria goes as far as accepting the belief in "Believer's Baptism".
So why on the whole do they not feel that the Anglican Communion has become Apostate and give them a valid reason for joining one of the other mainline churches that tends to fit more into their theology? It is a question I ask myself often. Many of the Anglican Charamatics perform "Believer's Baptism", so why not join a baptist Church, so going as far as making the requirement for all Adults who choose to be baptised? Many fail never use any form of clerical dress, following the pattern of some Presbyterian and Baptist Churches, so why not join them? Others stand side by side on the actual theology of the Communion is no different from anyone else and fails to acknowledge the belief and practise of anyone conforming to the catholic wing of the church.
Knowing the decision that traditional Anglicans make and finally leave and go to Rome or Antioch, why not the Evangelicals? The Baptists would embrace them, as would the Presbyterians? In a word, Tradition; this is still important to any Trueblue Anglican. While much maybe disregarded and an emphasis put elsewhere and Rome may seem "Too Foreign" for them, Anglicanism still holds something that is dear to all that declare themselves Anglican.








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