Biblical Truth and the Anglican Church

Pilate asks Christ, "What is Truth"? This is a question that world has asked ever since. A member of the United States senate, once said: "Every Man and every Women has a right to their own opinion,but no one has a right to their own truth". But within this is a paradox. For all opinions are expressed with a view, that what is being expressed IS the truth.

When we deal with scripture, we enter a new realm, a realm of the Revelation. In a word, the "revealed" word of God. But the Ambiguous statement of: "God revealed Scripture" is in line with: "In my office my desk is brown". This is only true, if in fact my desk is actually brown. But the difference with God, is that Scripture can only be revealed by God, if in fact, God did exist! Then brings us to the second point. If God "Did" exist, the question is when? If we are given an actual date, then the revelation can only be associated with that actual period of time; not before or after!

With Biblical truth; this association means that when the New Testament talks of Jesus being alive or a statement such as "He lives in Us"; he is assumption that we are dealing the present tense; therefore, making a statement of "now" and so link the truth of the existence of God as continual existence since the beginning of time, make the Deity of God present.

Wittgenstein came to the conclusion that in the Philosophy of Mathematics, that "proof' is numeric is found in the statement of "2+2=4", but this can only asserted thought the "proof" of 2 being 2, and not 3. For should 2 being 3 then subjective truth that it represents is ambivalent to the point of directing to a lie in itself. As a result, that when Biblical truths are claimed, it is a basis of what is stated is in fact "True"! Anglican truth is based upon the fundamentals of scriptural Anglican historical orthodoxy: "I believe in God the father, the father Almighty, the maker of Heaven and earth". First of all, the Heaven and Earth must be an existence of creation; without this, this statement cannot be true. The second point of the truth is that the creator was God himself. Failure is this nullifies the first!
As we follow the further statements of the Creeds, leads us to:"Christ was crucified by Pilate, Died and was buried,on the third day he rose again". While this part is assisted by historians coming to the rescue that Jesus was put on trial by Pilate and was handed over for crucifixion, and as a result did actually die, there is only one historical document that makes the statement of Jesus rising from the dead. One again, we ask "What is truth"? If he did rise, then he is truth in its fullest statement, but if this is based upon grammatical definition of "He has Risen", then truth is put in the context of what is the difference between risen and actually being brought back back to life?
But who stand on the corner stone of Anglican Orthodoxy, this statement is true. For the truth is from a position of faith, a faith in God, a God that allowed Penal substitution of his only begotten son, Jesus Christ to suffer for "our" sins ,and it is not only He that Lives, but us who lives in him. This is the eventual and total objective truth of the Anglican church ,as well as others who hold onto the fundamentals of the Christian faith.

Maundy Thursday

Maudy Thursday is the day in the life of the Church that commemorates the last Supper, before Jesus is arrested, put on trial and finally crucified.
Regardless of Denomination, this day is celebrated throughout the world in practically every church. While the traditions of Easter are seen as something that is emphasied by both the Roman Catholic church as well as the Anglo-Catholic wing of the Anglican/Episcopalian church. But slowly non-conformists are seeing a possitive affect of including this as part of their worship throughout HolyWeek.
This being the case, why then is there such a problem of churches coming together for this very significant day this week? In many Dioceses, there are numerous churches, yet they cannot celebrate together.Since when have Evangelical Anglicans & Anglo-Catholic Anglicans not recognised each other's priesthood? When did the Pope inform the Roman Catholic Bishops to not come to agreement because a parish may emphasise a more "contemporary" style?
As for Lutherans, Methodists, Congrgationalists & Presbyterians as well as Baptists; many of these have shared ministries together, even shared Seminaries/Theological Colleges, yet on Maundy Thursday, they treat each other as total strangers! This is the just the start, as it proceeds to get worse on "Good Friday", "Easter Eve" and finally "Easter Sunday". Is this the example of the "Body of Christ" that the Church is to represent? As Easter begins to see a rapid increase of 30-70% in church attendence, are we not loosing that great evangelstic opportunity as we show "The World" that we cannot come together, a view that is dangerous especially as it hits the eyes and ears of the Unchurched who are not looking for a well prepared sermon on the fundamentals of Christian Doctrine, but the reality of the Risen Christ and how having Christ in their lives will improve in this already evil world.

St.Patrick 2008

Like every year, this year's St. patrick's day was a focus of parties & late-night drinking in every Pub, Bar & Nightclub. In addition numerous "Irish Fayres" taking place around the world, especially outside of the Republic of Ireland & Northern Ireland. While the parade of New York is world famous, lesser ones exist throughout the world, where on 17th of march, everyone is Irish!
But surprisingly, by the time this welshman(Yes, Saint Patrick came from South West Wales) was taken captive as a slave in the year 509AD, drinking was not something he was so excited about. But as we follow the course of events in his life, things begin to sound familar. Following his escape, he makes his way to Wexford where boards a ship to Gaul, which eventually heads for Southern Spain. During this time, a great storm begins to occur, when Patrick is fast asleep between. It is at this time, that the mariners & the captain start to blame Patrick for their suffering. Following abandoning unwanted cargo & pray from Patrick, the storm stops!
In the first chapter of the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament, this same situation occurs & guess what, Southern Spain & Niverva is the same place!
Fact or Fiction, Irish Legend or Myth; who knows, but certainly very similar!
But the point is, not about the truth, but Patrick seeking the help of God in Prayer, to be in relationship with God in Christ through the understanding of Scripture and prayer. To follow Christ: "And it is no longer I who lives, but it is Christ who lives in me" (Galatians 2:19)

For All The Saints

While many of us have sung these words to this well known Hymn, it is one very important saint that we remember: Dewi Sant himself;Saint David of Wales.It has always been remarkable to me how throughout the world, there are those with heritage of being:Irish, Scottish, English and Welsh have failed to allow their patrons day develop. St.Patrick's day has continued to grow, particularly in America where there are large numbers of "Irish Americans", especially in New York & Boston, yet the Welsh have not had the same degree of success. After all, when was the last time you saw a card declaring: "Happy Saint David's Day" outside of Wales; in my experience never. Why? After all even St.Patrick was born in Wales!

Today is the day that is important to all those who declare themselves welsh. In the principality itself, it celebrated with vigour, from the growing parade in Cardiff, to the Restaurants who are over-booked with groups wanting to add something special. Had this been a weekday, numerous employees throughout wales, along with college, university & school students would have enjoyed an official holiday for the first time.

The culture of Wales through music, through Literature as well language and Religion along with its history is something that needs to be encouraged and strengthened. Many churches in all Denominations continue to worship in welsh, yet the numbers are in decline. The welsh language television station: S4C has been playing a leading role in developing understanding of welsh and school children are generally encouraged to become bilingual.

So who was this saint? Not everyone accepts with comfort the title of saint, despite recognising that Dewi well deserves the title. The Roman Catholic church for centuries have had a very elaborate system of selecting their saints, while the Anglican church continues to recognise many, along with the Lutheran church do not actually create saints. This is being the case, while do all the Free Churches accept this? In theory they do not, they accept the holiness of Dewi instead, which is an example of Christian holiness that we are to work on ourselves.

He was typical of his age, that as a monk, later prior of this group of Celtic monks banned any liquid other than water; later to be referred to as: David the Water Drinker. His Stoic lifestyle was enforced upon his monks. The location of the monastery is where the Cathedral of St. David's stands today!

Very little is kept of his writings or his sermons, but a few are in existence, which shown him as a fine preacher than any welshman would be proud of. But it was not this that made the man himself, but the miracles are supposed to have happened during these times. While not all accept these as true or believable, he has continued today as the Representative of everything welsh.

But are we not all saints? According to Paul's letters we are! But what does it mean to be saintly? pure? perfect? No! It means to show the virtues of saintliness or in other words holiness.To life an exemplified life of seeking the Christian truth through the understanding of Jesus Christ as your Lord and saviour; to recognise the substitution that took place upon the cross for you. To seek what is right in life. To put God as the centre of your life. To seek to do everything in the Lord's name. To adhere to his truth as it is found in scripture.

Now are you a saint? Maybe But this is a calling of virtue. Not Priests and ministers are called to it, or monks or Nuns, sometimes it is more a calling for the Laity, for to fulfil this while in "The World", but trying not to be of "The World" is a true act of holiness; therefore putting you alongside with all the saints. So for all the Saints: "Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus"