By ERIC GORSKI (AP)– 7 hours ago
The U.S. religious marketplace is extremely volatile, with nearly half of American adults leaving the faith tradition of their upbringing to either switch allegiances or abandon religious affiliation altogether, a new survey finds.
The study released Monday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life is unusual for it sheer scope, relying on interviews with more than 35,000 adults to document a diverse and dynamic U.S. religious population.
While much of the study confirms earlier findings — mainline Protestant churches are in decline, non-denominational churches are gaining and the ranks of the unaffiliated are growing — it also provides a deeper look behind those trends, and of smaller religious groups.
[Read the whole story here.]
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The Cross Exemplifies Every Virtue
"Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us? There was a great need, and it can be considered in a twofold way: in the first place, as a remedy for sin, and secondly, as an example of how to act.
"It is a remedy, for, in the face of all the evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through the passion of Christ. Yet, it is no less an example, for the passion of Christ completely suffices to fashion our lives. Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what he desired, for the cross exemplifies every virtue.
"If you seek the example of love: Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends. Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake.
"If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth. Therefore Christ’s patience on the cross was great. In patience let us run for the prize set before us, looking upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before him, bore his cross and despised the shame.
"If you seek an example of humility, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to die.
"If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. For just as by the disobedience of one man, namely, Adam, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous.
"If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink.
"Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because they divided my garments among themselves. Nor to honours, for he experienced harsh words and scourgings. Nor to greatness of rank, for weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head. Nor to anything delightful, for in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
— Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
"It is a remedy, for, in the face of all the evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through the passion of Christ. Yet, it is no less an example, for the passion of Christ completely suffices to fashion our lives. Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what he desired, for the cross exemplifies every virtue.
"If you seek the example of love: Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends. Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake.
"If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth. Therefore Christ’s patience on the cross was great. In patience let us run for the prize set before us, looking upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before him, bore his cross and despised the shame.
"If you seek an example of humility, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to die.
"If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. For just as by the disobedience of one man, namely, Adam, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous.
"If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink.
"Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because they divided my garments among themselves. Nor to honours, for he experienced harsh words and scourgings. Nor to greatness of rank, for weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head. Nor to anything delightful, for in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Canon Michael Green: "One + God = A Majority"
The Rev. Canon Michael Green, speaking at historic St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, reminds us of this important truth: "One plus God is a Majority."
Click here to listen by streaming audio.
Right click here and select "save target as" or "save link as" to download the mp3 file and save it to your computer.
Click here to listen by streaming audio.
Right click here and select "save target as" or "save link as" to download the mp3 file and save it to your computer.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Christian Revival in China Despite Persecution
The Bible is undoubtedly the best-selling book in history, translated into about 3,000 languages worldwide. One of the most popular is Mandarin Chinese, due to the burgeoning number of Christians, most of whom meet in house churches.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Revival in Wales
The story of Evan Roberts and the Revival that began in Wales, in 1904, and touched every continent.
May God pour out his Holy Spirit on the nations once again!
May God pour out his Holy Spirit on the nations once again!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
J. Edwin Orr - The Role of Prayer in Spiritual Awakening
Dr. J. Edwin Orr was a visiting professor when I was in seminary. He held doctorates from universities on three continents, including the D.Phil. from Oxford. He was a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary from 1966 to 1981 and continued to lecture around the world until his death in 1987. He devoted his life to documenting great spiritual awakenings in Christian history.
This video has a peculiar phenomenon in that Prof. Orr is wearing a red suit coat and is standing in front of a mostly red background. Despite this distraction, the video, which runs 26 minutes, is well worth viewing for anyone who cares what God has done and wants to do in revival.
Other videos by Professor Orr may be found at http://www.jedwinorr.com/video.htm
This video has a peculiar phenomenon in that Prof. Orr is wearing a red suit coat and is standing in front of a mostly red background. Despite this distraction, the video, which runs 26 minutes, is well worth viewing for anyone who cares what God has done and wants to do in revival.
Other videos by Professor Orr may be found at http://www.jedwinorr.com/video.htm
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Revivalism
From Wikipedia:
Revival in a Christian context generally refers to a specific period of spiritual renewal in the life of the Church. While elements such as mass conversions and perceived beneficial effects on the moral climate of a given culture may be involved, the key factor in revival is the restoration of the Church to a vital and fervent relationship with God after a period of decline. The word "Church" here refers to the body of believers in Christ as a whole and not to any particular group or denomination among them.
Monday, January 21, 2008
A New Beginning
In December 2004, I began a blog called To All the World. The title was taken from Mark 16:15, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." The focus of that blog was to be on the Christian world mission.
Over time, the concerns I have as an Anglican clergyman and Dean and President of an Episcopal seminary began to intrude on the focus of that blog, with the result that posts have often been as much about the controversies in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion as on the Christian world mission. The intrusions were not altogether off-topic. Controversies over matters of faith and morality that are affecting the Anglican Communion inevitably impinge on the Church's ability to fulfill Christ's Great Commission to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to make disciples of all nations.
All too often, however, blogs devoted to political battles succeed only in offering political solutions. However, the battles we face are spiritual battles as well.
These are just a few of the questions that some contemporary western church bodies consider to be up for debate—debates that, in some cases, will be resolved by political means. However, the questions are theological and profoundly spiritual. What is at stake in these battles is the soul of western (and perhaps even world) Christianity.
But even if these battles did not exist, the Church would still stand in the midst of an immense spiritual need. Indeed, there would not be so many debates about God, if there were a greater knowledge of God.
What is needed, then, is for the Church to know God in the authority of his Word and in the power of his Holy Spirit—to be renewed in the knowledge of God in whatever ways she has departed from him—and to be revived in her love for God in whatever ways that love has grown cold. Because we who make up the Church are fallen sinners, prone to wander as long as we are mortal, the continual need of the Church is, and always will be, for revival!
The purpose of this blog, then, will be to offer reflections and point to resources that further the revival of Christ's Church. My own tradition is Anglican, hence the title "Anglican Revivalist." It is an ancient and venerable part of Christ's Church, though it is not a perfect church. (I do not believe that any part of Christ's Church, being comprised, as it is, of fallen sinners, will be perfect this side of heaven.) But I believe that, when all is said and done, it will have proven to be as good a boat from which to fish as any.
Revival is not limited to only part of Christ's Church any more than the Holy Spirit is for only one part of Christ's Church or the Bible is for only one part of Christ's Church. So the resources presented here will not come from only one tradition or be presented for the benefit of only one part of Christ's Body. Rather, they will reflect the fulness of the Christian tradition in order that the whole Church, obedient to God's Word, filled with his Holy Spirit, might proclaim the whole Gospel to the whole creation. Soli Deo Gloria!
Over time, the concerns I have as an Anglican clergyman and Dean and President of an Episcopal seminary began to intrude on the focus of that blog, with the result that posts have often been as much about the controversies in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion as on the Christian world mission. The intrusions were not altogether off-topic. Controversies over matters of faith and morality that are affecting the Anglican Communion inevitably impinge on the Church's ability to fulfill Christ's Great Commission to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to make disciples of all nations.
All too often, however, blogs devoted to political battles succeed only in offering political solutions. However, the battles we face are spiritual battles as well.
- Is Jesus uniquely the Son of God?
- Is Jesus the only way to Heaven?
- Is the Bible divinely inspired, and what authority does it have?
These are just a few of the questions that some contemporary western church bodies consider to be up for debate—debates that, in some cases, will be resolved by political means. However, the questions are theological and profoundly spiritual. What is at stake in these battles is the soul of western (and perhaps even world) Christianity.
But even if these battles did not exist, the Church would still stand in the midst of an immense spiritual need. Indeed, there would not be so many debates about God, if there were a greater knowledge of God.
What is needed, then, is for the Church to know God in the authority of his Word and in the power of his Holy Spirit—to be renewed in the knowledge of God in whatever ways she has departed from him—and to be revived in her love for God in whatever ways that love has grown cold. Because we who make up the Church are fallen sinners, prone to wander as long as we are mortal, the continual need of the Church is, and always will be, for revival!
The purpose of this blog, then, will be to offer reflections and point to resources that further the revival of Christ's Church. My own tradition is Anglican, hence the title "Anglican Revivalist." It is an ancient and venerable part of Christ's Church, though it is not a perfect church. (I do not believe that any part of Christ's Church, being comprised, as it is, of fallen sinners, will be perfect this side of heaven.) But I believe that, when all is said and done, it will have proven to be as good a boat from which to fish as any.
Revival is not limited to only part of Christ's Church any more than the Holy Spirit is for only one part of Christ's Church or the Bible is for only one part of Christ's Church. So the resources presented here will not come from only one tradition or be presented for the benefit of only one part of Christ's Body. Rather, they will reflect the fulness of the Christian tradition in order that the whole Church, obedient to God's Word, filled with his Holy Spirit, might proclaim the whole Gospel to the whole creation. Soli Deo Gloria!
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