Posted on: February 19th, 2008 The Episcopal Church & Discipline

Phil Turner in this article, which was also an article in First Things, rightly states:

The Episcopal sermon, at its most fulsome, begins with a statement to the effect that the incarnation is to be understood as merely a manifestation of divine love. From this starting point, several conclusions are drawn. The first is that God is love pure and simple. Thus, one is to see in Christ’s death no judgment upon the human condition. Rather, one is to see an affirmation of creation and the persons we are. The life and death of Jesus reveal the fact that God accepts and affirms us.”

Question: is it possible to fully affirm the historic church’s understanding of the trinity and the incarnation, and to love and embrace the eucharist and baptism, and still to think this way? If so, then what else is needed, in addition to these things, in order for the church to be healthy? My answer (and apparently Dr. Turner agrees, based on his article): church discipline, which rightly understood is included in the very nature of the sacraments of baptism and holy eucharist.

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One Response to “The Episcopal Church & Discipline”

  1. religiocity » Blog Archive » “Strange Ecclesiology,” Indeed Says:
    May 27th, 2009 at 10:08 am

    […] things). I do believe in something called “church discipline” (as I have posted on here) but this is quite different than breaking the unity of the church at a structural […]

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