The men of that region recognized him and sent out to all the country nearby and brought to him all those who were sick. They begged him that they might touch merely the tassels of his garment. And all those who touched it were healed (Matthew 14:35-36). Why would Gentiles in what is now Jordan…
Did Jesus Reject the Jewish law?
This article is part of a series on Jesus the Jewish Messiah by Gerald McDermott. Click here to view other articles in this series. I have not come to abolish but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17). In his 1526 lectures on Jonah, Martin Luther taught that Jesus attacked Judaism and โabolished the Law through His Holy…
The Apocrypha: A Rookie Anglican Guide
Many people coming into the Anglican tradition have been told that the Apocrypha is bad, that its books are pure mythology, or that they distract from the aim of Scripture. Yet, upon closer examination, there seems to be a place for the Apocrypha. The New Testament contains allusions to the Apocrypha, and these writings enjoyed…
Good Friday and the Language of Sacrifice
Shouldn’t it be called “Bad” Friday? Radical Sin, Radical Savior It was a horrible thing that we human beings killed our creator. He came to us in lowly form, as a poor baby in a manger. He taught, he healed, he preached, he loved, he forgave. And not in spite his grace and love, but…
Sacramental Theology
Sacramental theology emphasizes that God utilizes his creation to convey grace to humanity. During the Reformation and the period known as the โSettlement,โ the Church of England maintained the concept of the Sacred and the transmission of God’s grace through elements of creation. Today, sacramental theology is integral to Anglican thought and practice.
What do Anglicans Believe about Holy Baptism?
All Christians, not just Anglicans, should trust their baptism. If they believe that Baptism is something God does in and for us, not something we do. And that is exactly how the early Church and the Reformers saw this sacrament! God brings people to the water of baptism. He sends his Holy Spirit into their…
After Communion: A Rookie Anglican Guide to the Post-Communion Liturgies
What happens when a worshipper approaches God with faith in Christ through the liturgies of Word and Sacrament? What happens after we come by faith to receive Holy Communion? Anglicans believe that the worship experience has a transformative effect on the worshipper. The people of God change as they spend time together in the presence…
Infant Baptism: Why do Anglicans Baptize Babies?
Why baptize infants? The Anglican theme verse for children would have to be, โLet the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.โ Matthew 19.14 Starting very early in the life of the Christian Church, Christian children were seen as members of the covenant community…
How to Read Scripture
In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus pictures God investing in us. The investments are gifts of his grace that empower us to bear fruit for his kingdom. One of those great gifts we enjoy is the wide accessibility of the Bible in English, with high literacy rates, and the ability of pastors to be educated…