If we want to understand grace, we should look at the conversion of Paul. Not because grace is always so dramatic as to convert a murderer on the Damascus Road, but because grace can be so dramatic as to convert a murderer on the Damascus Road. As Paul explains in his letter to the Galatians:…
How to Lent and Why: Questions for an Anglican Priest
Lent is about to kick us in the seats of our pants soon, when it darkens our foreheads, and then takes away our chocolates. Not to mention causing us to face our privilege by helping others and then making us read the Church Fathers in the original Latin or Greek. (I made that last part…
Confession of Sin: Things Left Undone
There is something in the Anglican service that really makes me uncomfortable. It is not something I encountered often before I experienced the classic Christian liturgy. At the Confession of Sin, we pray: Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, But…
Becoming a Mature Christian Is More Than Learning Information
Maturity in our Faith requires no secret or advanced knowledge. Yes, the gospel and the creeds are a great mystery that we can spend a lifetime pondering and studying. But, nonetheless, our Faith is public, knowable, and learnable. The catechism shows us exactly that, and its a wonderful way to learn. But the catechism itself teaches…
We Can’t Do it
In the 17th century, pastor and poet George Herbert wrote the book The Country Parson, one of the first manuals for pastors written in English. He starts his book by acknowledging that he feels inadequate: the way to please [God], is to feed my Flock diligently and faithfully, since our Savior has made that the…
