Happy Reformation Day?

Ever since that fateful day on October 31, 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of All Saint's Church in Wittenburg, protestants celebrate today as Reformation Day. Next year will mark 500 years of the protestant church. However, as I sit here on my couch reflecting the current divisions within the church, I'm sad. The "one holy, catholic and apostolic church" that we confess to believe in the Nicene Creed is anything but "one" -- she's deeply divided.

Baptism Saves?

Several months ago my wife and I took a few children from our church to the zoo. The youngest of the bunch (3 years old) kept asking the same question for every animal we looked at: "what does it do?" When we saw the bears, he asked, "what does a bear do?" When we looked at the reptiles, he had to know, "what does an iguana do?" We often ask the same question regarding baptism: what does baptism do? Does it change my relationship with God?

Imago Dei: Incarnation as the Means of Restoration

 What does it mean to be human? This question has been asked by different people throughout history. The Psalmist rightly frames the question within the context of God’s order. He asks, “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4). Because humanity draws its significance from God, humanity finds significance within God’s narrative.

Reflection on Morning Prayer: Our Standing Before God

Following the 1928 prayer book, the Old Testament lesson for morning prayer is taken from Ezekiel 2. In the first chapter, God reveals himself to Ezekiel. God, riding a great fiery chariot, is accompanied by four creatures with four different faces. Terrified by this sight, Ezekiel falls on his face. Ezekiel could not take his stand before God. This is a lesson for us. Because we have no right standing before almighty God, the only response we can have when we are presented with God's glory is to fall on our face.

Here Be Dragons!

Cartographers from ancient days would often include the warning "here be dragons" in their maps. These warnings represented parts of the sea that were yet to be conquered; the parts of the sea that remained mysterious. If you were a ship's captain in the ancient days, this warning served to keep you from venturing too far into the deep unknown. You never knew what you might find. You might come across dragons.

Your Body Is Important

One of the most remarkable changes that happened  to me over the past few years took place in the context of worship. I began attending an Anglican church. This was much more than a change in the types of churches and styles of worship with which I had previously been involved; it was radical change in worldview.

Her-meneutics: A Brief Look at Women's Ordination

Much of the current discussion of women’s ordination stems from the idea that if a woman cannot do what a man can do, then she is somehow unequal to a man. If this train of thought continues, masculinism wins the day. Those who espouse this view want to conform both sexes to the standards of maleness — women are only equal to men in so far as they can do what a man can do.