TLDR: In the last two blogs the vision of Saint Dunstan’s was described as grounded in gratitude and revealed in prayer. Today, we will see how this vision is lived out in faith. Please read on for more.
The vision “to unite all people in the love of God” is an ambitious, almost impossible, aspirational goal. After all, unity is not easy to define. There are churches that demand certain things as conditions to membership: adherence to a set of beliefs, a uniformed way of acting, a predetermined percentage of income given to the church, and even a similar dress code. In the Episcopal Church we have always been weary of confessionalism, precisely because we allow reason as a source of authority. What this means is that folks are free to think and to question matters of doctrine. Unity for us is not found in uniformity. The late Robin Williams used to say that when you gather ten Episcopalians in a room, you often have at least twenty different theological positions. In many ways, this is true. Unity is not found in a common set of behaviors, or a standard requirement for stewardship, or an agreed-upon dress code.
The mantra “unity in essentials and freedom in all else” aptly describes our denomination. These essentials were defined by the Reverend William Reed Huntington in 1870 in a document that has come to be known as “The Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral,” later adopted by the whole American Episcopal Church in 1888. Simply stated, there are only four (non-negotiable) distinctives to our Anglican identity: 1. The Holy Scriptures, which contain all things necessary for salvation. 2. The ancient Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds, which are the sufficient statements of the Christian faith. 3. The celebration of the Scripture-mandated sacraments of baptism and holy communion (we also celebrate the other historical sacramental actions of confirmation, matrimony, orders, penance, and holy unction, but only baptism and communion are mandated for unity.) 4. The historic episcopate, locally adapted. To summarize, to consider myself an Episcopalian I must be able to accept the Bible, the Creeds, the Sacraments, and the leadership of Bishops. Everything else is negotiable.
Beyond these four non-negotiables, our faith in a benevolent God, who calls us into common mission, unites us as Christians. We work to unite all in the love of God, precisely because we know that in God there is no longer male or female, Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, Roman Catholic or Protestant. We know that outside of God’s grace we have little to no power to lead lives that honor God. This is exactly the role of faith: Faith begins when human ability fails. Life begins and ends in mystery and faith is the only compass for those who trust in God. Our human knowledge is ephemeral, our accomplishments are only shortly lived, our certainty is fragile, and our self-reliance can only do so much for us. We need help, both as individuals and as a church. And our help “comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2).
Our life is lived under the wings of God’s protective embrace. We know that God provides for our Church in ways we can’t either believe or imagine. I have been a witness and beneficiary of God’s abundant grace, and I have seen God bless this church with miracle after miracle over the last five years. I feel honored and humbled by God’s generosity. But I am also keenly aware that God’s blessings have a purpose: That we may be a blessing to others. Our faith in a benevolent God has ethical expectations for how we lead our lives. Because we have been so loved, we have no choice but to show the fruits of our faith in everything we do. These fruits are generosity, service, love, advocacy, and deep concern for the needs of others. Our faith in a loving God demands action that goes beyond the walls of our sanctuary.
Sadly, we live in scary times and compassion seems to be in short supply. The Church is a community in the love of the Lord and faith gives us the power to be human in inhumane times. Faith gives us the light we need to walk in darkness. Faith gives us the courage to proclaim the Gospel of salvation even to the ends of the world. Faith gives us the compassion we need to reach out in love within and beyond our circles of influence.
Sadly, fear often drives us away from God’s plan for our lives. Fear of scarcity, fear of the other, fear of the future, fear of death. These fears often call us to self-protective egotism and selfishness. We circle the wagons and build walls of separation from others. On Sunday, Luke Claman (one of our young people who was invited to do a reflection in lieu of our sermon) reminded us of that beautiful verse from Isaiah 43:1, “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Luke said, “When God says, ‘you are mine’ He is declaring a love that nothing can shake, no storm can shake. In that embrace, you find strength, not because of what’s around you, but because of who’s with you; and that is God the Father, in every step of our lives.”[1] Faith in God’s benevolence in his Son, Jesus the Messiah, is the only antidote to fear.
Our vision is lived out in faith, which is the only real currency of the Christian. And because of this faith, we reach out in love to others within and outside the membership rolls. We act in generosity, root our lives in prayer, and lead faithful lives that are dependent on God’s provision for the viability of our ministries and programs. It is all about God, and our corporate faith shows this to the world.
May you have a holy Lent and may God’s blessings fall on you and yours this season. Amen!
Fr. Roman+
[1] For more on Luke’s reflection, please go to https://saintdunstans.org/sermonvideos/
