Charity Toward Other Christian Faith Practices

While moderating a recent thread Admin wrote,

"Historic and legitimate Anglican opinions will continue to be allowed free expression. Subjecting the faith to the opinions of the world is not something we dare presume to do. There will be a consultation on, perhaps, a more structured approach to comments about non-Anglican religions. The result will nevertheless incorporate a platform for traditional Anglican views as a matter of first importance."​

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I applaud forum leadership's willingness to give this matter consideration. I am Anglican, a confirmed member of The Episcopal Church. My religion, however, is Christian. I have many Christian brothers and sisters who believe and practice somewhat differently than me. They call themselves by different names. They are honorable people trying to be faithful according to their understanding, as am I.

It was Christ's will that His Church should be one. I pray that forum leadership will consider an amendment to the Terms of Service that allows disagreeing with other Christian faith practices while prohibiting speaking of their members or leaders in a derogatory or insulting fashion. Can we do this in the name of Christian brotherhood? (see signature line below).

 

As you know, I was quite shocked that a reference to the Pope as anti-Christ was not deleted, and that people are allowed to label mainstream Anglicans as heretics. Most intemperate. Certainly I disagree with the RC Church on, for example, contraception and papal infallibility, and on their erroneous views on Anglican orders. I disagree strongly with creationists. But I try not to be rude or defamatory.

Of course, you could say, "why only Christians?": being rude about Judaism can merge into anti-Semitism, and although I abhor various of the more extreme aspects of Islam, I would not like this forum to descend into Islamophobia.

 

Well, the Anglican Formularies label the Pope as Antichrist.

 

Where in the "formularies" does it say that the Pope is the Antichrist? And to which Pope does it refer? The one at the time of the writing? The current one? Any of them? All of them? Does that include Peter? Linus? Or does it start with a certain one? This is an especially bold claim, and I have never heard any Anglican make it before. I reject it outright.

 

My suggestion has been offered. It is one thing to reference "Anglican formularies say..." (although I, too, would like a citation or reference to add clarity to said formularies) or "The Anglican communion believes..." I think it is quite another thing for a member of this forum to cast aspersions on any other individual, especially a fellow Christian. My suggestion is to treat all fellow Christians with the same regard as we treat fellow Anglicans. It is not that hard really.

I suggest:

"No derogatory comments about fellow Christians​

There shall be no derogatory statements about the worldwide Anglicanism or the Church of England.​

There shall be no derogatory or disrespectful comments about the Archbishop of Canterbury.​

There shall be no derogatory or disrespectful comments about those of other Christian faith traditions.​

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Formularies aside, Jesus, the Head of the Church the Author of our Salvation said,

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7: 1-2 (NIV)​

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I may not know so much about Anglican formularies, but this much I know: The King of Kings trumps Anglican men or women, living or dead.

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A sampling of references from the Homilies:

 

Hackney, thank you for the references. My position stands.

Christianity appears to be facing an onslaught from the secular world and from other major religion that would like to see us assimilated into their faith. Let us be united in our faith and not turn on each other.

 

See Old Christendom's postings in "Good News from Wales". He sails pretty close to the wind in accusing mainstream Anglicans of "heresy".

 

I agree with that, and indeed, I started a thread examining this important topic. It is/was called "Why not Rome". You might find the final posting particularly interesting.

Incidentally there are various unpleasant RC forums which say very nasty things about Anglicanism. I would not want to descend to their levels. But reading them made me glad to be an Anglican.

 

Hmm. I was bemused to be called unorthodox and displeased to be accused of heresy.

 

Sad that a thread asking for charitable treatment of others has to be moderated due to lack of charity toward anyone, much less Anglicans.

I confess that I am beginning to question whether I wish to continue participating on this forum. I was invited here by a person who knew me from another Anglican forum. Recently I wondered what happened to him. I see he has not posted here in one year. I wonder why? This used to be a pretty classy place, but I think it has become characterized by a lack of respect and civility. How Christian is that?

 

I am sorry to hear all this, but I think (unfortunately) it is to be expected on the internet. I post occasionally on Orthodoxchristianity.net's forum, and frequently the posters there attack one another much worse than anything I have seen here. I have been very upset at times by the completely unchristian behavior I have seen there, and we (Orthodox) don't have many of the problems that the Anglican Communion has at present. It's all very sad.

 

Please don't leave. Certain posters would love to get rid of us, but it's people like you that make this forum classy.

 

I have been tempted to leave, and I have posted sparingly lately, due to being included in what one called "posters of hatred", an epithet hurled at those who uphold traditional Biblical morality. This is simply an example of the hypocrisy and hatred of leftist fundamentalists. I have been a target of both right-wing fundies and left-wing fundies.

 

I have not left. I have stood by silently for three weeks while Admin "consults." ("There will be a consultation on, perhaps, a more structured approach to comments about non-Anglican religions." ~Admin)

I continue to advocate that we can discuss differences in belief without belittling those who believe differently.

In the meantime, not to decide is to decide.

 

Agreed that genuine Anglican perspectives and viewpoints shall be respected. I've been rather sparing in my visits here due to being uncomfortable with mainstream Canadian Anglicanism being slammed, the denomination to which I belong, be disparaged. I have felt provoked to return it in kind, and thought it best to reduce visiting and posting because of the provocation into uncharitable dialogue. I think seeking.IAM is correct:

 

Yes, and the mainstream Anglican church which I belong to seems to get a lot of criticism too. And I seem to be getting a lot of stick for my mainstream CofE beliefs. But I stay on regardless.

 

You mean like when you compared me and those who believe as I do to segregationists, the KKK, and termed me/us "posters of hatred' for standing for traditional Biblical and Anglican morality? So, just who is provoking whom?

Just more examples of the "tolerant" left, I suppose.