Jordan Cooper and the ACNA

I found this short video rather interesting. I have read some of Cooper's work and find him to be a compelling voice from a confessional Lutheran perspective. Were I not Episcopalian, an NALC congregation would be a viable alternative I would consider. Given his own commitment to orthodoxy, it's interesting to hear his take on the ACNA.

 

His whole problem with Anglicanism revolves around the disagreement over female priests, but he mislabels it as a doctrinal issue when really it's a church practice/procedure issue. Meanwhile there are plenty of disagreements between the various Lutheran synods, yet he's willing to overlook them.

Meh. Whatever.

 

He spent more time talking about things like the real presence in the eucharist, baptismal regeneration, and justification by faith. Surely those things should have rung a bell in light of recent discussions on this very Forum.

Imagine you have someone looking for something deeper than what the evangelical/charismatic churches offer, and this person narrows the options down to either Lutheran or Anglican, and is concerned about doctrinal clarity (after having escaped evangelicalism). The Lutheran says, “Don’t worry: we have defined Confessions that have stood the test of time for centuries, and have formed the basis of our theology and devotion throughout our history. It’s something you can trust.” When confronted with the same question, the Anglican says “Meh. Whatever.” To which church do you think such an inquirer will then go, and who could blame him?

Whatever our answer turns out to be, it cannot begin with the assumption that the lack of doctrinal unity in Anglicanism is a figment of Dr. Cooper’s imagination. It’s very real and is as much an impediment to growth as the schismatic mentality.

 

"Meh. Whatever" is my response to the video, not to Lutheranism. I have no problem with Lutherans and I have worshiped in a Lutheran church on occasion. But I'm not the least bit surprised to have my posts misinterpreted and distorted by the party at hand.

 

I never accused you of having a problem with Lutherans. I refuted your statement that:

I then followed up with the statement that a proper response to his video “cannot begin with the assumption that the lack of doctrinal unity in Anglicanism is a figment of Dr. Cooper’s imagination. It’s very real and is as much an impediment to growth as the schismatic mentality.”