Calvinism VS. Common Prayer

 In Anglican Church circles today, as I suspect has been for some time; there is an ongoing debate as to the nature of the theology of provinces within the Anglican patrimony.  Some, like myself, tend more towards what might be called old-school Anglo-Catholicism; which others claim is a recent innovation.  Others tend more towards Calvinist theology; which the evangelicals in Anglicanism is the only "true" expression of the Anglican identity.  While I will not argue the value of churchmanship as part of theology, I have very good and solid friends on both sides of that spectrum who are theologically quite similar; it is worth noting that a principle cause for so many to claim Calvinism as Anglican has largely to do with an evangelical approach to the liturgy and church in general.  Being evangelical is not in and of itself a bad thing, nor does it denote an unnecessarily unfortunate tendency towards anarchy; however the notion of denying anything good about the Anglican Church's own patrimony and theology in favor of an imported theology from Calvin, would seem a note of oddity, considering how wrapped up in its cultural identity Anglicanism has historically been.  

In short, the theology imposed on his own followers by John Calvin is neither Anglican, nor is it truly representative of the reformed faith which our forefathers sought during the height of the reformation.  John Calvin's works express a form of universalism, which states that all men are predestined to either heaven or hell; and that no one may change that outcome imposed by God alone.  It may seem rather catchy to put God in such a position where he literally determines the outcome of our salvation before we are even born, yet this also places on God an undue and unjust theological heresy- suggesting that he is also the one who chooses our sins for us, since if we be damned we must thereby be sinners incapable of grace and forgiveness.  To say that God absolutely wills salvation of all regardless is no better; as it implies that God's justice and grace are as vain as man's own feeble willpower. 

It is also worth noting that as an individual, John Calvin proclaimed the absolute and sole sovereignty of God, while being quite happy to take as much civil and religious authority upon himself as possible.  The Calvinist view of the kingship of Christ overall is a lovely little talking point; unfortunately it is never really applied.   If it were, then there would be no power at all in Calvinism.  This is not to say that our Lord is not King of all creation; but to refute a claim made by Calvinism, (to use a modern idiom) that "only Jesus is the answer" to everything in the world, secular and religious.  In that, Calvinism could be considered rather an accomplice of anarchy; since it denies all human governance as corrupt and would replace it (allegedly) with Christ alone, though giving no practical means by which to attain this lofty goal. 

As I have always said, the problem with reform in the church is that those things which are not in need of reform end up getting changed, while those that DO need reform are marked as sacrosanct and shielded from reform.  Theology got changed (while that wasn't necessary), yet the absurd and absolute power of church leaders was maintained.  The liturgy was overhauled, though it was not a point of contention previously; yet the scriptures and theology were still left in the hands of the wealthy and elite (despite their claims to democratize them). 

Anglicanism was historically never Calvinist.  When the independence of the Church in England was established, the reformers had intended an expression of the Catholic faith that was both ancient, as well as unique to the British Isles.  Calvinist theology could hardly be considered congruous with a Christian tradition that dates back to the third century; nor could it be considered a natural expression of Anglican identity, because it goes against what is historic and orthodox of the Anglican patrimony.  It is an imported theological and philosophical concept which is as foreign to the Anglican tradition as those of Rome itself.  Yet many choose to claim it as such; not because of the merits of its own philosophies (which are few, if any), but simply because it allows them to claim that the world and everyone in it are wicked.  A perfect fit, for die hard evangelicals who despise tradition.  

But to be Anglican, to truly know the history and the beauty of the Anglican Patrimony... is to cease any sense of Calvinist philosophy.  As Anglicans, we are gifted with an ancient inheritance: rich in beauty, traditions both secular and religious, history, architecture, and faith.  Importing a continental heresy just because it's the "cool thing" to do, not only denies what our fathers worked for and built for us; but it denies the faith of those who have gone before us.  

As a Bishop in the Anglican patrimony, I invite everyone of the Anglican tradition: fall in love with that history which you have inherited.  Learn to love and appreciate the work, the effort, the sacrifice which has gone into developing this ancient expression of the Catholic, Christian Faith.   But above all else, learn to love Christ as he makes himself both spiritually and truly present in the sacraments which the church has maintained for the many centuries of her history.