We dip into the archives to discuss Thomas Howard's classic Touchstone contribution from 1993 on five key aspects of what makes church.
As an Anglican I became aware that I, as an individual believer, stood in a very long and august lineage of the faithful, stretching back to the apostles and fathers. The picture had changed for me: It was no longer primarily me, my Bible, and Jesus (although heaven knows that is not altogether a bad picture: the only question is, is it the whole picture?). Looming for me, as an Anglican, was “the faith,” ancient, serene, undimmed, true. And that faith somehow could not be split apart from “the Church.” But then, what was the Church?
To read all of Recognizing the Church, click here. Then, please join the discussion by clicking on the comments link below.
I fell in love with Thomas Howard's writing back in the '80s, mostly because of his sacramental view of life so beautifully expressed in Splendor in the Ordinary. I even wrote him a letter and was on cloud nine when he wrote back to me! I was part of the Evangelical Orthodox Church that came into Orthodoxy in 1987. Of course I was a bit sad that he went West when I went East... and now I read this article and pause with his first "key aspect of what makes a Church - antiquity" and of course I wonder why he stopped traveling back in time when he got to 1054. I guess it all hinges on how you view the schism. I wonder how God views it?
Posted by: Susan Cushman | August 28, 2007 at 04:11 PM
I am a conservative, evangelical,Arminian Wesleyan. I was raised in the old "Methodist Episcopal" Church. My home "M.E. Church" has a formal, semi-liturgical service which I liked. I still use at least parts of the Holy Communion service in the 1959 and earlier E.U.B. Disciplines. I use the Apostles' Creed and occasionally the Nicene. There are a few of us around--but not many.
Posted by: Douglas B. Drysdale | September 21, 2007 at 11:19 PM
I appreciate the author's honest reflection on his early upbringing. Yes, there is much good in Evangelicalism. However, it is a very small vignette in relation to the whole depth and breadth of Christ's Church.
It is only the Holy Spirit who can open the darkened eyes of those who refuse to turn their faces toward the light of grace and truth. O that men would hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches...
Posted by: Br. Dominic-Michael OHS | October 01, 2007 at 07:09 AM
Christ's Church is "one, holy, catholic and apostolic." If any "one" of these is missing, it isn't Christ's church.
Posted by: John Tarpley | November 18, 2009 at 02:10 PM