Saturday, February 24, 2007

One Episcopalian's Question

Romans 10:8b-13

"The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart"
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

So, here's my question: if we believe this, what are we fighting about? And we all believe this, don't we? Don't we?

6 comments:

Clyde said...

Amen!

Anonymous said...

Yes, this is it, the root of our baptismal ecclesiology. And, yes, it is being called into question by those who do not subscribe to a baptismally centered faith, or those who believe our Baptismal Covenant is to blame for our current transgressions.

If we're not rooted in baptism, then what's left? You're question is right on point.

Anonymous said...

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! With bells on!

Robert McLean MD PhD said...

I do believe these words of Paul's. Paul, who wrote them, must have believed them. One must believe that Peter believed them also. Hence, both Peter and Paul were saved. Yet, Paul took Peter to task about taking the message to the gentiles. Ultimately, Peter stated "I understand that God shows no partiality." Because of this disagreement and resolution, the message was brought to me for which I am eternally grateful!

Allen said...

I had the same question as I heard that passage yesterday.

Of course the question is rhetorical -- but I'll offer an answer anyway: We do not all believe that.

Since we had our Annual Meeting yesterday at St. Mary's, I introduced a motion that passed calling on the bishops not to step back from the stance TEC has taken. I had that text in my hand. Before voting we prayed the prayer for unity (No. 14 on page 818.)

Allen Mellen

Marshall Scott said...

Thank you all for your comments.

Allen, I think yours is an interesting resolution, rooted in relevant history. Perhaps other congregations can also raise that banner. I say "can," knowing that some will believe they can't; but what a witness if some will! It sounds remarkably parallel, on a different scale, to the witness Bishop Jefferts Schori has suggested the Episcopal Church might offer in the Anglican Communion.