The Rev. Paul Howden: "The Catholicity of the Reformation"

Prydain ^ | 9/02/2005 | Will

[sionnsar]

I found the sermon The Catholicity of the Reformation by the Rev. Paul Howden of St. Luke's REC in Santa Ana, California to be quite interesting. In particular he stresses a theme I have pointed to on this blog before, referring to Keith Mathison's book The Shape of Sola Scriptura:

The goal of the great Reformers -- Martin Luther, Thomas Cranmer, John Calvin, and Martin Bucer -- their goal was to return the Church to the Great Tradition. A tradition that would harmonize with Scripture and let Scripture remain the supreme authority. This is what was meant by the Reformation watchword "Sola Scriptura." Sola Scriptura does not mean that Scripture is the only source, but the only infallible source of authority. [I am indebted to Keith Mathison for this insight and many more. His book The Shape of Sola Scriptura is simply brilliant, and highly recommended.] In order to reform the abuses of the Church, the Reformers had to attack certain traditions. Let us not think for a minute however that the Reformation was all about destroying history and tradition. No, that was the intention of the fanatics. The catholicity of the Reformation can be seen in the reality that Luther, Calvin, and Cranmer were attempting to preserve the continuity with the early Church, which they believed had been abandoned by Rome. They were attempting to persuade the Church to give up her fascination with the theological innovations of the later Middle Ages and to return to Scripture and the Fathers; Scripture as the authoritative text and the Fathers as helpful interpreters.

This is a really interesting sermon, which incidentally was for Reformation Sunday 2001; I wonder if this vision is widespread in the REC?

[sionnsar]

Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this moderately high-volume ping list (typically 3-9 pings/day).
This list is pinged by sionnsar and newheart.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com

Humor: The Anglican Blue (by Huber)

Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[siunevada]

The catholicity of the Reformation can be seen in the reality that Luther, Calvin, and Cranmer were attempting to preserve the continuity with the early Church,

This phrase tickled me. You wouldn't want to get too 'early' in the early Church or you'd get to a point before the New Testament existed.

[sionnsar]

That would be a bit of an overshoot...

[lightman]

Luther certainly had a high regard for the Church Fathers through Jerome and Augustine.

It is a gross oversimplification to reduce the Reformation to only one sola; sola scriptura.

Luther also taught sola gratia (grace alone) and sola fide (faith alone).

[D-fendr]

They were attempting to persuade the Church to give up her fascination with the theological innovations…

…so their followers could come up with some nifty innovations of their own.

{^_^}