Why Aren't You Anglican? | Douglas Wilson

Pastor Douglas Wilson answers the question, "Why aren't you Anglican?"

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[matthewturner]

I am a non-reformed Anglican, and I love Doug Wilson. Just because I may disagree with him on a few things doesn’t mean that I can’t think he is such an awesome man. Who wouldn’t love him, and recognize his love for the body of Christ?

[jerseyjim]

Unless one lives in a city, the choices of where to plant your faith are limited. That is if they're going to be fully involved in the life of the church. So many of us are "stuck" in churches that leave us wanting for more and then searching for ways to fill that void outside the church they attend.

[Borzoi]

After faithful attendance for 40+ years in several very fine, conservative Presbyterian churches, we are now new Anglicans and flourishing. We use the 1928 version of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer and love it! We cherish Christ as our King in both theory and practice in every service. Our priest's expressed role is to draw back the curtains to reveal Jesus Christ and then hide in the folds. Soli Deo Gloria.

[duncanunwin]

As a practicing Anglican who has close family tied to presbyterianism I did not find anything problematic about Doug Wilson's comments - it's a fairly bland but factual explanation of his personal liturgical preferences. Where he refers to 'Elevated' and 'Baroque' I would say we have a great emphasis on liturgy and Christian spirituality, connecting with the traditions of the desert fathers. Many (including many in the church) don't understand that the Anglican church is very much a protestant church and its history has been very much about bridging protestant theology with a continuing apostolic christian tradition - remember Cranmer, who wrote the first book of common prayer (1549) was burnt as a martyred under Mary's rule. One of the great misunderstandings was that the CofE was only about Henry VIII getting a divorce. In fact, Henry was a passionate explorer of faith and came to conclusion that the roman church hierarchy had become a barrier to this. As someone who spent several decades in a Anglo-catholic parish, I would also acknowledge that tractarians brought needed reform and balance to the C of E. Their movement brought not just a revival of liturgical practice but also motivated them to do good work among the poor of England. What I think Presbyterianism brings is a great interest in studying the bible and experiencing Christ on a personal level through prayer. So as Doug says, it is very much a matter of personal choice and how each resonates with you.

[lilchristuten]

The thing about the Church is, that it is a monarchy, God is the king and he delegates his authority to the Church, and he appoints those who are to be the shepherds("leaders") over His flock(His people here on earth).

[jamessheffield]

You know the joke. Can you be saved outside the Anglican Communion? Of course, but no lady or gentleman would do it.

[MathScience]

Well, perhaps if I lived during the English Civil War or in an area without an Anglican church, I'd be a Puritan instead of an Anglican -- I indeed love many Puritan theologians. Greetings from an Anglo-Reformed, commonly known as a 'Calvinist with a prayer book'!

[PaulOutsidetheWalls]

“You don’t have to be Presbyterian to go to heaven, but I wouldn’t take any chances.”

[theautisticcomedian]

Fun fact Anglicans were the first to make the make the Bible available for common people or lay people as we call them legal and mass produced thanks to the Gutenberg Press. The other translations were not legal at the time. The vulgate claimed to be the first common language Bible but it was still inaccessible.

[CatholicKavanagh]

Greetings from a fellow Anglo-Catholic from the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter under Anglicanorum coetibus :)

[zachtbh]

Is there a video on the theological differences between an anglican and the rest of other major protestant stream?

[LueYee]

I think using the desert island scenario is useful for what it is, but it should not be used to establish a norm or lack thereof. Yes, the situation of a desert island is exactly why mainstream Reformed divines thought the Continental churches without monarchical bishops could be excused for lacking bishops; yet they held that historic episcopacy, and the threefold ministry of bishop, priest, and deacon, was what the Holy Spirit himself had shaped early on in the Church as the basic shape of regular polity in the postapostolic generations of the Church.

[georgiapeach]

I am Blessed #1 to be in the body of Christ. #2 I am blessed to call myself an Anglican/High Church Episcopalian. Our service is so beautiful and gives true reverence to the King of Kings. Praise Jesus! Blessings!❤

[sethccain]

I find it interesting that a) He has a JC Ryle (Anglican) book on preaching behind the interviewer and b) His description of Anglican government as monarchical overlooks the historic episcopate as rooted in the diaconate (servanthood). Every archbishop was a priest who was a deacon. And he remains a servant. So the government and authority is both representative and hierarchical (see Acts) in the spirit of servanthood, not pure government. And in that, broader than he lets on or is aware of.

[ynvaehltan]

Anyone know where the John Murray “congregation on a desert island” reference comes from?

[jsharp]

So how do we address the liturgical starvation?

[andinorth]

The thing that I haven't found in any Anglican congregations and I would be happy to be proven otherwise is good sound teaching on postmillennialism, and the optimist viewpoint of God's current dominion, reign, and kingdom. All the anglican's I've met are amillennialist and are pessimists with regard to God's reign. Although I'm not sure it is true of most Presbyterians, this theology is where Doug Wilson stands out and it is one of the most critical IMHO in making Christianity Great Again.

[marcusmazdaboy]

Dang this comment thread is salty. I've attended Anglican, Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, CoC, Methodist, Brethren and all kinds of non denom/independent churches. I dont understand how y'all can be so jumpy about how others prefer to worship, especially on secondary issues.

[LorinPartain]

Have an old College buddy who moved to Alberta CA, and is part of the staff in an Anglican assembly there, along with several lesbians. He was always on the left and is fully so these days !!

[jamesaust]

Read "Mere Christianity" as a factual text. There are parts where CS Lewis says you can skip or not think about certain chapters. You must work through and understand those chapters thoroughly.