Paul Owen - An Anglican!
Paul Owen, who has been invovled in dialogue with Mormons, has made some statement which led me to do further research. It appears that Owen approaches beliefs from an Anglican perspective, just as I thought. After all, I am an Anglican myself, so I recognize the conclusions Owen reached.
However, this statenent by Owen has stumped me:
"I was again struck by the fact that typical Evangelicalism all too often lacks the resources to deal constructively with Mormon thought. Evangelicalism lacks a robust understanding of the efficacy of the sacraments, an appreciation for ritual, an acknowledgment of the teaching authority of the Church, a sense of the iden***y of the visible Church (outside of which there is no ordinary way of salvation), the continuation of a ministerial priesthood (including apostolic succession) in the Church conveyed through the laying on of hands, and a recognition of the necessity of good works for salvation (and not merely their inevitability as the fruits of faith)." (Statement by Owen 2006 annual meeting of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology)
Paul Owen identifies himself as a "Reformed Anglican." Well, I'm a member of the Reformed Episcopal Church," part of the Anglican Church in N.A., and I can relate to his above statement about the efficacy of sacraments, liturgical appreciation, the historic episcopate in succession, etc. I believe these things are part of historic Christianity, but not necessarily necessary in themselves for a legitimate expression of Christianity to exist. By the way, these things ARE NOT FOUND in Mormonism.
But when I come to Owen's statement about "the necessity of good works for salvation (and not merely their inevitability as the fruits of faith)", I have to take grave exception. If Owen is an Anglican, of the "reformed" variety, then he should be aware that the teaching of Anglicanism regarding the realtionship between salvation and works is found in the Articles of Relgion. And more specifically, we find this Anglican teaching regarding justification before God:
XI. Of the Justification of Man.
We are accounted righteous before God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by Faith, and not for our own works or deservings. Wherefore, that we are justified by Faith only, is a most wholesome Doctrine, and very full of comfort, as more largely is expressed in the Homily of Justification.
What we learn from this article is that our salvation, being accounted righteous before God, is the result of faith in Christ, and not of works. It's pretty clear.
And the next Article reads:
XII. Of Good Works.
Albeit that Good Works, which are the fruits of Faith, and follow after Justification, cannot put away our sins, and endure the severity of God's judgment; yet are they pleasing and acceptable to God in Christ, and do spring out necessarily of a true and lively Faith; insomuch that by them a lively Faith may be as evidently known as a tree discerned by the fruit.
Good works, therefore, are the result of regneration, not the means to it, and are evidence of salvation. It couldn't be clearer.
Now, Paul Owen may be, as he has stated, a "Reformed Anglican," and that means he's part of a conitinuing Church I ***ume, but I would suggest that the statement that works contributes to salvation in any way is not part of the historic Anglican position on the subject, as evidenced by the Articles of Relgion quoted. A clarification in this regard would be welcomed from Paul Owen.
Meanwhile, Mormons have to understand that Christians do not go by what one man says, but must base their faith on what the Bible states. I left the Episcopal Church because of what a man said - Bishop Spong. We do not submit to the word of men, but the Word of God. You would do well to do the same.
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Originally Posted by Richard
