Bishop’s Note: August 30, 2018 – The “Jerusalem Declaration” and Social Responsibility

 Bishop Eric Menees

We continue our exploration of the Jerusalem Declaration (the full text of which can be found here:

https://www.gafcon.org/resources/the-complete-jerusalem-statement)

This week we look at point ten – Social Responsibility.

We are mindful of our responsibility to be good stewards of God’s creation, to uphold and advocate justice in society, and to seek relief and empowerment of the poor and needy.

Since long before the birth of Christ, there have been those who have felt led by God to be go out into the wilderness and to live solitary lives. The Jewish Essene Community and the Christian Desert Fathers often felt this way, and perhaps even had a gifting from God to do so. However, for the vast majority of His believers, it is not isolation from, but rather engagement with the world that God desires. If we look back to the biblical account of creation, God gives Adam and Eve the clear responsibility to care for creation. Jewish law clearly calls on the believer to care for the immigrant and widow living among them. Jesus himself, throughout the Gospels and especially in Matthew 25, tells us that rather than being separate from the world, we must engage the world with the good news of Jesus Christ!

It should be no surprise then that we in the Anglican Church in North America would embrace point 10 of the Jerusalem declaration. We are called to steward creation, seek justice, and care for the poor; all as biblical mandates.

Let me be clear: these three mandates from God work in conjunction with one another, not over and above each other. In recent times, there are those who would care for creation at the great expense of justice and the poor. This is not what God desires, nor what the Bible mandates. We are to be the best stewards of creation in order to fulfill the Great Commandment to love God with all that we have and are, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

How do we love God by being good stewards of creation? It is clear from Genesis, and in Romans chapter 1 — among other places — that God is reflected in His creation, just as the potter is reflected in his pottery. The beauty of God can be seen in creation, inspiring us to worship Him; and the provision of God is also made known through creation. We give thanks to God for all that He has given to us, and that He continues to give us in creation. However, when we confuse the two and hold creation above the creator, or somehow believe that creation and the creator are one and the same, we fail in our duty to be good stewards.

To love God by pursuing justice means that we must be good citizens. Again, in the book of Romans it is made clear that God has instituted the government to punish crime and maintain justice. (Romans 13:1-7) So, what do we do when we see the government acting in an unjust manner? Scripture demands that we work for justice through all legal means possible; resist unjust laws nonviolently; and all the while giving witness to the Author of all justice.

This year we remember the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King fought against injustice by publicly naming it, and by using nonviolent means to resist it. The world is a better place because of Dr. King and the thousands of Christians like him, who spoke up rather than remain silent. Is there a lot more to do? Of course, there is, and their examples should guide us!

In addition to being good stewards and loving justice, we are to do all in our power to give relief to the poor. In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus was clear to say:

...Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.… Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. (Matthew 25:34-36, 40)

This Scripture speaks for itself; if we are to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, then we must care for the poor in our midst.

I pray you all a truly blessed week, and I thank you for your prayers for my recovery from shoulder surgery. I am indeed blessed and recovering quickly.

Catechism, Crisis and Clarification in the Catholic Church

Catechism, Crisis and Clarification in the Catholic Church

Fr. Dale Matson

 

I recently offered a comment on an article on the First Things blog. https://www.firstthings.com/ . The article can be found here.

https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2018/08/why-men-like-me-should-not-be-priests

I stated in the comments that it was my belief that not all homosexuals were born that way. “I believe many do in fact chose to be homosexual. The "Born that way" mantra is not always true. I believe in many cases it is circumstantial. What about all the women who were abused by relatives as children and because of deep emotional bruising and mistrust of men, some find the affections of another woman more trustworthy?”

A man who identified himself as a homosexual (ES) challenged me quoting directly from the Catechism that “They do not choose their homosexual condition”. Later on, in our discussion he commented to me that he had quoted the 1992 Catechism but the 1997 Catechism had changed the language. I think the change was very important. In 1997 The statement, “They do not choose their homosexual condition” was removed (2357), and “This inclination, which is objectively disordered” was added (2358). I think we both profited from this discussion.

1992 (First Edition of the Catechism)

II. The Vocation to Chastity

Chastity and homosexuality

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,140 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."141 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. They do not choose their homosexual condition; for most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

1997 (Second Edition of the Catechism)

II. The Vocation To Chastity

Chastity and homosexuality

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity,140 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."141 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

The Roman Catholic Church considers the Catechism to be universal in its application and a summary of Doctrine. http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/frequently-asked-questions-about-the-catechism-of-the-catholic-church.cfm

I believe it is important for both lay and clergy to understand what the Roman Catholic Church states in Her doctrine. Those changes were made during the time Cardinal Ratzinger was Prelate of the Doctrine of The Faith. As an Anglican who is a part of the One Holy Apostolic Church, I pray that the Roman Catholic Church would renew Herself as God leads Her through the current crisis.

Bishop’s Note: August 23, 2018 – The “Jerusalem Declaration” and The Great Commission

Bishop Eric Menees

We continue our exploration of the “Jerusalem Declaration” (the full text of which can be found here:

https://www.gafcon.org/resources/the-complete-jerusalem-statement

This week we look at point nine: The Great Commission:

We gladly accept the Great Commission of the risen Lord to make disciples of all nations, to seek those who do not know Christ and to baptise, teach and bring new believers to maturity.

GAFCON and the Anglican Church in North America enthusiastically accept and promote the Great Commission of Jesus, as found in the Gospel of Matthew: “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

This may sound like something that should be obvious, but it really isn’t obvious to those in Mainline Denominations; especially in the Global North. I know that, as for me, I grew up in the Episcopal Church, which regularly taught that “all people are children of God.” Growing up, I simply accepted that proposition without questioning it. That is, until I was confronted by someone who asked me: “Where does it say in the Bible that we are all Children of God?” The answer is: nowhere in the Bible does it say that all people are Children of God! John 1:11-13 states that we are adopted when we believe in Jesus: “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Now let me be clear: Genesis 1:27 states clearly that we are all created in the image of God, and therefore of utmost value; from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. Why is the false belief that we are all “children of God” so harmful? Because, if someone is already a child of God, then we have no responsibility to share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ. Because, if everyone is a child of God, then no one goes to hell. Because, if everyone is a child of God, then whatever they believe must be O.K.

The fact that this attitude prevails in the Global North, and not in the Global South, is also reflected in the rate of conversions that take place. According to the Atlas of Global Christianity: 1910-2010 (p. 61), in 2010 — counting for conversions, defections, births and deaths worldwide — there was a net gain of 27.8 million Christians;  the vast majority of them being in the Global South.

Until and unless we in the Global North, and more specifically the Diocese of San Joaquin, embrace the Great Commission of Jesus Christ – with all the authority and responsibility that comes by virtue of our baptism and confirmation – we will simply preside over an ever-shrinking church. We must abandon any notion that our faith is gained via birth or osmosis. No, Jesus invites us into a personal, saving relationship with him, and it is our responsibility to invite others into that same relationship.

I pray that all of us in the Diocese of San Joaquin, and all Christians in general, will indeed ask God the Holy Spirit to assist us in fulfilling the Great Commission.

I pray you all a blessed week.

Wilderness and the Bread of Life

Pentecost 13B 2018

Wilderness and the Bread of Life

Fr. Dale Matson

Click On Photograph To Enlarge

Lake Dorothy

Our Lectionary Gospel Lesson for this Sunday states, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” (John 6:35, NASB).  St. John’s Gospel further states, “Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:49-51)

When the Israelites were in the wilderness, they lived a day-to-day existence. They depended on God literally for their daily bread and for the water they drank. Imagine an entire nation in the wilderness being provided for on a daily basis by God through Moses. This process went on for 40 years and their clothing did not wear out as they traveled in the wilderness.  They had shelter and clothing to protect them from the elements but still found it easy to grumble. “Oh, that we had died at the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:3)

In the wilderness, one must provide for and carry with one, the basics of life. In the Sierra Nevada Mountains, one must be able to keep warm, dry, hydrated and fed. This amounts to carrying a backpack of a minimum of 30 pounds even for overnight trips and providing a way to purify the water you drink. A backpacker is kind of like a street person in the wilderness. Our backpack is our shopping cart. The difference is that we want to be there. Even mountain water may have bacteria or viruses and the water must be purified whenever you resupply. Sometimes the water sources are further apart than you anticipate and dehydration is a real possibility in the dry mountain air. Additionally, one must have the necessary navigational skills to travel safely.

Sharon, Carlos, Carol, and Christina and I returned from a 3-day 2-night backpacking trip this past Thursday. We began with a four-mile drive on a Jeep trail up Laurel Canyon near Mammoth Lakes, which is a white knuckle four-mile drive on a single lane gravel road to the trailhead. My trusty Tahoe 4X4 hauled five adults and camping gear up this one-hour boulder field. This route is not for the faint of heart. A Fresno doctor perished when his jeep plunged off this road into the canyon far below in 2015. I asked Carlos to drive down when we finished and I’m sure his level of enjoyment was quite the opposite of my concerns driving up. 

As soon as we got to Genevieve Lake, we set up our tents which was a good thing since a tremendous thunderstorm rolled in with heavy rain and hail. There was almost no time between the lightning flashes and thunder. Sharon said she could feel the tingling of the electricity in her feet. This is the wilderness experience when it is most intense. There are times when you are overwhelmed by the beauty and solitude but this was a time when have no choice but to surrender to God’s mercy. You have no control over the storm. In the tent, I thought about the time Jesus calmed the storm and how frightened his disciples were.

One also may encounter wild animals like bears, mountain lions and rattlesnakes that require a prudent and respectful response. On my Rae Lakes Loop hike five years ago I encountered a huge male black bear coming down the trail switchbacks as I was going up. Fortunately, he was courteous and moved below me only to reappear behind me on the trail as he continued downhill. 

God stated in Ezekiel, "I will make a Ezek 16:60; chapter 20:37; chapter 37:26covenant of peace with them and Job 5:22, 23; Is 11:6-9eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may Jer 33:16; Ezek 28:26; chapter 34:27, 28live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.” (Ezekiel 34:25). Thank You Lord!

In Fresno We are blessed to be within one hour of the Sierra National Forest, Yosemite and Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Parks. I believe it is no accident that God is frequently depicted as being in the mountains or the wilderness. Although many of you may have gone on a spiritual retreat, probably fewer of you have actually spent time alone in the wilderness. It can be a singular experience to hear only the sound of your own breathing. The wilderness can be stunningly beautiful and also brutally and tragically unforgiving if you are there unprepared. Be properly prepared, for the mountains make their own weather.

The wilderness in Scripture is referred to often. It can be a location where God’s people are tested and learn obedience. “How often they Ps 95:8, 9; chapter 106:43; chapter 107:11; Heb 3:16rebelled against Him in the wilderness and Ps 95:10; Is 63:10; Eph 4:30grieved Him in the Ps 106:14desert!” (Psalm 78:40).

The wilderness can also be a judgment from God “I will Ezek 32:4-6abandon you to the wilderness, you and all the fish of your rivers; you will fall on the open field; you will not be brought together or Jer 8:2; chapter 25:33gathered I have given you for Jer 7:33; chapter 34:20; Ezek 39:4food to the beasts of the earth and to the birds of the sky.” (Ezekiel 29:12).

 The wilderness is also a state of barrenness we are brought to, where we once again yearn for God. “O God, Ps 118:28You are my God; I shall seek You [1] earnestly; My soul Ps 42:2; chapter 84:2; Matt 5:6thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a Ps 143:6dry and weary land where there is no water.” (Psalm 63:1).

The wilderness is a place for a fresh start. “John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness [1] Acts 13:24preaching a baptism of repentance for the Luke 1:77forgiveness of sins.” (Mark 1:4).

The wilderness is also an intentional destination where there is an expectation of encountering God. “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and Matt 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12pray.” (Luke 5:16).

The wilderness is even a place where we can discover grace. “Thus, says the LORD, “The people who survived the sword Num 14:20found grace in the wilderness--Israel, when it went to Ex 33:14; Num 10:33; Deut 1:33; Josh 1:13find its rest."

Whatever reason that may appeal to you, consider the possibility of time spent alone in the wilderness. The wilderness is not just a destination. It is a state of mind also. Wilderness living is kind of like choosing to be a street person in the woods. Instead of a cart, you have a backpack with all of your goods. It is monastic living without the monastery.

 I understand how God used the experience in the wilderness to demonstrate to Israel that He would provide for and protect them. They could not enter the Promised Land until God had properly prepared them to live a life of obedience and faith. The Promised Land for Israel is a type of heaven. For us this same wilderness preparation is going on with our Moses, Christ our Lord is also our salvation. The Spirit of the Lord is our pillar of cloud by day and our pillar of fire by night.What is our daily bread In Luther’s catechism speaking on our Lord’s Prayer, Luther defines it thus:

What is meant by daily bread?--Answer. Everything that belongs to the support and wants of the body, such as meat, drink, clothing, shoes, house, homestead, field, cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and faithful magistrates good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline, honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

I believe it is here that Luther misunderstands what Jesus is teaching us in the Lord’s Prayer by understanding our daily bread as support for the body. That is the kingdom of this world. Luther is interpreting our daily bread in the sense of the Old Testament wilderness experience of the manna God provided daily for sustenance for the Israelites. That is not however what Christ is referring to. 

In Matthew chapter 6, Christ provides both His prayer and the context for understanding our daily bread. Following his presentation of the prayer (6:9-13), He then discusses the unnecessary and material concerns of the world in verses 19-32. “So, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. These are the material concerns that Luther incorrectly refers to as our daily bread. In verse 6:33 Christ states, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” The daily bread Christ is referring to is the daily bread required for sustenance in the Kingdom of God. He is referring to Himself.

“Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever." (John 6:57-58).

       Christ knows that we too are in the wilderness. We need our spiritual water, food, and shelter. As Christ told the Samaritan woman, “…...If you knew the gift of God and Who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water. (John 4:10). Everyone who drinks this water (from the well) will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

       And what is our shelter in this wilderness. Our shelter is the mystical body of Christ, the church. It is there we find protection. It is there we find fellowship and it is there we come together to thank and praise Christ for His provision and protection in this wilderness in which we live.

My brothers and sisters, there is no purer gospel than this. Christ has brought us back within reach of the Garden of Eden our heavenly home.  We again may partake of the tree of life. He continues to feed His people the church with His body and blood and has done so for two thousand years. In the Eucharist, we are given the bread with these words spoken, “The body of Christ; the bread of heaven.”  When we are given the chalice, we are told, “The blood of Christ; the cup of salvation.”  In Him we have eternal life and in Him we are more than conquerors.  Just as Yahweh provided daily manna in the wilderness to the Israelites, Christ offers himself as our bread daily in the Kingdom of God. Lord, give us this day our daily bread. Amen