Paul Barnett’s tribute to John Stott
“Two World Wars and the Depression left Christianity in a poor state in the post-World War II era, compounded by the influence of sceptical Biblical Criticism. Amongst those God raised up in these difficult times were C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham, F.F. Bruce, J.I. Packer, and John Stott.
Stott was deeply committed to the theology of the Reformation, as may be seen in his magisterial The Cross of Christ and his commentaries on Romans and Galatians. …”
– Bishop Paul Barnett adds his own words of thanks for the life of John Stott.
Sydney Memorial Service for John Stott
A memorial service will be held for John Stott at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney on Friday, 5th August, at 1:30pm. The Archbishop, Peter Jensen, will be speaking. – from the Cathedral website.
Update: Here’s a media release from the Diocese of Sydney.
(In Canada, Dr J I Packer will be preaching at a memorial service in Vancouver. Services are also planned for Toronto and Ottawa. In Melbourne, Dr Peter Adam will be speaking at a service on August 28th.)
The Great Creeds
“The earliest function of the creeds was baptismal, that is for instruction beforehand and interrogation of the candidate at the baptism itself. Between their embryonic beginnings and ultimate finalization of the creed in the forms we have them further elements were added.
This was because the era between the New Testament and the finalization of the Creeds in the fourth century was chaotic, with the intrusion of serious doctrinal errors threatening the survival of apostolic truth and the unity of the church. …”
– Bishop Paul Barnett is continuing to post some of his writings online.
Related: J.I. Packer: More Catechesis, Please.
Ten Elements of Historic Anglicanism
“It is important to begin with two comments:
1) This paper was inspired by something J.I. Packer wrote in 1995, ‘Speculating in Anglican Futures’. I have added to it, but Dr Packer must not be blamed for my additions, or the final form this brief paper has taken.
2) I need to define ‘Anglicanism’. You will notice that I qualify it as ‘historic’ Anglicanism. What do I mean? I mean the Anglican way – the way of the Church of England as defined by the three historic documents: the Book of Common Prayer (1662); the Ordinal (for Bishops, Priests and Deacons); the 39 Articles of Religion. We find the doctrines, beliefs and ethos of historic Anglicanism in these documents.
Let me now turn to these ten elements.
First and foremost this Anglicanism locates its final authority in matters pertaining to salvation in the Holy Scriptures.
Holy Scripture containeth all things necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man, that it should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation (Article 6).
This places final authority for faith and salvation in “Holy Scripture”. By contrast the church is the “witness and keeper of holy writ”, but not the source of “Holy Writ”. The articles recognise that various “rites” need to be authorised and adjudication given in matters of “controversy” and the church has “power…and authority” in such things (Article 20). Nonetheless, churches may err and have erred within history; they are not infallible.
So, to begin, Holy Scripture is the basis and touchstone of faith.
Thus the church must defer to the Bible in all matters relating to salvation and, indeed, in the ultimate in all matters relating to rites, ceremonies and controversies. Thus the Anglican Church is biblical as to the basis of its authority.
At ordination the minister is given a Bible as the instrument of ministry. The Bishop’s charge in the Ordinal, along with the questions and answers, make it abundantly clear that Christian ministry has the Bible as the basis and means of ministry.…”
– Read the full paper at Bishop Paul Barnett’s blog.
Lessons to be learned from the Canadian Church experience
In June 2008, Dr J I Packer spoke at Holy Trinity, Eastbourne on “Lessons to be learned from the Canadian church experience” – and stated that the issues which prompted GAFCON are the most serious since the Reformation.
His talk is a very helpful reminder of why St. John’s Shaughnessy, and three other churches in Vancouver, have taken the costly stand they have.
Hear his talk (55 min / 9.5MB) and the question time (32 min / 5.6MB) on the Holy Trinity website.
As well as being a member of the team at St. John’s Shaughnessy, Dr Packer is an Honorary Canon of St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney. (Photo: Ed Hird.)
Taking Christ’s church seriously – a tonic for the confused and disenchanted
“Talk about refreshing! I was recently encouraged to read the relatively recent book by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, Why We Love the Church: In Praise of Institutions and Organized Religion (Chicago: Moody Press, 2009). It helped that the person recommending the book was my principal, John Woodhouse. He said I’d like it. And he was right.
Book endorsements, in my experience, seem to be getting more and more out of touch with reality. They make grand claims which just aren’t met when you shell out the money and buy the book. But on this occasion the endorsements by J. I. Packer — ‘As I read, I wanted to stand up and cheer’, by Mark Dever — the authors are ‘theologically faithful, fresh, and insightful’, and Al Mohler — ‘a powerful word of correction, offering compelling arguments and a vision of church life that is not only convincing, but inspirational’ all hold up. I was genuinely excited by what I read. …”
– Mark Thompson hopes you will read the book and stand up and cheer with Jim Packer.
(Best prices here.)
ANiC ordinations
On Sunday (November 21), Anglican Network in Canada Bishops Don Harvey and Trevor Walters ordained four deacons (the Revs Keith Ganzer, Aaron Roberts, Doug Beattie, and David McElrea) to the priesthood. The service was held at the Broadmoor Baptist Church in Richmond, British Columbia.
Ed Hird has posted some brief segments of Dr J I Packer’s ordination sermon on his YouTube channel.
It’s a good reminder to pray for all affected by last week’s court decision.
The Inerrancy of Scripture: The Fifty Years’ War… and counting
“Back in 1990, theologian J. I. Packer recounted what he called a ‘Thirty Years’ War’ over the inerrancy of the Bible. He traced his involvement in this war in its American context back to a conference held in Wenham, Massachusetts in 1966, when he confronted some professors from evangelical institutions who ‘now declined to affirm the full truth of Scripture.’ That was nearly fifty years ago, and the war over the truthfulness of the Bible is still not over — not by a long shot…”
While it’s never been quite the issue in Australia as it has been in the US, the implications of questioning the trustworthiness of Scripture are clear in this piece by Albert Mohler.
The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer — free audiobook
This month’s free audiobook from ChristianAudio is The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer. (July 2010)
Don’t know Tozer? J. I. Packer is quoted as saying: “Through all of Tozer’s books and articles there shines a passion for God that puts our shallowness to shame. Reading him is like drinking at an oasis in the desert.” Details of the audiobook at ChristianAudio.
More Catechesis, Please
“Packer’s last crusade in this world,” the Rev. Dr. J.I. Packer affirms, is recovering catechesis — systematic instruction in the Christian fundamentals — to meet the challenges of an increasingly pagan age.
– Amen to Dr Packer as reported by The Living Church. (Image: Oak Hill College.)
Retire? Not in Bible, not in plans
“It’s been a good year for J.I. Packer, one of the world’s best-known theologians.
In March, the Anglican pastor and Regent College professor won Bible of the Year and Book of the Year honors for editing the English Standard Version Study Bible.
He also released two of his own books — ‘Praying: Finding Our Way Through Duty to Delight,’ in June, and a yearlong devotional using his seminal work, ‘Knowing God,’ due out later this month…”
– an interview with J I Packer in The Modesto Bee. (Links added. Image: Anglican TV.)
Paul Helm at PTC
British philosopher and theologian Paul Helm is giving guest lectures at the Presbyterian Theological Centre in Burwood next week. (He’s also speaking at the Moore College Calvin@500 Conference.)
On Tuesday 15th September, 3:00pm – 5:00pm he’ll be speaking on aspects of the age of reason; the enlightenment ; and the appropriation by Luther and Calvin of 16th century philosophy.
Paul Helm is Professor in History and Philosophy at Kings College, University of London, and holds the J.I. Packer Chair in Theology and Philosophy, Regent College, Canada.
Details: PTC website. Location map.
Focussed on Christ
“The holiest Christians are not those most concerned about holiness as such, but whose minds and hearts and goals and purposes and love and hope are most fully focussed on our Lord Jesus Christ.”
– J.I. Packer, Keep in Step with the Spirit.
With thanks to Of First Importance.
Challenges we face — 2009 AGM
ACL President, Dr Mark Thompson, spoke at last night’s ACL Annual General Meeting —
The clarity which Peter Jensen’s leadership has given us on the priority of evangelism and necessity of directing our resources to this end is something for which we can thank God. As we face the end of his episcopate, the challenge is not only to maintain that priority but to build on the strategies put in place over the last eight years which have given expression to it. We certainly do not want to go back, but we can’t afford to stand still either. We need to press ahead, thinking creatively about how to maximise our opportunities to proclaim Christ in a rapidly changing culture.
Latest Oak Hill Newsbrief
The latest Newsbrief from Oak Hill College in London is available on their website.
It’s a 2.7MB PDF file (direct link).
What we believe
The message at the heart of Christianity is really quite simple…