NATIONAL RESPONSE TO "LORD IS FADING AT SOME CHURCHES"/ ARIZONA DAILY STAR/ 22 APRIL 2007
THE
ORTHODOX ANGLICAN CHURCH
Archdiocesan Office of Communications
We have read the article "'Lord' is fading at some churches" and are saddened by the views expressed by some ministers and clergy that promote "gender-neutral" and "politically correct" views of God, the Father, and of His only Son, Jesus Christ.
These views are clearly at odds with the Holy Scriptures, with the Creeds, and with the teachings of the Church for approximately 2,000 years.
We assert that the name “Lord” is entirely appropriate for the Saviour of the world, who said of Himself, “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…” (Matthew 28:18-19, NRSV) This self-description alone puts Him on a higher plane than mankind and the command that followed was certainly not “gender-neutral”.
Around 250BC, the Hebrew Old Testament was translated into Greek. The use of the word “kyrios” as applied to the Deity meant “Lord God”. This reference was used countless times. The Apostles shared this same understanding. In Acts of the Apostles 2:36, St. Peter said, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord (kyrios) and Christ” (KJV). In the Jewish understanding of that period, the use of the word definitely referred to the Divine.
St. Peter’s sermon also indicates not only the understanding that Christ is Lord, it also indicates that Christ’s death and resurrection is the means to our forgiveness of sins.
The simple fact is that Christianity is a monarchy, not a democracy or an “individualistic” faith. Neither God the Father nor God the Son are "one of us". The Bible teaches us that moulding God to fit our image of what is comfortable is akin to creating our own personal God and is, therefore, idolatrous. The relationship between Father/Son and mankind is that of master/parent and servant/child. At some point,
this relationship results in judgment and in punishment or reward. At no point in Scripture can we accurately translate the relationship to be anything other than this. A prime example is when St. Paul said that “it is appointed once for man to die and then comes the judgment.” In Revelation 22:12 (KJV), the Lord said, “And behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be….” This reference indicates a hierarchical being with the power to reward or condemn.
At the time we read this article, the online poll indicated 80% of respondents did not believe genderneutral language should be used when referring to God. We are heartened by this. Likewise, we share the view of the two Presbyterian ministers quoted that He is, indeed, Lord, Master, and King.
Our parish in Tucson, St. Jude's Anglican Church, and the entire Orthodox Anglican Communion proudly proclaim that Jesus is Lord and we uphold the teachings of Holy Scripture, the classic Creeds of Christendom, and two millennia of Christian teachings. We profess authentic Christianity, as opposed to the counterfeit faith put forward by some ministers and clergy in this article.
###
Contact:
David Bessinger, Director of Communications
336.236.9565
Fr Mark D’Amico, St. Jude’s Anglican Church
520.296.5570
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RESPONSE TO “‘LORD’ IS FADING AT SOME CHURCHES”
April 23, 2007
ORTHODOX ANGLICAN CHURCH
Archdiocesan Office of Communications
We have read the article "'Lord' is fading at some churches" and are saddened by the views expressed by some ministers and clergy that promote "gender-neutral" and "politically correct" views of God, the Father, and of His only Son, Jesus Christ.
These views are clearly at odds with the Holy Scriptures, with the Creeds, and with the teachings of the Church for approximately 2,000 years.
We assert that the name “Lord” is entirely appropriate for the Saviour of the world, who said of Himself, “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…” (Matthew 28:18-19, NRSV) This self-description alone puts Him on a higher plane than mankind and the command that followed was certainly not “gender-neutral”.
Around 250BC, the Hebrew Old Testament was translated into Greek. The use of the word “kyrios” as applied to the Deity meant “Lord God”. This reference was used countless times. The Apostles shared this same understanding. In Acts of the Apostles 2:36, St. Peter said, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord (kyrios) and Christ” (KJV). In the Jewish understanding of that period, the use of the word definitely referred to the Divine.
St. Peter’s sermon also indicates not only the understanding that Christ is Lord, it also indicates that Christ’s death and resurrection is the means to our forgiveness of sins.
The simple fact is that Christianity is a monarchy, not a democracy or an “individualistic” faith. Neither God the Father nor God the Son are "one of us". The Bible teaches us that moulding God to fit our image of what is comfortable is akin to creating our own personal God and is, therefore, idolatrous. The relationship between Father/Son and mankind is that of master/parent and servant/child. At some point,
this relationship results in judgment and in punishment or reward. At no point in Scripture can we accurately translate the relationship to be anything other than this. A prime example is when St. Paul said that “it is appointed once for man to die and then comes the judgment.” In Revelation 22:12 (KJV), the Lord said, “And behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be….” This reference indicates a hierarchical being with the power to reward or condemn.
At the time we read this article, the online poll indicated 80% of respondents did not believe genderneutral language should be used when referring to God. We are heartened by this. Likewise, we share the view of the two Presbyterian ministers quoted that He is, indeed, Lord, Master, and King.
Our parish in Tucson, St. Jude's Anglican Church, and the entire Orthodox Anglican Communion proudly proclaim that Jesus is Lord and we uphold the teachings of Holy Scripture, the classic Creeds of Christendom, and two millennia of Christian teachings. We profess authentic Christianity, as opposed to the counterfeit faith put forward by some ministers and clergy in this article.
###
Contact:
David Bessinger, Director of Communications
336.236.9565
Fr Mark D’Amico, St. Jude’s Anglican Church
520.296.5570
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RESPONSE TO “‘LORD’ IS FADING AT SOME CHURCHES”
April 23, 2007
posted by Fr. Mark P. D'Amico at 6:09 AM
