I'm so sad that this humble, carefully written article inspired some of you to such hatefulness. Regardless of your theology, can we not agree that God is love and that Jesus asked us to love one another? Sheesh, I'd hate to be someone outside Christianity looking in on this nastiness. It's not just defensive of your own corners. It's hateful (amongst the respectful discussions).
Believe it or not, it's possible to be an intelligent, faithful Anglican, read the church fathers (yes, and the doctor Scott Hahn and Father Mike) and decide not to join the Catholic Church. Go ahead. Burn me at the stake why don't you?
Oh, I know it’s hard to leave a tradition that nourished you… infant baptism is so important and are the sacraments… but keep going, the Anglican position isn’t really tenable… come all the way home. ❤️ Brad Gregory’s lectures on the reformation are very informative. Scott Hahn’s rome sweet home is good.
I appreciate Catholicism for many reasons, but I definitely cannot align with it for now. Perhaps I will write an article explaining why in the near future.
Just pray more and do more research. Read Newman and Chesterton and Edmund campion and the converts from Anglicanism that lost so much by becoming Catholic. Read stripping of the altars to see how much was lost.
At best you could say Elizabeth founded the Anglican Church to try to unify a broken country, at worst that Henry viii just wanted an heir (or to bed Anne bolyn)… not exactly great conviction in the truth either way.
It might be cool to write an article together with replies and rejoinders, a la Lewis’ The Personal Heresy! If you decide you do want to write on why not Catholicism and would be interested in turning it into an exchange of letters :)
The Anglican position is completely tenable. The idea that what Jesus had in mind was the Catholic Church, and ONLY the Catholic Church... now THAT'S untenable.
The idea that He would define “one unified church” as one of the most corrupt institutions in human history, and on the basis of that same institution simply declaring itself so, is indeed absurd.
I am leaving a Baptist church and highly considering Catholicism. My brother became Anglican for a few years before finally converting to the RCC. It makes sense that Christ desired one, unified church and not a 1000+ schisms.
Well, you've already bought into the absurdity that if you're not Catholic you're a "schism," so go the rest of the way and swear allegiance to Rome. Pretty convenient that the Catholics define "one unified church" as ... them. The ACTUAL definition of "one unified church" is the Biblical one -- "all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved." Become a Catholic if you want, with all it entails (supreme arrogance, Mary worship, praying to saints instead of directly to God, the belief that the heinous crimes of the RCC throughout the centuries were actually GOOD THINGS), but dont be deceived that God will be checking church membership cards at Heaven's door.
As a former Catholic, I would advise you to stay millions of miles away from Catholicism. The church fathers you admire would not recognize it right now.
1. Most of the New Testament was written by 70 A.D. D and all of it was written by 100 A.D..
2. The earliest documents of the New Testament circulated between the various churches and the eastern Mediterranean before there was a book-binding process.
3. All of the authors of the epistles and the book of Revelation either quoted or alluded to sections of the Old Testament
4. Paul told Timothy that “all scripture is divinely inspired and useful for correction, reproof, instruction and training in righteousness.“ (2 Timothy 3: 16-17). Since the New Testament had yet to be fully written, let alone compiled, Paul obviously was referring to the Old Testament.
5. When Paul preached in a synagogue in Berea, the Berean Jews “search the scriptures” to find out if Paul is preaching about Jesus was correct (Acts 17).
I am missing your point. The early apostles and disciples were not “Catholic.” They were followers of Christ Jesus. How does this litany above prove Catholicism is the only true church? Thanks in advance…
Which litany are you talking about? If you are referring to my comment about scripture, my point was to criticize the Catholic idea that a fourth-century council canonized the New Testament, giving the Catholic Church the authority to interpret it.
It’s not about it being in one volume but what is part of the canon- why not the gospel of Thomas or other apostolic letters?? Who decided that and why?
I’m not a regular reader here, but I can relate to much of this. My husband and I joined a confessional Lutheran church for similar reasons right after he graduated with his MA Theology from a prominent evangelical/interdenominational seminary. He went to our synod’s seminary for his MDiv (lol yes that second shot at seminary life was hard for me to swallow at first) and is now a Lutheran pastor.
Anyway, it’s been a good and humbling and beautiful journey, but the goodbyes were and still are oh-so hard.
Saying a prayer for God’s continued guidance for you and your family.
Our little once Calvary Chapel church just recently pivoted to Reformed Baptist (1689). One elder correctly summed up our new tradition, “we have more in common with Presbyterians and Anglicans than we have with a Baptist church down the street.”
Welcome to the Anglican fellowship of Christ’s one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church! Many of us came similarly from evangelical/protestant backgrounds to find ourselves here. It’s a great fellowship, but not without its problems: women’s ordination in ACNA (along with a liberal diocese in C4SO) being the theological elephant in the room right now. So we need theologically informed “converts” like yourselves to join us!
I understand this. I was Southern Baptist my entire life, and then, I found myself unable to continue in the tradition. I chose Catholicism because I was desperate to understand the sacred nature of God. I was worn out on church theatrics and the dismissal of the sacrament. God is a holy being, and I never felt his holiness consistently worshipped until I attended a Catholic church. I cannot agree with every doctrine of the church. I'm far too Baptist to be agreeable. But I can appreciate the doctrines of the church and their weight.
Welcome aboard! Former non-denom/baptist myself, now an ACNA priest and college minister.
It sounds like you’re already further along on this than I was when I converted (the Anglican methodology of doing theology won me first, the messiness and family dynamic of doctrinal difference and commonality within the communion), but one piece of advice:
The prayerbook and a prayerbook spirituality is the heart of Anglicanism. Drink it in, daily and deeply!
Hey Taylor! Thanks a lot. My family has been doing evening prayer every night together, and my wife and I do morning prayer on our own. We've been using the BCP since before we changed denominations. I have fallen deeply in love with the BCP and am so upset I had no idea about it until I was 30. I have even recommended it to a lot of my Baptist friends who do not plan on changing, but also use it on a daily basis.
This article might help you understand my hermeneutic. I do not put the Fathers above Scripture. I use the consensus of the Church throughout history to help me understand Scripture. The Church is the pillar and bulwark of the truth: https://saintsandsociety.substack.com/p/heresy-of-heresies-all-is-heresy
The church is a pillar of truth, as should be every Believer. Jesus, the Word of God, claimed to be the Truth, and is the only reliable source of truth through the Holy Spirit. The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord. Any other foundation is prone to failure, as useful as it may be.
I went through my own de-Baptisting from 2007-2017, and was deeply challenged by the claims of the Roman Catholic and Lutheran communions during that time. Ultimately, the force of Scripture compels me to be Reformed, even if the churches aren’t always… my favorite.
Anyway, congratulations on landing, and may the Anglican communion allow you to worship God in Spirit and in truth for many generations.
This is the first of your articles I have read, so it's a weird time to jump into the conversation, but good on you, I went through a similar experience recently myself. I wound up becoming a confessional Lutheran (LCMS), so I would say you guys came in a close second ;)
I’m astonished at how similar your story is to mine. I grew up evangelical, and had the convictions you describe pretty much in the order you described them. I’ve turned to Anglicanism as well. It’s very encouraging to hear convictions similar to mine out so well. Peace be upon you.
I'm Catholic, and thought this was heading towards y'all being Orthodox, lol. That seems to be where a lot of people are ending up.
There's much in the Anglican tradition that's beautiful. I am (probably unsurprisingly) curious why you're not Catholic and will probably be spending some time mentally tallying up the ways the two traditions are different in an effort to suss it out...please do write that article on why you ended up where you did!
Seems to be the same story for a majority of cradle Baptist, as growing up we realize the importance of tradition and truth that can be traced further than just 400 years.
I'm so sad that this humble, carefully written article inspired some of you to such hatefulness. Regardless of your theology, can we not agree that God is love and that Jesus asked us to love one another? Sheesh, I'd hate to be someone outside Christianity looking in on this nastiness. It's not just defensive of your own corners. It's hateful (amongst the respectful discussions).
Believe it or not, it's possible to be an intelligent, faithful Anglican, read the church fathers (yes, and the doctor Scott Hahn and Father Mike) and decide not to join the Catholic Church. Go ahead. Burn me at the stake why don't you?
Oh, I know it’s hard to leave a tradition that nourished you… infant baptism is so important and are the sacraments… but keep going, the Anglican position isn’t really tenable… come all the way home. ❤️ Brad Gregory’s lectures on the reformation are very informative. Scott Hahn’s rome sweet home is good.
Scripture was put together by the early church.
I appreciate Catholicism for many reasons, but I definitely cannot align with it for now. Perhaps I will write an article explaining why in the near future.
Hey, I'm fine with any tradition. I would be curious why specifically not rcc. I'm also interested in if you looked into eo.
Just pray more and do more research. Read Newman and Chesterton and Edmund campion and the converts from Anglicanism that lost so much by becoming Catholic. Read stripping of the altars to see how much was lost.
At best you could say Elizabeth founded the Anglican Church to try to unify a broken country, at worst that Henry viii just wanted an heir (or to bed Anne bolyn)… not exactly great conviction in the truth either way.
that's definitely out of line of most historical interpretations.
It might be cool to write an article together with replies and rejoinders, a la Lewis’ The Personal Heresy! If you decide you do want to write on why not Catholicism and would be interested in turning it into an exchange of letters :)
The Anglican position is completely tenable. The idea that what Jesus had in mind was the Catholic Church, and ONLY the Catholic Church... now THAT'S untenable.
Yes the idea that our Lord wanted one unified church is completely absurd…
The idea that He would define “one unified church” as one of the most corrupt institutions in human history, and on the basis of that same institution simply declaring itself so, is indeed absurd.
I am leaving a Baptist church and highly considering Catholicism. My brother became Anglican for a few years before finally converting to the RCC. It makes sense that Christ desired one, unified church and not a 1000+ schisms.
I was Baptist, and then became Anglican. I soon ended up Catholic. My conversion was difficult in some ways but it was the best thing I've ever done.
Well, you've already bought into the absurdity that if you're not Catholic you're a "schism," so go the rest of the way and swear allegiance to Rome. Pretty convenient that the Catholics define "one unified church" as ... them. The ACTUAL definition of "one unified church" is the Biblical one -- "all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved." Become a Catholic if you want, with all it entails (supreme arrogance, Mary worship, praying to saints instead of directly to God, the belief that the heinous crimes of the RCC throughout the centuries were actually GOOD THINGS), but dont be deceived that God will be checking church membership cards at Heaven's door.
As a former Catholic, I would advise you to stay millions of miles away from Catholicism. The church fathers you admire would not recognize it right now.
Hello Joseph, just reading your comment and wondering if you'd be willing to share or communicate via dm? I am feeking drawn towards Catholicism
Please see the DM I sent to your Substack
So how would you explain the following facts?
1. Most of the New Testament was written by 70 A.D. D and all of it was written by 100 A.D..
2. The earliest documents of the New Testament circulated between the various churches and the eastern Mediterranean before there was a book-binding process.
3. All of the authors of the epistles and the book of Revelation either quoted or alluded to sections of the Old Testament
4. Paul told Timothy that “all scripture is divinely inspired and useful for correction, reproof, instruction and training in righteousness.“ (2 Timothy 3: 16-17). Since the New Testament had yet to be fully written, let alone compiled, Paul obviously was referring to the Old Testament.
5. When Paul preached in a synagogue in Berea, the Berean Jews “search the scriptures” to find out if Paul is preaching about Jesus was correct (Acts 17).
I am missing your point. The early apostles and disciples were not “Catholic.” They were followers of Christ Jesus. How does this litany above prove Catholicism is the only true church? Thanks in advance…
Which litany are you talking about? If you are referring to my comment about scripture, my point was to criticize the Catholic idea that a fourth-century council canonized the New Testament, giving the Catholic Church the authority to interpret it.
A ton was written by 100 A.D. but how was it put together??
I don’t think many people worried about putting it in one volume until the technology existed to do so. Most of these documents were scrolls.
It’s not about it being in one volume but what is part of the canon- why not the gospel of Thomas or other apostolic letters?? Who decided that and why?
I’m not a regular reader here, but I can relate to much of this. My husband and I joined a confessional Lutheran church for similar reasons right after he graduated with his MA Theology from a prominent evangelical/interdenominational seminary. He went to our synod’s seminary for his MDiv (lol yes that second shot at seminary life was hard for me to swallow at first) and is now a Lutheran pastor.
Anyway, it’s been a good and humbling and beautiful journey, but the goodbyes were and still are oh-so hard.
Saying a prayer for God’s continued guidance for you and your family.
Our little once Calvary Chapel church just recently pivoted to Reformed Baptist (1689). One elder correctly summed up our new tradition, “we have more in common with Presbyterians and Anglicans than we have with a Baptist church down the street.”
Welcome aboard.
Welcome to the Anglican fellowship of Christ’s one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church! Many of us came similarly from evangelical/protestant backgrounds to find ourselves here. It’s a great fellowship, but not without its problems: women’s ordination in ACNA (along with a liberal diocese in C4SO) being the theological elephant in the room right now. So we need theologically informed “converts” like yourselves to join us!
I understand this. I was Southern Baptist my entire life, and then, I found myself unable to continue in the tradition. I chose Catholicism because I was desperate to understand the sacred nature of God. I was worn out on church theatrics and the dismissal of the sacrament. God is a holy being, and I never felt his holiness consistently worshipped until I attended a Catholic church. I cannot agree with every doctrine of the church. I'm far too Baptist to be agreeable. But I can appreciate the doctrines of the church and their weight.
Welcome aboard! Former non-denom/baptist myself, now an ACNA priest and college minister.
It sounds like you’re already further along on this than I was when I converted (the Anglican methodology of doing theology won me first, the messiness and family dynamic of doctrinal difference and commonality within the communion), but one piece of advice:
The prayerbook and a prayerbook spirituality is the heart of Anglicanism. Drink it in, daily and deeply!
God bless yall
Hey Taylor! Thanks a lot. My family has been doing evening prayer every night together, and my wife and I do morning prayer on our own. We've been using the BCP since before we changed denominations. I have fallen deeply in love with the BCP and am so upset I had no idea about it until I was 30. I have even recommended it to a lot of my Baptist friends who do not plan on changing, but also use it on a daily basis.
I would encourage anyone to read the Church Fathers. However, they should be read in light of Scripture, not the other way round.
This article might help you understand my hermeneutic. I do not put the Fathers above Scripture. I use the consensus of the Church throughout history to help me understand Scripture. The Church is the pillar and bulwark of the truth: https://saintsandsociety.substack.com/p/heresy-of-heresies-all-is-heresy
We disagree on the identity of the pillar and bulwark of the truth. Councils have been contradictory and wrong. Useful, but only under Scripture.
The pillar of truth is the Church though... (1 Timothy 3:15)
The church is a pillar of truth, as should be every Believer. Jesus, the Word of God, claimed to be the Truth, and is the only reliable source of truth through the Holy Spirit. The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord. Any other foundation is prone to failure, as useful as it may be.
I went through my own de-Baptisting from 2007-2017, and was deeply challenged by the claims of the Roman Catholic and Lutheran communions during that time. Ultimately, the force of Scripture compels me to be Reformed, even if the churches aren’t always… my favorite.
Anyway, congratulations on landing, and may the Anglican communion allow you to worship God in Spirit and in truth for many generations.
Amen. God leads His dear children along.
This is the first of your articles I have read, so it's a weird time to jump into the conversation, but good on you, I went through a similar experience recently myself. I wound up becoming a confessional Lutheran (LCMS), so I would say you guys came in a close second ;)
LCMS was near the top of the denominations I was considering! Love you guys over there!
I’m astonished at how similar your story is to mine. I grew up evangelical, and had the convictions you describe pretty much in the order you described them. I’ve turned to Anglicanism as well. It’s very encouraging to hear convictions similar to mine out so well. Peace be upon you.
Welcome to the ACNA, friend! I share many of the same convictions. I joined my ACNA church over one year ago!
I'm Catholic, and thought this was heading towards y'all being Orthodox, lol. That seems to be where a lot of people are ending up.
There's much in the Anglican tradition that's beautiful. I am (probably unsurprisingly) curious why you're not Catholic and will probably be spending some time mentally tallying up the ways the two traditions are different in an effort to suss it out...please do write that article on why you ended up where you did!
Seems to be the same story for a majority of cradle Baptist, as growing up we realize the importance of tradition and truth that can be traced further than just 400 years.
Leaving the Baptist church is actually the most Baptist you could be
This was beautifully written. I hope you find what you are looking for.