Druid and Christian, Pagan and Christian, Muslim and Christian? Apparently, there are those within churches claiming the name of Christ who believe the term “Christian” is adjectival, a nominal label that one may wear at one’s own choosing. Just as we have Italian Americans, African Americans, and Arab Americans, now, in some religious denominations, you can be a Druid Christian, a Pagan Christian or even a Muslim Christian. We have it on the authority of the would-be messiah, Tom Cruise, that one can be a Scientologist Christian.
Some, perhaps many, of my readers already know the story of the woman Episcopal church priest, out in Washington state’s diocese of Olympia, who is a practicing Muslim (pdf file, go to page 9). Stand Firm has a good analysis of the recent revelation, especially as it notes the the following:
- May 2004 - The Diocese of Michigan co-sponsors “Together in Faith,” a seminar featuring workshops by a witch and a trans-gendered pagan.
- October 2004 - In the Diocese of Pennsylvania, ordained Episcopal husband-and-wife priests Bill and Glyn Melnyk (who for years had moonlighted as Druid priests) ran into trouble when 815’s Office for Women’s Ministry published one of the couple’s pagan liturgies. Bill Melnyk, known in Druid circles as “Oakwyse” (and occasionally, though inexplicably, “Bran”), left the Episcopal priesthood soon afterward, to become a full-time Druid priest.
- April 2006 - Maury Johnston, an Episcopal lay leader whose articles had been published by a number of prominent blogs on the Episcopal left, turned out to be a very active pagan whose nom de coven was “Shadwynn.”
- May 2006 - The Episcopal Church Center Bookstore in New York was found to be offering a book titled “Love Spells,” which contained “…a host of tried and tested spells, potions, and rituals that will help you find out just how to bring love into your life.”
Remember, now, this is the same denomination that brought up on presentment charges the bishop of San Joaquin for hinting that his diocese might leave the Episcopal Church (such charges were later nullified after consideration). San Joaquin is one of the few dioceses in ECUSA/TEC that does not ordain women, and holds to traditionalist Christian faith and practice.
So, apparently, as long as one is an “and Christian,” especially if one is a druid, pagan, Muslim or some other religion that has been a persecutor of Christianity, that’s okay. But 815 forbid that one is simply an “orthodox Christian.”
It amazes me how uptight folks get over the sexuality issues in the Episcopal Church–and don’t get me wrong, I’ve highlighted them and they are not lightly to be dismissed–when the worst of it is that episcopal hierarchies throughout the denomination tolerate outright apostasy and blasphemy against Christ.
Because, to speak bluntly, here’s the deal: if you claim to be anything else but a Christian, if you adjectivize the name of Christ so that he becomes some sort of fashion label that one mixes and matches with blasphemous denials of Christ and outright apostasy, then you are not a Christian, but Christ’s worst enemy, a modern-day Judas who effectively spits on the crucified Christ whose name you trample underfoot.
I realize that my Anglican friends, as well as others, my find my continuing criticism of ECUSA/TEC as unfair and a bit on the impolite side. After all, I abandoned the denomination for good back on Epiphany 2002; I no longer have a dog in the fight. Why do I still bother? Dead horses beaten and all that.
I suppose for the most part it is because I still have friends for whom I pray (see my recent post about Fr Jim, for example) that make their living as priests in the Episcopal Church. I care about them and would to God that they could find the means to flee such a denomination that tolerates blasphemy and apostasy. Surely they recognize by now that there will be no reform for the Episcopal Church, but only continuing devolution.
It may also be in part something of a means of penance: to remind myself that I am subject to self-deception and error just like anyone else. I recall how fervently I affirmed to my wife that I thought the Episcopal Church was God’s will for us. Anna had the good sense never to be confirmed in the Episcopal Church; and to allow me to follow my error as far as my pride would let me. And it isn’t as though these recent blasphemies were without precedent prior to my own joining of the Episcopal Church: Pike and Spong were already names of infamy. I just didn’t dig deep enough and was unwilling (and naive) enough to fail to see the truth. The Lord had mercy on me, by sticking me in a spot where the rose colored glasses would not only fail to hide the truth, but would in fact be shattered and stomped on.
But mostly, I hope, it is a reminder to myself to continue to pray. Not for ECUSA. Ichabod has been written there; as the rest of the Christian world has seen. But most definitely for my friends and their families. There are dark and painful days ahead for them, I think. But, too, the light shines brightest at those times.
Lord have mercy on us. And to my Anglican friends: pray for me a sinner.
This sort of thing is precisely the reason I had to end communion with the Episcopal Church USA (nka The Episcopal Church) after nearly 15 years . . . other issues were problems, scandals, what have you. But the failure of bishops to discipline priests who publicly claim to be “Buddhist and Christian” and “Sufi and Christian” and, as you show us here, “Muslim and Christian,” amounts to an abandonment of office and of the faith, in my opinion, and reveals the true nature of the problem - not sexual immorality but a departure from preaching Christ aright. The Creed is said, but not believed.
Alas. Alas. And, like you, I know good priests and laity that are struggling yet within this morass to preach Christ the Word made flesh, crucified and risen on the third day. I think you do right to point out these things. Obviously, a degree in New Testament does not make one immune, nor a teaching post in theology and these things serve to remind us to hold fast to the traditions given to us.
Lord have mercy on us all.
I love the part in the Muslim/Priestess’ comments regarding the mutually exclusive Muslim and Christian views of Christ: “There have always been disagreements about the details….” With seminary trained theologians like that at the pastoral helm…. wellll, don’t get me started.
s-p, former ECUSA member