Faith in a time of crisis

Sep 14, 2017 by

by The Rev Nigel Fortescue, GAFCON:

The following article is a review of Rev. Vaughan Roberts and Archbishop Peter Jensen’s new book – Faith in a time of crisis. The book is published by Matthias Media.

Why invest time in reading a book about controversies and divisions witht the Anglican denomination?

With this question the editor of ‘Faith in a Time of Crisis’ (Geoff Robson) opens a book that is timely, essential reading. The answer to his question is, of course, that in the controversies and divisions the gospel is at stake. It is no longer reasonable to assume that the bloodlines of British politeness that run through Anglicanism will hold the Communion together.

The fractures caused by the actions of some Anglican leaders over the past two decades have exposed the reality that at least two different gospels are being preached and believed in the Anglican Church across the world. With this in mind, Roberts and Jensen write to encourage, urge and compel us to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

In typical Roberts style the book is surprisingly short, easy to read and filled with engaging illustrations and sharp pastoral challenge. Several questions were added to my “discuss with staff” list as I read the five chapters that unpack the True Gospel, True Sex, True Love, True Unity and True Faith – the last written by Peter Jensen.

Drawing on solid exegesis, the Anglican formularies, the example of some of the heroes of the faith, scientific research and personal example, the book winsomely draws us back to listen to our gracious God who loves us. We know he loves us because he has spoken to us in his authoritative Word of the gracious sending of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We know he loves us because he has called us to repent and believe the gospel and then to live out that gospel in all of life. We know the church is off track because much of this is denied and distorted.

The sharp edge of the evidence of this distortion is the acceptance of homosexuality within the Anglican Church. Throughout the book Roberts comes back to this reality repeatedly but is at pains to say that the real issue is about how we view, interpret and apply the Bible and the shape the gospel takes as we do so.

Read here

 

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