Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Augustine Key to Reformation

In speaking of the necessary and hopeful reformation within the predominantly black church, our brother Scotty Williams has suggested that Saint Augustine may hold the key.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

“I should not believe the gospel except as moved by the authority of the Catholic Church” -- St Augustine..

It is time, my friend, to come home to the Mother Church....

Scotty J. Williams said...

What the?......My friend in his day Augustine was not hyped up on the church of Rome (no offense to it), but the Catholic church he spoke about was the church at large, and in his day it was pre East-West schism. If anything the church of Rome at the time of the Reformers was unworthy of the authority which Augustine speaks of. The Reformers if anything leaned on the works of the the church fathers and called the church back to following the tradition of old. Things in the church of Rome are much different now and I believe that Christ is once again with it, but I also believe that since the Reformers looked back to the church fathers that the Reformed faith is in line with apostolic succession and tradition and is therefore a valid Christian tradition.

I believe that since our theology is Augustinian in origin that St. Augustine would have no problems with us (save our non-episcopal system of church government, non-allegiance to the pope, and different liturgies). I also believe that Augustine just might look to the true meaning of catholic (universal) and say that we are somewhat permissable because his understanding of what it means to be catholic would allow for different forms of expression (such as the East and Western churches of his day). Though I do not feel that we need to erase Protestantism have everyone be Roman Catholic, I think that we should press for better dialogue and realize that we are all a part of the one, holy, catholic (universal), and apostolic church of His Excellency Jesus Christ; which is not the church of Rome is not alone but a part of. So my friend we are home in the Mother church.

Jerry Joplin said...

Although I disagree, I respect your beliefs. Thanks for the response.

Peace be with you!