tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782597.post3325262044794805868..comments2024-02-14T19:05:20.541-06:00Comments on The Arrow's Path: Article 29: Of the WickedThe Archer of the Foresthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03075768526819990250noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782597.post-91912437026015176382012-05-17T08:42:18.385-05:002012-05-17T08:42:18.385-05:00Luckily, I have never seen this problem in South D...Luckily, I have never seen this problem in South Dakota. That was mainly when I was a Seminarian in urban Chicago that my Priest/supervisor had to warn me about. I didn't believe him at first, but I saw it happen a few times. It was, indeed, creepy. <br /><br />Usually the way it works in the Episcopal church for potential demon possession and all that is that the Bishop has to be informed. Usually the Bishop will send in an investigatory team to identify the problem and report back. If the team, after interviewing everyone involved, thinks that an exorcism might be warranted, they inform the Bishop. The Bishop then usually has a Diocesan exorcist, whose identity is usually kept confidential to avoid cranks and practical jokers preying on that particular priest, get involved. At least, that was the practice in Nebraska. I've never actually queried the Bishop of South Dakota on his policies on such issues. <br /><br />Any priest, however, can do a House blessing, particularly if there is an odd spiritual feel to a place. I have done this a number of times. There is a rite for it in the Book of Occasional services. I even had to bless a construction site one time when I was in Lincoln because bizarre accidents kept happening and it was spooking the workers. <br /><br />And there is a fine line to be walked in the discernment of such things. I don't know if I would go so far as to label it "Christian witchcraft" but it can certainly become oogie boogie superstition if there isn't community discernment on the issue. I know Christians that are convinced there is a demon under every doily, and I do not believe that is correct, but I also do not dismiss the idea that there is evil in the world apart from man, and that evil can be manifested in certain instances.The Archer of the Foresthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03075768526819990250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782597.post-81397037730327223512012-05-16T21:34:04.882-05:002012-05-16T21:34:04.882-05:00Regarding demoniacs, my charismatic churching alwa...Regarding demoniacs, my charismatic churching always laid out elaborate groundwork for how the examples in the Bible truly did want healing--at the very least their human will kept them from doing as the pigs did.<br /><br />This coming from a group that is heavily faith based on everything.<br /><br />Then again, I've also seen what Harold Eberle calls Christian witchcraft in such practice.<br /><br />I'm not a theologian, though, so I don't know how scholarly any of that is. <br /><br />Stealing communion? That is just freakish.Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09083723561300334310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782597.post-8544641695984222942012-05-16T16:08:46.158-05:002012-05-16T16:08:46.158-05:00Well, I have seen Satan worshipers come up and try...Well, I have seen Satan worshipers come up and try to steal a Communion host for their own deviant Black Mass purposes, which is why I always make sure I see the person actually consume it. So, I think it in fact might be a problem in some places. At the very lease, there are those "Wicked" that would see actual power in the consecrated elements.The Archer of the Foresthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03075768526819990250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782597.post-70238897046707875412012-05-16T13:15:11.545-05:002012-05-16T13:15:11.545-05:00Hopefully you won't be faced with demoniacs at...Hopefully you won't be faced with demoniacs at the communion rail, but the article probably is concerned with the unrepentant wicked and not those incapable of repentance as the result of either demonic possession or mental incompetence.Undergroundpewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10182191422663119484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782597.post-23166404140043405642012-05-16T11:52:31.889-05:002012-05-16T11:52:31.889-05:00There's at least one problem with that. Jesus ...There's at least one problem with that. Jesus heals Demoniacs, and they didn't want to be healed at the time. Therefore, that train of thought goes off the rails.The Archer of the Foresthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03075768526819990250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782597.post-77283402152454193812012-05-16T10:59:49.039-05:002012-05-16T10:59:49.039-05:00Well said (regarding "Open Communion").
...Well said (regarding "Open Communion").<br /><br />As far as the Article is concerned I refer to Bicknell's Theological Introduction to the 39 Articles:<br /><br />"This article does not in any way deny the 'real presence', it only rules out any carnal view of it. To give an illustration: when our Lord was on earth He possessed healing power quite independently of the faith of men; but only those who possessed faith could get into touch with it. Many touched His garments, but only the woman who had faith was healed (Mk 5:30). The healing power was there: the touch of faith did not create it, but faith as it were, opened the channel to appropriate the blessing. So in the Eucharist, Christ in all His saving power is present. The wicked are only capable of receiving the visible and material signs of His presence. But those who approach with faith can receive the inward grace and become partakers of Christ by feeding on His Body and Blood." (Bicknell 3rd ed. p. 400)Undergroundpewsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10182191422663119484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8782597.post-20678139599289987342012-05-16T09:14:00.650-05:002012-05-16T09:14:00.650-05:00This is horrifying! I had no idea open communion w...This is horrifying! I had no idea open communion was being misconstrued in such a way! How hideous!<br /><br />Granted I appreciate the likes of neo-anabaptist Shane Claiborne and crew who use 'Communion' as a protection for feeding the homeless despite public laws against feeding the homeless at their city parks, but they do it tongue in cheek, I believe.<br /><br />How can the Episcopal Church possibly sanction such insanity? Its as bad as the churches who refuse communion to other Christians based on denominational membership. Its the opposite side of the same coin. <br /><br />75% of the reason I sought confirmation in the Episcopal Church was because though I was welcome to take communion as a baptised Christian, I so thoroughly appreciated the service of the mass and the posture of the church to all Christians that I wanted to be part of such a thing. UGH.<br /><br />You're right--the Bible could NOT be plainer on the subject. The Book of Common Prayer could not be plainer! Why else do we spend so much time confessing our sins? <br /><br />However, I must say I'm afraid that such a thing would be inevitable in a church still practicing infant baptism as preferable to adult baptism. Its lost its meaning in the realm of adult responsibility. Perhaps if they'd passed that back in the 70s we wouldn't be in this debacle.Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09083723561300334310noreply@blogger.com