Traditional

How do you define 'traditional'? There is a spectrum of worship in Anglicanism:

1. Churches which use the Sarum Rite (Rite of Mass used before the English Reformation)
2. Churches which use the traditional (pre-Vatican II) Roman Catholic Mass (in the vernacular)
3. Churches which use the modern (post-Vatican II) Roman Catholic Mass
4. Churches which use the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (possibly with outward trappings of Roman Catholicism such as vestments, incense, 6 candlesticks on or behind the altar)
5. Churches which use a liturgy from a modern prayer book based on the BCP, but with the most traditional options, and the outward trappings of Roman Catholicism mentioned in no. 4.
Note: All of the above would (most likely) have traditional hymns accompanied by an organ.
6. Churches which use a modern prayer book liturgy without the outward trappings of Roman Catholicism (priest wears cassock, surplice and stole, for example).
7. Churches which have a 'contemporary' worship service with modern music played with guitar, drums etc.

Where would you place your church? Is it down low on the list or relatively high? The church I go to is category number 5, and it is still described as an Anglo-Catholic church. If you're currently attending a category 7 church, then you would have a good reason for wanting to move. Please rate your church for us, please, so we know what you're dealing with.

New Bible Version ?

NEW BIBLE VERSIONS REMOVE ‘FATHER’ AND ‘SON OF GOD’ BECAUSE IT OFFENDS MUSLIMS

by OCP on JANUARY 30, 2012

in FEATURED NEWS,NEWS

30/1/2012
Jihad Watch

American Bible translators bowdlerize scriptures to avoid offending Muslims: no “Father” and “Son”

If this is true, for the parties they are trying not to offend, anything short of Islam — of professing that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is his messenger — would be “offensive.” This is not making Christianity more palatable. It is de-Christianizing it. It is manufacturing yet another Christian heresy.

Indeed, for many denominations, the validity of baptism depends on the words used: “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” No euphemisms, no nicknames: for example, trial balloons aiming to portray a more gender-neutral God have already been burst: the use of “Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier” in baptism has been rejected by the Catholic Church, if not others.

Those who truly believe they are winning souls for Christ would not risk the validity of baptism, and those who are genuinely convinced that they possess the truth will not apologize or worry it is offensive.

As a technical matter, one wonders how the translators handle the words: “Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). And “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33).

One last bit of holy writ: “You might as well fall flat on your face as lean over too far backward.” – James Thurber

“‘Father’ and ‘Son’ Ousted from the Trinity in New Bible Translations,” by Hussein Hajj Wario for the Yahoo! Contributor Network, January 27 (thanks to CGW):

A controversy is brewing over three reputable Christian organizations, which are based in North America, whose efforts have ousted the words “Father” and “Son” from new Bibles. Wycliffe Bible Translators, Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) and Frontiers are under fire for “producing Bibles that remove “Father,” “Son” and “Son of God” because these terms are offensive to Muslims.” Concerned Christian missionaries, Bible translators, pastors, and national church leaders have come together with a public petition to stop these organizations. They claim a public petition is their last recourse because meetings with these organizations’ leaders, staff resignations over this issue and criticism and appeals from native national Christians concerned about the translations “have failed to persuade these agencies to retain “Father” and “Son” in the text of all their translations.”

Clearly, they fail to appreciate the far-reaching ramifications that Christians not only may dare, but are commanded to call on the Creator of the Universe as “Father.” That fundamentally re-wires one’s relationship with God and describes a unique intimacy and bond of love that ought not be squandered to score short-term points.

Biblical Missiology, a ministry of Boulder, Colorado-based Horizon International, is sponsoring the petition.

The main issues of this controversy surround new Arabic and Turkish translations. Here are three examples native speakers give:

First, Wycliffe and SIL have produced Stories of the Prophets, an Arabic Bible that uses an Arabic equivalent of “Lord” instead of “Father” and “Messiah” instead of “Son.”

Second, Frontiers and SIL have produced Meaning of the Gospel of Christ , an Arabic translation which removes “Father” in reference to God and replaces it with “Allah,” and removes or redefines “Son.” For example, the verse which Christians use to justify going all over the world to make disciples, thus fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) reads, “Cleanse them by water in the name of Allah, his Messiah and his Holy Spirit” instead of “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Rev. Bassam Madany, an Arab American who runs Middle East Resources, terms these organization’s efforts as “a western imperialistic attempt that’s inspired by cultural anthropology, and not by biblical theology.”

Third, Frontiers and SIL have produced a new Turkish translation of the Gospel of Matthew that uses Turkish equivalents of “guardian” for “Father” and “representative” or “proxy” for “Son.” To Turkish church leader Rev. Fikret Böcek, “This translation is ‘an all-American idea’ with absolutely no respect for the ‘sacredness’ of Scripture, or even of the growing Turkish church.”

SIL has issued a public response stating “all personnel subscribe to a statement of faith which affirms the Trinity, Christ’s deity, and the inspiration of Scripture.” However, in the same statement, which is similar to Wycliffe’s, it claims “word-for-word translation of these titles would communicate an incorrect meaning (i.e. that God had physical, sexual relationships with Mary) [sic],” thus justifying substituting “Father” and “Son” in new translations. Calls and emails to Wycliffe and SIL to clarify their positions were not returned. Frontiers responded to calls with articles that critics have already dismissed as skirting omissions of “Father” and “Son” in new Bible translations.

The point about sexual connotations is baloney. Many of these countries have, or once had indigenous Christian populations with scriptures in indigenous languages where this was not a problem. If they’re coming up with something untoward, they need better translators.

Source:

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ACP, to plant growing and reproducing churches for 2012 and beyond....

Plant a seed and reap a harvest, start a mission and reap a planted church!

After the resurrection, Christ commissioned His eleven disciples to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and though them to observe the things He commanded them to do. He said, He will be with them always. The same command He extended to us, the 21st century Church. We are to be the light of the world that dispels darkness, the salt of the earth, to bring transformation to our communities and society and to bring hope to the hopeless, sight to the blind and to set free those who were captive. But, the church today were crippled by our unhappy division, hatred, prejudices and competion are within Her ranks and congregations, this kind of attitude hampers the growth towards maturity and slows down the progress for unity. The fragmentations brought by these divisions strips Her of vitality and stamina that cause Her not to be an effective witnesses for Christ before the world. The scandals, heresies and the most serious of these is Apostasy that brings death to Her faith that leads to Idolatry, arrogance, self sufficiency and liberalism. I'm not surprise that most beautiful church buildings today are converted to museums which was not intended to be by the faithfuls from the very beginning. The church did drifted away from the standard that God set before Her and one of these was to bring hope and ligth to the nations.

The challenge is to restore to the church what was lost, her first love, her savor to preserve her dying effectivity as living witnesses for Christ and to display God's manifold wisdom and grace to the World.

The book of revelation speaks of the present condition of the Church today where Jesus addressed it to the seven churches about their contaminated attitudes by the world. Christ pointed out their shortcomings against God's set standards and offers remedy to escape God's avenging wrath to come. At the end of every confronting words Christ challenge them by allowing their insensitive heart and dull ears to hear to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches and to grant a great reward for the overcomers. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him! May our heart be in tuned to His Holy Spirit and hear what is He saying to us today.

ACPT

New year's greeting to all.

Happy New year!

We have given another year full of God's goodness, may we use our God given ability to give Him back the Glory.

May this year challenge us to do more and excel in God's vineyard, ministry and Job. God Bless.

MAP

2012 Opprtuinities

Open door 2012, a fresh start this New Year for Missionary and Clergy interested to join MAP and want start a mission ministry. Interested? Send us an email.

Looking for a missionary?

Are you a community who is in need of a Priest or a congregation in need of a Missionary? Please contact us in our address posted at our webpage.

Affiliation

We welcome Clergy and Ministers who are willing to join our mission in the Anglican Church also Independent Evangelical and Pentecostal Churches interested to affiliate with MAP here in the Philippines and abroad.
Interested Clergy can call or send us an email.