Anglicans discussion

So sorry I have been an absent moderator. I've been volunteering helping refugees from Myanmar. I have missed you all ☺

I had planned to read:
Death on a Friday Afternoon: Meditations on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross
by Richard John Neuhaus for a Lenten daily reading. I am reading it with the Benedicts online bookclub and thought, why not see if my Anglican friends want to read it in this group as well. I will post my comments on the readings in both book clubs. For those who have already read it, you can jump in any time with insights. Ah to copy and paste will make this all so easy to be in 2 groups at the same time. The wonder of cyber space!

If anyone is planning another Lenten read, feel free to start a thread for that book as well.

Here is some of the discussion from "The Benedict Book Club"(do go to the group and look up some of the discussions. They are very interesting.) :


I like this chapter (chap # 2). I like his emphasis on "judge not." I also appreciate his stress on mercy.

"Our gratitude for a mercy so gratuitous is in no way dependent upon others not receiving the same mercy. Jesus did not say, " You shall be with me, Dymas, but Gestas shall not." The Bible's words of warning and promise are, as St. Paul says, to lead each one of us to repentance. I am to hear those words addressed to me. Curiosity about what will happen to others is an idle distraction. That is God's business. On this score, too, Peter had to be reproached by Jesus. Recall at the end of the Fourth gospel how Peter wants to know what is going to happen to John. Jesus tells Peter, " If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" If it is my will that every last child of Adam ever conceived will be with me in paradise, what is that to you? You follow me!

I say that I hope that all will be saved. I do not know. Nobody knows. Only God knows. And we must recognize that these are arguments against that hope. Some contend, for instance that such a hope undercuts the urgency of evangelization, of sharing the gospel with others. I do not think that is the case, and later I will explain why...

He doesn't quite seem to preach universalism here. I think his "Nobody knows. Only God knows" covers the base for not straying from orthodoxy.

I like how he brings up the story of Peter being concerned about what will happen to John. How that speaks to me to just focus on God's wonderful love in Christ Jesus. I need to just enjoy him, love him and serve him and not worry about the judgment or state of others. I can still care and minister to others, but with an emphasis on mercy, not judgment. How freeing this is. I can leave all the judging up to Him and simply LOVE!






312471 Skylar said,
One thing I have noticed is a notable difference between Catholicism and Protestantism, and which may have something to do with the difference in evangelism, is that in Protestantism (at least in many strands of it), it is considered a sin to doubt your salvation (the sin of despair), whereas in Catholicism, quite the opposite, it is considered a sin to assume your salvation (the sin of presumption). Thus Catholics, perhaps, are much more concerned with the state of their own souls than the state of other people's souls.

In reference to the above,yes,I have noticed this. Even though I wrote what I did above about leaving the "judgment" to God, I still do have great concern about whether people really know the Lord. I still feel so strong towards evangelism.

I am about halfway through the Nuehaus book and still getting a lot out of it. My hubby and I are taking turns with the book and sharing our one copy, so I'm getting through it slowly. Slow however is good for a deep book like this.

Is anyone else reading anything special for lent? Scripture, a book or devotional?

Is anyone thinking of doing a Lenten reading, or anything special that they would like to share with the group? I would love to do a Lenten devotional with another group member. You chose a book and I will join you, (unless I can't get the book at my library)!