Don't Just Do Something - Stand There!

I said that right, “Don’t Just Do Something - Stand There.” You see, the liberal church for years has said, “Let’s not squabble over the Bible and doctrine. Let’s just go out there, open our doors to every sin, every new theology, and preach the message of tolerance, relativism, and personal interpretation. Let’s just do something.”

The bottom line is this; it doesn’t matter whether we go out there if we don’t have the message that saves. So, don’t just do something, stand there on the Bible. Stand there on the truth. Stand there on the gospel. Stand there on what the Bible says about Jesus. Believe that and then we’ll do something.

This spring and summer I have been teaching a series on cults and the occult. Rob, a member of the vestry at St. Andrews in Middleburgh, MA, shares my rabid interest in Apologetics. In one of our many email conversations, he sent me a scripture from Jude, a passage I hadn’t visited for awhile. Jude calls us to be lovingly contentious Christians; to stand with conviction about our faith, to care about truth, to believe in truth, and teach the truth. Why?

For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)

Jude is saying, ‘Here’s why I’m writing to you. There are people in your own congregation who have the name Christian, who say that their teaching is Christian, but they’re leading you astray. They’re teaching you false things. They’re teaching cheap grace and using it as an excuse to live a life of indifference and sin, and they’re denying the biblical historic Jesus Christ.’ Sound familiar? It certainly strikes a chord with most of us battle scarred Anglicans.

The new relativistic theology tells us that it doesn’t matter how you live as long as you’re sincere. It doesn’t matter what your life is like as long as you’re good and kind. It doesn’t matter what you believe about Jesus as long as it is relative to your expression of him.

A false teacher is a flip of the channel away, the opening of a book away, or as close as the nearest progressive congregation. False prophets and false teachers are everywhere. We need to be discerning because truth and good theology matters. What you don’t know can hurt you as false teaching can destroy souls and lives.

And so here’s Jude speaking to a group of Christians who lived in a pluralistic society, a relativistic culture that followed after many gods, many truths, many fashions, and many fads. And lo and behold, here we are 2,000 years later in a culture that’s very relativistic and pluralistic, following after many fads, many fashions, and many gods. Jude is saying to us again - care about the truth - cling to the truth - believe the truth. Be savvy enough about the truth that you can tell a false teacher from a faithful believer. Stick close to the Bible. Stick close to God’s word. Stick close to Jesus Christ. Don’t just do something, Stand There!!!

He’s saying all those things to us. And that word is just as fresh today as when he spoke it 2000 years ago. Thanks Rob, it’s been a while since I’ve looked at Jude, a simple message, with eternal consequences.

Be standing on the truth.

Bishop Ian

An Alternative Ministry Worth Fighting For

On September 17, 1944, we were part of the first wave of Allied parachute troops that landed in the Netherlands. We were part of the massive airborne assault codenamed, Operation Market Garden.


The plane carrying me and my comrades from the 101st, encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire as we approached the jump zone. Our pilots were able to hold formation, and for the most part, we were delivered to the correct drop zones.

We made our drop to the west of the main highway near the villages of Zon, St. Oedenrode, and Best. My company, the 506th Parachute Infantry E Company (Easy Company), cleared Zon, but it was slow going with lots of casualties. 1st Battalion, under General Taylor, moved around the village to the south to seize the bridge crossing at the Wilhelmina Canal, but heavy enemy fire completely pinned them down as they tried to approach the bridge. We moved out of Zon and met up with 1st Battalion. We were starting to beat back the German defenses when the Germans blew the bridge.

Some of us were called to form a strike force and we slowly made our way across the river. We were finally able to destroy the Germans who had blown up the bridge and we were able to get everyone across. It was the first time I had seen battle - the first time I saw the carnage of war - the first time I ever saw what lead and bombs could do to flesh. I had lost my faith because of that war…until I met Chaplain Steve 64 years later.

There are many stories like this one. This particular story is told through the eyes of John. He was there in that invasion; 18 years old and fresh out of training. This was his first jump as a member of Easy Company, the “Band of Brothers” made famous by the HBO miniseries of the same name.

Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. (Proverbs 20:18)

I want to fast forward a few decades. In the U.S. there are many men and women who participate in military re-enactments. They bring history alive from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, from the French and Indian War to WWII. One of the Deans of our Diocese, Fr. Stephen DelSignore is a re-enactor. He participates in an alternative ministry as a WWII Army Chaplain – in Easy Company.

Steven participates at the annual “Battle of the Bulge” reenactment at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania held every January. “Chaplain Steve,” as he is known, serves as the Chaplain for the 101st Airborne - complete with the period uniforms, and an authentic chaplain’s kit issued in the 1940’s.

When Fr. Steven told me about his involvement and how serious he was about this alternative ministry I was enthralled. You see it isn’t about men and women playing soldier. It’s about living our history, and it’s a living memorial to all the heroes of WWII - the fallen as well as those who came home.

The added reality to this memorial is that Fr. Steven is a priest. He takes his ministry with him and is able to impart to men and women, some who may never set foot in a church out side the Fort Indiantown Gap chapel, the grace of God, the Gospel of Christ.

Steven has told me several stories of his time as a Chaplain re-enactor. My favorite is the story of John. Since his experience in Holland, John hadn’t been in a church nor taken communion in over 65 years. He came to the re-enactment as a guest, meeting Chaplain Steve during his visit. By the grace of God, he reconnected with his faith while experiencing this amazing alternative ministry.

Remember, freedom has a price; it can’t be bought with dollars and cents. It can’t be measured by wealth and power. The price of freedom is rows of white markers. This weekend, celebrate your freedom, and remember what it cost.

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)

Be thankful for freedom,

Bishop Ian

John receives communion - his first since WWII

Is Jesus God?

Is Jesus God? It’s a valid question and one that separates “Christians” from – well, everyone else.

As an apologist, one of the first things I do when examining other religions is to look at what the leadership teaches and believes about Jesus. The answer to this question is key. When examining any religion, everything taught and believed depends on this answer.

I blogged last week about my visit to the good people of St. Andrews Protestant Episcopal Church in Middleborough, MA. While there, I was asked to address the vestry regarding the direction and future of our denomination and I shared some of my vision. (Many of the folks on the vestry are former members of TEC - The Episcopal Church.) After the meeting they asked me if I could provide some sort of document that illustrates the differences in belief and practice between the TEC and the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Upon returning home I prepared, as promised, a short list basically outlining the major tenants of Christianity (things every Christian denomination believes), and juxtaposed The Episcopal Church's response to those issues. Those responses came mainly from interviews and publications of their presiding Bishop, Katherine Schori-Jefferts. It was by no means exhaustive but it did provide a clear understanding that under the current leadership, The Episcopal Church denies that Jesus Christ is God. They teach that "all paths lead to God," even though our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ clearly taught, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

In all of my blogging I have never said anything directly derogatory regarding the TEC as I really don’t have much to say. We may have a common past, but their departure in the last three decades from scriptural and moral absolutes clearly has sent them down a path that does not represent my understanding of who Jesus is. Nor do they represent my understanding of the Anglican faith and its practice anymore than non-believers do.

Let me shed a little more light on the subject of who Jesus is…

1) Jesus is the Lord of Creation.

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities: all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:16-17)

Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. He holds all things together, everything seen and unseen, He has power over all. He also has power over our lives and the life of His church. My bible is pretty clear about who He is and who He claims to be.

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:2-3)

I love these verses because they give a picture of a treasure chest filled to the top with something of great value, the wisdom and knowledge of Christ. So, we are to seek His wisdom and cry out for His knowledge when it comes to the direction of our life. He has all that we need.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6).

If we believe Jesus Christ is telling the truth then all the other paths are dead ends in the most literal sense - they lead to eternal death itself.

2) Jesus is the Lord of the Church.

"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:18-20)

Jesus is not only the Lord of creation; he is also the Lord of the church. He is the one who gave His life for the church, and He is the one who is the boss of His church. Original Anglicans want to see Him honored and glorified.

Remember, Jesus is the one who brought us into a peace relationship with God the Father, and He did it through the shedding of His blood. To Original Anglicans, Jesus is the Lord of creation and the Lord of His church. He has always been the second person of the Trinity; He is God the Son who was punished for us that we might be reconciled to the Father. He is God!

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7)

Be Discerning,

Bishop Ian

The Primary Purpose

This past weekend, Robin and I made a visit to the congregation of St. Andrews in Middleborough, MA. It was my first visit as Bishop and I was both excited and anxious. Fr. Stephen DelSignore had set up a meeting with the vestry and a reception dinner Saturday night, both of which felt like returning home to long lost friends. Later that night, I told Robin that I felt so at home and at ease with everyone. “Of course,” she said, “this is your purpose in life, and this is what God has called you to do.” I knew that she was right.

Think about it, how you would answer if someone asked, "What is your purpose in life?" Would you answer, “To serve the Lord?” I think most would say that making money and living a comfortable life is their primary purpose.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

The sermon I preached while at St. Andrews, was on the new spirituality. I spoke about the current fad of replacing the words religion and faith with the word spirituality. This kind of switch may seem harmless at first, especially since a large number of people who call themselves Christians endorse it. Some even call it a new kind of evangelism that helps people get around the so-called barriers of doctrine and dogma. They believe it enables them to get directly to Christ on their own terms. They tell us that, "all religions are true and give us an experience of God.” The problem with calling this a new approach is that it isn’t new at all. It’s the same old rhetoric that goes against the Holy Scriptures, and that it doesn’t lead to Jesus.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 )

Make no mistake. Satan knows the end of the story and is indeed the thief described in John 10:10. So when someone tells you, "I’m not into religion, but I am into spirituality," or "I’m not religious, but I am very spiritual," they are also saying, "I wish to exempt myself from the consequences of religion and faith." This exemption is impossible. John 10:10 also tells us that Jesus Christ is not only "True God of true God." He is also "True man of true man."

Jesus Christ is God come to earth, once and for all, in the flesh, for the redemption of the world. His coming ends the possibility that any other "religion" can be true except the worship of God the Father, body and soul, in God the Son, in the grace and fellowship of the Holy Spirit. That is the primary reason for The Protestant Episcopal Church, and the reason the people of St. Andrews gather together every Sunday. They are a people of good purpose, a people of God. And I was as comfortable and at home with them as when I am at my home church.

"Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live." (1 Corinthians 8:6)

Be of good purpose,

Bishop Ian