I would like to introduce you to the new MORPHE podcast. These will be short 7-10 minute talks on various topics ranging from culture to Christianity.
Our first talk concerns ancient spirituality and the hesitancy of many within the SBC to consider using things such as a lectionary or prayer book.
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MORPHE V1.1: Ancient Spirituality and the SBC
Related Posts:
MORPHE: Election Week EditionMORPHE: No Pleroo without Kenoo
MORPHE: The Importance of Eschatology
MORPHE: The New Nation of Israel
MORPHE: The SBC - Pragmatic or Theological
September 3rd, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Are these going to be available via iTunes?
September 3rd, 2007 at 10:13 pm
John,
Yeah, they are. There’s a link on the left sidebar at the bottom for you to subscribe to them via iTunes or any other Podcaster.
September 4th, 2007 at 6:38 am
Thanks…I’m not sure why I didn’t see that! Looking forward to listening!
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:45 am
So you’ve found the lectionary, prayer book, and ancient spirituality. Good for you.
I stumbled across the ancient traditions in college when I attended my first Episcopal Eucharist. I fell in love with the liturgy; it spoke to me in a way that my revivalist heritage never could.
When I accepted the calling to the ministry, I brought this love with me. I began preaching through the BCP Lectionary in my first pastorate (1996-2001) and continue doing so in this pastorate (2002-present). I’ve also followed the Church calendar in my pastorates; now, my congregation expects Lent, Pentecost, and Advent. My time at Beeson Divinity School only strengthened my tie to the ancient Church and its traditions.
I think that, too often, SBC’ers look down on tradition, and heaven forbid SBC pastor hear the whispers of “Catholic” from the congregation. (My congregation’s convinced I’m 90% Anglican.) I’m reminded of William Temple’s thought: “Tradition is the living faith of the dead. Traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.” Following the lectionary, the calendar, and the liturgy helps tie me to my spiritual predecessors. I believe that more congregations would greatly benefit from this tie.
BTW, I not only use the Revised Common Lectionary for most of the year (breaking only during Pentecost to preach through a book of Scripture), I also use the Book of Common Prayer Rite II ceremony for our services of Holy Communion. My congregants have told me that they love how the liturgy ties Holy Communion to the rest of the service. Too often, I’ve seen Communion treated as something tacked onto the end of the service; I fear this is too often the case in SBC services.
We need the connection to the Church catholic that tradition gives us. The SBC cannot reach the world alone. Every time I hear someone say something about “separatism,” I’m reminded again of Our Lord’s prayer “That they may be one” in John 17. We really need to emphasize that prayer far more than we emphasize our separatist ways.
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:21 pm
BTW, I forgot to mention that we’re not alone. I’ve met several SBC pastors and laity who have discovered the treasury of ancient spirituality and begun to incorporate it into their ministries and devotional life. I’m working through the Psalms right now on Wednesday nights, but I hope to begin a study from medieval spirituality at some point next year.