Episcopalianism
Brief History
An Episcopalian is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church; one
branch of the Anglican Church or Church of England. Today there are
forty million Anglicans throughout the world. They all use the Common
Book of Prayer. This religious group has been called the "bridge
church" between Roman Catholic and Protestant. It preserves the
Catholic sacraments and creeds, but rejects the authority of the Bishop
of Rome (the Pope).
The Episcopal Church had its beginning from 1531-1539 when Henry
VIII, King of England, resorted to political necessity in order to
accomplish and justify his divorce from Catherine, and his subsequent
marriage to Ann Boleyn. He had passed the "Act of Supremacy"
which made him "the only supreme head on earth of the Church
of England". Thus was severed the tie with papal communion, and
was established an independent body in England. Henry soon abolished
monastic establishments and confiscated their wealth (amounting to
some 38 million pounds). It was common knowledge that his break with
Rome was not prompted by doctrinal reform or differences (Schaff-Herzog
Encyclopedia, Vol. I, p.726). Henry VIII in this way became for all
practical purposes the "Pope of England". The Thirty Nine
Articles of Faith and their Prayer Book govern the church.
Episcopalian clergymen deny that Henry VIII founded the Episcopalian
Church. They simply affirm that it was during his time that "freedom
of the English Church from the authority of the Bishop of Rome was
achieved", and that then was ended a long period of protest and
agitation against the Roman pope's usurpations of authority.
The ecclesiastical connections between the Church of England and the
English colonists in the new world were broken during the War of Revolution
and the Church of England in the colonies became known as the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the United States. The word 'Episcopal' comes
from the Greek 'episcopos', meaning overseer.
Belief System
Episcopal Belief 1
-The church should be governed by one bishop who rules over a diocese
of several local churches.
Word of God 1 - In
the Bible, never was one bishop over several churches. The "Diocesan
Episcopacy" was unknown. Elder and bishop are two names for the
same office in the New Testament (Act. 20:17, 28; Tit. 1:5-7; 1 Pet.
5:1-3). A plurality of elders (also called bishops, overseers, presbyters,
shepherds, pastors) guided the local body of believers.There is no
case of one man over one church or one man over a plurality of churches
(Act. 14:23; 15:2, 22-23; 16:4; Phi. 1:1-2; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; 5:17).
Episcopal Belief 2
- The twelve "great facts of the Apostles Creed" are to
be obeyed (J. P. Norris, Catechism and Prayer Book p.9).
Word of God 2 - The
Bible and the Bible only is the Christian's rule of faith and practice
(2 Joh. 9-11; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). The so-called, 'Apostles Creed, was
not written by the apostles.
Episcopal Belief 3
- What the parents promise for the child at his or her baptism, the
child is bound to believe and obey (Norris, Ibid., p.18).
Word of God 3 - Every
person is accountable for his own choices and his own deeds. (See
Presbyterianism where Calvinism is discussed). No Bible passage authorizes
a father or mother to make promises for what a child shall believe
or obey. Beware of doctrines and commandments of men that make void
the word of God (Mat. 15:7-9; Mar. 7:6-7).
Episcopal Belief 4
- A person must obey the Ten Commandments as recorded in Exodus, Chapter
20, because his parents bound it upon him at baptism...as well as
the "Apostles Creed" (Norris, Ibid).
Word of God 4 - A person
who endeavors to be justified by the Law is "severed from Christ"
and "fallen away from grace" (Gal. 5:4, 3:24-25; 2 Cor.
3:7-11). The law was taken away (fulfilled by Christ - Mat. 5:17)
(Col. 2:14-17; Heb. 7:12; 10:1-4).
Episcopal Belief 5
- Christ taught us the "Lord's Prayer" and we should pray
it today, including "Thy Kingdom come," because the kingdom
only came "imperfectly" on the Day of Pentacost...it is
a prayer for church extension and for Second-Advent (Norris, p.34-41).
Word of God 5 - Disciples
were never instructed after the Day of Pentacost to petition God that
the kingdom might come in any sense whatsoever. The kingdom "came
with power" on that Day; nothing failed that God designed for
it (Isa. 2:2-4; Mar. 9:1; Act. 1:8; 2:1-47).
Episcopal Belief 6
- "Forms of prayers" are recommended by the Lord (Norris,
p.42).
Word of God 6 - Our
prayers are not to be stereotyped, lip-service, such as characterized
by memorized prayers (Mat. 6:1, 5-15; Mar. 7:5-13). The Lord's Prayer
is recorded in Joh. 17. Obviously he did not intend that any prayer
be a repetition of mechanical memorized utterances of the lips.
Episcopal Belief 7
- After the Hampton Court Conference (1604), two sacraments are held
to be "necessary to salvation" - Baptism and the Supper
of the Lord (Ibid., p.48ff). "Sacrament is an outward and visible
sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us". Baptism
makes infants children of God, members of Christ; imparts remission
of sins (Ibid., p.50-51 and Book of Common Prayer, p.230).
Word of God 7 - Sacraments
is a word not in the Bible, but let us consider Baptism as administered
by them in sprinkling or pouring of water upon an infant for his salvation.
Much water required (Joh. 3:23). Went into water (Act. 8:36). Were
buried in water (Col. 2:12; Rom. 6:3-4). Came up out of water (Act.
8:38). Never was water brought to a person for baptism in the early
church times. If water is all a person receives in baptism for his
salvation, then this is a water salvation. This is all a baby receives,
for it is too young to be taught, to believe, to repent or to confess.
Faith and repentance are prerequisites for all candidates of baptism
(Mar. 16:16; Act. 2:38).
Episcopal Belief 8
- Infants are born in sin, in a state of sin, inherited from their
parents..."being by nature born in sin and the children of wrath"
(Ibid., p.51, 62).
Word of God 8 - Infants
do not sin (Rom. 4:15). Sin is a transgression of law. Sin is always
an act of the mind or body, hence cannot be transferred to or inherited
by another (Jam. 1:14-15). Children do not bear the guilt of their
parents' sin (Eze. 1:38; also chapt. 18, 33). Children are a gift
from God (Mat. 18:3; Mar. 10:14). Of such is the kingdom of God (Mat.
18:3, 10; Mar. 10:14). People go astray; are not born
astray (Psa. 14:3; Isa. 59:2). We are the offspring of God (Act. 17:29).
God is the Father of our Spirits (Heb. 12:9).
Episcopal Belief 9
- "Immersion is the rule of the church, and baptism by affusion
(pouring water ove the child's head) is the exception...but practically
affusion has become adopted and immersion seldom desired" (Ibid.,
p.223).
Word of God 9 - There
is one baptism (Eph. 4:5). Baptism is a burial in water (see above).
Traditions of men are self-condemned and those who worship thereby
are doing so in vain, said our Lord (Mat. 15:1-9).
Episcopal Belief 10
- "Confirmation is the connecting link between the sacraments.
It looks backward to Baptism, and forward to Holy Communion...possibly
from the first called 'communion' (Ibid., p.233). Evangelists could
baptize but only apostles could confirm, and the Holy Spirit was given
at confirmation, not at baptism (Ibid., p.234-235). Candidates for
Confirmation are required to acknowledge, renew and ratify their baptism
obligations made by their parents for them when in infancy (Ibid.,
p.237-255).
Word of God 10 - Those
whose faith was confirmed were already Christians, having been previously
baptized as adults (Act. 14:22; 15:41; 8:5-20). It was never a "service"
or ceremony for children at a set age who had come to an age of responsibility
or accountability. The unwarranted practice of infant baptism left
a void in the person's life ordinarily filled by baptism of his own
choosing and as a result of his own instruction and faith at a time
when he reached the age of accountability. The Holy Spirit is given
to all those who obey Christ from their own heart, at baptism (Act.
2:38; 5:32; Rom. 6:3-4; 17-18). When disciples were confirmed in the
early church it was simply a strengthening, encouraging, etc.; it
was never accompanied by a "first communion" which obviously
is a purely human concept "after the precepts of men". Those
who so practice truly make void the word of God regarding true baptism
to which every accountable person should and would have access, were
it not for the "doctrines and commandments of men".
Episcopal Belief 11
- Christ died to reconcile God to man (Article 2, Prayer Book).
Word of God 11 - The
opposite is true; Christ came to reconcile man to God. We were in
need of being brought back (2 Cor. 5:18-19; Rom. 5:10).
