tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2380464253939895880.post2524322599605776857..comments2023-10-17T01:54:29.390-07:00Comments on Not Weighing Our Merits: C. S. Lewis's "Malcolm on Prayer" -- Letter 1 on LiturgyAlan Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00413914847275660133noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2380464253939895880.post-64099426714458914612009-12-14T17:43:44.196-08:002009-12-14T17:43:44.196-08:00I find your suggestion that the charismatic moveme...I find your suggestion that the charismatic movement has had a heavy influence on the ANiC rather baffling. I was raised in the PAOC and my mother exposed me to a wide range of charismatic "experiences" (outside of the PAOC) as I was growing up. This included visits to a charismatic Anglican church in Vancouver (I forget the name) that had been influenced by the movement started by Dennis Bennett in the 1960s. I still have his book, Nine O'Clock in the Morning, lying around somewhere.<br /><br />At most, I would say the charismatic influence on the ANiC has been modest and I suspect that the majority of people who are now part of the ANiC likely have little idea of what the Charismatic movement was/is all about. "Real" charismatics would probably find your connection between Anglicans and ecstatic expression to be a bit of a howler.<br /><br />I have no desire to return to my charismatic roots, but I became convinced of the value of liturgy because of much more logical and compelling reasons than that it was a bastion against charismatic expressions.<br /><br />Ultimately, however, I am concerned with worshipping in a biblical and God-sanctioned manner - regardless of what form that may take. My personal preferences in the matter (and I have them) don't count for much.<br /><br />As I've grown older, and hopefully more mature in my faith, I've increasingly realized that I need to fight against my nature and be prepared to make concessions regarding styles and forms of worship for the good of the body as a whole.<br /><br />I agree with David's comment that charismatic spontaneity and liturgy do not need to be mutually exclusive.Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14861923550601742759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2380464253939895880.post-44124367586857866222009-04-15T09:11:00.000-07:002009-04-15T09:11:00.000-07:00I was under the impression that "Malcolm" was a fi...I was under the impression that "Malcolm" was a fictional device Lewis used; it's been years since I read the book, though, so I could be wrong.<br /><br />I would love to see an exchange of letters between Muggeridge and Lewis - shame it never happened.<br /><br />My parish is charismatic and, interestingly, we have been using the BCP quite a lot of late; of course, we have to keep the rock band - I'm even in it. <br /><br />I do think that attempting to make the liturgy accessible to the unchurched is worthwhile and in the spirit of Cranmer. The mistake churches like the ACoC make is conforming doctrine to current cultural biases.<br /><br />Personally, I like the combination of charismatic spontaneity and liturgy; the two are not mutually exclusive.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11219046889426687940noreply@blogger.com