What it means to be Biblical

Sunday, 30 October 2022 by

Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 30 October 2022

What it means to be Biblical

As far as I know, amongst mainstream orthodox Christian denominations, Anglicans are the only mob defined by their liturgy. Now, every church has a liturgy – it is just a flash word for the stuff we do when we gather. However, Anglicans have a historic and set Book of Common Prayer (BCP). Originally written by Thomas Cranmer in 1549 (revised in 1552, and finalised in 1662), the BCP had three aims, as set out in Cranmer’s original Preface. First, it wanted to return the ‘pure word of God’ to the heart of God’s people gathered, so that they ‘might be stirred up to godliness’ and ‘inflamed with a love for His [God’s] true religion’. Second, it was to be in a language that the people could hear, understand, and ‘profit by hearing the same’. And, thirdly, it was to be ‘plain…’ and ‘basic’. Biblical, understandable, simple – that was the aim of Cranmer. Is that what we do here?

Scripture References: 1 Timothy 3:14-16, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 14:26-33

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