Overview

What is orthodoxy? In recent controversies in the Church of England and in the wider Anglican Communion, those who insist that the Church's traditional teachings about marriage and celibacy cannot be altered are increasingly described as 'orthodox', a claim that has been disputed on the ground that orthodoxy is defined by the great creeds and confessions of the Church, none of which mentions the subject. This Briefing argues that orthodoxy extends well beyond what the creeds and confessions state. It is rooted in the mind of Christ, which is revealed to us in Holy Scripture and encompasses every aspect of life, including our doctrine and practice of matrimony. Orthodoxy is expressed not only in creeds but also in the forms of our worship, not least in the rich tradition of hymnody that has stood the test of time. Christians of every tradition resonate with orthodoxy because it bears witness to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, as he illuminates and applies the Word of God to our lives. Using the words of the well-known hymn The Church's One Foundation, Gerald Bray demonstrates what orthodoxy is and why it matters both to individual believers and to the Church as a whole. In every generation we are challenged by new heresies and divisions that seek to lead us astray. Orthodoxy is the unchanging teaching of Christ given to us in the Bible as the resource we need to combat them. It unites us with the saints of the past, the present and the future in the spiritual warfare that engages God's people as we make our way to the heavenly kingdom promised to all true followers of Jesus.

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9781916834026

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"""Do sit down and read this booklet carefully. It will remind you of what is really important in following Jesus. It will remind you that this concept of orthodoxy matters because it is the pathway to life. It will remind you also that (as Gerald says) orthodoxy is not a majority faith."" Mark Burkill, Chairman of the Latimer Trust"

Author Information

GERALD BRAY is director of research for the Latimer Trust and research professor at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. He teaches in the areas of church history and historical theology. He is also the author of numerous books, including 'God Has Spoken: A History of Christian Theology' and 'A Companion to the Book of Common Prayer' (James Clarke and Co). He was librarian of Tyndale House, Cambridge, when he was ordained in the Church of England and served in the parish of St Cedd, Canning Town (Diocese of Chelmsford). He also taught ecclesiastical history and doctrine at Oak Hill Theological College in London. Bray's book, Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present, was one of Christianity Today's books of the year in 1997.

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