davidould.net

non angelus, sed anglus!

Monday, March 24, 2008

“we need to challenge the belief that the Resurrection from the Dead was a physical resurrection”

Yes, you read it correctly. Those are the words of the Dean of Perth’s Anglican Cathedral, The Very Reverend Dr John Shepherd. Here’s his very special Easter message…

Got that? I’m staggered. One of the most senior clergymen in the country denying the physicality of Jesus’ Resurrection. Consider the claims that he makes and what the Bible actually says:

The Resurrection of Jesus ought not to be seen in physical terms, but as a new spiritual reality. It is important for Christians to be set free from the idea that the Resurrection was an extraordinary physical event which restored to life Jesus’ original earthly body.
...
Jesus’ early followers felt His presence after His death as strongly as if it were a physical presence and incorporated this sense of a resurrection experience into their gospel accounts. But they’re not historical records as we understand them. They are symbolic images of the breaking through of the resurrection spirit into human lives.
...
Jesus lived ... as a transformed spiritual reality.

John 20:19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the disciples had gathered together and locked the doors of the place because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Luke 1:1 Now many have undertaken to compile an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, ² like the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning. ³ So it seemed good to me as well, because I have followed all things carefully from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ so that you may know for certain the things you were taught.

1 Corinthians 15:1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, ² and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you– unless you believed in vain. ³ For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received– that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, ⁴ and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

and, of course, the Anglican Articles:

Article IV

Of the Resurrection of Christ

Christ did truly rise again from death, and took again his body, with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of Man’s nature; wherewith he ascended into Heaven, and there sitteth, until he return to judge all Men at the last day.

Shepherd says that the very central truths of the Christian gospel, the fundamental event without which we “believe in vain” (as the Apostles puts it) is something that Christians need to “be set free from”. Put simply, He denies the gospel. He denies the assurance of a physical resurrection, and he throws in universalism to boot.

There used to be such a thing as integrity and honour. Men used to resign in good conscience when they realised that the position that they held was incompatible with the role or office they were in. Not so Shepherd. He wants the trappings and status of being “Very Reverend” while making the most irreverent statements.

Will the ArchBishop Herft of Perth deal with this? Of course not. But you could always . I did. Be polite. Be courteous. But be clear - his Dean denies the basics of Christian Doctrine and it is unacceptable.

Bonus: Shepherd denies the Doctrines of God and of Special Revelation on Sunday 2 March 2008:

This is a cunning piece of oratory. He plays the straw man most effectively. And of course, no mention whatsoever of Jesus Christ who perfectly reveals God to us. Not that you’re surprised by now.

click here to leave a comment

Page 1 of 1 pages

Statistics

This page has been viewed 209570 times
Page rendered in 0.6229 seconds
Total Entries: 834
Total Comments: 3506
Total Trackbacks: 2388
Most Recent Entry: 09/05/2008 03:15 pm
Most Recent Comment on: 09/05/2008 07:43 pm
Total Members: 4
Total Logged in members: 0
Total guests: 10
Total anonymous users: 0
Most Recent Visitor on: 09/08/2008 07:56 pm
The most visitors ever was 96 on 07/01/2007 09:30 am