What do I mean by “Higher Orthodoxy”? Well, the thought is at this point that in my spiritual formation, journey, context, whatever . . . that is, in my diving in the sea of reformation “think,” like many people, I became one of those rabid, Arminian-hating types, joking about Calvin being the fourth member of the Quadrinity. I’ve calmed down in my old age, though I still have issues of course, but the title of the Blog suggests this very maturation–particularly with regard to worship. Like many that go down the trail to Geneva, they go the scholastic route and Ockam’s razor whittles down the idolatry of “will-worship” so that there is nothing at all aesthetically rich nor “non-proscribed” by Holy Scripture in our worship, lest we be guilty of breaking the 2nd commandment. You know, like how we should take up the offering . . . (Ha!)
I went to that suburb of Geneva for a while, but alas, I was rescued by a text by RJ Gore called “Covenantal Worship,” which demontrated that the Puritan principle of worship is not warranted by Scripture itself. So, I don’t mean that there is no value in the Puritans at all–nope, that’s not it. However, the road to Plymouth only leads to the reaction of many “isms,” precisely because of the hunger in the human soul for the “Holy,” that is, the sacramental mystery of Christian, Trinitarian worship that has characterized Christian worship since the days of the Fathers. So I have come to value a degree of historic Christian and Patristic insights into our worship liturgy. To some in Reformedville, Christian theology goes no further than Scotland. I guess I desire to reclaim and pursue the rich nuances of historic Christian liturgics; this is why I guess, I like the adage “presbanglican” — a presbyterian with a healthy respect for and love though not chained to for Christian tradition. Gloria patri et filius et spiritui sancto, amen.
Well, I guess those that don’t mingle around in things liturgical, this doesn’t mean a whole lot. My wife will be birthing our son July 10. I will get to baptize my second child in August–yep, I’ll probably cry. In addition, I will be performing my first wedding in October for a former student–that too may make me weep. All of that said, I just received my new stole; it is a white wedding/ baptism reversable stole. It’s pretty cool. No, that’s not my cute mugshot in the robe . . .
