LETTER TO THE EDITOR:
15 October 2021.
My ‘Advert’ titled “Reformation Sunday 31 October” said, “The Church of England should still celebrate this 500th year since Martin Luther declared at the ‘Diet of Worms’ in 1521, “Here I stand. God help me. I can do no other”.” I also quoted the words of Anglicanism’s historic 39 Articles of Religion relating to salvation. Later I asked the editor of English Churchman to add ‘Articles XXVIII. Of the Lord’s Supper.’ ‘XXX. O Both Kinds.’ and ‘XXXI. Of the One Oblation of Christ Finished upon the Cross.’ I had sent a copy of the advert to Revd Canon Chuck Collins.
Having now read Revd Canon Chuck Collins ‘Feature’ titled “Real Presence” EC page 6 on 8/10/2021, I can see that the EC Editor was wise to decline my request to add the 3 Articles. -It might have caused disquiet among protestants to associate these 3 key Anglican Articles on the Lord’s supper with an advert celebrating Martin Luther’s traditional launch day of the Reformation on 31 October. Revd Collins, in his ‘Feature’, makes clear that we owe our understanding of the Lord’s supper, set out in the Anglican’s Articles, to Thomas Cranmer (and John Calvin). Not to Martin Luther. The meaning of the Lord’s Supper being the one Article on which Martin Luther and Ulrich Zwingli could not agree at their meeting on 1-4 October 1529. In his ‘Feature’ Revd Collins has neatly indicated that Martin Luther “Was never too sure about what happened to the bread and wine in Holy Communion”.
I remember years ago my despairing to a Protestant News Editor that “We have singularly failed to get out to the world what Protestant’s believe about the Lord’s supper”. But now Revd Collins has got this out in the open, can we please proclaim these amazing Biblical truths about the Lord’s supper from the housetops. -While there are still enough of us alive to do the job. (Hopefully we can all agree that we cannot base our beliefs on uncertainty. Surely the Anglican 3 Articles remove that uncertainty?).
So-far we have put the ‘Reformation Sunday 31 October’ advert into 7 Christian newspapers. I am told by those 7, based on their circulation figures, that they will be printing over 42,000 copies of that advert. Which suggests that over 80,000 Christians may have a chance to read the Reformation Articles. How about taking a photo copy of the advert in English Churchman and posting a copy of it to every Parish Church in your area? -It’s probably not a good idea to nail it to the church door! Luther in his day hoped that some might repent when they get the Biblical truth.
Roland R. Parsons
West Country
