Robert E. Webber was raised on the mission field by deeply committed Fundamentalist parents. Yet when Robert grew to manhood he longed for a church structure and ceremony which would challenge his heart and mind. He eventually found himself in the high liturgy of the Anglican Church. With it came the spiritual fulfillment he had longed for.
Evangelicals on the Canterbury is his account of how Scriptural liturgy filled a void in him nothing else could.
Of course the reference to Canterbury calls to mind the classic Middle English story penned by Geoffrey Chaucer. Some of us may have memorized lines from it when we were in school.
When April with his showers sweet with fruit
The drought of March has pierced unto the root
And bathed each vein with liquor that has power
To generate therein and sire …
Then do folk long to go on pilgrimage
Chaucer presented different personality types going on pilgrimage in Medieval England. But each of us are on our own pilgrimage.
Weber rights: “I find when most people are honest about their spiritual pilgrimage, they admit to the difficulty of maintaining the habit of a spiritual discipline. What attracts me most about the Anglican spiritual tradition is that it provides purposeful spiritual direction in the life of Christ.”
Of course, we know from the Bible that the fulfillment of all ceremonies are found in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. But sometimes ceremony and ritual can serve as reminders of what Christ has eternally provided for us (Hebrews 10:1).
What has helped you in your own spiritual pilgrimage?
A Day with C.S. Lewis 
Yes. I think it’s hands down the liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer that drew me. I love the story of Thomas Cranmer who evidently had both a good grasp on Christian orthodoxy and a penchant for well crafted English. What I’ve caught of that story is riveting and I want to read more. In fact I would like to read the book you mention here. I love good, clear English (I am an NIV advocate) and good theology. I guess I’m really a Bible person who loves good liturgy. And I also am afraid that the normal evangelical view of the church is too hit and miss, or diminished. One can have an important, essential place for the church in a low church theology. Unfortunately too often it isperhaps too much of a me and Jesus orientation which misses out.
Also in the Anglican tradition we gather good from the entire church, not just our own. I think there’s an emphasis that way. And I think the church at large would be better off to incorporate traditional practices such as liturgy and the Christian calendar. Of course I’m becoming biased. 🙂
I also like the Anglican way to be considered the middle way (“via media”), once steering a course between Lutheranism and Calvinism and now, some would say between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism. Often the truth doesn’t lie in between, but with something from all. And there’s plenty of freedom in the tradition. I remain a pacifist Christian.
In the end though there’s really only one church and we need to be open to learning from each other by the Spirit which of course always includes tradition.
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Good reflections on different Christian traditions. Certainly, liturgy can play a key role in reminding and providing symbols for profound spiritual truths.
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I want to add what I believe is the most important point of all: Good church liturgy keeps the gospel, the good news in Jesus front and center. In both confronting us about our need and consoling us with the promise and blessing of the gospel. Which ends up being our life and mission in this world. Every part of the service just like every part of scripture surely finds its true meaning in that, in the light of the gospel: Jesus himself in his incarnation, works and teaching, his death and resurrection for our sins and new life, his ascension, and the promise of his return.
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Our Pastor recently gave a series of messages where he described three environments in which we are most likely to progressively become more like Christ – 1) sitting in the pew listening as the Word is taught and preached, 2) participating in a small discussion group, 3) one’s own personal quiet time with the Lord away from distractions.
My spiritual pilgrimage has been helped in all three of these settings but the most important to me is the personal quiet time. This time involves nothing more than an open Bible, an open heart, my journal, and the keeping of a daily appointment with the Lord who is always waiting eagerly to meet with me. It is not enhanced by externals like icons, incense, pageantry, formality, or any of the things we have been discussing in this blog of recent. However, I do respect those who find their path to worship aided by these other things.
In a book by Richard Foster entitled Celebration of Discipline – The Path to Spiritual Growth, he outlines several disciplines a Christ follower is encouraged to participate in which contribute to a balanced spiritual life. These disciplines are divided into three categories – inward to include meditation, fasting, prayer, and study, outward to include simplicity, solitude, submission, and service, and finally corporate to include confession, worship, guidance, and celebration.
By practicing these disciplines, though not perfectly, I have been helped as I sojourn here and am being prepared for my permanent residence.
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Very well expressed, Bob. For me the liturgy of Eastern Orthodoxy is quite meaningful even though I come from a low church tradition. The one element missing in the Orthodoxy service is that of bible preaching. The homilies are quite topical and short. But then again I am a son of the Protestant Reformation and so feel more comfortable in a Bible Exposition context.
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I beg to differ with you on the point of the “one element missing.” The manner of preaching is different but certainly not missing. The preaching of the Bible is interwoven throughout the services in the Gospel and Epistle readings, the writings of the Church Fathers, in song at the chanter’s stand and the visual preaching of the icons in full-color. The homilies relate to the Epistle and Gospel readings and to the events celebrated for the particular time of the liturgical Church year.
The biblical preaching in the Orthodox Church does not depend on one man’s sermon preparation, his dynamic presentation skills or lack thereof. The message themes flow throughout the services and the Holy Spirit enlivens the preaching throughout the worship experience of worshipping.
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My mother has been one of the greatest influences in my life. Her love for the Lord and others was shown in how she lived. When I read Proverbs 31 I think of her. At her funeral in 2012 many stood and gave testimony of what she meant to them. My brother made a comment that he had never seen my mother sin. I do not ever recall seeing her sin either. Dad said he could never remember mom saying anything negative about any other person. Her motto was if you can’t say something good do not say anything at all. She was a woman of few words. Her door was always open for one more at the dinner table, or if need be one more spur of the moment overnight guest.
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So glad to hear you were raised by a godly mother. My mom was a remarkable lady as well. Motherhood is a great blessing.
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