One in Christ?

So, with all the ongoing uproar within the Anglican communion about homosexuality and also whether or not we should have female Bishops, I'm left wondering this...

Which bit of ONE in Christ do we still not get?!

I was at a lecture on Anglican spirituality the other night. Apparently there are five key elements:

1. We're saved by grace, not works.
2. It is Scriptural.
3. it is Sacramental.
4. It uses reason.
5. It is experiential.

All these elements are about the core being of humanity. They are about the relationship between creature and creator.

They cut through all the labels.

So why aren't sections of the Anglican communion living it?

I suspect the problem is that when these five elements aren't held in balance, then our understanding too becomes unbalanced. So, for example, if too much emphasis is laid upon Scripture, there is a risk that reason and quite strangely perhaps, God's grace might go out of the window.

Or again, if we write off individual experience, we are on shaky ground. Friend, your experience of God's grace is not mine, you cannot therefore expect me to base my life and faith upon your experience! Neither will I expect you to base yours upon mine.

By causing such imbalances, we risk living again by the Law and judgement instead of by God's grace. To paraphrase Paul:

"You foolish Galatians Anglicans! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?" Galatians 3:1-2

The sooner we stop playing at labeling one another, and instead, start accepting each other as we are - created in God's image and saved by His grace, the better.

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female,(lesbian, gay, straight or bi!) for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3: 26-29