Reformation Anglicanism, Volume 1: A Vision for Today's Global Communion

by Ashley Null

In short, the Roman missional strategy was to stress founding structures capable of shaping a message, whereas the Celtic way was to proclaim a message with the power to create a community. Yet,

But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth his word, and all was changed. Error fell down, and truth stood up: men forsook their idols, and went to God. The kings, and priests, and people were changed: the temples, and sacrifices, and prayers were changed: men’s eyes and hearts were changed. They forsook their gods, their kings, their priests: they forsook their antiquity, customs, consent, their fathers, and themselves. What power was able to work these things? What emperor by force ever prevailed so much? What strength could ever shake down so mighty idols from their seat? What hand of man could subdue and conquer the whole world, and make such mighty nations confess they had done amiss? This did the Lord bring to pass by the power of his word, and the breath of his mouth.19

Telling people what they should do does not empower them to do it. That was Cranmer’s fundamental Reformation insight.