Can the Church of England be revived?

It would be easy to answer that question with a  quick ‘no’. After all, we Anglicans are facing huge problems: a loss of gospel truth, obstruction from bishops and ongoing spiritual compromise throughout the institution.

This present mess has been a long time coming, and it is, in many ways, no surprise. Surely, then, it is all over with the Church of England, and we should just leave such a moribund institution? There is, after all, nothing sacred about an ecclesiastical institution in and of itself, and we know that denominational borders are not the borders of spiritual Israel. Everything would be simpler if we just came out so that we could breathe freely once again!

Sovereign grace

But, there’s a problem with this reasoning, attractive as it is: we have a God of sovereign grace. And this God, throughout the Old Testament, regularly acts to save his very unworthy people from utter disaster.