The Anglican Scotist has posted an insightful essay, Following the Anglican Right’s Ontology of Persons, at which s/he suggests that the Episcopal Church’s liturgical practices can, in themselves, lead to the development of virtues. S/he does a very nice job of expressing something about which I’ve speculated for a long time.
Let’s assume arguendo that salvation indeed derives exclusively from faith, viz., trust, in God. It seems to me that faith itself can arise through works — more specifically, from associating, and habitually worshipping and working in community, with faith-seekers.
Few people like being "different" from a group in which they participate and with which they tend to identify themselves. When people regularly do things in and with such a group, they often tend to start internalizing some of the group’s values. A teenager is more likely to do his homework if he associates with kids who take their studies seriously, than if he spends his free time hanging out with druggies. Or to cite a personal example, I tend to be something of a perfectionist about my work; I’m certain this arose in part from my time as a Navy nuclear engineering officer, where the do-it-right culture is pretty intense.
My own trust in God used to be weak to non-existent. But many years of going to church with my family every week, and of participating in more and more parish projects (especially community-service projects), gradually caused me to become more trusting of him.
So from where I sit, the Anglican Scotist is definitely on to something. Take the time to read it all.
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