The Wilderness Way #34 ©

Wilderness Way #34 picks up on the theme of rethinking theology in the wilderness of our time. Previously I noted the contribution of the emergent church movement in challenging us to think beyond the ossified poles of much current debate. As I stated, the emergent thought does offer a hopeful new beginning. Yet, in the final analysis, I think it has some serious theological holes that need to be filled.

First some background. Scot McKnight has written an excellent, more detailed article entitled the Five Streams of the Emerging Church. It is worth the time to read. (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/february/11.35.html ) In that article he quotes a definition of the emerging church from Eddie Gibbs and Ryan Bolger in their book, Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures. “Emerging churches are communities that practice the way of Jesus within postmodern cultures. This definition encompasses nine practices. Emerging churches (1) identify with the life of Jesus, (2) transform the secular realm, and (3) live highly communal lives. Because of these three activities, they (4) welcome the stranger, (5) serve with generosity, (6) participate as producers, (7) create as created beings, (8) lead as a body, and (9) take part in spiritual activities.”

There is a significant shift in emphasis from orthodoxy (right belief) to orthopraxy (right practice or living). Writes McKnight: “The contention is that how a person lives is more important than what he or she believes. Many will immediately claim that we need both or that orthopraxy flows from orthodoxy. Most in the emerging movement agree we need both …but the focus is shifted.” The beauty of a third way of theologically thinking (whether emergent or otherwise) is that it attempts to move us past our tired fortresses. The danger is that too much may be either given away or merely shunted to the side as inconvenient. The missional emphasis of much third way thinking is refreshing and on target. All too much, right thinking has led to horribly wrong practicing of the faith.

Still, the core issues of truth, meaning and purpose are not truly solved. Phyllis Tickle in The Great Emergence grasps the central question of authority in theology. She notes the fact that there is still a real lack of emergence (pun intended) over the authority issue. Classic orthodoxy rested authority with the Great Church (Holy Spirit led Councils and Scripture working together through tradition). Reformation theology places authority firmly on the grounds of Scripture (Sola Scriptura!). Unfortunately the vast splintering of the protestant movement has amply demonstrated that mere reference to Scripture does not truly solve the debate over authority.

All of this sounds so abstract until one realizes how deeply such theology impacts what we are about in the Christian Church (and the United Methodist branch of that vast tree of faith). All roads don’t lead to Jerusalem. Some don’t even lead to Rome. Where we are headed in this wilderness way is still a pertinent question bounded and defined by foundational issues of truth and practice, belief and engagement.

The way out or at least through the wilderness, I believe, lies in the recovery of what Bonheoffer called Christ the Center. Functionally, ultimately, the authority must lie with Christ – God incarnate. A vague theism will not do. The claims of gospel as explicated in the marvelous overture of John’s gospel must once again be fully grasped.

One of the great Christian thinkers today is a man named Dallas Willard. He wrote The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God and Renovation of the Heart among other works. He is a professor at the UCLA School of Philosophy. Students who take philosophy courses from him are intrigued and sometimes surprised to find a philosophy professor who is a deeply committed Christian. When they would ask why, Dr. Willard replies, “Can you think of anyone better to follow?”[1]

[1] Story relayed by Rev. Ben Disney, Arborlawn UMC, Ft. Worth, Texas; January 3, 2010

By: Bishop Mike Lowry On 3/31/2010

Comments

There are no comments
be the first to post one...