Disconnection
20 Jul 2006
A great deal of academic theology and thought explains how the modern church has lost touch with culture due to the influence of postmodernity, and it’s enculturation to modernity. In other words the modern church mistakes some of what is thinks as biblical and theological, for cultural accomodations, as has been the case with every other form of church in history. And when culture changes, the church is left disconnected from people.
Most of this rethinking of the nature of Christianity, however, is disconnected from those actually involved in the day-to-day activities of the local church. In effect is the rethinking of church an mission causing those involved in that process to loose connection to the Church Catholic? Again I think we see this as a pattern in church history.
As you may have noticed, from my posts on deep church, positive church, and generous orthodoxy, I am most excited by and anticipating what will happen when the rethinking of church and mission re-connects to the church Catholic, and we see real missional engagement through existing and new forms of church, and the restoration of belief and confidence in Church again.
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Comment by Christopher Gillespie
7.59 pm on 20 Jul 2006
Perhaps one of the greatest difficulties for a Christian is determining what he should put his confidence in. What elements, what forms, what beliefs?
Part of returning to the church catholic and consequently gaining confidence and restoration of belief, is determing what is Biblically necessary for the assurance that church is present.
For example, Cyprian said “where there is a Bishop, there is church” or conversely, where there is no bishop, there is no church.
Luther and the Lutheran reformers took the emphasis off the person of the bishop (which probably wasn’t Cyprian’s intent anyway) and placed the focus on where the Word is preached rightly and Sacraments administered properly.
Other reformers and later Lutheran pietists would place emphasis on a conversion event, an awakening, or other emotional reactions.
Fundamentalists would place their trust in the innerrancy of scripture.
Which is the church catholic? :)
Comment by Dalene Moore
4.44 pm on 21 Jul 2006
I agree with the opening sentence and am struggling with some aspects of the new concept of the emerging church, but very excited by it!
Comment by Jason
5.45 pm on 21 Jul 2006
Christopher: great comment thanks for dropping by and taking time to post. Isn’t the church catholic all those things?
Dalene: Great to hear from you too. Come back soon!
Comment by Paul
1.27 pm on 22 Jul 2006
Interesting point Jase – is there not only a disconnet betweeen thought/practice in the church as well as between the church and culture? If so that would be two gaps to bridge and strikes me again for the need for practitioners like you who are also thinkers and allow the practice/theory to influence/fashion each other…
Comment by Jason
2.40 pm on 22 Jul 2006
Paul: there are many gaps, opening up, I wonder what some of the others are?
Comment by Paul
4.16 pm on 22 Jul 2006
hmm gaps, maybe betweem… professional and punter? thinker and doer? belief and practice? orthodox and generous? community and the individual? communicator and listener? style and substance..
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