I've nearly finished reading shane claiborne's book 'The Irresistible Revolution' and am increasingly convinced, nay, more vociferously convinced that the Church has sold me short. One of the things that i've not really had a problem with has been different people's different Christian theologies:
You want a theology which is centered around movement of the Holy Spirit? Here it is...
You don't want to spend so much time lying down or laughing and shaking? Here you go...
You want one which means it's ok for you to be gay? Can do...
You want to be able to remain in judgement of homosexuality? Sure thing...
You want Jesus' ressurection to be metaphorical? Try this...
You want everyone to go to heaven? No problem...
You want heaven to just be for Christians who believe the same things you do? I got one right here that does the trick...
You want to be able to completely ignore the Old Testament? Certainly...
You want to guard a literal interpretation of scripture? Give this a whirl...
Now, i'm not saying that i wouldn't want to take issue with some of the positions represented here, i'm simply stating that these different positions are held and, in the minds of those that hold them, are legitimated. There's even the possibility of mixing together, a la Tom Cruise in 'Cocktail' stylee, some of these positions. What i do want to say though, is that no matter which theology you run with, i don't see how it is possible to remove from the gospel dramatic caring for the poor and love of enemies. Somehow it seems that, for the most part, we've turned these ideas into saying 'hello' to the poor who come to us (fairly few, since church is a broadly middle class pursuit) and vaguely putting up with people at church who we don't get on with so well.
What i'm saying is that whichever theological cocktail we go for, umbrellas and all, if there isn't the 'ice' of bold intervention where we see injustice, and desperate, drastic love of real enemies, all we're left with is a tepid drink worthy only of being spat out. (familiar?)
If the Church is the body of Christ, why do we merely doff our caps at exploitation and war, and put a pound in the box marked 'poverty'? Why aren't we an organism, screaming at the top of our lungs and working our fingers to the bone to usher in the kingdom of God?
Know what i mean?
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3 comments:
Make that too bar man.
The only thing is I then come back to Ben's comment on my blog. I think enough of us really get this stuff. The question is will we do it? Also, how will we (and I can say we now you're staying) enable church to embody this rather than just separating off and doing it in our own niche?
I can see, and have sympathy for, your point about seperation from the church. My question is: can't we do almost exactly the same thing we might do if we were to seperate from the church, only view it as exemplifying? It would come down to the attitudes of those involved (some attitudes would probably need tempering). I'm just not convinced that any amount of explaining (no matter how many pages of blogs are pritt- sticked on to notice boards) will convey what we're talking about, i think it needs to be shown and only then will people get it.
Also, why am i the only person to have signed on to ben's blog about campaigning for renewable energy to be used in the waterfront? I think we should get the whole church to wade out into the weir holding signs that saying 'You won't move me, I'm plugged in!'
I think you guys have miss interpreted my comment and believe that I am canvassing for separation from the Church.
If you look at the rule from the Northumbria Community or The Simple Way, there is an aim to build relationships with congregations – in fact community members are encouraged to spread amongst local communities and congregations and not just be in their own niche.
A vision of everyone turning up at church and sharing all their possessions, striving to live with only what one needs is exciting. I can't imagine the whole congregation agreeing it in community council this month! (I go to a church which has run out of money and is in a poor area but church members still arrive in BMWs, VWs, Audis, etc.)
A small group of folk in Wakefield from various churches and various walks of life banding together, striving to serve God, sharing everything, living simply and being fully accountable to each other would be incredible.
You don't abandon the church, but you need a core group to live a different theology. This is where the renewal of the Church comes from that Bonhoeffer is talking about.
Richard Dawkins the well known atheist commenting on Bonhoeffer's theology says:
“If subtle, nuanced religion predominated, the world would be a better place and I would have written a different book. The melancholy truth is that decent, understated religion is numerically negligible.”
It is scary when the atheist can explain the best way forward for the Church but we still don't get it or dare do it.
We need to make sure we don't use the Church as an excuse not to get our feet wet!
I'll find out the date so you know when the three of us are going to swim in the weir – have you got a spare pair of Speedos Andy?
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