The topic is for the day is denominations; why are they needed and all that. Here is the spoiler – they are important and are needed.
If one were to surmise an argument against the relevance and
reality of Christianity the multiplicity of denominations and traditions might
be a good one. After all, if God was real and if Christ was the real thing,
then why would Christians disagree with each other over what it means to
worship and follow Christ? The division, disagreement, and factions can speak
to a human creation of the divine and a human need to control that manufactured
deity. This would be a fairly good argument to make, so atheists… you’re
welcome.
On the other hand one could look at denominations and claim
that they speak to God’s mercy, God richness, God’s depth, and God’s freedom.
We have denominations because God does not say to us that we must worship in
one particular way or another. We have denominations because God does not tell
us exactly how we are to understand the revelation of Jesus Christ, the
presence of the Holy Spirit, or the divine love that began the movements of the
cosmos. We have denominations because we are free to try to understand and
learn and grow in our faith. Perhaps the diversity of denominations and
movements and traditions speak to the nature of God and the call of Christ in a
different way. So take that, atheists!
I don’t want to over-glamorize the historical emergence of
denominations. Very rarely have denominations emerged out of a gentlemen’s
agreement that “you will worship you way and I will worship my way and we shall
respect each other.” Instead they tended to emerge out of truth claims made
strongly and violently. The diversity of denominations comes out of a history
of human pride, selfishness, and violence and this is not something to be proud
of.
This is not to say that denominations are bad. In the
episode Jonathan and Tim make the point that today denominations are something
to celebrate and embrace. Yes, they have a difficult past and that is not
something to ignore, but they offer a history and heritage and a culture to
being Christian. Each movement of Christianity has its gifts and particular part
of its story. Just as different countries and ethnicities have different
cultures and traditions so do denominations and that is something to celebrate
but not at the exclusion of others. It is important to embrace the differences
and the gifts and then to engage in a great exchange of stories. In the stories
are markers that separate one group of people from the other and we can learn
from those markers. The Baptist centrality of scripture may inform and lift up
the Anglican just as the importance that an Anglican gives to the liturgy may
deepen the spirituality of the Baptist.
To summarize – it is good to be different. It is important
to know why you are different and to embrace those differences. It is good to
learn about other people’s difference. It is good to share and learn.
Denominations can be good, as long as we no longer practice
exclusion let go of the demand to be right we can do great things with each
other.
FYI – the book that Tim mentioned is:
People of the Way by Dwight Zscheile (whose last name neither Tim
nor Jonathan can pronounce).
Railige
Jonathan is not happy (no surprise) with the
American BibleSociety and
Barna Group’s study that concluded that Providence, RI is the
leastBiblically minded city in America. He is not happy because it is a weak study
that does not really offer much to work with. Yet… it is very true that we are
in a post-Christian culture and it is likely that many people do not read the
Bible on a regular basis or engage in any Christian practices or embrace Christian
tenants or doctrines (like those concerning the accuracy of the Bible).
Tim is a more profound thinker – he is angry at a billboard
that encourages the idea of “more.” It is not the billboard that Tim is angry
about but the cultural notion that what we have is not enough and that we need
and deserve more. This approach to life is not going to end well because we
will always want more and will never be satisfied even when we have all that we
can.
Opening
the word – Isaiah 58:1-9a – Since
we are just about at Lent it seems appropriate to look at this passage and
thing about what you can give up for the season. Try giving up something that
will deepen your relationship with God and might be something that you can
offer to someone in need.
Watcha
Into? –
Tim watched the Olympics, or at least we are presuming that
he did since he said he would. Go team USA!
Jonathan is reading
And the MountainsEchoed by Khaled Hosseini. It is a good book about relationships, humanity,
and living
Please, please, please rate us on iTunes – thanks and get
ready for Lent! Next episode – identity and community with Father Jacob Lazarus
(Thibault) of the Church of the Holy Paraclete
