Nate:
You are right that as culture changes, the way we act out our life of faith can (and should) change. I guess that's what being "relevant" is all about. However, we still need to reflect on what motivates our particular views on certain subjects: tithing, worship, women in leadership, homosexuality, the environment, etc. If we are not acting out of Christ's Love, then we can assume that our cultural prejudices are getting in the way.
To me, that's not being a "Cafeteria Christian." My job, as I understand the Shorter Westminster Catechism is "to glorify God and enjoy him forever." I am not sure I can adequately and faithfully accomplish this with prejudice in my heart.
So, I guess I have to ask the hard question: does my faith influence how I live in my particular cultural moment, or does my cultural moment dictate my faith? That's a complex question, and I will constantly set myself up for ridicule if I say that my faith should always trump my culutral moment. But this is what I want for my life of faith--this is what I think Jesus says when he asks us to take up our cross . . .or, to "die to self."
One last thing on the "women in church leadership" issue. The following passage comes from the "Brief Statement of Faith" of the Presbyterian Church (USA). It was created in the mid-80s and it can be used for public proclamation:
"We trust in God the Holy Spirit . . . the same spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles / rules our fatih and life in Christ through Scripture, / engages us through the Word proclaimed, / claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, / and calls women and men to all ministries of the Church."
That's reconciliation. Amen.
the elder.
3 comments:
Female leadership within the Church -obviously- is tricky. While part of me says, "the church has always been behind, why can't they go forward and use woman leadership as a picture of gender reconciliation?" but on the other hand, I Timothy 2:12 gets me every time.
When Jill Briscoe was at JBU she spoke at At The Well and leadership in the Church was brought up. She had some thoughts that seemed to meld the two opposing views together, at least in her context. I don't think it works for a congregation but it was encouraging to hear an elderly woman with a broad perspective on something most people tend to be fairly closed minded to.
When we take so much time "fleshing out" (the christian term for arguing...in my opinion)what is right or wrong when it comes to these various "hot topics" we're doing exactly what Satan wants us to be doing...missing the mark. Yes, we should be loving everyone. We should be creating community among believers. We should be relevant. We should be aware of the people who are coming through the door. We should be AWARE. But, the MINUTE we're focusing on the culture vs. the Father, then we're not doing what we need to be doing. I hate to sound so black and white (ooohh...another big issue!), but as I walk through life, I guess that helps me see things a bit more clearly.
i think there does come a time though just as the apostles, church fathers, those involved in apostolic succession, saints of old, and saints of new, theological sprinters and marathon runners....we to must look at what is going on in the world and try to understand what the heck is going on. the problem is we have for the most part stepped off the foundation of Christ which is the only place that promises a firm and steady foundation (not always easy) but i think just as our brothers and sisters before us questioned culture and how the Kingdom was to exist in it....we since the 1800's have completly failed this task of remaining a living growing Body of Christ as we have tried to stay put ....if you need me elaborate on staying put i can. but i don't want expound if no one is reading this post any more :-(
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