Glocal Christianity

Christian Diversity

The other evening I was thinking about Christian diversity and how to explain the differences between Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant traditions to new believers and interested enquirers. Now, I am sure there are many ways to approach this but after some reflection I am inclined to suggest that the critical difference comes down to different understandings of apostolic authority. What is authoritative for the church? Who is an authority within the church?

In contrast to Buddhism, where different traditions within it literally have different scriptures, within Christianity different traditions still affirm the same scriptures as authoritative, at least for the most part. We all affirm the same New Testament scriptures, and even the same ecumenical Creeds. The differences don’t arise from there. Instead the differences arise through differences in the way we interpret scripture and tradition – What part does tradition play in interpretation? What part does the church play in interpretation? Who has authority to interpret?

The context in which revelation is interpreted shapes how we understand it.

Catholic Christians have a very hierarchical approach; they emphasize Papal authority and link apostolic authority to Papal succession. Orthodox Christians have a more consensus approach; they emphasize the authority of the ancient ecumenical councils and link apostolic authority to the church acting as a whole, within parallel jurisdictions. Protestant Christians have a more tradition-critical / individualistic approach; they emphasize the Bible’s authority over later tradition and accord apostolic authority to any church or Christian acting in harmony with the apostle’s teaching in scripture.

How does this work out in practice? Well for starters we all agree with the Nicene Creed, but for different reasons. Catholic Christians accept its authority because the Pope presided over it. Orthodox Christians accept its authority because it was ecumenical (except for the filoque bit). Protestant Christians accept its authority because, while it goes beyond the Bible, it is fully consistent with it.

Where the traditions disagree, it is often for similar reasons. Protestants will disagree with other traditions where there is insufficient New Testament support for them. At its best this can be a useful check against cultural accretations and theological drift. Orthodox will disagree with other traditions where there is insufficient consensus with the wider church over its long history. This can be a useful check against overly ahistorical or eccentric readings. Get the idea?

But what this led me to consider is the shape of the church in a post-Christendom world. You might recall that I have previously suggested that the distinction between clergy and laity is not nearly as significant as the distinction between disciples and non-disciples in a post-Christendom environment. I am inclined to extend this and say the distinctions between Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox pales into insignificance when compared to the distinctions between Christians and non-Christians – and its time we start remembering this forgotten truth. Whatever our differences, we all worship Jesus as God, we are all disciples of Jesus.

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

- Northumbria Community

Religion in the News

Jesus and the tax collectors. The Australian has reported that charities and churches stand to lose billions as the Rudd Government's taxation review prepares to examine whether the concessions offered to the $80 billion non-profit sector are justified.” CathNews also comments on the news and includes some quotes from Baptist social justice icon Tim Costello. I expect this will prompt a new round of discussions on church and state issues. What do you all reckon – should churches resist this?

Pope touched by WYD. Commenting on his trip to Australia for World Youth Day, Pope Benedict has said, “I still have in my eyes and in my heart this extraordinary experience, in which I was able to meet the youthful face of the church." I think Australians have been reminded that the Catholic church is still alive and kicking.

Gunman attacks Unitarian Universalists. A gunman opened fire at a youth performance in a Unitarian Universalist church on Sunday, killing two people and traumatizing many more. Knoxville police chief Sterling Owen said, "It appears that what brought him to this horrible event was his lack of being able to obtain a job, his frustration over that, and his stated hatred for the liberal movement" For those unfamiliar with Unitarian Universalism, as I expect many are, I think it is best described as a creedless movement which began in Christianity and now extends considerably beyond it. It now includes people who identify as Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans, Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, and others. The religious background of the gunman has not yet been identified, though I doubt any tradition would endorse his actions.

Death in the Family

This is just a quick message to explain my slowness in responding to comments over the last week. Apart from starting the week still feeling a bit burnt out, receiving confirmation that my contract is not being renewed in September, going for a job interview, starting college again for this semester, organizing my son's fifth birthday, helping to kick off a mission / evangelism taskforce team ... we also had a death in the family. My wife's uncle Mal was crushed to death in a work accident involving a road roller.  You can read the news report here and some of the comments of his co-workers here. The funeral was attended by about 350 people and the highway was shut down by all the truckers who attended. He left in style, on a bike. He was a good bloke. He'll be missed. He leaves behind our auntie Elle and many friends and family.

PS. You can click the photo to enlarge.

Kids Worship The Jesus Phone

Image from Wired

Am I the only one on the planet who finds the iPod hype just a little overrated? I mean, its not the second coming ... or is it?

Who Would Jesus Torture?

Have you ever been puzzled by people who say they worship Jesus, the crucified one, with one breath and say they recognize torture, as a necessary evil, with the next?

Note: image from annoy.com

Tina Beattie on The New Athiests

In a recent interview with Becky Garrison, Tina Beattie made these comments on The New Athiests:

"Most of the new atheists have much in common with their Christian fundamentalist counterparts ... They think that theirs is the one and only truth to which all other cultures and religions should submit; they interpret the Bible literally ... and they have very little insight into the psychological, philosophical, and historical complexities of their fellow human beings outside their own small circle."

Some questions:

• How many of you would agree with this?
• Have you interacted with many New Atheists?
• How do you think Christians should respond to New Atheists?

Seven Ways to Change the World - Jim Wallis in Sydney Next Week

Jim Wallis book launch

If you are in Sydney and would like to catch the launch of Jim Wallis’ new book, Seven Ways to Change the World, then Wesley Mission is the place to be next week. The address for Wesley Mission is 220 Pitt Street, Sydney on Monday, 28 July 2008. The book launch will be at 11:00am. There is no entrance fee.

Jim Wallis breakfast

Or if you would prefer to catch up with Jim Wallis over breakfast instead, you can do so at the Waterview Convention Centre, Bicentennial Park, Shirley Strickland Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park, where he will be joined by World Vision's CEO Tim Costell for a talk on "Reviving faith and politics: How people of faith can make a difference to the social and global challenges of our time" . The breakfast is 7am to 9am. The cost for the breakfast is $30. RSVP here.

For those unfamiliar with Jim Wallis, he is the President and Executive Director, Sojourners. Previous books include, "God's Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It".

So, what's your view on faith and politics?

• Should faith and politics be separated?
• Was Jesus political?
• If so, in what sense?
• Was Jesus left or right?

Buddhism Dying in Japan?

I have often lamented that many Australians think of Christianity as a "hatch, match and dispatch" religion when there is so much more to the way of Jesus. So I was interested to read this article about the decline of funerary Buddhism in Japan:

When it comes to funerals, though, the Japanese have traditionally been inflexibly Buddhist - so much so that Buddhism in Japan is often called “funeral Buddhism,” a reference to the religion’s former near-monopoly on the elaborate, and lucrative, ceremonies surrounding deaths and memorial services.

But that expression also describes a religion that, by appearing to cater more to the needs of the dead than to those of the living, is losing its standing in Japanese society.

For more see Buddhism sees its role in Japanese culture start to decline.

Liturgy: Freedom from Spontaneity!

Thought provoking comments from N T Wright on personal and family worship and the value of liturgy.