 Bruce Shelley, in his book Church History in Plain Language, says the battle between the Roman Catholic Church and the emerging Protestantism of the Reformation came down to how four questions were answered.
-How is a person saved?
-Where does religious authority lie?
-What is the church?
-What is the essence of Christian living?
As the Reformation matured, a doctrinal foundation was laid for the movement by the likes of Luther, Calvin, Henry VIII's Thomas Wolsey, and Conrad Grebel.
These four schools of the Reformation- the German or Lutheran school,
the Swiss or Reformed school, the Anglican school and the Anabaptist
school- developed new orthodoxies and orthopraxies.
Out of these constructions came the Reformation questions that still
define Evangelicalism today. Note that Evangelicalism came to the
table rather late, having its origins in Great Britain in the 1730's.
So what are these questions?
-Can one lose their salvation? -What role should women play in the church? -How
should one worship God (this was almost always asked from a church
service context, and not necessarily from a Romans 12:1ff perspective)? -What is the nature of the church in regards to society (or culture)?
The way these questions were answered, and a myriad of increasingly technical secondary questions (for example, views of eschatology),
led to the formation of denominations. These denominations, like the
random creeping of cracks in a broken window, splintered again and
again. Reasons to no longer fellowship with others moved from the
broadly theological to the absurdly precise. The question of security
in salvation as a test of community gave way to othorpraxic considerations like order of service, song selection, and music style.
As
we enter into the next season of church history, the questions that once
defined protestantism are giving way to a new set of inquiries that
will help define the post-protestant era. I think two of these
questions are:
-Missional or not missional? -What is the nature of evangelism?
Missional or not Missional?
The River's understanding of Missional Living can be found here.
At the congregational level, a church must decide whether this will be
a key faith expression. Missional living is not programmatic. It is
not like evangelicalism's bait and switch.
Missional Living is the contemporary expression and emulation of
Christ's miracles. No, we don't raise people from the dead or turn
water into wine. The purpose of Jesus' miracles was to lend creedance
to his message. Missional Living does the same today. I am always
mystified by churches that add strings to their mercy ministries, or
translate those ministries into middle-class, felt-need programs. I am
further dumbfounded by those congregations that refuse to participate
in mercy ministries for fear of appearing too liberal!
What is the Nature of Evangelism?
We are still defined to some extent by our response to Evangelicalism, much
like the early Reformers were defined by their responses to Roman
Catholicism. Part of that is our heritage as a congregation, and part
our place in history. Many evangelicals assume that if a church does
not communicate the Gospel a certain way, then that church is not
orthodox. We hold to the elements of the Gospel.
In my expereince, having pastored in fundamentalist, and old and new
evangelical contexts, many evangelicals try to create an artificial
faith crisis in a person to whom they are 'witnessing', and on a
timeline of their (the evangelical's) choosing. Oh, and usually with
very little concern about the long term spiritual health of the
individual. It becomes all about "getting the sale" and padding the
numbers. When did consumerism and the business approach become our
evangelism model?
I think carrying out the mission of God, expressing that mission
through mercy, and inviting others to join that mission regradless of
where they are spiritually opens the door to relationship and
discipleship. Anything else leads to a patronizing attitude towards
those not of the faith- an attitude all too prevalent in our
evangelical churches today. Christian fundamentalism is shrinking, due
in large part to its fortress church mentality and inexplicable anger
towards the world. Evangelicalism is growing a movement of spritual
consumers where the focus always comes back to 'me'. Neither really
reflect my undertanding of Christ's invitation to mission and purpose.
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These are only two of the questions that will define us going forward.
Our evangelical heritage has positioned us to engage this culture with
the same timeless and unique message of Jesus. We stand on the
shoulders of giants. As one season drifts away, we undertake to be
faithful in this season. Evangelicals see the trees of their movement
as green and full. In reality, the leaves have already turned to gold
and rust and have fallen to the ground. A few stubborn leaves still
cling to the branches, but a new spring is awakening, with the buds of
potential promising much life. It is just a shame that the coldness of
this short winter season has caused relations to become so icy.
Peace
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