Wednesday, November 28, 2007
From The Outside Looking In
Amy Wellborn, perhaps the leading Catholic blogger, writes an analysis of Evangelicalism. It is great stuff, but I think the heart of her very long post is here:
First of all, and as I have often discussed here, survival is not even the question. As Wellborn says:
There is a genuine faith crisis at play here in the mainlines.
I have discussed here many times that paying clergy creates a de facto conflict of interest. The Catholics do it better because becoming clergy is a total sell-out, not just a salary. But I have to confess to a certain admiration of the Mormon way of doing things. The lack of a professional clergy, along with a strong system of calling to and accountability maturity as given that religion growth that we can only dream about.
I truly wonder about a wedding of orthodox Christian theology and Mormon organization. I think God could use such a construct in vitally important ways.
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In other words, the mode and methods used these days, that seem to “grow” communities in explosive ways, can have dramatically unintended consequences and long-term effects which range from mildly alienating to destructive of the truth and fullness of the Gospel."Don't jump on the bandwagon...," great words, and one of the blessing the Roman Catholic Church enjoys is enough sense of itself, not to mention its truly world-spanning scope, to make such a move difficult. The American mainline Protestant church does not enjoy such counterbalances and as such seems to think jumping on the bandwagon is the only means of survival.
In still other words, don’t jump on the bandwagon, because you’re never quite sure where the bandwagon is going.
First of all, and as I have often discussed here, survival is not even the question. As Wellborn says:
Because, of course, the big question for Catholics is - and should be - how do we spread the Gospel in the 21st century? (Note the difference between this and what some say is the real big question for Catholics - how do we keep our institutions afloat? See the difference?)But secondly, I am convinced the gospel thrives in the diversity that has developed. The more voices and views the more opportunity there is for the Holy Spirit to peek through the clutter with truth. I fail to understand why the mainlines want to jettison their heritage for the sake of survival. You see, if you believe that you hold the Truth, then you would have to believe that it will, in the end, win out.
There is a genuine faith crisis at play here in the mainlines.
I have discussed here many times that paying clergy creates a de facto conflict of interest. The Catholics do it better because becoming clergy is a total sell-out, not just a salary. But I have to confess to a certain admiration of the Mormon way of doing things. The lack of a professional clergy, along with a strong system of calling to and accountability maturity as given that religion growth that we can only dream about.
I truly wonder about a wedding of orthodox Christian theology and Mormon organization. I think God could use such a construct in vitally important ways.
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