I haven't posted anything deeply reflective for quiet some time. To be honest, that was a result of the lack of responses and comments, which come to find out was my bad. So, long story short, I've been pondering an idea that I'd like to share. Now, I have come to a few conclusions, but I'll wait to share those. Anyway...
I've recently been asking myself where... or better yet, when... should our focus be? Let me explain. There are those that hold that the key to our future growth/success/inspiration lies in the past. This would be the "conservative" point of view. To move ahead, we must look backward. In the church, this often times comes out as "we must return to ______________ Christianity" (fill in the blank with some important period of time, i.e. New Testament, early church, reformation, azusa street, etc.). Essentially, the heart of any present revival/reformation/movement is found in recovering some element of our shared past. Key words are often recovering, reclaiming, re____________ (again, fill in the blank).
Now, running along with this stream of thought (or counter to it, depending on your perspective) is the idea that the key to our future growth/success/inspiration lies in the future. This would be the "liberal" point of view. To move ahead, we must look forward. In the church, this often comes out as a "concession" to culture and a strong desire to not look outdated. Now, I have not had nearly the experience in this stream of thought that I have had in the other, so I've had a difficult time describing it in earlier conversations and even in this blog. Essentially, the heart of any present revival/reformation/movement is found, in some sense, by letting go of the past and grasping the future. Key words are often... well, I don't know because like I said, I haven't had much experience in this stream.
Anyway, so thats it. What I ask is... which one is right? (Now, before Nic gets the opportunity to ask why I need one to be right and one to be wrong, I'm cutting him off. That is not the question. The question is really "which one is right.... for you?) Which one, if either or both, do we see in scripture? Where does your heart/revival lie, in the past or in the future?
9 comments:
no, my question is not why one needs to be right and the other wrong. my question is why not the present. or is there any present.
liberal keywords:
experience.
Also dont know if I would classify Moltmann as a liberal and certainly he is future thinking.
I guess we know who you are (or want to be) based on the picture
no, I wouldn't say that my picture serves as a clue as to my leaning. My main concern is critically reflecting on the idea that the heart of Christianity lies in the New Testament (this is the main culture I find myself in... the New Testament and Azusa Street). If we truly believe that God continues to speak, should we affirm a desire to return to New Testament Christianity? More so, what does that even mean?... returning to New Testament Christianity?
... if dreams are like movies, then memories are films about ghosts ...
Counting Crows
I have thought about the above line much in the past 3-4 years.
Memories, or history for that matter, becomes present in the act of remembering. New Testament or any remembering of the past is forward looking in some sense. To remember, or re-member, can be defined as bringing something back together again. To piece together bits and pieces. We re-member, in much the same ways that we hope. Now certianly there are horrible nightmare memories, but just as a nightmare is a stance toward a future in despair.
New Testament Christianity in and of itself was forward looking. Re-membering the life and passion of Christ in the power of the HS.
Christ, as the second Adam, the image and likeness of God, is also the head of the church. The church is the body and limbs (1 Cor 15). Christ is re-membered (the Church's subjection to Christ) in hope of the future day when all will be subject to God(Eph).
To long for the way things used to be, a static notion of being, is to miss the point. We are called to walk with, thus eschatology, or future looking penetrates the life of the believer. To reach back and become what used to be is to go forward. But to not find that the memories of the past are in and of themeselves pointing to the future is to die.
The only way to become a NT Christian, is to set your eyes and motivation on the same goal that they had, the future-now kingdom of god.
(Disclaimer: If this made no sense or is not relevant to the discussion that you would like to take place, please copy this, post it on Exiled Wilderness, and remove it from your site.)
it seems to me that many have a romanticized view of a NT and Azusa ST. ETC. type of Christianity. I think nic is right in saying that there is value in focusing on what they were focused on. Also, we must remember that they had their share of corruptions, scandals and immoralities. Actually, it is these thing which we often here about outside of the gospels (and even in them perhaps). Also, it will be hard to have NT Christianity in any culture that does not include serious persecution against the church. In other words, there are many elements that cannot be recreated. I am going to say we must find a way to live wholly for the present, keep the future in view and look at the past as part of a continuum which has value for teaching, but is only informing (not ruling) our present path (we wouldn't be here without that history) which must be walked with a future and destination in mind while accepting that we don't really know what is around the next curve. {that was a long sentence}
You graduated from COGTS and don't know that the answer is...YES!
Actually, Clark Pinnock was there this past semester and said something to the effect of the church must contantly be in a state of conserving and reforming. He also made fun of Norman Geisler. But, that has nothing to do with this topic.
when you gonna leave another comment or post mr moderater
That was darn eloquent there, Nic (not the moderator comment, the other one)
Enjoyed a lot! »
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