Dennis Bratcher
10th January 2008, 08:40 PM (20:40)
“To understand Evangelicalism is to realize that it is ever a reforming movement that must operate in a larger (“catholic”) context. And the Methodist societies functioning within the setting of broader Anglicanism are a perfect example of this. Indeed, because evangelicalism is an emphasis, and it's lifeblood consists in bearing prophetic witness, it is inherently unstable (semper Reformanda [“always reforming”]) and can easily break up if not rooted, in some fashion, in institution structures and ongoing traditions.” [-Ken Collins in a post on WTD, used by permission.]
While Ken was addressing a different topic, I thought this was relevant to some of the issues raised here recently in dealing with postmodernism, emergent church, and liturgical worship, and the intersection of those concerns in the role of the institutional church in responding to societal and cultural change.
In a slightly different way, this reflects what I have been saying the past six months about our need to deal actively, creatively, and at the same time “traditionally” (however defined), with the changes occurring within the society at large that are affecting the Church. It also raises questions about the inherent religious conservatism (maintaining the status quo) that has become the hallmark of much of evangelicalism. I think that in some ways both the independent church movement and some aspects of the emergent movement exemplify the tendency of evangelicals to “break up” outside of some kind of organizing structures.
Thoughts? What would the C of N look like if it conceptualized itself and its role as prophetic salt and light within the larger church catholic rather than struggling to maintain its own uniqueness in opposition to everyone else? Is it possible that a genuine evangelical “emphasis,” or even a holiness “emphasis,” can only be done as a prophetic voice from within that “larger (‘catholic’) context”?
Grace and Peace,
Dennis Bratcher
While Ken was addressing a different topic, I thought this was relevant to some of the issues raised here recently in dealing with postmodernism, emergent church, and liturgical worship, and the intersection of those concerns in the role of the institutional church in responding to societal and cultural change.
In a slightly different way, this reflects what I have been saying the past six months about our need to deal actively, creatively, and at the same time “traditionally” (however defined), with the changes occurring within the society at large that are affecting the Church. It also raises questions about the inherent religious conservatism (maintaining the status quo) that has become the hallmark of much of evangelicalism. I think that in some ways both the independent church movement and some aspects of the emergent movement exemplify the tendency of evangelicals to “break up” outside of some kind of organizing structures.
Thoughts? What would the C of N look like if it conceptualized itself and its role as prophetic salt and light within the larger church catholic rather than struggling to maintain its own uniqueness in opposition to everyone else? Is it possible that a genuine evangelical “emphasis,” or even a holiness “emphasis,” can only be done as a prophetic voice from within that “larger (‘catholic’) context”?
Grace and Peace,
Dennis Bratcher