Thursday Theological Thoughts

Robert the LlamaButcher has an interesting post up about the current Episcopalian foofaroo. It's worth a read and some thought - include the comments as well as there are some thought provoking ones - and some irritating ones - and some silly ones. But then, they're blog comments.

For a little over a year, Tim and I attended an Episcopalian church near our house and I have to say there were things about it we loved. The liturgy is beautiful and I reveled in the formality of the service...it just seems to have a much more appropriate, truly reverent attitude. And that's not saying that it was stodgy or dirge-like. The service we attended was very contemporary in a lot of aspects, but still, at the heart, there was reverence that I think is lacking in many other contemporary worship settings that focus on the "Jesus is my pal" aspect of Christianity.

Unfortunately, the plight facing the Episcopalians is not unique. It's a dilemma that runs rampant through most protestant denominations. In fact, the very fact that we have multiple denominations is indicative of how rampant the problem really is. Some of the issues that divide are essential and need to be addressed. This includes affirmation of the Bible as the ultimate authority, an issue at the heart of the problem facing the Episcopalians (because ultimately, to allow anyone who lives a life of unrepentant sin -- any kind of sin, homosexuality, adultery, compulsive lying, it really doesn't matter -- to be a leader in the church runs contrary to scripture. (1 Timothy 3 – while some modern translations show this as talking to deacons, the word ‘bishop’ is an alternate translation.)) At the same time, we allow ourselves to be divided over issues that have no ultimate consequence (e.g. women wearing pants, contemporary music vs. traditional, etc.) and then we clothe ourselves in denominational superiority and cease to identify with one another as fellow followers of Christ and label ourselves instead by arbitrary denominations. “Oh…you’re a Presbyterian. I understand now, I’m a Southern Baptist.” As if, ultimately, the majority of Presbyterians and Southern Baptists didn’t hold the same set of core beliefs. Even being non-denominational has taken on the flavor of its own denomination.

I guess there is some comfort in the fact that this has been going on since the beginnings of Christianity. Paul addressed it in 1 Corinthians 1:10 - 17

"I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas [a]"; still another, "I follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into [b] the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”

And again in 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

1 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere human beings? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere human beings? 5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are God's co-workers; you are God's field, God's building.

At the end of the day, I think Paul sums it up quite nicely, we are worldly. We have allowed the Church to be divided – in fact we have insisted upon it – and we are losing sight of the Truth that Christ died to set us free from sin if we will simply follow Him. And this Truth applies, regardless of your denominational preference.