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Loin Girders

A passionate orthodox Christian man's occasional blog to support those who stand firm. Gird your loins, noble warriors for Christ.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

I mentioned a piece in First Things on the slide in theology away from traditional doctrine. It's a great article, worth reading. Here is the link:
http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0506/opinion/turner.html

posted by Unknown @ 9:39 PM  

4 Comments:

  • At 1:36 PM, August 03, 2005, Blogger Dan Trabue said…

    Despite my flippant comment on the topic in the previous post, I do rather agree with you/this article that a vacuous sermon that says Love God, Love people and not much else, comes across as lightweight fluff. I've sat in those before and it didn't do much for me.

    I agree, too, with the article that such preaching/teaching can produce "an ethic of tolerant affirmation that carries with it no call to conversion and radical holiness."

    Where we'd likely part ways is what that call to conversion and radical holiness looks like. I've no particular attachment to much of orthodoxy, insofar as being worried about a virgin birth or who is and isn't taking communion.

    But I do want that Klansman, that warmonger, etc to repent, to turn from his wicked ways, to follow in the radically weird path of Jesus and we'd both agree to that. So, there you have it.

    My two cents. Thanks for pointing it out.

     

  • At 1:09 AM, August 04, 2005, Blogger Constantine said…

    Very interesting this idea of a "working theology" vs. offical dogma via confessions, creeds, biblical authority, what have you. I wonder (given that First Things is edited by a brilliant RC priest with whom I disagree on some matters) what the editoral page of this magazine would say the "working theology" of Rome is?

     

  • At 8:06 AM, August 04, 2005, Blogger Unknown said…

    Working theology is an interesting concept to me, too. I have made a practice over the years of mixing with Christians from many communities. I am comfortable in nearly all worship settings, contemporary to traditional, as long as the worship is worship and not entertainment or worse. This article has made me think about my own "working theology". Early on in my deliberate faith, after a great Walk to Emmaus (Methodist) and a wonderful stadium sing in with Promise Keepers, I decided that I was indeed living in a larger story as a citizen of the Kingdom of Christ. I know that virgin birth must be possible with God, because all things are. I know that miracles happen, because they are well-documented. I know that transubstantiation would be the most beautiful thing, and in hopes that it is true, treat the Eucharist as the body and blood of Christ. I know that Christ forgives sins, because I feel forgiven, though I have not had the sacrament of Penance since leaving the Catholic church of my youth. But, what is my working theology? I think I am the most conservative orthodox believer, because I accord a high probability to fundamental assertions, but my intuition tells me that I sit in the right church, though not Orthodox or Roman, serving Christ in the way he has shown me. So, though others may consider me apostate or fallen away or hopelessly conflicted, I stand firm for Jesus Christ, hoping he will tell me if I have strayed from the center of His will.

     

  • At 12:40 AM, August 05, 2005, Blogger Constantine said…

    I wouldn't consider you apostate or fallen away at all (official Rome would though). Canterbury has a beautiful, albeit confused or maybe a better description would be confusing, history. My own theology most closely resembles the Anglican tradition (more of old though).

    The reason I pondered what the editor of "First Things" would say the "working theology" of Rome would be is because I wonder if he could be honest enough with himself and call a spade a spade. Unless you go to a Latin Mass congregation, the Church of Rome is one big hodgepodge of pick and choose, even on a global scale (i.e. I doubt the majority of congregants really adhere to the Sacrament of Reconciliation as is prescribed). Some are very conservative and some (Rome has maybe more than their share on this front) clueless with most in the middle. Basically, no different than your own, except the central authority structure is of course stronger (though it failed miserably during its latest scandal—they acted very, very liberal in their woefully weak actions). Just because it can fill its pews and coffers doesn't mean it's monolithic. There are C & E Catholics just like in any other denomination, but I would say that Rome has more that its share of cultural adherents (those who continue to go out of a family built habit but not faith per se).

    I understand what the author of this article was saying, and he said it quite well, but he must not get out much. And of course, the real question is, what’s he doing about it? Is he staying in Canterbury and if so, why? The answer to these two questions would be very telling. Ecclesiastical problems abound elsewhere but maybe not so obviously and in your face as with the Episcopalians. Who knows—maybe a new Dark Age cometh? Even so, this too shall pass, even if not in our own life time.

     

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