It's a popular thing for post-modern inclusive types to try and circumvent the inevitable traditionalist critique that points out they are tolerant for everything except those old-fashioned absolutists...
The wriggle-room is created by picking out something they really like from each of the identified 'streams' of 'Christian thought'. This gives the illusion of a fair and balanced view, and also has the bonus of putting all included 'streams' on the same level. It stays far away from value judgment and short-circuits any attempt to that end.
So, you can be cuddly with charismatic enthusiasm, loving with liberal social gospel, and suck up to sacramentalism as an physical expression of deep religious longings within all men (and women, of course)
Now, it's a fair bet that not much critique is going to come their way from these sources - it's going to come from the evangelical 'wing' of the church. So, ok, pick something useful that those evangelicals do, a distinctive to meet them in the middle over and diffuse the argument.
The inclusivist picks the evangelical commitment to scripture. Which struck me today as astonishingly redundant. Surely the evangelical commitment to scripture is good precisely in how it produces a commitment to absolutes. And surely this is the main point of divergence? If the commitment to scripture isn't about commitment to doctrine, which appears to be antithetical to post-modern thinking, then what is it?
Commitment to enjoying the psalms? Commitment to making sure we keep up with our Scripture Union Bible-reading notes? If commitment to scripture is not commitment to accept that what it says, goes, then isn't this just a shell game to deflect rational critique of a movement that can't stand to be critiqued?
11/30/2005
Pick 'n' mix post-modernism
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
This ecumenical 'streams' idea is deadly. I read Richard Foster's book on that subject and hated every page (cannot remember the title). I do not like starting a book and not finishing it. An awful book.
God Bless
Matthew
I really like the way you think.
'One day at a time'...that's how these things grow. they are subtle in their growth, until *presto*...you are suddenly aware that it is the Bible believing, inerrantist, absolutist, whose desire is to submit to and obey the Word of God....who is "the intolerant biggot".
The time has come for those who follow Christ to receive exactly what the Scriptures promise them.
No, I am not reffering to 'Health & Wealth', but to persecution, reviling, beatings, etc.
The harmless little snowballs rolling down the mountain, picking up tiny SUBTLE flakes one at a time....have merged into a roaring avalanche that is dangerous to those dwelling in its unyielding path.
Post a Comment