Scot McKnight is the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University (Chicago, Illinois) and author of jesuscreed.org, one of the most informative and thought-provoking blogs that seeks to “explore the significance of Jesus and the orthodox faith for the 21st century.”
The following quote comes from a post earlier in the day and asks some great questions about the role and purpose of the Church. By this I mean the connectional church, the holy catholic church (little “c”) as referenced in the Apostle’s Creed. His question pre-supposes that many already-formed churches are lacking in missional formation (agreed); they should look more like the Salvation Army and less like the professional dispensers of religious goods and services.
Here’s my favorite question — and it was asked about five times in five different ways: How do you make an already-formed church into a missional church? (I didn’t have the chutzpah to suggest that Reformed churches, since they are always reforming, should have the least issue with this, but the simple fact is that many Reformed churches are more tailored for 16th Century Europe that 21st Century postmodern West.) My answer: be missional yourself, surround yourself with some other missional folks, stay in loving communication with your leadership, and only break away if it becomes intolerable or insufferable. Why stay? Simple: there is nothing so compelling as a missional group.
Scot’s assessment of many Reformed churches is indicting, and true on so many fronts. We would do well to ask what a Reformed church in the 21st Century postmodern West looks like…and then get busy making some in-game adjustments.
Technorati Tags: reformed, missional, ecclesiology
4 responses so far ↓
1 Larre // May 2, 2007 at 4:36 am
I’ve always been curious of the concept of “always reforming.” What would you say are the top five positive reforms within the past 100 years?
2 Michael // May 3, 2007 at 10:24 pm
The phrase “Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda” recognizes that the church always risks falling into corruption, as was certainly the case with the Roman Church in the 16th Century. The point was never to “evolve,” but rather return to the root of what the church was called to be and to do in the first place. Articulating what that looks like is another thing altogether, which is why Presbyterian polity documents will add the phrase “…according to the Word of God and the call of the Spirit.” To that end, I would say the the top two positive reforms worth mentioning in the past 100 years would be the embracing of females and their gifts to ordained ministry, and the church’s position concerning human rights as they pertain to ethnic and racial discrimination. Sheesh, even the reformers could only come up with 5 solas, so I’m not sure there are any others on a scale of that magnitude within the past 100 years.
But, since you asked…the church is often guilty of “infallible-izing” robes, pews, and music, (my #’s 3, 4, 5…and all cultural). So, in the spirit of “returning to the root,” there is certainly reform of a practical nature happening in these areas within the church, though I would contend too little, and often too late.
3 Larre // May 4, 2007 at 9:57 pm
Oh, man. You whipped out the Latin on me. I googled the phrase and it seems this matter is somewhat controversial. My five minutes of research has me leaning to conclude that a more accurate description may be “always tweaking.”
I agree there haven’t been any reforms (or “tweaks”) comparable to the five solas.
I’m gonna stick with the five solas and suggest an alternative slogan - “The Church Reformed and tweaking, according to the Word of God.”
4 Michael // May 5, 2007 at 9:27 am
I love it! How about: “The Church Reformed and tweaking, unless we really mess it up again and need another ’sola’.” If the past is any indication of the future, this may be necessary again someday.
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