What has to be learned by the American Church...not just evangelicals

I have been in the process of writing my follow up to my last post regarding communal doctrine.  I want to make sure it is really sweet, but in the process I came up with this list, which I am imagining to be a work in progess.  Feel free to push back or add to this.

What has to be learned by the American Church:

Fundamentalists:

• Issues regarding authority need be re-thought.  You simply make claims about biblical issues that just can't be substantiated with the History of Judeo-Christian tradition. (Read Craig D. Allert;s "A high view of scripture?")
• Speaking of traditon, it should be recognized more.  How do you think Christianity was transmitted pre-text? D. H. Williams is a great starting place.
• Proper Trinitarian Thoughts, an emphasis on all three members and teaching on how they properly interact with one another.

Traditional/Liturgical

• The difference between issues of justice and evangelism needs to be fleshed out.  While the justice piece has been important in the Mainline Protestant churches,  it is not thought of as an evangelical practice with kingdom/gospel dimensions.
• The Holy Spirit and His place within the sphere of worship.  It is evident in the words of your liturgies, but it needs to be put in practice.
• Cultural adaptation needs to happen, this means that things change in order to keep things refreshed.  This won't destroy the richness that is a positive trait, but will allow it to continue to be what it has always been, but in a way that translates to the non or de-churched.

Again, these are just working lists.  I want to think about an Evangelical list and a Pentecostal/Charismatic list.  I really see these not as destructive, but as ways that the church can hopefully grow in the 21st century.  For those that minister in "Non-Sexy" churches, and are searching for re-vitalization, I think these are points that have to be thought of.  The more people I meet on the street that consider themselves "religious" have no denominational or traditional loyalty, they just want to see a Church that functions like Jesus lived.

Comments

[Dan Underwood]

"The Holy Spirit and His place within the sphere of worship. It is evident in the words of your liturgies, but it needs to be put in practice."

I agree whole-heartedly, and I'm pointing at myself.

[amberly]

good thoughts, Chad. what does "put in practice" mean there (to you)?

[chad]

Good question Amberly, I thought I may have to explain that out some more. I guess the classic prayer, Come Holy Spirit, is a great starting place.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.
V. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created.
R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

I learned this my first summer planning worship at Asbury. It is easy for us to attach the actions of the Holy Spirit to Pentecostalism and write off the activity of the spirit in non-charismatic ways (I am not trying to discount that tradition). When we shrug off the Spirit, we effectively deny living in the promise that the Spirit of God is among us for our help and comfort. The Holy Spirit is the embodied reality that leads the church forward. This is the kind of thing that needs to be lived out to truly be believed. That is just a short answer to a much longer question, I hope it helped.