Doug Chaplin has tagged me in a provocative meme that is simply too juicy to pass up. Here are the details:
List 5 doctrines that are taught within the Christian church that you believe to be deeply de-Christian.
Like Doug I think that the term “doctrine” as a certain flexibility in it. Of course, I’m no spokesperson for Christianity, but… Doug, ask and you shall receive. Here’s my list.
1. Justification by “Justification by Faith” – Doug also mentioned this one. The idea is that one is reconciled to God not by the death and resurrection of Jesus, but by intellectually assenting to a certain set of soteriological axioms. Such a view is deeply unChristian, as well as divergent from that which the Church has believed since the time of Paul. Take a gander at Romans 5. Jesus, not “justification by faith” is the one who reconciles people to God.
2. Oppression in the Name of Fidelity to the Scriptures –Oppression is never Christian, yet Christians are infamous for using the text to oppress different groups. This happened with the slavery issue and continues to happen with women and, I think, other minority groups. When doctrine excludes people from table fellowship, it contradicts the gospel.
3. Relegating the Eucharist to the sidelines of worship – In the early church, the Eucharist was the centerpiece of worship because Christ was the center of worship. In too many churches today, however, the Eucharist is only celebrated one a month or some such thing. The logic is, “We don’t want it to become dry ritual.” Funny, teaching the Scriptures doesn’t become dry ritual (or at least it shouldn’t).
4. Making “Christian” an adjective – It’s a great noun and a lousy adjective. It creates an us vs. them retreatism that results in “Christian” celebrations that are fenced or gated off from the rest of the world. Certainly, this is unChristian. The rest of the world won’t bite, I promise.
5. The Self-Help “Christian” Book Empire – I realize that not all books written by Christians are rubbish, but…really… how many books could possibly be needed on figuring out God’s will? The poor sheep are too blind to see they are being sold a bill of goods.
So there you have it. There’s my list. I’ll tag Rob Kashow (rise from the dead, Rob!), Scott Bailey, James McGrath, Mike Koke, and John Anderson.
Good list!
By: Doug Chaplin on November 5, 2009
at 1:42 pm
I especially like #2. This makes me think of the protests against homosexuals where people carry around hateful banners in the name of our gracious God. Ridiculous.
By: Rachel on November 5, 2009
at 2:06 pm
Exactly!
By: Michael on November 5, 2009
at 2:19 pm
Nice list Mike! I would have added “All sins are equal in God’s sight” as one. That’s ludicrous. I probably would have also mentioned the idea that whatever comes to pass is God’s will is completely unChristian. That’s assumed in most churches.
What about church being a “place” you “go to”? That’s certainly one.
Can’t forget about “just war” & an ethic of responsibility rather than imitation.
An over-emphasis on individual salvation & a “me & God” relationship might have made it to the list.
Totally can’t rule out our notions of “heaven” being this idea of a disembodied soul for eternity either. If anything is unChristian, it’s that.
I could think of a few more, but that will suffice. Let’s get together soon, brother. We miss you guys
By: Luke on November 5, 2009
at 6:36 pm
Thanks for weighing in Luke. I agree except that I’m not sure we can bifurcate the physical and the invisible with regard to the church. That split would seem to be a bit gnostic to me.
It seems to me that when the texts of the NT speak of the Church they have a physical, organic entity in mind.
What do you think?
By: Michael on November 5, 2009
at 10:20 pm
I was primarily speaking about people thinking of buildings as churches, as if there is something sacred about a building. Sure, have buildings, just know that the people are the church & not the building.
I’m not advocating a bifurcation of the physical & spiritual, I’m advocating viewing the church as the people of God, the New Covenant community of the Spirit, as opposed to viewing some building as “God’s house.” That’s not Gnostic, that’s Pauline. It’s completely physical & organic.
By: Luke on November 5, 2009
at 11:36 pm
Got it. Thanks for the clarification.
By: Michael on November 6, 2009
at 12:47 pm
Great post Michael. But I’m not sure I understand your first point. We are called to have faith in Jesus who did justify us before God. So wouldn’t having faith in Jesus involve believeing in justification by faith? This seems so obvious to me, so I know there’s probably something I’m not understanding here, so I just wanted to get some clarification. (Also, would you recommend any reading that deals with this point.) Thanks.
By: Ryan on November 8, 2009
at 1:54 am
Thanks Michael for tagging me so I will post my 5 deChristian doctrines here:
1. The pretribulation Rapture: The proof texts for this doctrine are all an example of eisegesis and I think it encourages a pessimistic and escapist mentality instead of trying to make the world a better place.
2. Health and Wealth Theology: Or as Scot Bailey likes to call it “Mammonianity.” So much for losing your life and taking up your cross.
3. Individualism: making the gospel all about ME when most of the Bible is addressing the community of faith, whether Israel or the Church.
4. Christianity as a tool for oppression: when Christendom and missions have gone hand-in-hand with western colonialism or when the Bible is used to justify inequality or the oprression of a specific group.
5. Legalism: setting up a bunch of rules that all “good Christians” must follow when loving God and your neighbour is what really counts.
By: Mike Koke on November 8, 2009
at 5:38 pm
Thanks for these, Mike. A hearty AMEN to all of these. Great list.
By: Michael on November 8, 2009
at 5:45 pm
Great list, both the one from Michael and from Mike. I found your blog through the automatically generated links on WordPress.
By: jutta on November 11, 2009
at 6:24 am