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The Lion or the Lamb: By Whose Authority?

 

By Whose Authority?

A recent headline caught my attention as I was reading the Times Colonist-Victoria:  “Former Christian Musicians Now Engage in Religion on Their Terms”. 
    
The article begins: ‘When former Christian artist Michael Gungor first hosted a new spiritual community in Los Angeles this year, worship began not with an organ blast or sermon series video promo, but with blowing bubbles.’
    
It was the “blowing bubbles” that intrigued me. I read on: ‘(the worship service) featured painting, dancing, corporate singing, and meditation, but no religious creed – as a celebration that “redefines worship.” 

It is important to note here ‘creed’ is spelled with a lower case ‘c.’
    
The writer further speaks of ‘the control authored by the Contemporary Christian Movement (CCM).’ 

This brought to mind the Protestant Reformation being followed by the Oxford Movement. 

The Protestant Reformation (1517) a major theological movement in Western Christianity challenged the political authority of the papacy. This movement was followed by the Oxford Movement in the 1830’s, where parts of Western Christianity moved to a more centralist adaptation of Christianity. Out of this, Anglo-Catholicism was born. 

Move along another century: the Western Church brought us to Vatican Two.
    
The Second Vatican Council was initiated by Pope John the XXIII as he believed the church needed “updating” to better connect with the people in the midst of a growing trend towards secularism. He believed the Church’s practices need to be improved and presented in a more understandable and relevant way. 

Interesting, “updating” won over resistance to change.
    
The article continues with, 'Derek Webb, founding member of the Christian rock band “Caedmon’s Call,” referring to the Christian Music Industry. He would say that industries sell security. Over the centuries, leaders in all organizations have had a tendency of wanting to protect a moral plumb line as they seek to protect ‘the bottom line.’ 
    
Now, if you are thinking I am about to promote blowing bubbles at the beginning of each worship service, or wearing team jerseys on a regular basis, you could not be further from the truth! Neither am I about to begin a new “movement” within Christianity. 

What I will say is: I believe in the institution. 
Experience tells us: ‘somehow, we always manage to return to the center.’  Thus, it has always been and always will be. 

Many of us have read 'The Comfortable Pew: A Critical Look at Christianity and the Religious Establishment in the New Age' by Pierre Burton. Among its many reviews is this: “It might seem odd to ask an atheist to pontificate about the Anglican Church but the Protestant Mainliners’ hierarchy was a bit wacky and Berton was fond of the wacky tobacky.”
    
I have not ever had a fondness for wacky tobacky, but still the question remains, “what will the next 100 years bring?”

Blessings to all,
Archdeacon Brian+