Easy prognostication: A lot of Church-of-Christ people will be talking about Page 15 of this month's "Christian Chronicle."
It's a full-page ad with the title "A Christian Affirmation 2005." You will find the document, a list of signers, and other information here
So what do you think about it?
This has the feeling of a gauntlet being thrown down. I wouldn't have signed it myself so I guess I am not affirmed.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the thoughtful work done on this and agree with it. Lacking any prior knowledge of its development, I'd guess the statement functions to give its signers some cover in the eyes of our church's mainstream, protecting them from their less inclusive, less theologically complex brethren.
ReplyDeleteOdd for them to quote Kung. Interesting for it to come out in the wake of major headship transitions for Roman catholics and former ICOCs. In the fine tradition of Campbell (and Stone?), it appears that we are once again casting a net capable of handling not just big fish, bit whole schools of thoughtfish.
Here's my response to your comment on my blog:
ReplyDeleteFrank - I read the comments and "lame" is unfortunately the word that came to mind.
The inconsistencies of the whole affirmation (citing Greek Orthodox believers that these people by their own statement would not accept as truly baptized Christians) seems a deceptive ploy at best.
The whole idea that these three pet topics are what Churches of Christ have to offer the Christian world is to miss entirely that many other churches have richer theologies on all three matters - the Churches of Christ tend to practice diligently and obediently, but not theologically profoundly these matters.
Churches of Christ will teach the Christian world about Holy Communion? I can think of number s of other denominations which have deeper theology and practice. Frequency is not everything.
I think the document is unfortunate, but not by design.
ReplyDeleteIt's a throwback and and effort to make sense in modern terms a world that has ben moving postmodern for a half century.
The men (no women I noticed) are good men who love the Lord. However, I question seriously what good remaining distinctive is if this is what it means.