This is an idea that seems to float about in the emergent conversation. These words get bandied about. For example, Makeesha writes: "Can we create a new and more effective Body of Christ that better glorifies the multifaceted beauty of our Living Lord?"
From an Orthodox perspective, any such question MUST be approached in the forum of personal repentance, I think. I have to ask: Can I become a new and more effective servant of Christ who better glorifies the multifaceted beauty of my Living Lord? And that is why I go to confession. And that I way I engage in the ancient disciplines of the Church. That is why I learn to fast, pray and give alms both in time and money. That is why there are intercessory prayers offered up on behalf of all.
But the idea of recreating the Church...this doesn't sit well with me. Who are we, to take such power into our own hands? Who are we to stand in such judgment on our brothers and sisters? Because the Church is not just the ones I see when I go to a certain place on Sunday morning, or Saturday night, or whenever. It includes those who have already fought the fight and who are interceding for us in heaven. We are one body, and to speak of "recreating" something as holy and precious as the Church of Christ, whom He has made His pure and spotless bride, is presumptuous.
Now, if we want to use different language, and challenge the people of God to works of mercy, to purer lives, to living the gospel in new and deeper ways, this I can wholeheartedly endorse. But missional living is nothing new. It may be a new word to define a certain phenomenon, but I would offer up St. Juliana of Lazarevo, St. John of Kronstadt, St. Xenia of Petersburg, St. Herman of Alaska and espcially St. Maria (you know, the one in Paris) as a examples of missional saints. The list could go on and on. This is nothing new. From where I sit, intentional community is room temperature, and saints such as these are those we strive to immitate.
The Church, then, does not need something new. She needs something ancient. She does not need us to recreate her, but rather WE need to be recreated by the great physician and healer, Christ.
So perhaps we agree in principle, but not in the language being used.
Talk to me.
From an Orthodox perspective, any such question MUST be approached in the forum of personal repentance, I think. I have to ask: Can I become a new and more effective servant of Christ who better glorifies the multifaceted beauty of my Living Lord? And that is why I go to confession. And that I way I engage in the ancient disciplines of the Church. That is why I learn to fast, pray and give alms both in time and money. That is why there are intercessory prayers offered up on behalf of all.
But the idea of recreating the Church...this doesn't sit well with me. Who are we, to take such power into our own hands? Who are we to stand in such judgment on our brothers and sisters? Because the Church is not just the ones I see when I go to a certain place on Sunday morning, or Saturday night, or whenever. It includes those who have already fought the fight and who are interceding for us in heaven. We are one body, and to speak of "recreating" something as holy and precious as the Church of Christ, whom He has made His pure and spotless bride, is presumptuous.
Now, if we want to use different language, and challenge the people of God to works of mercy, to purer lives, to living the gospel in new and deeper ways, this I can wholeheartedly endorse. But missional living is nothing new. It may be a new word to define a certain phenomenon, but I would offer up St. Juliana of Lazarevo, St. John of Kronstadt, St. Xenia of Petersburg, St. Herman of Alaska and espcially St. Maria (you know, the one in Paris) as a examples of missional saints. The list could go on and on. This is nothing new. From where I sit, intentional community is room temperature, and saints such as these are those we strive to immitate.
The Church, then, does not need something new. She needs something ancient. She does not need us to recreate her, but rather WE need to be recreated by the great physician and healer, Christ.
So perhaps we agree in principle, but not in the language being used.
Talk to me.
Comments
How can we recreate the Church when it was Christ who did so? That makes no sense to me.
But what would I know, I'm a Protestant.
In a homily I heard once, the priest talked about "changing the depth of the hook" -- trying to make services that attracted people because they were at the right time, the right place, had the right music, proffered good service opportunities, etc. Having a marketing plan, basically. This was contrasted to using the Net of Love to catch people, will they nill they.
And Ruth, please don't be put off by Orthodox, um...ah...how shall I say...*certainty*...? I often feel that we would benefit by having close relationships not only with non-Orthodox, but non-Christians, so that our assumptions and, er, um, assumptions, get examined on a regular basis!
For your edification, here's Purgatorio's tongue-in-cheek take on the Emergent church movement.
Because of historical continuity, the Orthodox are willing to say where they know the Church is, but they will not say where the Church is not.
Just this weekend I got to hear a talk by my Archbishop who stated that Orthodoxy is merely having the right doctrine of Christ. And that anytime and anyplace a person has the right doctrine of Christ there is cause for rejoicing and gladness.
Pax.
I do want your input in my blog, in conversations such as this, and in my life, and I do consider you a sister in Christ, my obnoxious "Orthodox confidence" (as Theodora puts it) notwithstanding.
I need to learn the spiritual discipline of sitting on my hands sometimes instead of typing the first thing that comes into my head!
And by the way, I'm certainly no expert on the Emergent church. I'm at the place you are, I think, just starting to learn about it. I recently read Blue Like Jazz, which I gather is one of the books the movement claims.