So, this gal appears at the church door last week looking to partner with us, as she and her organization offer "a class" in the area. She is a part of http://www.newlifeatl.org/, and is connected to "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement," http://www.perspectives.org/ I soon realized she is passionately committed to turning churches outward again, and to seeing the communities around us as mission fields. Sounds okay at that point, yes?
Then, the partnership includes signing an agreement, saying we as a church and I as a pastor will work in agreement with the Lausanne Covenant of 1974...
I thought... where have I seen that before? Then I remembered... it's an appendix in the New Wineskins proposed constitution as they run/split/leave the denomination. Then, I downloaded a full copy of it, and found the following phrases. I am hoping someone out there has some wisdom for me on understanding the path to partnership between our own churches that uphold the Reformed tradition and are pledged to our own Book of Confessions, and those churches that uphold and practice faith as described in the Lausanne Covenant of 1974...
"We affirm... both Old and New Testament Scriptures in their entirety as the only written word of God, without error in all that it affirms, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice."
"... as the reigning Lord, he now offers the forgiveness of sins and the liberating gifts of the Spirit to all who repent and believe."
"When people receive Christ they are born again into his kingdom and must seek not only to exhibit but also to spread its righteousness in the midst of an unrighteous world."
"The gospel does no presuppose the superiority of any culture to another, but evaluates all cultures according to its own criteria of truth and righteousness, and insists on moral absolutes in every culture."
These are definitely my brothers and sisters in Christ. The same covenant also makes room that we are all sinners, and that our institutions sometimes get it wrong. At the same time, I find some of the implications in these theological statements to not just be outside the Reformed view of God/life/faith, but potentially even harmful to the very cause/Christ they are attempting to serve. If signing this agreement is required, I cannot see how I uphold my ordination vows, and sign it as well. Am I just being a theological geek, or am I onto something real here? Feedback welcomed and appreciated...
-Rev. Joel
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
"Receive Christ... born again..."
Labels:
Ecumenical,
Theological
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