Jesus is Greater than our Understanding
We see the church continuing to define who Jesus is. I saw a chart that showed different traditions with a view of Jesus, with each focused quite narrowly. I don’t think the chart is meant to characterize that as the only view of any particular tradition, but a generalized view. Each has something to offer, but each has its shortcomings. I also note that some of them tie to specific celebrations of the church year or to other portions of focus.
|
Type of Christian |
Focus/Problem |
Good News |
Season or Concept of Faith |
|
Conservative/Protestant |
Humanity is guilty of sin and wrongdoing |
Jesus’ death pays the full payment for human sin |
Good Friday |
|
Pentecostal |
Humanity is held down by disease and poverty |
Jesus teaches us how to receive miracles and healings from God through faith in God’s promises |
Pentecost |
|
Roman Catholic |
Humanity is enslaved by fear of death |
Jesus’ resurrection defeats death and liberates humanity |
Easter |
|
Eastern Orthodox |
Humanity is spiritually sick and needs healing; it has dropped out of the dance of creation |
Jesus’ entry into humanity brings God’s healing to humanity and all of creation |
Christmas |
|
Liberal Protestant |
Humanity suffers from ignorance of the teachings and ways of Christ |
Jesus’ example and teachings inspire us to work compassionately for social justice |
Jesus in the Gospels |
|
Anabaptist |
Humanity is divided and violent and needs to learn the ways of Christ in Community |
Jesus convenes a learning community of disciples who seek to model lives of love and peace |
Discipleship and Calling |
|
Liberation Theology |
Humanity is oppressed by corrupt power, systems and regimes |
Jesus sends and leads bands of activists to confront unjust regimes and make room for the shalom of God |
Great Commission and the Exodus |
* Source of the first three coumns is Brian McLaren, "A Generous Orthodoxy"
I don’t want us to have to look at the chart and try to figure out which one we are, where we think the best truth is, where we want the church to go. I’d like us to simply see that there are pieces of truth in each of those trying to follow Jesus. Even some groups we might object to. God has not limited his grace to a few. He calls us each in our own unique ways from our own beginning points. And in the diversity of the church, and the breadth of who Jesus is and what he brings to us, we see the grace of God reaching to us all.
2 Comments
What is noteworthy is that each of these faith streams, if you will, come out of a certain cultural and social context. For example, liberation theology comes out of repressive , usually extreme right-wing dictatorships in Central and South America. Anabaptism finds its roots in the theological chaos of the Reformation, and the extreme persecution suffered at the hands of the Roman Catholic Church of the time, not to mention the Calvinists as well.
Nice to know. Seems to me they are pretty much all the same. Makes me wonder however, what group the trump supporters, or the U.S. evangelical right is (the nationalists), and now they got there!