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Christianity Today, February, 2007 |

The Problem with Mere Christianity

We jettison 'nonessential' theology at our own peril.

J. Todd Billings | posted 2/06/2007 08:31AM

In a recent ecumenical meeting of Christian leaders discussing theology and worship, two evangelical representatives expressed a shared dilemma: How should they integrate concerns for justice and care ...

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mike rucker

Posted: February 27, 2007 12:00 AM

jim wallis has a nice story in his book "God's Politics". he talks about getting arrested at a demonstration, along with tony campolo and i want to say j.i. packer, but it may have been someone else. anyway, they're all in a holding cell, and jim sees tony and j.i. off to the side discussing their different takes on theology. jim says, and i'm paraphrasing, "what a perfect place to discuss theology: in a prison." i believe he meant this in two ways: one, the debates about theology were secondary to the actions he and the two of them were doing in the world outside. two, theological debates sometimes trap us in our own prisons - sometimes with others of like mind, often by ourselves. it's helpful to remember that theology has always been "a product of its times", and certainly a work-in-progress since we messed up and bound certain texts into an "authorized" canon - (note the word "authorized", and note who authorized it...). mike rucker

John	Posted: February 14, 2007 10:14 PM


'Augustine's proverb: "In essentials, unity. In nonessentials, liberty. In all things, charity."' This is a common misconception, that Augustine authored this statement. http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/jod/augustine/quote.html

Johann

Posted: February 14, 2007 7:48 AM


Any religion based on Sola Scriptura and private interpretation is inevitably going to lead either to spiritual anarchy or least-common-denominator Christianity. This is the very hallmark of Protestantism. You might as well write diatribes against the rising of the sun.

Rosie

Posted: February 10, 2007 7:10 AM


I believe that in the end Christians are to have power from above based on the complete Bible. I have attended several different denominations and I find many lacking in one area or another whether it is charity, healing, gifts, or issues of curses etc. My prayer is that we all become like Heidi Baker and truly seek the Lord to clarify and increase our faith.

elder alan

Posted: February 08, 2007 9:31 AM


"The time for the glorification of propositional theology has passed." Folks glorify different forms of propositional theology I suppose -- even a form like deacon steve's.

Lisa Wallerstein

Posted: February 08, 2007 3:28 AM

Fax this article to Sunni and Shiite leaders to show them how to debate religious doctrine! In the Introduction to his magisterial tome "The Reformation," British scholar Diarmaid MacCulloch admits to finding it bizarre and a bit spooky that Americans are still in the thick of the Reformation/Counter Reformation, earnestly arguing the finer points of theology four long centuries after the dust settled in Europe. In our defense, though, we don't exactly punctuate our beliefs with canon fire, fighting instead with bits of aluminum in what I call the "fender fish feuds." Does your car sport a fish with a cross or JESUS in it, DARWIN with feet, GEFILTE, or all three? For all our faults (and short memory for that 1500 years of Roman Catholicism), we fight a remarkably peaceful Hundred Years War!

Zechariah

Posted: February 06, 2007 8:54 PM

The historic faith gives us all we need to understand God and scripture. Even in those areas where She may be wrong, the Church has held steadfastly to the truth of the last 2,000 years. Today's Emergent, along with the Left-wing politicos masquerading as evangelicals, and the Willow Creek crowd have turned the gospel on its ear. Jesus was about the poor and social justice, but that ministry belonged to the people of God, NOT to the state. Until historically minded Christians return to positively affirming the question, "am I my brother's keeper?", we will continue to see the lunacy of the evangelical world. Once God's people answer the call to service, the Church will grow, and the evangelicals will no longer have a "church-growth" leg to stand on.

George

Posted: February 06, 2007 7:48 PM

Bravo, Dr. Billings. The last paragraph of your article sums the issue up nicely. Today's hyper- pragmatic approach in much of the Church often shames those for pluming the depths of scripture, theology and church history. Sadly may see the issue in very narrow "either or" categories by sacrificing 2000 years of insights on the altar of pragmatism and false piety. May we always continue to have a heart and soul for God and his creation (Those inside and outside his church) while at the same time never being dead from the neck up.

deacon steve

Posted: February 06, 2007 6:19 PM


I find it very hard to identify with world view thinking such as that exemplifed by Billings. The time for the glorification of propositional theology has passed. There are far more important Gospel priorities in a world in significant need of positive and relevant Christian direction.

Jerry D'Eliso

Posted: February 06, 2007 2:13 PM

You know, with all that's written daily about the Word of God, Christians, theology and different approaches to living the Christian life, we could cover the earth with paper, probably several inches thick. Several people read a passage of God's word and they're all able to get what God has specifically for them on that day, at that moment and God can, and often does, point all of them in different directions at once. However, we have what Jesus called the most important commandments. If we would first pray for a passion for those two, daily read the Word, earnestly pray without ceasing, as God directed, we would have far fewer questions and every answer we need as we need it...we supply too many non-essential words, too much human input. If we focus on Him, we'll be OK.

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