Aggression Against the Church

Aggression Against the Church

Part of the following discussion gives mention to the issue of “sacred space.”  Since many pastors reject the idea of “sacred space,” the question is left: What exactly are we trying to defend?  My point is to support the article; the aggression has come so far, that we no longer have common knowledge definitions.  Hence, we not only need to reclaim the space and the doctrine; we also need to rebuild the definitions.  I strongly believe in the use of “sacred space,” and don’t believe that I need to become either Roman Catholic or Orthodox to do so.  I believe that all Christians should believe in “sacred space.”  Careful study of Hebrews as a rule of worship and Revelation as an order of worship will open up new vistas for believers along these lines.

 

On the other hand, what we often defend as rudiments of orthodoxy, are in reality, indications of rigor mortis: the phenomenon of the frozen chosen.  All churches have traditions, and for the most part these are healthy and good.  Without them, we would have no hymns, no order of worship, no organization.  However, in a few cases, such traditions have become confused with core doctrine.  Such traditions, often the distinctives of my denomination, become so important to me that I will not release them until my cold, dead fingers are pried away from them.  Consequently, a sort of denominational paranoia sets in, and we begin to believe that we are the church exclusive, and forget that there is no perfect church on earth.  This happened to the Pharisees in 33 AD, and it is happening to us today.

 

Both of these phenomena show that all of us need to go back to our Bibles and reread the Scripture with fresh eyes.  We must make new commitment to search out exactly what the Word says, and not what we want Him to say.  Such commitment risks raw exposure.  Honesty in this pursuit will be painful.  Change will be required.  Pet oxen will be gored.  Friends will take offense and become enemies or frienemies.  Still, we don’t have any choice.  There is no Love without Truth.  There is no Truth without Love.  As little capacity as we humans have for either Love or Truth; these are names for Jesus Christ and we must follow Him or perish.  Yes, this means that much of this modernization, as well as much of this traditionalization must be put to flames.

 

http://thebarebulb.com/2013/04/27/an-act-of-aggression/