According to Bishop Lesslie Newbigin, “there is not and cannot be a gospel which is not culturally embodied”. He maintained that the missionary task of the Church is to challenge the “reigning plausibility structure” by examining it in light of the revealed purposes of God contained in the biblical narrative. He advocated a scepticism which enables one to take part in the life of society without being deluded by its own beliefs about itself.
Easier said [than done]….
This article encapsulates why I have always had an ambivalent attitude to the blogger known as “Archbishop Cranmer”. Yes, he has some good articles which often support traditional Christian and Anglican values and to that extent he is part of the solution. But he is also in many respects part of the problem. And it only just starting to dawn on him where things are really at.
[blockquote] “While theologians and politicians argue over the manner of this religious welfare – instead of just getting on with ensuring it – people are alienated and distanced: the Church is thereby hindered in its mission.” [/blockquote]
What “Cranmer” doesn’t get is that this horse bolted from the stable long ago. Between one half and one third of the population of England still call themselves “CofE” or “Anglican” in surveys, but less than 2% attend church even monthly. In other words, they are alienated. They do not see the Church as having anything more relevant to say in spiritual terms than their local club representative or politician.
The reason for this comes back to one primary factor that overwhelms all others – the leadership of the Church of England largely no longer believes in traditional Christianity. Or rather, they believe in it strongly – to the extent that it is convenient.
Hence why the following call by “Cranmer” is doomed to fail:
[blockquote] “Scripture, tradition and reason must be brought into vibrant conversation. Ultimately, they must come together and co-inhere in an integrated working of authority in theology and Church. If they do not, we are irrelevant. We may already be so.” [/blockquote]
Indeed you already are. You long ago reached the stage where you (the CofE) are no longer capable of choosing leaders who can bring about the reform you need, hence you cannot get out of the situation you are in. And hence irrelevance doesn’t just beckon, its engaged in a tug-of-war for the quilt.