Credo...
It's my birthday today. Maybe it's because I am now entering my 30th year, but I've been daydreaming lots lately. One of the things I've been dreaming is a "what if?" scenario for taking CoffeeShop Theology to the next level and developing an emergent-style missional community. Ah, dreams....
My first reaction was to go for the "no statement" statement. But then there's the question of how you know you are still being a Christian group in any real sense of the word unless you declare something like a doctrinal statement.
Anyway, as part of this exercise in dreamthinking I've been looking at the whole question of doctrinal statements and creeds. Should we have one? If so, do we write our own or adopt one from the church? If so, which?
My first reaction was to go for the "no statement" statement. But then there's the question of how you know you are still being a Christian group in any real sense of the word unless you declare something like a doctrinal statement.
posted by Jamie at Thursday, May 04, 2006
11 Comments:
We should come up with an ICC bloggers creed, who we are, what we believe, what we hold to. The baptists amongst us may stuggle with that (the creed part that is - I'm told by our esteemed belief and thought lecturer that the baptists are anti-creedal (is that a word?!) - not the what we believe/who we are part) but it could be quite fun!
Happy birthday as well! You should have said - I'd have let you win pool more easily!
My initial response is also a 'no' to creeds. Furthermore, I don't think the question are we being "a Christian group in any real sense of the word" is necessarily vaild.
The pursuit of the person of Christ around whom we gather as his followers is something that is essential, that 'defines' us. But beyond this definition all we have is something exclusive/inclusive, if, of course, we use creeds as a way of self definition.
However, creeds do serve other purposes. Communal recitations of creeds are relational assertions of the presence and pre-eminence of Jesus, and historical real-ness. They also serve to give scope to our way of imagining the relationships we have with God, and that by which these relationship are being restored.
I guess I end up agreeing with you. Communal affirmations of faith have a place. We should however seek to define ourselves as a community by the person we follow, and allow for creeds to be lenses through which we see this person.
I probably side with LeRon Shults on this one - there is a necessarily static and unhelpful element to the notion of statements of faith. We end up desperate to define ourselves instead of the beauty of Christ defining us. The fact that statements can become a ‘centre’ means potential arises for the statement itself to become the focus instead of the one to whom it may have intended to direct us. Which then snowballs onto the thin ice of divisive opinion – debate takes place over the statement, revealing the already unreasonably absolute position of the opinions expressed, about details ‘x’ or ‘y’. Division over statement can occur, assuming pre-eminence over and above unity in Christ under God.
Too often contemporary statements of faith are confused about their subject. Communities of faith end up making assertions about themselves - not the one whom they endeavour to serve. Or perhaps that’s how they view statements of faith, as ‘statements concerning 'our' (version of) faith in god’.
It is enough to endeavour to incarnate Christ in community, both for the world and the members of that community. It’s him that the world needs, in his entire colour. Parameters, boundaries, criteria and statements of faith immediately make something/someone less than Christ in all his colour the standard.
Perhaps I wander into the knee-jerk and reactionary with the above. I just don't want to see people becoming bound by that which they're seeking to recover from. I would also heartily agree with you, boxthejack, in your emphasising the usefulness of creed in communal worship. In this context then, I would probably distinguish 'creed', in a traditional sense, from statement of faith.
"The fact that statements can become a ‘centre’ means potential arises for the statement itself to become the focus instead of the one to whom it may have intended to direct us"
Good point Richard. And I also like the idea of using the creed as worship. I guess it helps to remember that the creed was originally written as (among other things, admittedly) a defense against heresy that denied Christ's divinity - and I suppose in their context they were entirely about Jesus: which comes back to Richard's thoughts.
Good stuff...
The LeRon Shults article Richard refers to can be found here and is well worth a read. I had to go through Slice of Laodicea to get to it though, and am (like box recently) left a little saddened by the hatred that exists towards me and my friends among my brothers at places like Slice. Let's never get so vicious. Please Lord.
I probably disagree with LeRon on one issue, however. The way I see it, our vision of the church (ecclesiology) is built upon our mission (missiology), which springs out of who Jesus is (Christology). For incarnational ministries like coffeeshop theology to make sense, we need to affirm The Incarnation. This requires making some affirmation or confession (better words than "statement"?) on the Trinity at least (hence my thoughts on Nicaea). Of course, those who disagree with our confession are just as welcome at the coffee table.
Ouch, my head is going to explode reading all your smarty-pant thoughts. Was hoping to visit your coffee shop theology one night, but I'm fearful for my life. I can imagine you all a group of Kerouac, Ginsberg & co. bohemians sitting about pontificating and philosophizing away with yer chai tea! :D Happy Belated birthday Jamie, the 30's are meant to be the best so far! Look at Jesus!
Genevieve please rescue us from from smarty pants thoughts.
Another absinthe please waiter!
The management of SFT reminds you that all heads brought onto the premises are entirely their owners' responsibility. SFT accepts no responsibility for cranial explosion, however caused.
;)
Well understood. So far ok... grey matter still intact. Listen, your daydreaming is interesting for the fact that I am SO keen to find some sort of intentional, missional living community (with or without creeds - although I think an organization really is best maintained through a some sort of consensual creed). In my little dream, this would involve conscious acts of service (and probably goes without saying) is Christ-centred, intentional living. The community serving as another means to be accountable and supported...
By the way, can anyone help me? I'm moving to Edinburgh - does anyone know someone searching in the the next couple months for a flatmate? I don't know the area or anyone living in Edinburgh - any advice on where to start the search? I'll be starting a masters at edin uni so something close to that might be good... a friend in Glasgow did mention marchmont.
Here's a quote for all you scholars out there, ok watch out though, this one is heavy - "Dreams are like fish, you got to keep reeling."
- Anyone, anyone?
Agreed on the acts of service thing. Me and Box were chatting today and we were discussing how praxis rather than belief can form the centre for what we do. Intentional acts of service - something like a monastic 'rule'...
There's an interesting article on the "new monasticism" idea here. Communal living anyone?
Will keep my eyes peeled for flats Genevieve. Marchmont is student-city, certainly. Check out www.eventsguide.org for a Christian-run room search.
Jamie, loved the article on new monasticism - even though I think it can sometimes sound very romantic on paper. Felt what anthropology lecturer mentioned at end of article about motives turning into self-righteousness is also valid and something to be mindful of. But overall, I was really charged to read about these emerging communities and hope, even informally, to begin something similar.
Thank you also for the insight to eventsguide link! Made contact with a girl that sounds very cool.
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