The Dec. 3, 2007 Barna report "identifies several patterns that are significantly affecting the development of American culture. Those transformations were described as Americans’ unconditional self-love; nouveau Christianity; the five Ps of parenting; and designer faith with rootless values." Today I want to wonder about this one:
Designer Faith, Rootless Values
"As young adults, teenagers and adolescents have become accustomed to radical individualism, they have introduced such thinking and behavior into the faith realm, as well. Faith is an acceptable attribute and pursuit among most young people. However, their notions of faith do not align with conventional religious perspectives or behavior. For instance, young people are still likely to claim the label "Christian," but the definition of that term has been broadened beyond traditional parameters.
In fact, the values that young people are prone to embrace are often consistent with Christian beliefs but are not based on biblical foundations. For instance, while young Americans have adopted values such as goodness, kindness and tolerance, they remain skeptical of the Bible, church traditions, and rules or behaviors based upon religious teaching."
Hmm. Is Barna confirming what I have only informally observed? "Radical individualism" seems to be another way of talking about nominalism. While it is interesting to see this sociological evidence, I would like to see it taken further, because I don't think nominalist thinking is found only among young people.
Designer Faith, Rootless Values
"As young adults, teenagers and adolescents have become accustomed to radical individualism, they have introduced such thinking and behavior into the faith realm, as well. Faith is an acceptable attribute and pursuit among most young people. However, their notions of faith do not align with conventional religious perspectives or behavior. For instance, young people are still likely to claim the label "Christian," but the definition of that term has been broadened beyond traditional parameters.
In fact, the values that young people are prone to embrace are often consistent with Christian beliefs but are not based on biblical foundations. For instance, while young Americans have adopted values such as goodness, kindness and tolerance, they remain skeptical of the Bible, church traditions, and rules or behaviors based upon religious teaching."
Hmm. Is Barna confirming what I have only informally observed? "Radical individualism" seems to be another way of talking about nominalism. While it is interesting to see this sociological evidence, I would like to see it taken further, because I don't think nominalist thinking is found only among young people.
Is it possible to be a Christian (no matter young or old!) and be skeptical about the Bible and church traditions and teachings? Can one be a Christian without the "baggage" of a community? I have a refrigerator magnet that says, "Friends are the family you choose for yourself." It may be proper for Jesus to call us His friends, and establish His church, but do we have the same power to pick and choose? As I read John 15:16, we do not. Yet this is the great question of our time: is the church a gift, or is it the product of social contract? If it is a gift, then it is not ours to design, but receive and grow into.
Remember those bulky sweaters Aunt Hortense used to knit as Christmas presents? They were always too big in December, but by fall the following year they fit just fine. Is it the same way with Christ's body? The church may contain all sorts of doctrines, people, and practices that may not immediately "fit" us--and indeed, which may feel uncomfortable, causing us to scratch and chafe--but nevertheless they are good for us, and eventually we are grateful. They transform us to reflect Christ.
However, if the church is not a gift, but instead is socially constructed, then we can design the Bible, traditions, teaching, and behaviors however we please. We can have faith without religion; church without institution, spirit freed of the limiting confines of body. I can re-invent myself, as often as I feel the desire to do so, answering to no one but myself. Ultimately, Christianity boils down to Me and Jesus, and Jesus begins to look a lot like Me.
Are Christ and Christmas (and by extension, Christ's body) a gift we receive? Or are Christ and Christmas (and by extension, Christ's body) a product of my own choice and construction?
Let all mortal flesh keep silence
And with fear and trembling stand
Ponder nothing earthly minded
for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary
As of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture
In the body and the blood,
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heav'nly food.
O how shall I receive you, how greet you Lord aright?
All nations long to see you, my hope, my heart's delight!
O kindle Lord most holy your lamp within my breast,
To do in spirit lowly all that may please you best.
Remember those bulky sweaters Aunt Hortense used to knit as Christmas presents? They were always too big in December, but by fall the following year they fit just fine. Is it the same way with Christ's body? The church may contain all sorts of doctrines, people, and practices that may not immediately "fit" us--and indeed, which may feel uncomfortable, causing us to scratch and chafe--but nevertheless they are good for us, and eventually we are grateful. They transform us to reflect Christ.
However, if the church is not a gift, but instead is socially constructed, then we can design the Bible, traditions, teaching, and behaviors however we please. We can have faith without religion; church without institution, spirit freed of the limiting confines of body. I can re-invent myself, as often as I feel the desire to do so, answering to no one but myself. Ultimately, Christianity boils down to Me and Jesus, and Jesus begins to look a lot like Me.
Are Christ and Christmas (and by extension, Christ's body) a gift we receive? Or are Christ and Christmas (and by extension, Christ's body) a product of my own choice and construction?
Let all mortal flesh keep silence
And with fear and trembling stand
Ponder nothing earthly minded
for with blessing in his hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
our full homage to demand.
King of kings, yet born of Mary
As of old on earth he stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture
In the body and the blood,
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heav'nly food.
O how shall I receive you, how greet you Lord aright?
All nations long to see you, my hope, my heart's delight!
O kindle Lord most holy your lamp within my breast,
To do in spirit lowly all that may please you best.
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