Last night in The Pub we were talking about living as Christians in an increasingly un-christian world, and I was making my usual comparisons between the Church in the world today and the early Church in an empire in which it was persecuted. We got around to the question of social and moral values, and one of the guys made the point that even Christians who agree on the doctrine of the Trinity and the Nicene Creed (which I always say is the very definition of Christianity itself) - they can disagree on what Christian morality is.
It occurred to me later that in the earliest centuries of Christianity, before the ecumenical councils, the apologists often did define Christianity in terms of morality. In fact, in the early Church, catechesis (preparation for baptism) was often more about Christian morality (how to live as a Christian) than about theology. Of course a person would have learned the prayers, and basic doctrine of God stuff, etc. but what seems equally important at the time was that a person learn what he or she was committing to in terms of lifestyle expectations, in order to be baptized.
So while it is true that the Church eventually defined Christianity according to the doctrine of the Trinity - in opposition to the heresies - in the apologetic documents that had to clarify what Christianity was to the non-christian pagans, there the apologists DID define Christianity in terms of morality, because in the eyes of the world outside the Church, that's what was different about Christians. So when you read the apologists, you often get statements like "Christians are the people who don't abort or expose their children," or "We share our food but not our wives," and stuff like that.
So for what it's worth the early Christians certainly did think of themselves as having a distinctive morality, and one that was counter-cultural, and they did think of that as an important part of the Christianity identity. And I think this is a good barometer for us when thinking about what Christian morality is (or is not) - to what extent has any given group of Christians given in to the culture by conforming to cultural norms (moving away from earlier "traditional" Christian morality) versus to what extent does a group of Christians remain counter-cultural? Not that this is a perfect test, but it's a start. I think we should be skeptical of any who would argue for the Church to change simply on the basis of "keeping up with the times."
Dear friends - Please take 10 minutes to watch this personal update from me:
I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
The problem with us men is that often we don't have the wisdom to be a father until we're a grandfather.
This may sounds like some ironic statement that makes you nod your head in agreement but shrug your shoulders in resignation, thinking, well there's nothing we can do about that. But the practical application of that is that it demonstrates how important it is for kids to grow up around their grandparents. But as in our culture the family becomes ever more fractured and spread out, that is harder and harder to do.
Lately I've been thinking that part of the problem is the whole concept of college. It used to be that everyone thought a person had to go to college to make a good living. Not only is that not the case (truck drivers make more money than I do) but now college has gone from useless to actually ruining our kids. But when I went to college, what you were supposed to do is figure out what career you wanted (as if anyone knows that at age 18) and then go away to the college ...
And don't forget, if you would like to read my latest novel:
The Sword and the Clover - just let me know by email.
I'm happy to send you the PDF version, even if you haven't been a monetary supporter of the community - all I ask is that you don't share it with anyone else.
My email address:
Keep in touch!
JIm
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