Friday, March 28, 2008

Involvement in Faith

I have been asked to participate in the committee on Progressive Christianity at my church. I will be an interesting participant since I have a bit more conservative viewpoint than several others participating. That's good though. It is always good to have a voice of dissent in any group whether it's a liberal amongst the conservatives, a conservative amongst the liberals, or an eclectic like me in just about any group.

I will admit to total ignorance to what was meant by "progressive Christianity" until the meeting last night. Apparently there is an entire website devoted to it, and I've just begun my studies of it. I already see good and bad in it. As I learn more I'm sure I'll expound more here on the issues that arise.

In case you aren't interested in browsing the website, here are their Eight Points:

By calling ourselves progressive, we mean we are Christians who...
1. Have found an approach to God through the life and teachings of Jesus.
2. Recognize the faithfulness of other people who have other names for the way to God's realm, and acknowledge that their ways are true for them, as our ways are true for us.
3. Understand the sharing of bread and wine in Jesus's name to be a representation of an ancient vision of God's feast for all peoples
4. Invite all people to participate in our community and worship life without insisting that they become like us in order to be acceptable
5. Know that the way we behave toward one another and toward other people is the fullest expression of what we believe.
6. Find more grace in the search for understanding than we do in dogmatic certainty - more value in questioning than in absolutes.
7. Form ourselves into communities dedicated to equipping one another for the work we feel called to do: striving for peace and justice among all people, protecting and restoring the integrity of all God's creation, and bringing hope to those Jesus called the least of his sisters and brothers
8. Recognize that being followers of Jesus is costly, and entails selfless love, conscientious resistance to evil, and renunciation of privilege.


So far so good. I have lots of study in front of me.

1 comment:

Bunny said...

Sounds pretty good to me!

I imagine that #2 is very hard for a lot of people who believe very strongly that Jesus and Christianity are the ONLY way to God. But I support #2 wholeheartedly.