“If you remain in my word, you are truly my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Jesus of Nazareth
Someone can have serious interest in Jesus and his teachings without being an evangelical, liberal, catholic, or fundamentalist. Indeed, as one becomes acquainted with Christ, such contemporary distinctions seem more and more inadequate. As we follow Christ, we no longer have a nominal, atonement-based faith; nor a strictly social-justice religion; nor a religion based in papal or conservative authority.
One would be tempted to revert back to an earlier form of evangelicalism, say that of the mid -15th to the mid-19th centuries, or even to some modern form of monasticism. But due to the naturalization of knowledge which has occurred in the centers of Western learning and culture, this door has been closed forever.
Jefferson and his friends came up with a version of Christianity which did not require Christ to be divine, and essentially amounted to an interpretation of the synoptic gospels with a heavy Classical influence. This was called Unitarianism. The great advantage of this form of Christianity was that it was purely philosophical, and had minimal dependence on historical tradition.
Unitarianism had a rich Deism to be sure, but had no room for actual interaction with Christ today. Nor did it come to grips with the nature of the Trinity, and the high ideal of Christian charity dependent upon it. As such it could only operate in a very stable social environment, one already focused on natural values. It does not have an adequate response to rampant evil (such as American slavery).
But can one achieve an authentic, biblical Christianity with philosophical rigor, Trinitarian interaction, and yet not be limited by the weaknesses of contemporary religion? I believe it is possible, and I think that the best way to describe such a faith would be apprenticeship.
To be an apprentice of Christ, one has to trust that Christ is now living and that through His Divine nature he is available to all at any place and time. One must also view Christ as a significant part of the larger Trinity in order to understand His mode of life on earth and beyond. One has to believe that Christ has “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” and be ready to learn how to do everything from Him.
This leaves room for a robust treatment of the philosophy of the synoptic gospels of course, but also allows for the truth of the Pauline, Johannine, and Petrine works of the New Testament. This form of Christianity would also have the ability to make sense of interaction with the Holy Spirit, spiritual (philosophical) disciplines and the beauty of the classical, Medieval, and early Modern traditions. Through its emphasis on the ideas of Jesus and the Hebrew prophets, the good teachings about social justice which come from the Left would also be at home here.
Such a form of Christianity would be truly universal, and, in some ways, have nothing to do with any particular religious tradition. It would be focused on Christ and His Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, wherever they are found, and living within the reality of the “Kingdom of the Heavens.”
Thus an apprentice of Jesus could attend any church on the left or right, depending on his or her background and life goals. The liturgy of any service would be moving and helpful. An apprentice could even not attend a church at all, if that seemed best.
So, as Christ’s apprentice, I can seek the reality of the kingdom in all of my work and relationships, without being a religious fanatic, nor a nominal Christian, nor a mere humanist; and it is the vision of life in the kingdom of God that makes this feasible.
May 14th, 2010 | Nathan | 0 comments | Continued
























