Christianity In The 21st Century
Last week I asked the question, Is Barack Obama a Christian? The quick answer is, I have no idea. He claims to be. I pray that he is, and if he is not, I pray that he comes to be.
From this observers perspective, anyone who claims to be religious and believes in a God, falls into one of three categories: Jewish, Muslim or Christian. However, not all who call themselves Jewish follow the Jewish faith. Not all who call themselves Muslim follow the tenets of Islam. And, not all who call themselves Christian follow historical orthodoxy.
For example, Harry Emerson Fosdick, the apostle of American Christian liberalism, argues that the death of Christ did not involve any penal substitution but was for our benefit giving us an example of sacrifice that we are to follow.
To Paul Tillich who came to prominence at Union Theological Seminary after WWII God is not a being who possesses existence; He is a symbol of “our ultimate concern.” He wrote, “God participates in the suffering of existential estrangement, but his suffering is not a substitute for the suffering of the creature. Neither is the suffering of Christ a substitute for the suffering of man”
Believe it or not, to call Jesus ‘God’ or ‘deity’ is considered heresy to many in the “Christian” camp. Harry Emerson Fosdick wrote, “Have done with your theological Christ and give us back Jesus the ethical teacher.” For Fosdick, Christ was a mere man inspired by God who became an ethical ideal for all humanity. He writes, “The God who was in Jesus is the same God who is in us.”
What is my point? Not all those under the flag of Christian hold to historic orthodox beliefs. Sometimes I wish we had a different name.
posted by Rick @ 9:25 AM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
I agree Rick, being a "Christian" doesn't seem to mean what it used to. I know it's not for us to judge, however, to me, being a Christian means being a follower of Jesus Christ, believing he is who he says he is. If you don't believe he is "The Christ, The Son of The Living God", then why call yourself a Christian? I know Many people now that believe themselves to be Christians, yet don't believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ. We definitely can't assume anymore that someone who claims to be a Christian believes the same as we do. I know there are always small debatable differences even among true believers, but the basics (which you already stated above) should be the same.
disciple. Most Christian "pretenders" wouldn't call themselves that because it seems "fanatical" to them. Most true Christians know they are disciples.
After reading your blog, I decided to look up the definition and origins of the word "Christian" and found this on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian. It seems there is much confusion among Christians and non-Christians alike as to what it means to be a "Christian". By some definitions, 75% of Americans are Christians; by other definitions, it is a small fraction of 1%.
The meaning of words morph with usage. The meaning of Christian has changed over the years. Maybe it is time for a change. I just don't know what that would be.
Or maybe less change and more of getting back to our roots?
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