Church and Kingdom
Alfred Loisy the 19th century historian was right in saying that Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God but what appeared was the Church. The disappointment was and continues to be severe. But the great irony is that today we alleviate our disappointment with the contemporary Church by pointing back to the New Testament Church --which was the great disappointment to begin with! Our restless discontent should not be over the distance between ourselves and the first century Church but over the distance between ourselves and the Kingdom of God to which the Church then and now is the witness. -from
Freedom for Ministry by Richard Neuhaus
2 comments:
Great Quote! You always have a knack for finding those... So how can we foster the Kingdom of God as church when there aren't really any models for that? I'm guessing/assuming that's why we return to the "new Testament" models...
(can i call myself christian when so much of what i say seems blasphemous?)
i extend the idea in this quotation even further to cover my belief about the bible. a co-worker and i were discussing our faith and she pointed out that we would never agree because i did not believe the bible was the word of god, inviolate. (she's right, of course. if we don't agree on that, all continuing discussion is moot.)
most of the new testament is a collection of letters between members/leaders of the newly-forming church. they are wonderful and amazing examples of the discussions christians (or all people) should have. they provide a very solid basis for understanding christ and faith. they are, unquestionably, the most valuable writings the followers of christ have.
however...
they are men writing to men about christianity, not god (or even prophets, imo) conveying the law. i put them in the same context as c.s. lewis. we are better christians reading and studying them, but we are called by god to come to our own relationship with the holy spirit, not to follow blindly.
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