Monday 11 July 2011

If it's all about Grace . .

Then why is there so much 'law'?

This is a question that I have had put to me regarding what evangelicals believe.

First and foremost I don't see Christianity as being about rules, for rules are what makes for religion and what does religion make? (Well, in my book it certainly isn't prizes, that's for sure).

The problem is that so many people lump 'evangelicals' 'into a one size fits all' approach. RThis of course falls hollow and worthless to the floor as soon as it is uttered because we have so many brands, types and groups all clamouring to use the label evangelical.

Some use 'evangelical' to bring some form of credibility to their position i.e. Evangelical Universalists, Evangelical Gays, etc. Others, oddly, use it to presume that any viewpoint outside of being 'evangelical' (their type) that might be held has to be wrong.

The problem as it was dealt to me is that we have evangelicals bearing the label: Reformed, Neo-reformed, Open, Closed, Conservative, liberal, revisionist and even Post-Evangelicals (who appear to be perhaps disaffected evangelicals with a dash of confusion and a pinch of liberalism added for flavour) evangelicals too!

Having explained the many (and I'm sure I have missed some) types of evangelicals, I was posed with this question:

"But ALL evangelicals are taken up with law and legal terms (like justification) and hold to the same views regarding sin, redemption and Christian living, aren't they?"

Well, Let's see, shall we?

I'd be most happy for anyone who has another label or can provide and pointers to through their all into this topic as the more input the clearer (hopefully) we find the emerging picture.

Pax

2 comments:

Undergroundpewster said...

When one gets "evangelical," the person who is being "evangelised" these days has to ask the question, "Why should I give bother with all of this?" In the course of things, the subject of sin and repentance will come up. Once sin is identified as something to repent, the notion that Christianity is all about "rules" starts to creep in.

Jesus himself started out preaching repentance.

Mark 1:14-15

"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

Maybe you can ask the question, "Are there "rules" that people violate that God wishes for us to repent? What were those things that Jesus was asking people to repent of when he was preaching?"

Vic Van Den Bergh said...

Thanks

V