One thing I didn't respond to in the original post is the concept of the Church. You're certainly right that Luther's situation and Calvin's were different. But things have changed for both of us since. I really wonder whether Lutherans can credibly claim a difference today. Does your level of angst about separation actually create a different Church order?
I can't speak for Lutherans, but in my part of the world things have changed even between my parents' day and today. (Realize that my parents are about 90.) In my parents youth, all it took to torpedo a concept was claiming that it was "Roman." I don't sense that today. The liturgical renewal of the 60's wouldn't have been possible if this had still been the case. Protestants are no longer defining themselves in contrast with Catholics. You'll see in current evangelical writers an interest in taking insights from all of Christian history. This is particularly true for non-traditional writers such as McLaren, but he's not alone.
So what's the implication? There are two ways to go, one forward and one back. The way back is to try and reconstruct the Catholic Church. The way forward seems to me to involve constructing a Church that is more catholic than the old one. I don't think the way back is going to work, or that God wants it.
I see this as in some ways a replay of the garden of Eden and the tower of Babel. I believe the fragmentation of the Catholic Church was a judgement, and that just as the confusion of languages was a protection against mankind's pride, the confusion of churches is a protection against ever again confusing an organization with Christ's body, not to mention putting a hierarchy into a position of power that is pretty much bound to produce corruption.
I do think there'a a way forward, but it will be to construct a unity that is in Christ, but not fully represented in a single organization, at least not one like the Catholic Church of the past. Although we're moving that way, there's a limit to how far we can go while we're still arguing about which is The One True Church, and expecting everyone else to reunite with us. I do actually think someone like the Pope could have a place in this, and I'd guess I'm not alone. But he'd have to change his concept of what he's doing.
I can't speak for Lutherans, but in my part of the world things have changed even between my parents' day and today. (Realize that my parents are about 90.) In my parents youth, all it took to torpedo a concept was claiming that it was "Roman." I don't sense that today. The liturgical renewal of the 60's wouldn't have been possible if this had still been the case. Protestants are no longer defining themselves in contrast with Catholics. You'll see in current evangelical writers an interest in taking insights from all of Christian history. This is particularly true for non-traditional writers such as McLaren, but he's not alone.
So what's the implication? There are two ways to go, one forward and one back. The way back is to try and reconstruct the Catholic Church. The way forward seems to me to involve constructing a Church that is more catholic than the old one. I don't think the way back is going to work, or that God wants it.
I see this as in some ways a replay of the garden of Eden and the tower of Babel. I believe the fragmentation of the Catholic Church was a judgement, and that just as the confusion of languages was a protection against mankind's pride, the confusion of churches is a protection against ever again confusing an organization with Christ's body, not to mention putting a hierarchy into a position of power that is pretty much bound to produce corruption.
I do think there'a a way forward, but it will be to construct a unity that is in Christ, but not fully represented in a single organization, at least not one like the Catholic Church of the past. Although we're moving that way, there's a limit to how far we can go while we're still arguing about which is The One True Church, and expecting everyone else to reunite with us. I do actually think someone like the Pope could have a place in this, and I'd guess I'm not alone. But he'd have to change his concept of what he's doing.
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